Dark Match:
Goldust, Kofi Kingston & R-Truth b. WWE Intercontinental Champion Dolph Ziggler & WWE Unified Tag Team Champions “Dashing” Cody Rhodes & Drew McIntyre
Opening Segment:
We get a video package to open the show, highlighting the theme of tonight’s event, as well as all of the main feuds heading into HIAC.
The pyro hits and Michael Cole welcomes us to the show proper. The triple threat match will open tonight’s show.
Triple Threat Submissions Count Anywhere Match for the WWE US Championship
– Daniel Bryan (c) vs. John Morrison vs. The Miz w/Alex Riley
John Morrison is the first man out to the ring, and it doesn’t sound like he gets much of a reaction, but I can’t tell if the crowd is turned down for the benefit of the announcers of not. Bryan is out next, with his awesome theme music, and he too gets a pretty apathetic reaction. The Miz is out next, with a mic in hand. Miz says this is ridiculous. He was the mentor of both men currently in the ring, and neither would be anywhere without the Miz. Miz says without either of them, he’d still be a huge star because he has ‘it’, and after tonight, he’ll be the US Champion. And he never tapped out, because he’s the Miz and he’s awesome.
The start:
The bell rings and Miz and Bryan hit a double shoulder block to Miz, sending him to the outside. Morrison goes out one sie of the ring, and Bryan the other, and they chase Miz around for a bit before Morrison catches his foot, and Bryan executes a single leg drop kick to Miz’s head. Morrison and Bryan trade holds, doing a bit of mat wrestling before Bryan grapevines Morrison’s let and wrenches away. Morrison rolls to the outside, but Bryan continues to hold on until Miz kicks him in the back of the head.
Mid-match notes:
Miz picks up Morrison and rams him into the ring apron before sending Bryan into the barricade. Miz rolls Morrison back into the ring where he pounds on him for a bit. Morrison is able to catch Miz off guard and lock in the tarantula, but Bryan breaks it up with a dropkick, sending Morrison to the outside. Bryan locks in Cattle Mutilation! Miz fights right out of it though, so Bryan lays in with some stiff kicks to Miz’s chest. Bryan grapevines Miz’s leg and Miz screams in pain. Bryan kicks Miz in the head with the submission locked in and he and Miz trade kicks. They roll toward the corner, and Morrison breaks up the submission with a corkscrew moonsault. Morrison locks in what looks to be the Haas of pain, but Miz breaks it up.
Morrison sends Miz to the outside and follows out with a corkscrew plancha. On the outside, Morrison charges Miz, but finds himself backdropped out into the crowd. Morrison tries to fight back, but Miz sends him headfirst into the ringside barricade. Miz locks in an armbar with his knee on Morrison’s head, but Morrison fights out of it with a big right hand. Morrison hits Miz with a series of forearms, and he and Miz begin brawling up the stairs deeper into the crowd. Miz locks Morrison in a modified Dragon sleeper wrenching Morrison between the stair railing, and Bryan is there to break it up. Miz comes right back, slamming Bryan head first into a trash can.
Miz continues to chase Bryan and almost finds himself locked in an arm bar, but Miz fights out of it. Miz fights off Morrison, bodyslamming him into a crowd partition. Miz sends Bryan crashing through a barricade. Miz disappears into the back and returns, rolling a big equipment box straight into Morrison before slamming Bryan on top of it. Miz launches the box, with Bryan still on top of it, into the entrance ramp, launching Bryan onto the ramp. Morrison uses the box to drop kick Miz in a terrible fashion. Morrison tries to lock in a submission but Bryan breaks it up. Miz sends Bryan into the barricade and connects with the SCF on Morrison on the concrete.
Miz turns his attention to Bryan and they fight up on the ramp. Both men go for their respective finishers, but neither man can connect. Bryan and Miz both hit simultaneous clotheslines and both are down. Morrison is shown on the side of the stage climbing the scenery. He climbs to the top of a stage Hell in a Cell and leaps off on both Bryan and Morrison with a big cross body.
