Look you know I've always tried to shoot straight with you. You and I, we're out there together again tonight, familiar waters for us. And I want you to know and I'm gonna be honest. Tonight, I'm gonna do what's best for me.
What's - what's best for you? Sh - Shawn, what do you mean by that?
Look, I'm gonna go out there tonight and I'm gonna do what I always do. Show the entire world why I'm the showstopper. I wanna make sure, come Taboo Tuesday, that I leave absolutely no doubt in anybody's mind that HBK should be the man they vote for to face Triple H for the World Heavyweight Championship.
Well just so you know, I'm not gonna sit back and let you steal the spotlight. All right? You want a piece of Triple H, you're gonna have to pry me off of him, because tonight, I'm gonna show all the people what the Crippler can do, and come Taboo Tuesday, by making Triple H tap out in the middle of the ring. [Edge approaches Michaels and Benoit]
Excuse me, you mind? We're - we're having a conversation.
Yeah yeah I noticed that. You know, thank you for including me in your discussion.
Whoa whoa, now if I remember correctly, he and I, we're not really worthy of uh, getting another title shot against Triple H. I mean, that is what you said last week, wasn't it?
Yeah it is what I said. And I stand by it. You see, both of you, you've had your shots against Triple H. You've had your chances at the World title over and over and over again. But I haven't. I deserve the shot against Triple H at Taboo Tuesday. And tonight, I'm gonna prove it. See you out there boys.
Jim RossThis is gonna get interesting.
Jim Ross
Well ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of all of us here at the WWE want to thank everyone for making Taboo Tuesday such a phenomenal success. In all the years I've had the privilege of broadcasting for you, I've never had as much fun and it was all because of your votes. Now ladies and gentlemen, we had hoped to have Edge here live tonight. Unfortunately he has refused to appear here in Des Moines live. However, he is joining us via satellite. [Edge appears on the Titantron] And Edge, I, I think the question is, is rather obvious. Would you mind explaining to our worldwide audience and the great folks here in Des Moines, Iowa, just exactly, well, how do you justify your actions at Taboo Tuesday?
Justify? That title was not Shawn Michaels' to win. That title was mine to win. Mine. You know, do I need to spell it out? Do I need to spell it out for you and all the people once again? Well I will. But it's for the last time. Here's the laundry list. I defeated Triple H in a tag team match two weeks before Taboo Tuesday. I defeated Chris Benoit and Shawn Michaels in a triple threat match the night before Taboo Tuesday. But I still didn't get voted in. Now once again, I got taken for granted and I thought about it, I thought, "Why is that?" Is it the sympathy factor? "Oh, poor Shawn Michaels. You're breaking my heart, Heartbreak Kid! Your poor knee." But you wanna talk about injuries? You wanna talk about personal hells? I came back after a year off because of a broken neck! I fought through it, I came back and what happened? I broke my hand. I fought through that! My foot, my groin, YOU NAME IT, I've done it! And I came back. Then what happened when I come back? Oh let's see, I go to my hometown of Toronto at SummerSlam, and the people boo me out of the building. Once again, taking me for granted. Well I'm sick of it, I'm fed up. So because of six percent, JR, six percent, my life changed. My life completely changed because of six tiny little percent. You know, you may ask yourself, why am I not there tonight? People take me for granted. They could have had me there tonight. I could have been standing in the middle of that ring holding the World Heavyweight Championship above my head, and they would've seen me. But I figured it out. They don't deserve to see me. And they'll see me back on Raw when I'm damn good and ready.
[Eric Bischoff is making a decision regarding the vacant World Heavyweight Championship]
Triple H, I asked you to come down to the ring alone.
It's all right. It's okay Eric. Evolution and I are one of the same. Evolution is a part of me. When Evolution succeeds, I succeed, and vice versa. It doesn't matter, Eric, whether it's Batista, whether it's the Nature Boy, or whether it's The Game. Together, we have more wins than both of these guys combined and above all else, Eric, the World Heavyweight Champion should be a winner. So, I just think the choice is, is pretty obvious for you, Eric.
Interesting. That's a, uh, that's a different approach to the one you had in my office a few moments ago. Well let's talk about my choices. My first choice tonight was Chris Benoit's option. To have a rematch with the Triple Threat match tonight.
Well that's what the fans want.
