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00:00Champion vs. Champion, it is the proud, the respectful, time-honored U.S. Champion John Cena,
00:07the brash, disrespectful NXT Champion Kevin Owens, and this all started at John Cena's
00:14United States Open Championship Challenge a couple of weeks ago.
00:22This is the championship of our United States of America.
00:27This is a true symbol of excellent sportsmanship. Each week I give an opportunity for anybody to
00:35make history. All they got to do is accept the challenge. So the John Cena U.S. Open
00:40Challenge starts now. You want some? Come get some!
00:46This is extremely interesting.
00:49Hello John, you know exactly who I am, don't you?
00:53That is the NXT Champion, Kevin Owens.
00:59Win that title, he dominated Sami Zayn like nobody I've ever seen.
01:04You know what, I am a prize fighter, but I already have a prize, and it's the NXT Championship.
01:11So when it comes to your little U.S. Open Challenge, my answer is, uh, no.
01:18We are going to fight, but it's going to be on my terms, not yours.
01:24And if you think that you have me all figured out, you're going to realize-
01:27Oh! Owens with a cheap shot!
01:32Hey, look at this!
01:36The pop-up powerbomb!
01:40Owens popped the powerbomb to Cena!
01:48Wow, an emphatic, rash, in-your-face statement from the NXT Champion, Kevin Owens.
02:01Last Monday on Raw, Kevin Owens proved to the world that he knows how to start a fight.
02:07This Sunday at Elimination Chamber, we'll see if Kevin Owens knows how to finish one.
02:11It's time to go and get our kids.
02:17John Cena, 15 World Championships, 2 Royal Rumble match victories, 11 WrestleManias,
02:2457 terrible t-shirt designs, and over 1,000 different ways to suck.
02:30John Cena has beaten every single person that's ever stepped foot in a WWE ring with him,
02:36but he's never beaten me.
02:38I've been in this business for 15 years.
02:41I've competed all over the world, not just competed, mind you, but I dominated.
02:46Sami Zayn was my best friend.
02:49Someone I was closer to than almost any other human being on the planet.
02:58And that's what I did to him.
03:00Imagine what I'll do to John Cena.
03:03And once I do that, there will be no more doubts.
03:07The entire WWE Universe will know that the real champ is here.
03:33The following is a champion versus champion match, and it is scheduled for a football.
03:50Introducing first, from Maryville, Quebec, Canada, weighing in at 272 pounds, he is the
03:57NXT champion, Kevin Owens!
04:03Well, if you don't think that Kevin Owens is only looking out for himself, you just
04:07have to look back at what we just saw and how he treated his one-time best friend, Sami
04:14Zayn.
04:15Kevin Owens believes he has nothing to prove here tonight, gentlemen.
04:19That's why initially he didn't take the US Open challenge from John Cena.
04:24He just wanted to come out, John, and disrespect the 15-time world champion.
04:29What a matter of disrespect, Seth.
04:30You have it right here, Kevin Owens thinks he's disrespected for not having the recognition
04:34that John Cena has.
04:36Well, I've heard a lot about this man, and he's really looking forward to being in the
04:40same ring with John Cena.
04:41Look at him, chomping at the bit.
04:43He can't wait for Cena to get out here.
04:45The wait is over!
05:04His opponent, from West Liberia, Massachusetts, weighing in at 251 pounds, he is the United
05:13States Champion, John Cena!
05:43That's what it's about for this man, the current United States Champion, the 15-time
05:53world champion, John Cena.
05:55And that's what it's about for Kevin Owens, the current NXT champion, but a man, guys,
05:59who, well, says he's been in entertainment business for 15 years and deserves to be respected
06:07on that note alone.
06:09But he never had a break.
06:11Well, guys, this is all the break Kevin Owens needs in the same ring with John Cena, champion
06:21versus champion.
06:23It's like watching Dr. Jig in the ABA.
06:25You wonder how he compares against Magic or Larry.
06:27Well, now we're going to find out.
06:29You're right, we are going to find out, guys.
06:31I may be surprised, but I just, my own gut feeling, I don't think that Kevin Owens is
06:37up to much.
