00:00I love you.
00:43Sunday at Backlash, Batista is supposed to have a date with Shawn Michaels.
00:48But Batista would rather win the world title tonight and
00:52defend that championship against Edge in Baltimore.
00:57Well, either way, Michael, Batista is gonna face what a heck of an athlete.
01:02But you're right, he lives to be the World Heavyweight Champion.
01:05And would much rather put Shawn Michaels on the back burner and
01:09go to Backlash as a World Heavyweight Champion.
01:11This is the renewal of a rivalry that captivated the world for over a year.
01:17Many have called it the greatest rivalry in the history of SmackDown,
01:22Batista versus The Undertaker.
01:23Batista has had a lot of big matches.
01:26But because of what it is, what it is, where it is,
01:31this might be the biggest match of Batista's career.
01:35Batista and The Undertaker have met at WrestleMania.
01:38They've been in last match standing matches and steel cage matches.
01:42And inside Hell in a Cell and in triple threat matches.
01:46And the one constant between these two men has always been Edge.
01:50Edge always seems to be there when this rivalry between Batista and
01:55Undertaker comes to a next level.
02:05T
03:04Well, the six-time champion, The Undertaker, needs a victory tonight
03:08to get to back left to defend that championship.
03:15The Undertaker won the title at WrestleMania 24
03:20when he defeated Edge to go 16-0 on the grandest stage of all.
03:28And tonight, Undertaker goes to battle against perhaps the one man
03:33that has been a thorn in his side,
03:36that has been more powerful than any opponent he's faced over the years,
03:41that man being the animal Batista.
03:45Michael, as hard as The Undertaker works to become the world heavyweight champion.
03:53Who would have ever thought that there was the possibility
03:55that his championship reign would last less than 30 days?
04:11It's become pretty obvious over the past couple of weeks
04:14that this is all a grand scheme, it's all a plan for SmackDown general manager
04:19Vicky Guerrero and her fiancé, Edge, to wear down The Undertaker.
04:23So The Undertaker's nodded 100% come Sunday at Backlash.
04:28Or wear down Batista as well, for that matter,
04:31should the animal win here tonight.
04:33This is no disqualification.
04:36Anything goes.
05:06This contest is a no disqualification match
05:10for the World Heavyweight Championship.
05:13Introducing first, the challenger from Washington, D.C.,
05:18weighing 290 pounds,
05:20Batista!
05:26And his opponent from Death Valley,
05:29weighing 299 pounds,
05:31he is the current World Heavyweight Champion The Undertaker!
05:49There is a big fight feel here tonight in Greensboro,
05:52North Carolina on Friday Night SmackDown.
05:54It is about the World Championship,
05:56the renewal of this great rivalry between The Undertaker and Batista.
06:00And both men look ready.
06:02You're exactly right, a big fight feel,
06:05the tension between these two men.
06:07You can feel it in the arena.
06:11It doesn't get any bigger than this.
06:13The Undertaker and Batista,
06:15who've had so many physical battles over the past year,
06:18all over the World Championship.
06:21And tonight, it's about who will be the man to defend the title
06:24against Edge Sunday at Backlash.
06:28Wow, what a big shoulder block.
06:29Michael, you have been there for so many of these battles between these two men.
06:34Would you say that they know each other about as well as you can know an opponent?
06:40Well, they know that Batista and Undertaker know each other so well.
06:43They battled in so many different matches over the past year.
06:46And remember, this is a no disqualification matchup.
06:49And what that means is this match could get completely out of hand because we know how
06:54much both of these men cherish that World Championship.
07:08And moments ago, Batista with rather facetious comments directed toward general manager Vicky Guerrero.
07:14He said, I'm not naive.
07:15I know what you're up to.
07:16I know you want me to beat the hell out of the Undertaker tonight.
07:19Well, I'm gonna do just that.
07:21And I'm gonna win the World Championship, Batista said.
