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00:00Ladies and gentlemen, it is showdown time for that man, Chris Benoit.
00:03Benoit, attacked earlier by Kane in Benoit's first match tonight in the World Tag Team
00:09title match.
00:10But next, it'll be Benoit against the number one contender.
00:14Will Benoit's offense work against this rock?
00:19And it all started just over 18 years ago.
00:23I heard it all.
00:24Chris Benoit, you'll never do it.
00:26You can't win the big one.
00:29Well, I proved them wrong at the Royal Rumble by defeating 29 other men to get my shot at
00:36the World Championship at WrestleMania 20.
00:39And I walked into WrestleMania 20 an underdog.
00:44A lot of people said I was a fluke, but I proved them wrong.
00:48Chris Benoit's 18-year odyssey has culminated by winning the world's heavyweight title at
00:56WrestleMania 20.
00:59Chris Benoit is for real.
01:03And I am the world's heavyweight champion.
01:10Chris Benoit, I envy you because you live a life of normals.
01:18You're living out your dreams.
01:21I live in nightmares, Chris.
01:24I live in darkness and shadows.
01:29I will feast on fear and suffer, taste the pain of others.
01:39I hunger for agony, for a sacrifice.
01:45You see, Benoit, I want your world title.
01:53And what I want, I always get.
02:00I never felt like I had until the day you showed me again.
02:08The feeling that fell in my wings, getting lost in your periphery.
02:16And you left me wondering what the hell, what is wrong with me?
02:22Benoit's got it!
02:23Benoit's got the crossface!
02:24Oh, Kane!
02:25Kane just powered out of the Crippler Crossface!
02:28No, no, no!
02:29What a choke slam!
02:30By God, Kane just beat Benoit!
02:33I hunger for agony, for a sacrifice.
02:40I hunger for agony, for a sacrifice.
02:52What is wrong with me?
02:57Wow.
03:07The following contest is scheduled for one fall,
03:09and it is for the World Heavyweight Championship.
03:13Introducing the challenger, weighing in at 320 pounds, Kane!
03:20Well, this is the second time tonight that we have seen the number one contender,
03:26all seven feet, 320 pounds of him.
03:34Earlier tonight, ladies and gentlemen,
03:35Chris Benoit and Edge challenging Lawrence Sestak for the World Tag Title.
03:39It looked like the challengers had it won with Benoit's Crippler Crossface,
03:44but it was not to be.
03:46No, it was not to be, because as you said, that monster,
03:49Kane, insinuated himself into this match, and I think he did it for one purpose,
03:55this, to inflict some damage before this World Championship match,
04:01and he wasn't done with the damage at that point.
04:03Look at this.
04:04And while having no way to break that collision,
04:07it was his bare back, his skinny, his lower back,
04:11that went into those heel steps, and you got to wonder,
04:13the question that we're all wondering is,
04:16what kind of condition, this condition, is the world's champion in?
04:26And weighing in at 229 pounds,
04:30he is the World Heavyweight Champion, Chris Benoit!
04:35Well, this, uh, Benoit having to wrestle twice
04:38is all because of General Manager Eric Bischoff.
04:42Benoit doing double duty now,
04:45and you know, in that first match, Benoit had everything to win,
04:48but now in this match, Benoit's got everything to lose, Dale.
04:52Very good point, Kane.
04:53And we all know what the World Heavyweight Championship
04:58means to this 18-year veteran Benoit,
05:01whose odyssey ended at WrestleMania 20.
05:05But Kane knows what it's like to be the champ.
05:08Yeah, what would that championship mean to Kane?
05:10You heard Kane, his own words,
05:12he says that he has to live a nightmare,
05:14he lives in darkness, he lives in shadows.
05:17But you know what, JR is a man that always gets what he wants, Kane does.
05:22And if he could get this title,
05:23he could step out of the darkness and out of the shadows and into the spotlight.
05:27I think Kane deserves it.
05:30Well, it's, uh, it's there for Kane to take,
05:33if he can, if he is man enough.
05:36Do you think Kane would like to live a normal life like General?