The finish:
Morrison gets to his knees and grabs Miz’s ankle. Morrison locks in a Texas cloverleaf, and Miz is screaming. Alex Riley comes out of nowhere and tosses Morrison off the Miz. Bryan sends Riley crashing into a cameraman and off the stage. Bryan turns his attention to Miz and he’s able to lock in the LeBell lock. Miz is forced to tap on the entrance ramp.
Winner & STILL WWE US Champion: Daniel Bryan
Daniel Bryan celebrates with the title, and in a weird move, Cole actually admits that Bryan is the real deal. That’s one of the first good calls I’ve ever heard from Cole.
Hell in a Cell Match for the WWE Championship
– Randy Orton (c) vs. Sheamus
We get a video package of the events, beginning at Night of Champions, that have led up to this match. The Cell is being lowered, and Cole notes that this will be the 20th Hell in a Cell match ever. Sheamus is the first man out to the ring, and he gets a decent amount of heat from the crowd. He sizes up the Cell before stepping in. Randy Orton’s music hits, and he gets a giant pop from the crowd. He makes his way out to the ring with his title in hand.
The start:
The cell is locked and the bell ring. Orton and Sheamus lock up and push each other around the ring. They eventually break the collar and elbow tie up and just trade blows instead. Orton hits Sheamus with a big clothesline before raking his boot across Sheamus’ face. Sheamus is able to get a couple of blows in, in the corner, but Orton comes right back with another clothesline, and another that sends Sheamus over the top to the outside, Orton goes to slam Sheamus’ head into the cell, but Sheamus blocks and gets right back into the ring.
Mid-match notes:
Sheamus catches Orton with a shoulder to the gut before launching himself over the top and into the ring with a big shoulderblock. Sheamus hits an elbow drop across Orton’s throat on the ring apron. Sheamus tries to slam Orton’s head into the cell, and Orton fights it off. Orton tries to whip Sheamus into the cell, but it’s reversed, and Orton tastes steel before being clotheslined by Sheamus. Sheamus catches Orton with a boot to the ribs before picking up the ring steps. Sheamus throws them, kind of at Orton, but more at the ropes and they bounce away. Orton responds, picking Sheamus up and ramming him back first into the cell twice before picking up the steps and ramming them into Sheamus’ head.
Back in the ring Orton tries for the pin, but Sheamus kicks out at two. Orton tries for a suplex, but Sheamus blocks, and suplexes Orton into the ropes instead. Sheamus hits a shoulderblock to Orton, who’s standing on the apron and ends up launched into the cell wall. Sheamus follows to the outside, but only to bring Orton back into the ring. Cover by Sheamus and he gets a two count. Sheamus lays into Orton with several boots in the corner. Orton tries to fight back with a couple of right hands, but a big fist to the gut puts Orton back down to the mat. Sheamus hits Orton with a couple of knees to the ribs.
Sheamus goes for a cover but can’t get three. Sheamus goes into the corner and tears off the turnbuckle pad, but when he goes to slam Orton’s head into it, Orton blocks it and begins to fight back. A quick blow from Sheamus takes Orton right back down to the mat. Orton rolls to the outside, and Sheamus follows (PG-ishly) raking Orton’s face and slamming it into the cell wall. Sheamus sets up the ring steps on their side, choosing to suplex Orton, ribs first, into the steps. Sheamus stands and knees down on Orton’s ribs, continuing to wear away at Orton. Back in the ring, Sheamus goes for a cover but he only gets two.
Sheamus locks in a rear chin lock, wrapping his legs around Orton’s body, but Orton is able to fight out of it. Sheamus lays into Orton with a couple of kicks to the back, and it’s right back into another submission, this time a waistlock. Orton fights to his feet and out of the hold with a big back body drop.
Orton sends Sheamus into the exposed turnbuckle, and both men are slow to get to their feet. Orton and Sheamus trade blows in the middle of the ring, and Orton fights out of a hold only to hit two clotheslines and a power slam on Sheamus. Sheamus misses with a clothesline and walks into a belly to belly suplex that’s good for a near fall. Orton hits his signature backbreaker, but Sheamus is quick to get back to his feet and reverses an RKO only to attack the ribs with a high knee to Orton’s stomach.
