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00:00Ladies and gentlemen, the Intercontinental Championship is hanging high above the ring.
00:05This is a six pack ladder match.
00:06You climb the ladder, you grab the title, you become the Intercontinental Champion.
00:12Already here in the ring, JD McDonough, Dragon Lee,
00:15Rusev is prowling outside the ring as we get set for some incredible action.
00:56The legendary Hall of Famer, Ray Mysterio.
01:02Six wins, all time, at WrestleMania.
01:14From San Diego, California, weight in at 175 pounds.
01:21WWE Hall of Famer, Ray Mysterio.
01:30Including 2006.
01:31One of the greatest moments in WrestleMania history, when Ray Mysterio won the World
01:35Championship in a triple threat here at WrestleMania.
01:39For Mysterio, he's no stranger to ladder matches.
01:41He's had some incredible ones over the years, including back in 1997, at Halloween Havoc,
01:47when he beat Eddie Guerrero for the WCW Cruiserweight title, and also at SummerSlam versus Eddie.
01:54The custody of Dominic Mysterio.
01:58Your boy is bouncy.
02:00Bouncy.
02:16Young OG.
02:20From Greensboro, North Carolina, weight in at 195 pounds.
02:28Jermon Evans.
02:55Jermon Evans.
02:58Jermon Evans can be.
03:02And this match is presented by Wingstop, made to order, always fresh.
03:07Don't miss any of the action.
03:08Get flavor delivered to your door at Wingstop.com.
03:20Tonight, at WrestleMania, there will be combat.
03:25There will be danger.
03:26I will beat anyone in the ring.
03:29Do you know why?
03:31Porque yo soy Penta.
03:35En cero.
03:38Yes.
03:45Penta.
03:46No.
04:01No.
04:02No.
04:03Do you know why?
04:06The end of my life is a strikeout.
04:07The end of my life is not a strikeout.
04:27He is the Intercontinental Champion, PENTA!
04:37Dressed as Shao Kahn from Mortal Kombat,
04:42PENTA, the Intercontinental Champion,
04:44making his way to the ring for this ladder match.
04:47And believe it or not,
04:48it was PENTA's idea to have a ladder match for his championship at WrestleMania.
04:52Well, I'll tell you right now, that is an absolutely terrible idea if you are the champion.
04:58Why?
04:59Because at best, you have a one in six chance of winning this damn thing.
05:04So hard to strategize in a ladder match.
05:08They call this a car crash style of match for a reason that is both style and substance.
05:15A lot of people are gonna get hurt in this one.
05:17Again, thank you for joining us on ESPN tonight, ladies and gentlemen.
05:21First time ever for WrestleMania.
05:23And look at JD McDonough goes right after Javon Evans.
05:26And we are underway.
05:28Ladder match for the Intercontinental Championship.
05:30Well, this is an absolute sprint from the word go.
05:33It favors the nimble and talk about nimble.
05:37Nimble really describes five of the six competitors in there tonight.
05:41And Rusev being the one that is more the power-based athlete.
05:44However, Rusev has been in the ladder match before, Wade. 2018.
05:48Money in the bank.
05:49But he could be the wild card in this whole thing.
05:51Yeah, that's the thing.
05:52His path to victory here is not being fast and scrambling up a ladder.
05:55It's wrecking every single body in the match and taking a leisurely stroll to the top.
06:01You know, I talked to Dragon Lee earlier today, right?
06:04And he was so excited for this match.
06:06Now, remember, Rey Mysterio has been his mentor, right?
06:09Rey Mysterio gifted a mask to Dragon Lee many years ago.
06:12He called Dragon Lee the future of Lucha Libre.
06:15This is the first time that Dragon Lee and Rey Mysterio have ever been opponents,
06:19and he couldn't wait for tonight.
06:20Well, even Penta is tight with that crew, but all bets have to be off here.
06:24It's about the goal.