Well I thought about that and I decided that that's just not what I wanted to do. And then Edge. Edge gave me a choice. He wanted me to just hand the belt over. But you know what, from a purely business point of view, that would be just too risky, given that you've never held the title before. Which brings me to my third choice. Now Triple H, you say that a win for Evolution is a win for you, right? Well I'm gonna put that theory to the test. On January 9, 2005, we're gonna have a pay-per-view called New Year's Revolution. And at New Year's Revolution, we're gonna have a match that's a proven commodity. A match that will prove without a shadow of a doubt, who deserves to be the World Heavyweight Champion. It's something that I like to call...the Elimination Chamber!
Jim Ross
Oh my god!
The World title will remain vacant until New Year's Revolution, when we have one of, if not, the biggest championship matches in Raws history. And it's going to feature...Chris Benoit...Edge...Triple H...Y2J, Chris Jericho!
And Evolution's own, Batista!
Ross
WHAT?!
And last but not least, RANDY ORTON!
Ross
Oh my -
Ross
Orton back in the hunt!
Hold on! Wait a minute! Wait a minute! Without any further ado, allow me to introduce the special referee for the Elimination Chamber match at New Year's Revolution, the one, the only, HBK! HEARTBREAK KID! [crowd cheers as Edge reacts angrily]
Jim Ross
Shawn Michaels! Look at the! [Shawn Michaels comes out] THERE HE IS!
He's back! [Triple H is in shock and disbelief]
Ross
No one's gonna like this decision! Not one man in the Elimination Chamber is gonna like this at all!
You're right. You can see it on the faces of Batista, of Benoit, of Edge, of Jericho, and especially Triple H.
Ross
Triple H can't believe it. Oh my God, what an Elimination Chamber it's gonna be! Six men, but only one can survive! And there is your law and order.
CChristian
Take a note, America. This is the response that you give to a superstar like me! [crowd cheers]
Look at all the signs. They're on their feet!
CChristian
Now I know that you all know about the draft lottery next week. [crowd chants "Christian"]
Lottery starts next week. Gonna last, it's gonna last a month?
Jim Ross
Yes sir.
CChristian
And I've been looking over the SmackDown! roster, and it seems to me that they're missing, they're missing something.
CChristian
Check it out. They've got Americans. [crowd boos] They've got Mexicans. [crowd boos] They've got Japanese. [crowd boos] They've got Frenchmen. [crowd boos] They've got a giant. [crowd boos] They've got a st, st, stutterer. [crowd boos] They've got a dead man. [crowd boos] They've got a rapping, hip hop poser champion. [crowd boos]
These Canadians don't like anybody.
CChristian
That couldn't make me say "I quit" even if he forced me to listen to his lame-ass CD, John Cena!
CChristian
But what they're missing, what they don't have is a Canadian! [crowd cheers]
CChristian
A Canadian that would kick the holy living hell out of anybody on SmackDown!. So after next week, either I stay here on Raw, or SmackDown! will be getting an injection of the three C's. Charisma, Canada, [slaps his chest] and Christian!
Jim Ross
What do you think about Mr. McMahon rehiring Matt Hardy?
JR, what do I think about Vince McMahon's decision, Mr. McMahon's decision to rehire Matt Hardy? You know what? I think it's genius. Yeah. It's a moneymaking match. Here's a little known fact, though. You see, I actually went to Vince and I asked him to rehire Matt. Yeah. You see, because, with what I want to do to Matt Hardy, if I did that on the streets, what I'm gonna do at SummerSlam, I'd be in jail. You see, at SummerSlam, you're gonna witness legalized assault. Which is why I resent us being sequestered into this dressing room. You know, Matt Hardy has been re-signed to Raw and the lunatic is running around. Well, he's the one out of control, not me. But that's fine, that's cool, and Eric Bischoff wants to put security guards on the door, to protect us. We don't need the protection, he does! So I'm gonna ask them to leave, I want them to go. Yeah. I want them to get out of here, because Matt, I'm begging, I'm PLEADING, I want you to come in here. Come into the dressing room, come on BARGING in. Because you know what'll happen? You'll probably [mockingly] break down and have yourself a little cry, won't you Matt?