06:39We expect a lot of social activity on this matchup.
06:41We invite you to join the chatter by using the hashtag Cena versus Owens.
06:47Michael, you said this is about pride.
06:49It's about more than pride to Kevin Owens.
06:51This is all about, I mean, you know, he could be the goat in all of this.
06:57I mean, if he doesn't come out big here tonight, he's a flash in the pan in the first degree.
07:03The thing about Kevin Owens is that he believes he's as good as, maybe even better than John
07:11Cena.
07:13That's in the mind of Kevin Owens.
07:15Well, you've got to believe that.
07:17In the mind of anybody, when you step in a WWE ring, if you don't believe you're as good
07:19or better than your opponent, you're going to lose.
07:21Kevin Owens tweeting throughout the week that this is about showing the world that he belongs
07:29here at WWE.
07:31He tried to show the world when he stomped on John Cena's United States Heavyweight Championship.
07:39Kevin Owens came up in his career with many current superstars here at WWE.
07:45Feels like he was left behind and now looks to prove himself.
07:47What he was doing, King, you're right, was stomping on John Cena's reputation.
07:51Kevin Owens feels like he has been overlooked.
07:55I believe Kevin Owens has been overlooked.
07:57However, he's now in there with the best of our generation.
07:59This matchup tonight came about thanks to Triple H of The Authority.
08:03After Owens arrived on the scene a couple of weeks ago and there's a shoulder tackle
08:07by Cena.
08:09Welcome to the WWE, Mr. Owens.
08:11This matchup tonight came about thanks to Triple H of The Authority.
08:17After Owens arrived on the scene a couple of weeks ago and there's a shoulder tackle
08:21by Cena.
08:23Welcome to the WWE, Mr. Owens.
08:29Yeah, welcome to the big time.
08:36John, you have been in the ring with John Cena.
08:38If you're Kevin Owens, you can say whatever you want.
08:40You can do whatever you want.
08:41You can attack Cena from behind.
08:43But when you get in the ring and you face the 15-time world champion for the very first
08:47time, the nerves have got to be getting to you.
08:49It's got to be like something you've never experienced before.
08:51It has to be.
08:52I've fought the greatest in the last 20 years.
08:54I held the WWE championship longer than anybody in SmackDown 12 in history.
08:57I've never faced anybody like John Cena.
09:00That's the reason he's a 15-time world champion.
09:03But Owens.
09:04And Kevin Owens is going to find that out right now.
09:06And Owens is getting to be intimidated.
09:08Nice forearm right to the jaw of Cena.
09:10Well, Kevin Owens has been around for 15 years, guys.
09:13And I'll tell you this.
09:14I've been in the ring against Kevin Owens.
09:16And he is not a guy that you can intimidate.
09:18And he is as tough as they come.
09:20As John Cena's finding out right now.
09:22There's an example of it by Owens.
09:26We've learned a lot about Kevin Owens on NXT, which can be seen on the WWE Network every Wednesday night.
09:32Kevin Owens is cold and he's calculated.
09:35He's remorseless.
09:37It's all about Owens.
09:39And there's Cena with a running bulldog.
09:44And John Cena is going to keep the pace.
09:49Where he wants it.
09:51Keep it quick.
09:52Not allow Owens to settle in because John Owens has got that methodical style.
09:59A style that has been very successful to Kevin Owens.
10:01He throws one hell of a punch.
10:03There's a reason why Kevin Owens is out here.
10:05People chant, fighting Owens.
10:07Owens loves to fight.
10:10And he's good at it.
10:11I like to sort of refer to this as like an old school fight.
10:15That's what Kevin does.
10:16He doesn't go out there and try to be flashy.
10:18You're not going to see him doing any triple moonsaults off the top rope or anything.
10:22But he will fight.
10:23And he will beat you up.
10:25And now we're settling into the kind of pace that Owens likes.
10:29Where he can dominate and take his time.
10:32And physically, watch this for him.
10:35Just watch this.
10:36Wear down his competition just like that.