06:25Bang!
06:26Man up and apologize later.
06:29And Penta and Dragon Lee now gonna turn the ladder, so to speak, on Rusev.
06:34Well, it was a smart move, taking Rusev out and then going back to your one-on-one business, or
06:38maybe not.
06:39Well, that didn't work out well, and Rusev, okay, he's in a mood.
06:44Well, this is an absolute brute of a human being.
06:46Get out of there, Wade.
06:47He's in a mood tonight.
06:48Well, Rusev told me a couple of days ago he is feeling buoyant right now.
06:52He said he's climbed the ladder of life.
06:54And by the way, this is your fault, Marcelo.
07:02And Penta driving Rusev to the floor.
07:06And now Penta slides underneath the ladder.
07:08And the entire ringside area already-
07:11Siobhan Evans gonna fly!
07:13Scene of carnage everywhere you look, protect your health at all costs in this one.
07:23And now it's Siobhan Evans sending a ladder into the ring.
07:29Dragon Lee now!
07:31Rana into McDonough!
07:34And Dragon Lee, such a joy to watch.
07:37He's come into his own in the past year, really the embodiment of Lucha's spirit.
07:42Now Student and Mentor finally about to throw down.
07:46Here we go!
07:49Oh, Dragon Lee, he told me, I'm not gonna take it easy on Rey tonight.
07:52But Mentor or not.
07:54Nor should he.
07:55You wanna be at the top in this game, you have to be all covers.
07:57Uh-oh!
07:58That includes the living legend, Rey Mysterio.
08:02Here we go!
08:03And Rey now, sending Dragon Lee into position.
08:08Went for the 619, Dragon Lee ducked underneath and caught him with a super kick.
08:13Well, Dragon Lee clearly studied his mentor as well as anybody knew exactly what was coming in.
08:18Now's an opportunity for Dragon to scrabble up there.
08:22Thought better of it.
08:23Perhaps that ladder was not quite tall enough for various sizes of ladders here.
08:28Rusev understands the concept of using the ladder as a weapon.
08:32Oh!
08:33And Siobhan Evans, welcome to the big time, kid.
08:36This is exactly what Rusev needs to do.
08:39Forget the highlight reel stuff, just smash bodies and climb.
08:44WrestleMania, of course, has been a great stage for ladder matches over the years.
08:48Remember the first ever at WrestleMania?
08:51Razor, HBK, Madison Square Garden, Intercontinental title.
08:55Right, what I'm seeing from J.D. McDonough here, one of the smartest-
08:58No!
08:59I don't like that goal.
08:59I don't want to take that back.
09:01Jesus!
09:01I was gonna say he's one of the smartest, shrewdest competitors in there.
09:04Highly intelligent, but perhaps intelligence would indicate you should stay well clear of this Bulgarian brute.
09:12And now it's Rusev setting up the ladder.
09:14Again, you climb the ladder to grab the title.
09:18And Rusev may be cruising to victory here.
09:21He's a fingertip away, and now Penta looking to keep his championship.
09:26You saw the speed of Penta scrambling up there, and now Rusev with a death grip getting broken.
09:33Oh!
09:35And that is not a landing.
09:37The massive frame of Rusev is designed to be taken.
09:41That was a bulldog by Penta off the ladder.
09:44Now Javon Evans runs into a superkick by the spectacular Penta.
09:50J.D. McDonough running interference.
09:53Well that was that smart analytical presence of McDonough we talked about before.
09:57Well, you gotta head that size, you gotta be smart.
09:59Oh!
09:59And Javon Evans with a shot right to the kidneys.
10:02And now Evans to McDonough, gonna climb the ladder.
10:04Look at him win the gold.
10:06Oh, just fingertips away.
10:07And here we go, McDonough might have this!
10:11He just shuddered a thing.
10:12Oh no!
10:14Oh no!
10:15Oh no!
10:16Is he alive?