07:23And then I'm gonna beat the hell out of your boyfriend, Edge, on Sunday.
07:28Squad words by Batista right in the face of general manager Vicky Guerrero.
07:35Undertaker, the World Champion, trying to wear down the animal Batista.
07:41And this is such great veteran instincts by the Undertaker.
07:45Take out the arm, take the power away, cover, and a kick out.
07:50And quick covers as well, Michael.
07:52The more you wear your opponent out early, and both these men are in tremendous shape.
07:57But we know this is gonna be a long, dangerous match between these two.
08:02And who knows what it's gonna take to win it?
08:05It's gonna take everything these men have, every fiber and pain in their soul.
08:10Spear Batista, quick cover, and they're gonna take it.
08:13Going for the submission hold, going for the choke hold, Undertaker,
08:16trying to put the animal away, and Batista scooting out of the way.
08:20Batista escaping before that deadly submission hold can be slipped on.
08:24Who's gonna be World Champion?
08:25We'll find out as SmackDown rolls on.
08:33Injured shoulder to steel steps.
08:35Wow, did you hear that?
08:39And now both shoulders have been gone after with The Undertaker,
08:44the left and the right.
08:45You gotta wonder how much power Batista has in either one right now.
08:48Again, last week, a double count out.
08:50Making this match up for this week.
08:52There will be none tonight.
08:53No disqualification.
08:55Everything is legal.
08:56Boot off the skull.
08:59And this is where The Undertaker is so dangerous.
09:02The Phenom has made a living out here, outside the ring.
09:07300 pound wave across the chest of the animal.
09:11What a leg drop.
09:11And Michael, you can see right now that you can't let up.
09:14You can't allow your opponent one second of breath.
09:20It is for the World Championship.
09:22There are no disqualifications.
09:24Undertaker, the champion, covering the challenger.
09:27Hooks the leg.
09:28Two-count kick out by Batista.
09:34Imagine the impact of this.
09:37300 pounds.
09:41It'll break ribs.
09:42It'll drive your breath from your lungs.
09:45And now, Michael, look.
09:46But Batista's not having any of it.
09:48Batista, again, knows The Undertaker so well.
09:51All of their epic battles over the past year.
09:55It's gonna take, in my opinion, it's gonna take a mistake by one of these two men
10:00for the other to be victorious because they know each other so well.
10:04Batista going for a superplex.
10:05And Undertaker with those, the right hands to the ribs of Batista.
10:10Batista has absorbed a tremendous amount of punishment so far in this world title match.
10:16One, two, three.
10:23Undertaker gonna look for old school.
10:25Old school to the injured shoulder.
10:27Undertaker, 300-pound free.
10:30Amazing.
10:32Right on that left shoulder.
10:34And, Michael, you can see that's the game plan by The Phenom.
10:37That is why he's the legendary Undertaker.
10:41Oh, and Batista, what strength!
10:43What a power bomb!
10:44New champion!
10:45Who's the leg?
10:46Oh, and Undertaker kicking out.
10:49What power by the animal Batista.
10:52Did you see how far and how high in the air Batista hoisted the champion?
10:57We nearly had a new world heavyweight champion, but Michael, The Undertaker is certainly not out of the woods yet.
11:02Batista going for the Batista bomb.
11:04Can he hook The Undertaker?
11:05And Undertaker with a counter.
11:08What a counter by The Undertaker.
11:11Did the injured shoulders come into play?
11:13We'll never know.
11:14But the champion, The Undertaker, is in control, stalking the animal.
11:19Looking for a chokeslam to put this match up away.
11:23Will The Undertaker defend the title at Backlash?
11:26We're gonna find out now.
11:27Can he get Batista in the air?
11:29Wow.
11:30Look at the strength of the animal.
11:33Just a battle of strength between these two behemoths.
11:39Undertaker with a wild right hand.
11:41Batista, my goodness.
11:45Will Batista be the new champion?
11:47Hooks the leg, could it be?