05:42Well, here, Kane, opening statement is pretty powerful there by, by Benoit.
05:49And look at here, Kane, Kane more vocal on the punishment he's receiving than-
05:54I'm telling you, Benoit is literally ripping Kane's chest apart.
05:59You don't hear, you don't very often hear Kane actually screaming in pain.
06:03Kane covering up from that offensive onslaught.
06:06And Benoit says, step out here, and I'll give you some more,
06:09because I've got the heart and the passion.
06:11You're going to beat my ass.
06:12You've got to, you've got to get it done.
06:15Well, don't underestimate Kane.
06:17He's capable of getting it done.
06:19Believe me.
06:19There's no doubt about that.
06:20We've, we've seen Kane beat the best in the, in the WWE,
06:24and he's been doing it for years.
06:27This is such a high stakes match.
06:28And Benoit, that arm ringer, but it's just overpowered,
06:34got overpowered by the champion, by the challenger.
06:38And Kane, like you said, I mean, it's no, it's no secret.
06:43Even Benoit will be the first to admit,
06:45if it comes to strength and power, Kane's got the advantage.
06:48But another advantage I think Kane has is,
06:50he will absolutely, JR, he's capable of doing anything.
06:54Anything.
06:55Very unpredictable.
06:56Very high threshold of pain.
07:00That'll be tested here.
07:03I'll tell you something we won't see tested tonight.
07:06That's the Crippler Crossface.
07:08Because Benoit knows, he already realized firsthand,
07:12that he cannot beat Kane with the Crippler Crossface.
07:14It just won't work on Kane.
07:16Kane cowered out of the crossface last week on Raw, as we all saw.
07:20Come on.
07:21Get up, playboy.
07:22Much to the dismay of Benoit.
07:23He saw in shock.
07:24He saw in disbelief.
07:27But it happened.
07:28Benoit loves that submission-oriented style.
07:31And no doubt that Benoit will be hell-bent.
07:35To not only win this match and Kane's title, but to make Kane tap out.
07:39You know what, I think Benoit's stalling, JR.
07:42I think he's actually stalling.
07:45If he was, I don't think that he was.
07:47That might not be a bad strategy.
07:49But I'm impatient Kane has.
07:51And certainly want Kane to make a mistake.
07:54If you can negotiate it, that may be easier said than done.
07:58Kane's not going to make many mistakes while he's standing in the ring,
08:01waiting for you to get back in there.
08:02Great right hand, well fought, but impatience at mind game.
08:06Benoit, the 18-year veteran, cut by Kane.
08:09And as long as Benoit is standing in front of Kane,
08:12this could be a short night for the reigning world champion.
08:16Benoit's got to try to man-wrestle Kane, bring him down, if possible.
08:20And a quick block by Benoit, but it's a good move.
08:23Nothing this time, because Kane, with the elbow,
08:27and Kane with the elevation, but nobody there.
08:30Benoit, luckily for him, able to avoid the contact.
08:34I don't even think that Benoit's even going to be able to,
08:40is going to be capable of out-wrestling Kane, simply because of Kane's strength.
08:45Here we go, here we go now.
08:47Benoit looking for that triple crossface.
08:50Maybe too early in the match for that.
08:52Kane able to power out, and have Benoit going back for the cross at the short shooter.
08:55Look at, there you go.
08:57I told you.
08:58Short shooter attempted first, I apologize.
09:01And then the crossface.
09:03And that was an uppercut right hand.
09:05I'll tell you one thing, Benoit better try for the sharp shooter,
09:08because we all know, and it seems like Benoit would know by now,
09:11he can't win with the cripple crossface.
09:13Well, King, that really remains to be seen.
09:15Benoit didn't win last week with a cripple crossface.
09:18It may be a different ballgame here tonight.
09:20Why? How could it be?
09:22He had the cripple crossface locked in.
09:24I mean, it wasn't just halfway applied.
09:26It wasn't partially applied.
09:27He had it locked in, cinched in, and you thought Kane was going to tap out.
09:31And instead, Kane muscled out.
09:33Well, you're right about that.