10:17Well that was human skittles somehow.
10:19McDonough landing on his feet, and that has ended up rather favorable for the Irishman.
10:25How's McDonough still in this effort?
10:26He took a backdrop on his head on the ladder.
10:28And now McDonough quickly up the ladder.
10:30Javon Evans, top rope and a leap.
10:32Oh my goodness!
10:33A limpy clothesline by Evans!
10:35And now Dragon Lee pouncing, looking to capitalize!
10:41Speed of thought, speed of movement.
10:45Keep your wits about you, there's always somebody lurking on the outside.
10:49Oh no!
10:49A sandwich!
10:50A sandwich board in the ladder by Rey Mysterio.
10:55This time the six will not connect!
10:57With some added steel for good measure.
11:00And now Rey's got a chance, Rey's got a chance now.
11:02Clear out the debris, get that giant ladder, that is the one you need.
11:08Rey was right when he said this past week that it couldn't be WrestleMania,
11:11couldn't be a ladder match without Rey Mysterio.
11:15And this is the moment, he just takes so much time to set that ladder up in a perfect position.
11:21Javon Evans just leapfrogged over Mysterio, trying to climb the ladder.
11:23Well, they call him bouncy for a reason, Cole.
11:28Mysterio still going strong at this age is incredible.
11:31Penta now with a super kick.
11:32Rey Mysterio.
11:33And he took out Rey.
11:35Bouncing of youth some time ago.
11:37And using Javon Evans as a weapon.
11:43And Javon, looking up at the ladder, got caught.
11:46And a super kick straight into the ladder by Penta.
11:48Yes, spine first will not help the agility of anyone.
11:52Dragon Lee with a drop kick to a hung up Mysterio.
11:56There you go, Mentor.
11:57Thanks for everything, you've served your purpose now.
11:59Can't defend yourself when you're hooked in the ladder.
12:02And now JD McDonough, sent flying by Dragon Lee, who's been spectacular tonight.
12:06I love this new level of aggression from Dragon Lee.
12:10Well, he's seen the success of other luchadors, and he wants some for himself.
12:13He's won tag goal before.
12:15He might be about to grab the Intercontinental, but denied by Rusev.
12:18Yeah, the Bulgarian brute planting Dragon Lee.
12:23Man, what a fast-paced, vicious matchup for the Intercontinental title.
12:28How impressive was Rusev here?
12:29Came very close to winning the Intercontinental Championship a couple of times last year.
12:34Denied by Penta, and indeed Gertie Dom, who was the then holder.
12:38How sweet would it be to grab gold here in Vegas?
12:42For Rusev, his first WrestleMania in seven years.
12:47Said he was so focused coming into this, Javon with a right hand.
12:51I'm not quite sure what Rusev's planning here, but it's not gonna be good.
12:54Designing some instruments of destruction, and it could be Javon Evans.
12:58My goodness.
12:59Who tastes it, and Javon Evans hooked up in a rather ugly fashion there.
13:03Come on, kid.
13:04Have you seen a lot of match?
13:05Yes, I have.
13:06Guess how many I won?
13:08None.
13:09Absolutely zero.
13:10What does that feel like?
13:11Well, 2015 for the Intercontinental Championship, actually.
13:14I was in a ladder match, and all I recall is severe pain, and my body never feeling quite right
13:19ever again.
13:20I was also relieved of the gold on that occasion.
13:23No wonder you drank it.
13:24Oh!
13:26Penta.
13:29And Penta again.
13:31I mean, it's a small thing.
13:32You've gotta team up against the biggest, stronger athlete.
13:40And Penta discussing tactics with Rey.
13:46And now Rey Mysterio launched.
13:49Oh!
13:49Oh, my goodness!
13:50And now Rusev!
13:51Collapsing the ladder!
13:52Breaking the ladder in half!
13:54Mysterio taking out Rusev!
13:56A West Coast pop over the top, through the body of Rusev.