11:49And a kick out.
11:50One, two, three.
11:51I can't believe he got the power slam and he nearly, nearly became the new champ.
11:57This match has taken a physical toll on both of these men.
12:00Edge and Vicky gotta be licking their chops.
12:03Somewhere in the locker room area watching this match up.
12:05Somebody's going for a ride.
12:08Choke slam.
12:09He did it, Michael.
12:11But The Undertaker's gotta get the cover.
12:14Rest in peace, Batista.
12:16One, two, three.
12:16There's two.
12:17He's got it.
12:18One, two, one.
12:18He's the power now.
12:21Referee Charles Robinson at two and a half.
12:29You saw the swelling, the welt above the eye of Batista moments ago.
12:33Will that come into play in this match up?
12:35If it goes that long, because Undertaker, Undertaker signifies-
12:40And a spear from out of nowhere.
12:42The animal.
12:43Again, will we crown a new champion?
12:45And Undertaker kicked out.
12:47Michael, we've had two or three so close, one, two, three counts.
12:52And Batista right now, back to his feet.
12:55Can't believe that he's not the new champ.
12:57So many near falls in this match up for the World Heavyweight Championship.
13:01Batista wants the title back.
13:03Undertaker's the champion.
13:04It's here on Friday Night SmackDown.
13:06The renewal of this tremendous rivalry.
13:10Shot after shot, but how many shots is it gonna take to keep the Undertaker down?
13:15And remember, no disqualification, Batista can punch him in the skull all night.
13:19Uh-oh, uh-oh, uh-oh, uh-oh, uh-oh, uh-oh, up, and down.
13:24The last ride, it is Batista's last chance at the championship.
13:30Hooks the leg, it's Kelly, no, and Batista kicked out.
13:33And now frustration, building in the eyes, in the face of the Undertaker.
13:39Michael, the Undertaker was unable to cover the shoulders.
13:43That allowed Batista to kick out just before the count of three.
13:46Almost a perplexing look by the feet on the Undertaker.
13:55No disqualification.
13:56Undertaker can use those steps as he may.
13:59Everything is legal.
14:02And Undertaker the Phenom looking to put the animal away once and
14:07for all, and stake his claim as the world champ here on SmackDown.
14:16Lord knows what the Undertaker, no.
14:19Undertaker, Undertaker with the steel steps.
14:22He's not gonna try the Tombstone Piledriver.
14:25Out of the steel steps, you gotta be kidding me.
14:27But take the counter, my God.
14:31Thunder in spine buster to the steel.
14:35Can somehow Batista cover the Undertaker?
14:41Undertaker.
14:42And win the World Heavyweight Championship.
14:45He's in the three count away.
14:47Batista, Chloe, Chloe to the champion.
14:51Can he get the Phenom, roll him over on his back, but no.
14:55Batista, Batista gonna go for the death nail.
14:58Going for the Batista bomb.
15:00Batista's closing in.
15:01Michael.
15:02All right.
15:03Sweet chin music.
15:06I don't believe it's Shawn Michaels.
15:09The heartbreak kid breaking Batista's heart with sweet chin music.
15:21And I believe the Undertaker oblivious to all that's happened.
15:26Batista's down and out.
15:28The world champion, the Undertaker.
15:30Can he take advantage?
15:34No disqualification, remember, world title on the line, Shawn Michaels is struck.
15:42Undertaker, as Batista tries somehow to roll out of the ring, Undertaker.
15:51And Batista is up.
15:52Oh, Michael.
15:55Oh, stone pile driver.
15:58The Undertaker.
15:59This could be it.
16:02One, two, three, three, is heading to Backlash as world champion.
16:08The Undertaker is still world heavyweight champion, The Undertaker.
16:16Vicky Guerrero and Edge have gotten what they wanted.
16:19The Undertaker.
16:20All you gotta do is look at him in the ring right now.
16:23That is what is left of the champion.