09:34But there's a lot of things that Benoit can do to weaken that arm,
09:37weaken the shoulder, as this match progresses.
09:40And right there was one illustration of that.
09:44And there's another illustration.
09:46Okay, I get your drift.
09:48I see where Benoit's going.
09:49And now Benoit trying to go for it again.
09:52Well, he doesn't have it locked on.
09:53I said he was trying to go for it again.
09:56And there you see the strength, that one arm.
09:58That is a strong, strong number one contender
10:01with one arm turning Benoit around the bend there.
10:04You didn't admit it, Joe.
10:05That is awesome.
10:07It's awesome.
10:08That is scary strength.
10:10And I know that you've got a history with Kane.
10:13I know you just, you can't bring yourself to respect him,
10:16to like him in any kind of way.
10:17I don't like him.
10:18I have a lot of respect for his athletic ability.
10:20Liking him is not going to help.
10:22He's not going to have Christmas dinner at the Ross house.
10:24Most people just don't like him
10:25because they think the guy's ugly.
10:27But, oh, look at this.
10:29I mean, being ugly is no crime.
10:32I know.
10:32Or you'd be on death row.
10:33Oh, yeah, I know.
10:35Well, that's not fair.
10:35I looked in the mirror before I came in.
10:37I didn't say that.
10:38Hard shot again by Kane.
10:43A Benoit, high impact stuff.
10:46Power driven offense by the number one contender.
10:49Kane is, don't sell him short.
10:51He's clever.
10:52He was listening to the referee's count there.
10:53He's not going to get counted out
10:54because Kane wants to win this title, JR.
10:57He wants to be the world champion.
10:58He wants a chance for that spotlight to shine on his face.
11:01Benoit's neck just snapped back.
11:03And let's not forget Benoit had a year of inactivity
11:07with a broken neck at surgery.
11:09And now Kane is eyeballing that particular part
11:14of the world's champion's anatomy.
11:15You know, I felt sorry for Chris Benoit.
11:17I saw him when he was laid up, convalescing, broken neck.
11:22It was a pitiful sight for a while,
11:23but he came all the way back.
11:25But I also feel sorry for Kane.
11:27Look at the life he's led.
11:28Shadows and darkness all his life, JR.
11:31Certainly, referee Chad Patton presenting
11:34his first championship match on pay-per-view.
11:37Maybe a little bit intimidated by this assignment.
11:40You think Kane can walk down the street
11:42like a normal man with a neck breaker?
11:44Boy, that is good strategy.
11:45Perfectly done.
11:46Could be over.
11:47There's a cover.
11:48And Benoit, I don't know how he got his shoulder up.
11:51We couldn't see it from our angle.
11:52But Benoit obviously got his shoulder up.
11:55And now that neck vise by one of the most powerful men
12:00to ever compete in the WWE.
12:03And I ask you once again,
12:04do you think Kane can walk down the street
12:06like a normal man, like Chris Benoit, for instance?
12:08Of course not.
12:09Without little children crying,
12:10people staring, pointing at him?
12:12Unfortunately, no.
12:13But if he walked down the street
12:15with the WWE World Championship around his waist
12:18or over his shoulder,
12:19then he could walk with pride, JR.
12:23People keep coming up asking for his autograph,
12:25wanting to have pictures made with him.
12:27That's all Kane wants.
12:29Somehow, I don't think that would happen, Kane.
12:32He wants to be normal.
12:33You're saying Kane's misunderstood, right?
12:36Without a doubt.
12:38Man, Benoit understands that.
12:40Lost it in a sidewalk slam with tremendous authority.
12:43The hook of the near leg there.
12:45And Benoit again, rolling his shoulder off the canvas.
12:48And Kane is bringing his A game of offense here.
12:52And why not?
12:53The World's Heavyweight Championship on the line.
12:56And again, Kane going back to what may be the Achilles heel.
13:01Chris Benoit has a weakness.
13:03It may be his neck.
13:07Can you explain to me how Benoit lost that tooth?
13:10No, I don't quite actually know that answer.
13:12He didn't get it kicked out
13:13playing pin the tail on the donkey, did he?