10:41When Kevin Owens won that NXT championship,
10:44he didn't just defeat a great champion in Sami Zayn.
10:46He absolutely dominated him.
10:48John, what about what he did to Sami Zayn just a couple of weeks ago
10:51in the next TakeOver Unstoppable?
10:53Yeah, his friend Sami Zayn.
10:55He's willing to do that to his best friend.
10:57Think what he's willing to do to John Cena.
10:59To get what he thinks he deserves.
11:01And that is respect.
11:10Here's the cover.
11:11Hook of the leg on Cena.
11:13Who's got a power out?
11:14Now Owens is in control.
11:15And you've got to wonder if Cena's thinking to himself,
11:18what did I get myself into?
11:28And Owens wearing Cena down.
11:34Cena back to his feet.
11:38Well, doesn't look good for John Cena right now.
11:41But you saw, and we see it every single night
11:43when John Cena comes out to the ring.
11:45He raises that towel that says, never give up.
11:47And that's what John Cena lives by.
11:49He never gives up.
11:51There's a reason I nicknamed him Big Mask John.
11:53I've never seen a guy win bigger matches on bigger stages
11:57against a forearm that was right underneath that chin
12:03trying to cut off all the air and the wind of John Cena.
12:06Yeah, you see John trying to get it off of his neck,
12:10that air passage there.
12:13Now John going to maybe show Kevin Owens
12:15a little bit of his strength,
12:17a little bit of John Cena's power.
12:19Oh, there he goes.
12:20There he goes, going for the AA.
12:22Oh, wait a minute.
12:23And Kevin Owens still able to plant Cena
12:25with a DDT.
12:26Cover for the win.
12:27Hooks the leg, and Cena just kicks out at two.
12:37I hope that John hasn't underestimated,
12:39or I don't think John would underestimate Kevin Owens,
12:43but somehow maybe take him in a little bit for granted.
12:45Look at John get him up in the air,
12:47but Kevin Owens was able to slip out of there
12:50and then plant John.
12:55So close for Owens, but again,
12:57that's just an example of why John Cena
12:59is a 15-time world champion.
13:03The resilience and the heart and guts of Cena.
13:06Listen to this.
13:07Owens, though, with a boot right to the face.
13:09The response from this crowd, it's electric in here.
13:12This is a true big fight feel.
13:16You are rocking champion against champion.
13:26Saw a tweet from Triple H just a few moments ago.
13:30Picture of him with Kevin Owens saying,
13:32future is now.
13:36Cena for the win!
13:38Almost surprised that Cocky Owens
13:40who fouls it up with a clothesline.
13:49There's that fight that we know is inside Kevin Owens.
13:54He just wants to beat you up.
13:58Wearing him down, cover by Owens again on Cena,
14:01who powers at it too.
14:03Make no mistake about it,
14:05Cena knew he was going to be in a fight tonight.
14:11This man, Kevin Owens, is tenacious.
14:17He was fighting for what he believes he has not achieved
14:19in 15 years, and that is respect.
14:23I don't think anybody's been able to stand there
14:25with Cena like this in a long time.
14:37Stand there, don't go too long.
14:39That's where you're going to get it, Kevin Owens.
14:45Cena's not afraid to throw hands
14:48or show off.
14:50He's not afraid to throw hands
14:52or shoulder tackles.
14:54Uh-oh, look at this!
14:56Cena caught!
14:58Uh-oh!
15:00Wow! Owens for the win!
15:02Kick out by Cena at two!
15:10Kevin Owens thought he had this thing,
15:12and he almost did.
15:14Watch this!
15:16Ow!
15:18Heavy weight on John Cena, but Cena
15:20able to get those shoulders up.
15:25Cena's taking a lot of abuse in this match.
15:28Look at that!
15:30A cannonball by Owens
15:32for the win on Cena, who kicks out again at two.
15:35And Kevin Owens is learning about
15:37the resilience of John Cena.
15:39Never give up!
15:42Another big tough man
15:44that used to beat up people,
15:46that used to do this as well, Otto Vance.
15:48How would you like to have that coming at you?