14:02Mysterio's face hitting the steel at the same time.
14:09Take another look at this.
14:11But look at the face of Mysterio eating the steel on the way down.
14:15I'm astounded he's still moving.
14:17Rusev is done now.
14:18He's out of this one for sure.
14:20There are bodies everywhere.
14:22As Penta looks to keep his title, Rey Mysterio intercepts.
14:27Man, this is everything is advertised and more.
14:30About as dangerous as it gets here in WWE, but with a prize so great,
14:35it is worth it for these athletes.
14:38Rey Mysterio looks better than ever.
14:40This is absolutely incredible.
14:41He won his world title at WrestleMania 20 years ago, Wade.
14:44Well, we've been watching this guy for 30 years at this point.
14:47Bang! 619.
14:48And there's no slowing down looking as good as ever.
14:52And now Rey gonna climb the ladder.
14:54Can you imagine this moment?
14:55Can you imagine winning the Intercontinental title at WrestleMania?
14:58Dragon Lee now trying to thwart his mentor, his longtime friend.
15:05And now Dragon trying to reach out and grab the belt.
15:09And that small frame of Dragon Lee.
15:11And indeed Rey Mysterio is not helping here.
15:15Simply don't have the leg, limb length to get a good grip on this thing as it swings wildly above
15:21them.
15:21Man, it's so difficult to fight up there.
15:25Oh, oh.
15:25And Rey now using the ladder as a weapon.
15:27Dragon Lee knocked down.
15:29Rey may have a chance.
15:31It's Rey's for the taking now.
15:34And Rey now, he kicks right to the face of Dragon Lee.
15:38Mysterio still trying to hang on.
15:40Thinks twice about it.
15:41Gonna get...
15:41Oh, no!
15:43Impressive power there.
15:45Dragon Lee told me the Hall of Famer.
15:47AJ Styles gifted him the Styles Clash for the rest of his career.
15:52They held tag gold together recently and, oh, inches away from Intercontinental gold now.
15:59And now it's JD McDonough who's long been a thorn in the side of Dragon Lee from the Judgment Day.
16:04And McDonough looking to win gold.
16:09The entire body of these superstars must be on fire.
16:13What are you cooking up here, JD?
16:14Spanish Fly!
16:17As high risk as it gets, but it paid off for JD McDonough.
16:22Now can he finish the job?
16:26Take another look at this high risk offense.
16:29A Spanish Fly from JD McDonough landing flush on Dragon Lee.
16:36But unfortunately in the process, JD McDonough took a ton out of himself.
16:42Over 50,000 tonight.
16:44And they're raucous.
16:46They're alive in Las Vegas for WrestleMania Sunday.
16:49And maybe the moment that JD McDonough has waited years for.
16:53An opportunity to win at WrestleMania.
16:56And Penta now climbing the ladder.
17:03I'll tell you right now, fighting like this on top of a ladder never ends well.
17:08You think?
17:09Somebody is gonna take a nasty drop here as that thing wobbles all over the place.
17:14Penta slowly climbing to the top.
17:16JD McDonough now hooking the Intercontinental Champion.
17:18There's a ladder just below them, folks.
17:20There's a ladder just below them.
17:22It looks like McDonough was looking for some sort of suplex.
17:25And Penta is clinging on for dear life, smartly so, and has now got the upper hand here.
17:30No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.
17:33Not from there, Penta.
17:35Oh, my God.
17:35Not from there.
17:37Not from there, Penta.
17:43Mexican Destroyer on the ladder.
17:47McDonough's dead.
17:50Well, scrape JD McDonough off the canvas after this Mexican Destroyer head first onto a steel ladder.
18:07I told McDonough earlier today, don't do anything stupid, kid.
18:11Well, that wasn't his fault.
18:13That was all Penta.
18:14I mean, the stupid part was entering this kind of carnage.