13:16When he was a little kid?
13:17I haven't heard that story.
13:18I'll do my research next time.
13:22You know, a lot of things that people don't care about.
13:23You should know that.
13:26Look at Kane now with the pressure.
13:28Working, like you said, on that neck.
13:35You know, Benoit could have to tap out here.
13:38That's an option.
13:39No doubt about it.
13:40Somehow, I don't think the...
13:41Well, what's more important, the World Championship or your neck?
13:45Benoit, I'm not sure I could answer that.
13:47I think I could go on a limb and say the title.
13:49You think he would go for another broken neck?
13:51I actually do.
13:53He would rather be the World Champion
13:55and sit in a wheelchair with a broken neck.
13:57I don't know.
13:57I think the passion of this athlete
13:59would allow him to forsake his own health and well-being
14:03to retain the title.
14:06Well, his well-being is not doing too well right now.
14:09Benoit fighting his way back up, back to his feet.
14:13No!
14:14Downstairs.
14:14No!
14:18Emphatically, Kane regains the advantage.
14:22Oh, Benoit landing on his feet.
14:25And now Benoit trying to go for a double-leg takedown
14:28with a teaming blow to the back of the neck.
14:31I'm telling you, I just feel it, JR.
14:32I think strength is going to be such a factor here.
14:35Here's a cover by Kane, and again, Benoit able to wiggle out
14:39of that pinning combination.
14:41I think the strength of Kane is going to be the determining
14:45factor in this match.
14:47Benoit firing a hand right here.
14:51Kane sidestepping the champion.
14:54Benoit goes sailing over the top.
14:57And now Kane not going to give Benoit one moment to regroup here.
15:04This is reminiscent of the World Tag Title match.
15:07Hey, JR, I just thought, so you don't think that Benoit's out here playing possum
15:11trying to get counted out to save his title, do you?
15:13Oh!
15:14I don't know about that kind of man, but maybe not.
15:16I mean, Kane just got real personal with that ring post.
15:21Look at those scars on the head of Kane.
15:23He's faced this figure, the life of pain, the life of misery.
15:28Let's just have a telethon for him.
15:30What the hell?
15:31Well, I know how you do a telethon.
15:33You pledge the money, and then they'll never send it in.
15:35But he does deserve a telethon.
15:36Kane may be counted out here.
15:40Not that Benoit would enjoy winning this way, but if I were Benoit, I could care less.
15:44Yeah, that's right.
15:45That would suit Benoit just fine.
15:48Benoit giving up almost 100 pounds and about a foot in height to this monster.
15:53And right back to that neck with a clothesline from hell came Kane.
15:58I got a great idea, JR.
15:59If Kane wins this, if he becomes world champion, there's a cover.
16:02There's a cover.
16:03Oh, man, if Kane wins, let's have a telethon for him tomorrow night on Raw.
16:06Did you hear that?
16:08You heard it, you saw it.
16:10Benoit felt the clothesline.
16:12Can we have a telethon for Kane tomorrow night?
16:14No, stop.
16:16Well, I mean, if he wins the championship.
16:24Benoit, smart move by Benoit.
16:26Real smart move by Kane.
16:28Benoit, smart move by Benoit.
16:30Real tactician in the ring.
16:32Trying to take those legs, and he's doing a good job.
16:34Trying to-
16:36Soon, Kane will not be seven feet.
16:38He's on that canvas, and it is Benoit attacking the patella or the kneecap.
16:44Oh, this is not good.
16:46And again, a little chop block.
16:48I hate it when I see Benoit zero in on a body part.
16:50Especially if you're thinking sharpshooter like Benoit.
16:54I think he's giving up on the crippling crossface.
16:56I wouldn't say that, but-
16:58Well, here we go.
17:00Benoit trying to set-
17:02I told you.
17:04But I told you the strength is going to be the difference, JR.
17:06Kane is too strong to even allow that sharpshooter to be applied.
17:08Thus far, you're right.
17:10And again, Benoit going right back to those legs.
17:12But Kane may look like a monster, but he is human.
17:14And again, Benoit going right back to those legs.