15:50No thanks.
15:52Just threw his own body into John Cena.
15:56Never give up!
15:58It's time to give up, John Owens!
16:02And the trash talking.
16:05John Cena gonna let his action speak for him.
16:12Oh, and for the pop-up powerbomb!
16:14Owens wanted to end it right there.
16:16Cena though, able to counter.
16:18And now the shoulder tackles, and here comes John Cena!
16:20John Cena's head to pop-up powerbomb.
16:22And he's got it!
16:24And he's got it!
16:26And he's got it!
16:28And he's got it!
16:30And he's got it!
16:32John Cena's head to pop-up powerbomb.
16:34Dropped on him two times now.
16:36He wasn't gonna go for it a third time.
16:38Momentum shift coming.
16:42I read your book, Kevin Owens.
16:44You can't see me.
16:46But you're gonna see this five knuckle shuffle.
16:50Cena in position
16:52for the AA.
16:54There we go.
16:56Kevin Owens able to slip up again.
16:58Pop-up powerbomb!
17:00Pop-up powerbomb!
17:02Cover Cena too!
17:04Owens hit the pop-up
17:06powerbomb, and John Cena
17:08was able to kick out.
17:14Owens can't believe it.
17:16You better believe it, Kevin.
17:18This is champion versus champion.
17:20Like it or not, you're in the ring
17:22with John Cena.
17:24One of the greatest of all time.
17:26And Kevin Owens, you are finding out
17:28for years around here,
17:30it is tough to beat this man
17:32in a big match.
17:34Oh, man.
17:36Look what that does to your spinal cord, gentlemen.
17:38Uh-oh, Cena in trouble.
17:40Kevin Owens gonna pull out all the stops.
17:42Well, I said earlier you won't be
17:44seeing this guy flying off the top rope.
17:46I guess I was wrong.
17:48Look at that.
17:50Uh-oh.
17:52That's a lot of weight coming down
17:54across the wrong place there.
17:56John Cena may have bought himself
17:58some time.
18:00And hashtag WWE chamber
18:02trending number one
18:04in the world right now.
18:06Watch out.
18:14John climbing up there.
18:16Oh, man.
18:18Popped that one right in the jaw.
18:20Popped that one right in the jaw.
18:30Cena again in trouble.
18:32That's not gonna end well for John.
18:34What?
18:36Cena.
18:38Cover.
18:40Cena's done it again.
18:42Owens kicks out.
18:44Wow.
18:47Owens showing tremendous agility.
18:49I want you to watch this, how he turns this
18:51into a moonsault here.
18:53And John Cena rolling out of the way.
18:55And then he delivers the AA kick,
18:57but somehow Owens kicked out.
19:02Well, if Owens had hit that moonsault
19:04from the top rope, it would already
19:06be over, but he missed it.
19:08And then John Cena did hit the AA,
19:10and I thought it was over.
19:12But no, Kevin Owens kicks out
19:14somehow.
19:16It is an electric feeling
19:18here tonight.
19:20Sold out American Bank Center
19:22and Corpus Christi.
19:24I knew Kevin Owens was gonna be impressive.
19:26I didn't know he was gonna be quite this impressive.
19:28You think John Cena
19:30might be thinking the same thing about now?
19:32Cena and Owens in a stalemate.
19:34Oh, wow. What an attack. Look out.
19:38I think Cena, in a weird way,
19:40enjoys it.
19:42The better and the harder the fight gets,
19:44the more Cena has to dig down.
19:46He loves the challenges.
19:48He wants everyone to step up.
19:50Oh, super kick!
20:00Owens with the upper hand, but does he have the strength
20:02to cover John Cena? Look at this kick. Boom!
20:04Right on the button.
20:08This match is taking a great deal
20:10of both men.
20:12Just looking at the physique of Kevin Owens.
20:14What is Kevin Owens thinking?
20:18Oh, man.
20:22Well, we call him brash. We call him arrogant.
20:30Owens mocking Cena.
20:32Got caught. That cockiness is gonna
20:34cost Owens.
20:36Wrong guy to mount.