Sheamus goes to the outside, grabs the steel steps and brings them to the inside. Orton tries to fight abck against Sheamus, but Sheamus continues to focus on Orton’s ribs. Orton fights out of shoulder breaker position, and delivers a powerslam to Sheamus, planting him on the steps. Orton covers Sheamus, but Sheamus kicks out at two.
Sheamus rolls out to the apron, and Orton tries to go for his rope assisted DDT. Sheamus fights out of it, but Orton grabs his head, and jumps over the top rope, hanging Sheamus up on the top rope. Orton grabs Sheamus by the head, and dragging Sheamus out to the apron, hitting the DDT from the apron to the floor.
Sheamus is pretty quick to get back up to his feet, and he sends Orton shoulder first into the ring post, instead of getting another RKO. Back in the ring, Sheamus goes for, and hits his urunage backbreaker on the ring steps. Sheamus tosses the steps aside and waits for Orton to get back to his feet. Sheamus hits the bicycle kick and goes for the cover but Orton kicks out at two.
Sheamus goes under the ring, where he grabs a chair. Sheamus heads back into the ring and wails away at Orton’s back, hitting him about four times in succession. Sheamus covers Orton but still can’t get the three count. Sheamus picks up the chair again and waits for Orton to get to his feet. Sheamus swings but Orton ducks. Orton connects with the RKO, but Sheamus rolls to the outside. Orton goes to the outside, and gets a look on his face. Orton sets up for the punt, but Sheamus rolls out of the way. Sheamus hits the bicycle kick instead, putting Orton down. Sheamus tries to get Orton up, and he rolls him back into the ring. Another cover, and Orton kicks out at two again.
The finish:
Sheamus puts the ring steps back into the middle of the ring. Sheamus drags Orton to the steps, and he sets up for the high cross, but Orton counters out of it, planting Sheamus back first into the steps. Sheamus picks up Orton, but eats and RKO, coming down across the ring steps. Orton covers Sheamus, and this one is over.
Winner & STILL WWE Champion: Randy Orton
After the match,Orton straps on the title, and he goes to climb the cell, egging the crowd on to cheer for him. Orton makes it to the top pretty darn fast, and he stands on the edge of the cell holding the title high for all to see.
Josh Matthews is standing backstage with the WWE NXT Season 3 Rookies, in an obvious attempt to kill time. He asks one of them how nervous they are, but they’re interrupted by the Nexus. Barrett says there’s something in the air tonight, and he can feel it. Matthews says that may be the end of Nexus, he reminds Barrett of the stipulations. Barrett says he doesn’t like it, and he’s fully aware of the situation. He says tonight he’s going to win, and then tomorrow night they have a special gift for Cena, Tarver holds up a Nexus arm band. Barrett says right now he may be against them, but after tonight Cena will be Nexus.
In-Ring Segment
– Alberto Del Rio
In Another attempt to kill time, Alberto Del Rio’s ring announcer (Ricardo Rodriguez) is introduced, and he in turn introduces Alberto Del Rio, who comes out to his usual pomp and circumstance.
Del Rio repeats his name, but he says the crowd already knows that. Tonight is his WWE PPV debut, and he wants to make it special. Del Rio says a man like him can spend days counting his fortune, but instead of that he’s here trying to help the crowd. He doesn’t want to be cheered for that, the crowd should say thank you. He says first he took out Rey Mysterio, then Christian, so he asks who will be the next to face him. He says he thought this was Texas, where everything was bigger, including the bravado. He says he could buy each and every one of the people in the crowd. He’s got more money than Mark Cuban, he’s better than Nolan Ryan, and he’s more handsome than Tony Romo. Del Rio says that he’s better than the crowd, so he’s going to challenge anyone. He’s interrupted by Edge’s music.
Edge makes his way out to the ring, to a big pop. He has a mic, and he says he’s not out here to defend Texas, Rey Mysterio, or even Christian. He’s out to fight one thing, stupidity. He says there are things about Del Rio that are stupid, like coming out with a chihuahua on Smackdown dressed like Rey Mysterio, and his scarf, they’re stupid. He says Alberto Del Rio es muy estupido. Del Rio says he’s not stupid, he’s the man who’s going to hurt Edge, and he winks. Edge calls the wink out, saying it’s disturbing and stupid. He calls the ring announcer stupid. Del Rio takes off his jacket, and Jack Swagger interrupts.