17:16And again, Benoit going right back to those legs.
17:18And again, Benoit going right back to those legs.
17:20And again, Benoit going right back to those legs.
17:22I'm not so sure about that, JR.
17:26I was wondering myself-
17:28Wait, wait, wait, wait.
17:30Benoit doesn't think Kane is human, right now.
17:32A giant hand around the throat of the World Heavyweight Champion.
17:36Benoit is wondering, what is this that has a hold of me?
17:38Benoit went right back downstairs with that knee.
17:42Kane with a blast off to the side the head of Benoit.
17:44He uppercut that right hand.
17:48And Benoit almost sucked Kane in, and Kane's in a precarious position.
17:55And Kane's base leg, the one leg he was standing on,
17:59just got taken from him very aggressively.
18:02It could be bad.
18:03I mean, Kane may have the mentality of a monster,
18:07but he's got the ligaments and cartilage like a human.
18:11And now, Benoit may have that short shooter,
18:15since he'll never turn Kane over.
18:17And Benoit's got it.
18:20And the crowd senses it.
18:21Benoit took the short shooter.
18:23And Benoit just stuck back on him.
18:26Now, there you go, you're gonna have to tap out here.
18:30Now Kane, reaching the toes to the head of the challenger Kane.
18:37A referee in perfect position to make the call.
18:41No, he's trying to make it to the ropes.
18:45He didn't tap there, he did not, he's trying to make it to the ropes.
18:47Kane desperately trying to get to the ropes, can he get it?
18:51It doesn't hurt to be seven feet tall.
18:54But the damage, you gotta say, King,
18:57now there's some significant damage that's been done to the legs of Kane.
19:03For a second, I thought that Kane was gonna actually tap out.
19:06You know what, I should have known better.
19:08Kane is not gonna tap out.
19:10Not to the crippled crossface, not to the sharpshooter.
19:12Kane is gonna win the World Championship tonight.
19:14He's gonna emerge from the shadows of darkness of his life, JR.
19:18Benoit, the rabid Wolverine says, over my listless body it'll happen.
19:23And Benoit holding on like a pit bulldog.
19:28Well, this is not good.
19:29Benoit with another, the second of what could be a trifecta.
19:34How's Benoit doing this?
19:36He weighs over 300 pounds.
19:38Three German suplexes by this technical wrestling machine, our world's champion.
19:46But that took so much out of Benoit, he's not able to cover.
19:50Great leverage, Benoit getting underneath Kane.
19:53And now what's the champion thinking about?
19:55And Ross signifying that as far as he's concerned, the end is near for Kane.
20:05That may be what you think he's thinking, but uh-oh, look at Kane setting up.
20:08My God.
20:10I think that Benoit's thinking that first tag team match took so much out of him.
20:13He's got nothing left in the tank.
20:15What the hell did Kane set up after three German suplexes?
20:18Wait a minute, whoa, whoa, that's four.
20:21That's the fourth German suplex in the last few moments.
20:25My God.
20:26God, you gotta be kidding me.
20:29There's not a human being in the world that can withstand six German suplexes.
20:34Kane or no Kane, monster or not.
20:40Okay, I'll give the devil his due.
20:44The tenacious world's heavyweight champion with that blue collar work ethic.
20:49The diving headbutt.
20:51Change of the dynamic kid.
20:53Benoit's boyhood hero, the heavyweight champion.
20:59Change of the dynamic kid.
21:02Benoit's boyhood hero, the headbutt found its mark.
21:07The monster has been killed here tonight.
21:11I can't believe it.
21:14Kane looks to have been slayed here, but Benoit may have hurt himself.
21:18It looks like he did, obviously, with that high-risk headbutt off the top.
21:23Oh, my God.
21:24Oh, my God, yes.
21:26I ain't believing this.
21:27He's alive.
21:28I can't believe this.
21:29He's alive.
21:30I don't know why Benoit moved an arm.
21:32Oh, no.
21:33Benoit moved the crossface.
21:34Come on, fight it, Kane.
21:35You gotta fight it.
21:36You've come so far.
21:37Kane's locked his hands.