18:18Oh, look at, look at Wade.
18:19Back in the ring.
18:20Javon Evans just realizes he's got a chance.
18:23Everybody else is down.
18:24There's bodies everywhere.
18:26Wake up, kid.
18:27Make yourself a champion.
18:29Make yourself history tonight, Javon.
18:33Rewrite the history books.
18:35Oh, he's got the title.
18:37Rusev's got the ladder.
18:39Javon is hanging onto the belt.
18:40He can't unclip it from this position.
18:44But he can certainly drop down.
18:48And now Evans sent over the top rope into the floor right in front of us.
18:52And nobody's body is cooperating with him at this point.
18:56How the hell is Rusev moving?
18:57Everybody showing wounds of war.
18:59How is Rusev moving?
19:01Rusev has a body designed to take abuse and keep moving like no other.
19:06We saw him fall through that ladder.
19:08An epic crash from that west coast pop.
19:11But just shrugging it off minutes later.
19:14And you saw Rusev was favoring his leg, Wade, right?
19:17It's difficult.
19:18He's trying to climb the ladder now, really on one leg.
19:21Look at, look at, look at, look at.
19:23Evans, Evans in the background.
19:25Evans in the background.
19:27Oh, Jay Conner!
19:28Oh, Jay Conner!
19:31Oh, Jay Conner!
19:44Insane abilities of Javon Evans dropping Rusev once again.
19:52And Javon Evans, whose body has been turned to mush,
19:56has the ability to win this whole damn thing.
19:59And Penta trying desperately to protect this championship.
20:02And oh, Mexican destroyer off the ladder to Evans.
20:06And Penta is incredible.
20:08Where does he come up with this stuff?
20:10It's just instinctive.
20:12This guy has freakish abilities.
20:14It's why the world has fallen in love with the current Intercontinental Champion.
20:21May well be about to retain.
20:2320 years to get here.
20:2420 years to win the Intercontinental Championship.
20:29Penta on top of the ladder.
20:32Penta trying to grab the title.
20:34Penta still on top of the world.
20:37Here is your winner, and still, the Intercontinental Champion, Penta!
20:49Absolutely incredible.
20:56I give it up for all six men in this match tonight.
21:04I mean, you think about what JD McDonough put himself through.
21:09That kid's a star. He's a future champion.
21:12You talk about Dragon Lee and the aggression that he showed tonight.
21:16You talk about the toughness of Rusev, the biggest man in the match.
21:20How about the fountain of youth that is inside Rey Mysterio getting bouncy with Javon Evans.
21:28Let's take a look at some of that.
21:30And Penta.
21:30Highlights of this match.
21:32Dragon Lee taking out former mentor Rey with an epic attack there.
21:37And now, Rusev just driving bodies through the steel.
21:41I mean, the entire match was a highlight reel.
21:43Got a hell of a job trying to cut it down.
21:45This is that West Coast bot that took out Rusev and almost Rey Mysterio too.
21:50And then this JD McDonough, Spanish fly from up above, could not have landed more perfectly.
21:59And then a Mexican destroyer to JD McDonough.
22:05And McDonough may never be the same again after that.
22:08And here's one of those OG cutters that will live in infamy forever as Rusev was dropped for good in
22:17this match.
22:21But in the end, the Intercontinental Champion, the spectacular Penta, the man that has taken WWE by storm,
22:30does it again, retains the Intercontinental title in a ladder match for the ages.
22:41I mean, just wreckage everywhere you look, both human and steel.
22:47It's gonna take a while to clean up this mess, but Penta does not care.
22:52Penta, going home with a goal, won't feel a single wound right now.
22:56Just buzzing with adrenaline.
22:59And I'd say this Las Vegas audience loves everything they are seeing.
23:04Again, Penta wins the Intercontinental title, but also tonight on ESPN, the shocker of all shockers.
23:11I had absolutely no idea what to think here when Oma Femi...
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