Swagger says it’s stupid that a Canadian and Mexican are arguing when he’s not even on the card tonight. He also says it’s not nice that Edger speared the man in the Eagle suit that has medical bill which Edge will pay. Edge says that he can pay Swagger’s bills too. Edge tries to jump Swagger, but he’s jumped by both men. Del Rio slips out, and Swagger continues to beat down Edge. The I/M noise and light dimming occurs, and apparently Edge will have to apologize to the GM tomorrow night, and he’ll have to face Swagger right now.
Impromptu Singles Match
– Edge vs. Jack Swagger
The start:
Swagger lays the boots in to Edge midsection to start the match, but Edge reverses an Irish whip, hits a drop toe hold, and an elbow to the back of Swagger’s head. Swagger sends Edge crashing into the middle turnbuckle with a big Irish whip, before burying his boot in Edge’s chest. Swagger catches Edge with a big right hand, and Edge tries to fight back, but Swagger goes behind and hits a beautiful modified gutbuster that’s good for a two count.
Mid-match notes:
Edge tries to fight back again, but Swagger hits Edge with a big clothesline to the back of the head that’s good for another near fall. Swagger puts Edge in a waistlock, and rolls around on the mat with him for a bit, before wrapping Edge up with a body scissors. Edge is able to fight it off, making his way up to his feet and hot shotting Swagger on the top rope. Edge puts Swagger on the middle rope and launches himself, but Swagger moves and Edge crashes into the ropes. Swagger covers Edge but only gets two. Swagger tries to German suplex Edge from the apron to the floor, but Edge grabs onto the ropes and won’t let go. Swagger locks in a sick rope assisted abdominal lock, but he’s forced to break within five seconds. Swagger comes back into the ring, but he’s greeted with a huge boot from Edge.
Swagger is able to take Edge down to the mat and he tries for the ankle lock, but Edge fights it off. Edge hits a modified neckbreaker that’s good for a near fall, but Swagger kicks out and goes right into the ankle lock. Edge gets to the ropes, and Swagger is forced to break the hold. Edge gets back to his feet, and he back body drops a charging Swagger over the top rope and out to the floor. Edge teases a suicide dive, but Swagger avoids it, and drags Edge to the floor. Swagger tries to lock in the ankle lock on the floor, but Edge sends Swagger head first into the ring steps instead. Back in the ring, Edge climbs the ropes, and Swagger jumps right up trying to bring Edge down. Edge fights Swagger off, and comes flying off the top with a missile dropkick that’s good for a two count.
Edge goes to the outside, and ends up crashing into another cameraman. When Edge goes up to the top again, Swagger jumps right up and hits a super belly to belly suplex, launching Edge across the ring. Swagger goes for the cover but only gets a two count. Swagger hits a belly to back suplex, planting Edge on the canvas, and Swagger’s lip looks to be busted open. Swagger goes for the Vader bomb, but Edge jumps to his feet and kicks Swagger in the ribs. Edge lets Swagger get to his feet, but when he goes for the spear, Swagger counters into a gut wrench powerbomb. Swagger covers Edge, but Edge kicks out at two. Swagger grabd Edge’s leg, and Edge goes for an enzugiri, but Swagger ducks, and Edge goes down. Swagger locks in the ankle lock.
The finish:
Edge makes it to the ropes, but Swagger drags him back to the middle of the ring. Edge rolls through, getting out of the hold, and he connects with a big spear, taking Swagger out. Edge pins Swagger and gets the three count.
Winner: Edge
Backstage the Nexus, minus Barrett, are shown backstage. Otunga looks to be the ringleader. He says he hasn’t been able to run this plan by Barrett, but the Nexus should trust him, because they won’t get DQ’ed, and he doesn’t want the Nexus to break up. Otunga says he’ll explain on the way, and they walk off.