20:38Owens gonna tap to the STF.
20:44Owens trying to drag himself to the bottom rope.
20:50Look at John. Drag him back to the middle.
20:52Wait a minute.
20:56Oh, look at this.
20:58Look at this.
21:00AA and AA.
21:02Using Cena's move against him.
21:04And Cena powers out at two.
21:06Kevin Owens using the attitude adjustment.
21:08How audacious is that?
21:10I love it. This guy is arrogant.
21:14He wants to beat a 15-time
21:16world champion at his
21:18own move, and that is not arrogant.
21:20That's not cocky if you can back it up.
21:22And Kevin Owens is backing it up.
21:24He needs to be taught some respect.
21:26Fight, Owens, fight.
21:30This is the chance of a lifetime
21:32for Kevin Owens.
21:36Fight, Owens, fight.
21:38Fight, Owens, fight.
21:40Fight, Owens, fight.
21:42Uh-oh.
21:46Cena. Tornado DDT.
21:48Cena hooks the leg.
21:50Is this enough? Here, Owens at two.
21:52Another near fall
21:54in this match.
21:56I've said this before. I think
21:58Kevin Owens needs to be taught some respect.
22:00And we all know that John Cena
22:02is a man that is good at that.
22:06Fight, Owens, fight.
22:08Fight, Owens, fight.
22:10Fight, Owens, fight.
22:12Watch this move from Cena.
22:14Right off the top, landing
22:16Kevin Owens.
22:18Right now, Kevin Owens
22:20is doing everything he said he would do.
22:22He is taking the fight to John Cena.
22:24First Owens to the top rope.
22:26And now Cena.
22:30Lay drop back of the neck.
22:32Owens could be out.
22:34Incoming. A near fall.
22:38And this Kevin Owens is taking
22:40absolutely everything that John
22:42can dish out. Including Cena's
22:44patented leg drop from the top rope.
22:46These superstars are kicking out
22:48everything.
22:50That's why this is champion
22:52versus champion.
22:54Always had respect.
22:56Wait a minute.
22:58Always had respect for NXT.
23:00I got a brand new respect right now.
23:02Oh man!
23:04Kevin Owens
23:06powering himself
23:08and it's Cena again.
23:10And now Owens getting frustrated.
23:12What has he got to do?
23:20He may be in the ring
23:22He may be in a situation
23:24where we got two superstars in the ring
23:26that can't beat each other.
23:28We're always wondering how different
23:30leagues compare. How different superstars
23:32that don't cross paths would do.
23:34I tell you what. This is awesome.
23:40Kevin Owens in his first
23:42WWE match
23:44is taking John Cena to the limit.
23:48Watch the animation of Kevin Owens.
23:50This cannot feel good.
23:54But yet Cena was still
23:56able to stay alive.
24:04This has been an incredible match.
24:14I think you said it best
24:16a little bit ago.
24:18These guys are both
24:20wondering what it's going to take
24:22to put the other man down for a count of three.
24:30Owens got one.
24:34Cena will throw hands with the best of them.
24:36Going bombs here. Yes they are.
24:48Springboard Stunner.
24:50Springboard Stunner by Cena.
24:52For the victory.
24:54It's a kick out.
25:00The frustration.
25:02That's right. You don't often
25:04see that.
25:06Springboard Stunner has been very successful
25:08for John.
25:10His last few outings.
25:12This is something you rarely ever see.
25:14Two champions in the prime of their lives
25:16out.
25:18Oh man.
25:20That should have put
25:22anybody away.
25:24Kevin Owens with a wherewithal to get the shoulder
25:26up.
25:34Wonder what's running through Cena's mind.
25:36What does he need to do to put Owens away?
25:46Oh no.
25:48What a counter.
25:50What a counter.
25:52What a counter by Owens and Cena again.
25:54At two and a half.
25:56Kevin Owens with a tremendous
25:58counter. Both these men just
26:00refuse to lose.
26:04Kevin Owens has been so impressive.
26:06Going to go to the top rope.
26:08Launching himself.
26:10Senton for the win.