You see, I saw your promo last week, Matt, and I think it was PATHETIC! It was absolutely pathetic, after all the months of dragging our names through the mud, our personal lives out there for everyone to see, AND THAT'S ALL YOU CAN MUSTER UP FROM YOUR STOMACH, FROM YOUR GUTS?! Well, my hands are shaking and it's from hate, it's from real emotion, Matt! [Points at his eyes] This is passion, this is intensity! This is real!
I see why Lita left you for me. You know, you said last week you wanted me to get into a car accident. You see, for me, it's the opposite. I want you to be nice and safe, Matt. You get in the car and you strap that seat belt in tight. I want you 100%. Because at SummerSlam, I'm going to prove that you don't measure up to me as a man to me in any way. In any way. You whined and complained, and you bitched and moaned last week saying Lita was the girl of your dreams. You wanted to marry her. Matt, you were with her for six years but you never proposed. So let me fill in the blanks here, I figured it out. You see, nobody comes before Matt Hardy and his "wrestling legacy." I heard you say it! Nothing comes before V1.
So with that being said, Matt, you should thank me. It sounds strange, but you should thank me. You see, you've never gotten reactions like this before in your career. You're in the main event picture now, and why? Why? Because you're riding my coattails in. Yeah. You see, when you were defending the Cruiserweight Championship, running around with your little MFers, me, I was fighting Kurt Angle. Chris Benoit, Eddie Guerrero, Triple H, Shawn Michaels, I EARNED MY MAIN EVENT STRIPES! I deserve to be where I am. And why are you here? Because your girlfriend fell in love with a main eventer. Yeah. So Matt Hardy, the main event spotlight, it's shining on ya! Your 15 minutes in the spotlight, it's shining on ya, and I know it feels good. Well, we're 13 minutes into it and time is slowly ticking away. And at SummerSlam, Matt, I end it. Now I know that cuts close to the bone, I know it does, and I know it hurts. The truth usually does.
Who's your daddy, Montreal? [crowd boos and then chants "you screwed Bret"] Well since all of you have been so respectful to me, I would like to return in kind. [singing] Mi mi mi mi...O Canada, how I hate this place, O Canada, I'm gonna kick Hulk Hogan right in the face...all right. I'll admit it. I'll admit I'm no singer. [crowd chants "asshole"] But what I am is the showstopper, the headliner, the main event, the icon of the WWE, yours truly, the Heartbreak Kid, Shawn Michaels. [crowd boos] Hulk Hogan, at SummerSlam, I promise, no better yet, I guarantee...I guarantee Hulk Hogan, at SummerSlam, I will give you and the WWE fans something to remember. And of course, all of you here in Montreal know that I am all about... [crowd chants "asshole"] you know I'm all about giving you memories. Survivor Series 1997. [crowd boos] I handed Canada's own, Bret "The Hitman" Hart, [crowd cheers] his most miserable defeat. [crowd chants "we want Bret"] You want Bret? [crowd cheers] You're not gonna get Bret, because I screwed Bret. I did it once, and I'd do it again! If Bret "The Hitman" Hart had any guts, and he walked down that aisle tonight, stepped into this ring, and looked me eye to eye like a man, I'd say "Hitman, I screwed you once, and I'd screw you again." Because Bret "The Hit" [suddenly Bret Hart's music hits and the crowd erupts, but nothing happens for several seconds]
Jim Ross
My God, what's going on here?
Ross
That's Bret "The Hitman" Hart's entrance music! [Michaels mocks Hart's pose]
Wait a minute, wait a minute!
I don't think the crowd knows how to respond, I don't think they know what to do. [Hart's music stops and Bret Hart doesn't show up]
Got your hopes just a little bit, didn't I?
Ross
Damn. Damn you.
You will never, and I mean ever hear or see Bret "The Hitman" Hart inside a WWE ring again.
[John Cena has successfully defended the WWE Championship against Chris Jericho in a You're Fired match, meaning Jericho is fired]
Chris, forget about all that. Because...YOU SON OF A BITCH! YOU'RE FIRED!
You had a job to do, damn it, and you didn't get it done! [Jericho pleads for his job]
Give me another chance! I got a plan, he'll be fired! I mean come on! Don't fire me, come on Eric! Come on, we're buddies! We're friends, give me another chance! You know I can do it! Give me another chance! Please Eric!
YOU'RE FIRED! YOU HEAR ME?!