21:39Look at this.
21:40Look at Kane.
21:41Our Benoit has shoved Benoit off.
21:44Benoit wasn't even there.
21:46Oh, no.
21:47Oh, no.
21:48The end is near for the champion.
21:50We've got a heavyweight champion here.
21:52Yes.
21:53Even you know it now.
21:54They are a new champion.
21:55The choke slam.
21:56And the cover.
21:57It is over.
21:58No, it's not over.
22:01Kane is absolutely, you can't believe it.
22:05He's in shock.
22:06He's in denial.
22:07Come on, Kane.
22:08You don't want to continue to live in the darkness.
22:10You don't want to continue to live in the shadow.
22:12Choke slam him again.
22:13Kane thought he got a slow count.
22:15I didn't.
22:16It's not over.
22:17You gotta finish him.
22:18Kane is absolutely bewildered that he didn't.
22:21Here it comes.
22:22And now Kane.
22:24Kane is an angry monster now, JR.
22:27Kane indicating that the end is near for Benoit.
22:34Shouldn't have made Kane angry.
22:36Kane was looking for a two-footer.
22:38Oh, my God.
22:39What a shock to the face.
22:41What a shock to the face from a man that's got about a size 18 boot.
22:46Seven feet tall, 320 pounds.
22:50I'm going to tell you something, JR.
22:52I'm not sorry to see this because it looks like Kane's time has finally arrived.
22:57It's time for him to emerge from a life of nightmares.
23:01Here he comes.
23:04Oh, no.
23:06Oh, wait.
23:07Oh, no.
23:08The crossface.
23:09The crossface is in.
23:11He walks on the crossface of the monster.
23:14Can Benoit make the monster tap?
23:17I can't believe it.
23:18It's over.
23:19Can Benoit do it?
23:21He's ripping and tearing at Benoit.
23:25Kane is no ordinary athlete.
23:28Look at the strength of Kane's neck.
23:30Look at the strength of Kane's arm.
23:32Benoit screaming at Kane to tap.
23:34The tap.
23:35Wait.
23:36But Kane has the tap.
23:38Oh, my God.
23:39Oh, my God.
23:40He's rising up.
23:41I can't believe this.
23:42Benoit's going for the other arm.
23:45Benoit trying to fight back into that.
23:49There's nothing else about Benoit.
23:50What?
23:51Oh, Benoit pinned Kane.
23:53What?
23:54What?
23:55Benoit pinned Kane, who was trying to fight out Crossface.
23:59And Benoit takes it.
24:00Here is your winner, and still the World Heavyweight Champion,
24:05Chris Benoit.
24:08I can't believe that.
24:09That was not fair.
24:11Benoit called an audible.
24:13Oh, yeah.
24:14He couldn't beat Kane with the crossface on one arm.
24:17So he went to the other one.
24:18He faked Kane out.
24:21Well, the bottom line is that Benoit just pinned Kane.
24:24He's not supposed to pin Kane.
24:26He's about to win with a perfect crossface.
24:28And he couldn't do it.
24:29My God, look at this.
24:30I can't believe this right here.
24:31That's amazing strength and power.
24:33And look, there you go.
24:34Benoit trying to fake Kane out by going to the other arm.
24:37And then I think Benoit realized that he couldn't even
24:40beat him with the other arm.
24:41And then look at this.
24:42He broke Kane up.
24:44Benoit took the half-Nelson, rolled it into the cradle,
24:48and beat Kane with a cradle, with a roll-up.
24:53Kane looking for the fight out of the arm.
24:56Here we go.
24:57With the crossface.
24:58And Benoit just did it.
25:00Look at Kane's face, being in the faces.
25:02Look at the emotion on Kane's face.
25:04This isn't.
25:06There's no crying in baseball.
25:08You're not supposed to see tears that are coming out of the eyes
25:10of a monster either.
25:11I don't know what this is going to start, JR.
25:16This is Benoit.
25:18He had to change his game plan.
25:20He had to change his offensive strategy.
25:23He is a technical wrestling machine, and Kane cannot believe it.
25:28I think the monster is crying.