26:12Kevin Owens.
26:14I know you've got quite a repertoire.
26:16I know you've got a big bag of tricks
26:18you need to dig a little deeper.
26:20Look at this, King. Talk about the innovation
26:22of Kevin Owens.
26:24That is awesome.
26:32That is awesome.
26:34That is awesome.
26:36That is awesome.
26:38That is awesome.
26:40That is awesome.
26:42And right here.
26:48But again, Cena able to stay
26:50in the match.
26:54And Cena with a clothesline.
26:56And that by
26:58Cena time creates some
27:00separation.
27:02Allows Cena to regroup.
27:04I don't know.
27:06You talk about regrouping.
27:08I don't know how these guys are even able to
27:10get back to their feet after what
27:12we've seen from these two.
27:14Watch this.
27:16Good grief.
27:18Almost took another one.
27:20Almost taking Kevin
27:22Owens head off.
27:24Owen has found a way to win more big
27:26matches over his career than John Cena.
27:28Is he going to find a way
27:30to do it again?
27:34It's that clothesline.
27:36Pop a powerbomb.
27:38Cover on Cena. Hook of the leg.
27:40Owens got him.
27:42Kevin Owens has beat John Cena.
27:44Here is your winner,
27:46the NXT Champion,
27:48Kevin
27:50Owens.
27:52That may be the most monumental
27:54win in WWE
27:56history when you consider this.
27:58This was Owens first
28:00WWE match tonight
28:02and he beat a 15
28:04time world champion.
28:06Kevin Owens has
28:08defeated John Cena.
28:10Unbelievable. I've got to agree
28:12with you Michael. This is akin to
28:14Joe Willey claiming he's going to beat
28:16the Chiefs. You had
28:18Kevin Owens call it. Kevin Owens
28:20called his shot like a bambino on
28:22Wrigley Field and said I'm going to beat John
28:24Cena. Kevin Owens walked out here
28:26and did just that.
28:28He did the unthinkable.
28:30It's the greatest called shot
28:32in sports entertainment history.
28:34I'm like that man we just got sitting on the
28:36front row shaking his head.
28:38I am shaking my head.
28:40I'll admit it in disbelief.
28:46Let's go back and watch this
28:48unbelievable close out right there from
28:50Powell. Wow.
28:52That knocked him for a loop.
28:54How Kevin Owens
28:56survived that?
28:59Look at this.
29:01John Cena
29:03could not survive this
29:05massive pop up
29:07powerbomb. What's the
29:09impact with John Lange? It was an
29:11incredible match of innovation.
29:13John we've seen moves in this match
29:15we've never seen in a John Cena match
29:17before. Incredible.
29:19Champion versus champion.
29:21We have watched history
29:23and that was
29:25one hell of a ride.
29:27Greatest called shot
29:29in sports entertainment.
29:39On my first night
29:41on Raw I said
29:43anybody
29:45who didn't know me yet
29:47wasn't worth my time.
29:49Well now
29:51everyone knows who
29:53Kevin Owens is.
29:57I'm
29:59the man
30:01who started a fight
30:03with John Cena
30:05but I'm also
30:07the man who just
30:09finished that fight.
30:19And now
30:21that I've beaten John Cena
30:23John
30:25I have some veteran
30:27advice.
30:32It's time for you to go
30:34because your time
30:36is way up
30:38but my time is now
30:40because the champ
30:42is here!
30:51He called it.
30:53He called it.
30:55He backed it up.
30:57He did it.
30:59An absolutely incredible match
31:01between Kevin Owens and John Cena
31:03but this was it.
31:05The pop-up powerbomb
31:07that will be forever remembered.
31:09On the night where Kevin Owens
31:11from NXT, the champion
31:13marched in
31:15and defeated John Cena
31:17at Elimination Chamber.
31:19You're right Michael.
31:21It was a night and I'm impressed
31:23but my question is
31:25can Kevin Owens do this
31:27night in and night out?
31:29Before every WWE special we have an hour-long
31:31kickoff show. Let's check in with our
31:33all-star panel hosted
31:35by Renee Young.