GET OUT OF MY RING! OUT OF MY RING! [Jericho gets on his knees and begs for his job] I DON'T CARE ABOUT YOU, YOUR WIFE, OR YOUR DAMN KID! NOW GET OUT OF MY RING!
I just did! Security, get him out of here!
[security comes to the ring] Don't fire me! Don't fire me, Mr. Bischoff! Please I can do this! No!
Get him out of here! NOW! GET OUT OF MY RING DAMN IT! YOU ARE DONE! FINISHED! GET HIM OUT OF MY RING! [the security officers grab Jericho as he grabs Bischoff's leg]
Jim Ross
Jericho begging for his job. He's holding on to, he's holding on to Bischoff's leg, begging to keep his job.
I'd never thought I'd see Jericho beg on his knees like this!
I would never do anything like what Chris Jericho is doing right now. Jericho deserves to be fired. When you don't get the job done. [the security drags Jericho away from the ring]
They're dragging him out of Raw!
Hey, he had an opportunity. He didn't come through for the boss, thus, he's out of here. [the security carries Jericho as he screams] Chris Jericho is done.
They're carrying him out!
Ross
Jericho being bodily carried out of this ring. Chris Jericho has been fired. Chris Jericho is done.
[One week after his vicious attack on Ric Flair, Triple H is seen walking through the hallways of the arena as various people look at him]
[Triple H soon runs into Shawn Michaels, and comes face-to-face with him]
You know, nobody in that locker room has known you as long as I have...you know, and I've always known that you were capable of just about anything, but what you did last week...was too much, Hunter. Was too much.
[Triple H then starts laughing as he walks away from Michaels, passing by various other superstars who stare at him coldly - until he runs into the Big Show]
BSBig Show
I'm telling you right now...someday, you're gonna get yours.
[Triple H slowly backs away from the Big Show, then turns around and comes face-to-face with the WWE champion, John Cena]
I don't know you, I ain't gonna judge you, but after last week, you lost some respect.
[starts to walk away but turns back to Cena] You know, if I were you, the last thing I'd want to do is get my attention, you know what I mean?
You know me. You want some? [taps WWE Championship] Come get some!
Don't you worry. When I want some, [angrily points to title] I'll take it!
[As Triple H starts to leave, a random worker accidentally bumps into him, and in response, Triple H throws him to the ground]
Jim Ross
Come on! [Triple H grins and walks away] Now - uhh...what was the...? Damn.
RVRob Van Dam
Chill out, champ. In fact, savor the time you have with that title while I explain something here. See I have a shot at the championship, which is something that was not easy to come by. No, in fact, the only way this came about is because I forced it. I won the Money in the Bank match at WrestleMania. Otherwise, I would never have been awarded what I deserve. So I wanna tell you something, John. I'm not gonna waste this opportunity here, where I can, and probably will, get screwed out of what I earned. Instead, I'd like to see this take place somewhere where I'm a lot more comfortable. Somewhere where the conditions work extremely well in my favor.
VDVan Dam
I'm cashing in the Money in the Bank. June 11, at One Night Stand!
Jim Ross
Wow!
He can't do that, can he?!
Ross
Yes he can!
Ross
He has the opportunity between now and WrestleMania next year. Anywhere.
At ECW's One Night Stand?
Ross
Anywhere anytime, King. That's the deal. Pretty smart move by Van Dam. Talk about a home field advantage. He's got a heck of a home field advantage at One Night Stand.
[Rob Van Dam is defending the WWE Championship against Edge and John Cena in a Triple Threat match]
Jim Ross
Van Dam pulls himself back up. But Cena's there waiting. [Cena lifts RVD on his shoulders for an FU] Cena now,
Ross
Cena with the FU, can he do it? Can John Cena do it if he does? [Cena hits the FU on RVD] Yes!
Ross
Cena did it! [Edge suddenly comes in and hits Cena with the WWE Championship belt]
Ross
My God! Cena - wait a minute! [Edge covers RVD] Edge with the belt! Edge with the count! [the referee counts three, resulting in Edge winning the match and the WWE Championship] Edge! Edge! Edge has just, Edge is the WWE Champion!
Here is your winner, and the new WWE Champion, Edge!
Oh my gosh! Oh ho ho ho ho!
Ross
John, exactly! John Cena delivered the FU on Van Dam! Cena had the match won, but Edge used the WWE Championship title belt to dim Cena's lights! To, and snatch the title right away from John Cena!
But one thing's for sure. The WWE title is back on Raw! Thank goodness!
Ross
Rob Van Dam has lost the WWE title. Edge has won the WWE Championship. [Edge checks on Lita]
Ross
John Cena with the FU, had this match won. I don't give a damn about Lita, King!
2007 could be summarized to three letters. R, K, O. I went from the Legend Killer to becoming a one man dynasty. And in 2008, I'm going to be more ruthless and dominant than ever. I will start this new year as the WWE Champion, and I will walk out of 2008 still the WWE Champion. [crowd boos, then Jeff Hardy's music hits and Jeff Hardy comes out]
Jim Ross
Well ladies and gentlemen, the number one contender for the WWE title, the very man that will meet Randy Orton for the WWE title at the Royal Rumble, Jeff Hardy has apparently heard enough of what Mr. Orton has to say here tonight.
Well I don't think this is a good idea for Jeff Hardy to come out here and ruin the moment for Randy Orton. Let's face it, Randy Orton is the WWE Champion, he is the greatest Raw superstar of 2007. He deserves a certain amount of respect.
JHJeff Hardy
You can talk about your year all you want man. But right here, right now, it means nothing. Dude, it's about what you've done lately. It's about the one thing you don't have. And that's momentum. As a matter of fact, let's check a little something you left out of your video. [footage from the December 17 Raw is shown]
Ross
Well Jeff Hardy's had a pretty good 2007 as well. Two weeks ago, Jeff Hardy, as we'll see here, after the Twist of Fate, the Swanton Bomb on the WWE Champion, for a 1, 2, 3 for a victory. That's momentum.
All that proves, Jeff Hardy, is that you got lucky. A lucky win in a tag match!
HHardy
No, no Randy, you what that proves? That proves I can beat you! That proves that if anyone's got momentum leading into the Royal Rumble with our match, it's not Randy Orton. It is Jeff Hardy!
You wanna talk about momentum? Ask Chris Jericho about momentum. Ask Shawn Michaels. Ask John Cena what I've done lately. [crowd chants "you suck"] Nobody has ever beaten me for the WWE Championship title, and you will never beat me, Jeff Hardy. But you're talking about momentum. Let me show you how momentum can take a quick turn. So why don't you pay attention. [Orton and Hardy stare down for several seconds, then Orton tries to RKO Hardy, but Hardy reverses]
Ross
Oh! Orton looking for the RKO, [Hardy hits a Twist of Fate on Orton]
Ross
But it's now the Twist of Fate delivered from the Intercontinental Champion, the number one contender for the WWE title, and indeed there is huge momentum.
Oh my gosh! Orton outsmarted at his own game. I thought Orton was about to show some sort of video or something, and instead he went for the RKO that was blocked, and turned into the Twist of Fate!
Ross
There certainly can be an argument made that Jeff Hardy indeed does have Randy Orton's number.
The magic number for Randy Orton may be 2008 when he becomes the next WWE Champion.
Ross
And the question is, will Ric Flair make it until 2008? Last month, WWE Chairman Mr. McMahon made a, he dropped a huge bomb on the incomparable Ric Flair.
JLJohn "Bradshaw" Layfield
On this New Year's Eve on this city that I own, my hometown, New York City, they're waiting for a ball to come down out of the sky. The rest of the world, yourself included, those in New York are knowing that this day will be known for one thing, and one thing only. Mark it, write it down, etch this day in stone. This is the day that JBL returns! This is the day JBL comes to Raw. It is so momentous, you can smell it because you people know, you know far and wide, everyone knows I don't have to be here. I am a millionaire many times over. I am here for one simple reason. I love power. I love domination. I like, I love owning people. I love taking people like you, squashing them under my thumb, because I can. Money comes to money. I am your worst nightmare, because if I can't buy it, I will take it! So mark my words, [Chris Jericho's music hits]
What is this now? [Chris Jericho comes out] This was a piece of history, JR! Jericho doesn't need to spoil this! [Jericho charges at JBL] Look out!
Jim Ross
And Chris Jericho is not doing any talking! [Jericho and JBL brawl]
WWE Raw · 371 quotes