Singles Match
If Barrett wins, Cena joins Nexus; If Cena wins or Nexus gets involved, Nexus must disband.
– John Cena vs. Wade Barrett
We get a video package of the events that have led up to this match, and we also get a recap of the stipulation, that if Cena wins, the Nexus must disband, but if Cena loses, he must join the Nexus. Wade Barrett is the first man out to the ring, and he’s not accompanied by the Nexus, of course, due to the stipulations in place for this match. Cena’s music hits, and he gets a mostly good reaction from the crowd, as he makes his sway out to confront the leader of the Nexus.
The start:
The bell rings, and we’re ready to kick things off. Both men lock up, and Barrett locks in a side headlock, but Cena fights out of it and takes Barrett down to the mat with some quick wrestling. Another lock up, and Cena takes Barrett right back down to the mat. Another lock up, and Barrett works over Cena’s arm and wrist, but Cena quickly works his way out of it and takes Barrett down with a big hip toss and dropkick.
Mid-match notes:
Barrett pounds and stomps away at Cena, mounting and wailing away at his face. Cena comes right back with a series of rights and lefts of his own. Cena gets Barrett on his shoulders, but the Nexus run out to the ring, and Cena is distracted, allowing Barrett to hit him from behind with a big forearm. Barrett looks angry at the NExus and he argues with them, telling them not to interfere, and that he’s got a plan. Barrett picks Cena up and throws him into the barricade. Barrett sends Cena back into the ring, where he gets a quick two count.
Barrett pounds on Cena in the corner, sending Cena across the ring before hitting a big backbreaker that’s good for a two count. Barrett actually goes to the second rope, and jumps off with a big elbow drop. Barrett covers Cena but again, only gets a two count. Barrett continues the assault on Cena in the corner with a series of boots to Cena’s arms and midsection. Cena is able to battle back, catching Barrett with rights and lefts, but a charging Cena eats nothing but turnbuckle when Barrett moves. Barrett hits a neckbreaker that’s good for a two count. Barrett locks in a submission, and there’s a 50/50 chant for both men. Barrett slingshots Cena into the ropes, where he crashes back into Barrett’s knees, before Barrett goes back to work on Cena’s shoulders and arms.
Cena is able to fight out of the submission, and he comes right back with two consecutive flying shoulder blocks. A belly to back suplex, and Cena signals for the five knuckle shuffle, but he’s distracted when Nexus surround the ring. Cena hits the five knuckle shuffle anyway. Big Show is out, and he’s followed by a good portion of the locker room, who’re out to take it right to Nexus. The other superstars send Nexus packing. Officials come down to the ring to try and restore order, sending everyone to the back. Barrett gets to his feet and goes for a clothesline but Cena ducks. Cena almost locks in the STF but Barrett fights out of it. Barrett connects with a pumphandle slam, that’s good for a two count.
Barrett tries for the wasteland, but Cena counters out of it, going for the cover and getting a two count. Cena gets to his feet and waits for Barrett. Cena tries for the AA, but Barrett fights out of it, and hits some sort of crazy slam that’s good for another near fall. Both men are back to their feet, and Cena catches Barrett with a boot to the face, only to walk into a big side slam, that again, is good for another near fall. Barrett drags Cena over to the corner and goes up to the middle rope. Barrett jumps off with a big elbow drop, but Cena moves out of the way and Barrett crashes and burns.
Cena pulls himself to his feet on the apron, and he climbs up to the top rope, but Barrett stops him, seating him on the top turnbuckle. Barrett tries for a superplex, but Cena is able to power out of it, hitting Barrett with a couple of head butts and sending him crashing to the mat. Cena rights himself, and jumps off the top with a big leg drop to the back of Barrett’s head, but a cover only gets Cena a two count. Both men are back up and Cena tries for the AA, but Barrett counters out and connects with the wasteland. Barrett covers Cena, but Cena kicks out at two. Barrett picks Cena back up to his feet, but Cena pops right up and hits the AA. Cena covers Barrett, but Barrett kicks out at two!
The finish:
Both men are up again, and Cena ducks a clothesline before trapping Wade Barrett in the STF. Barrett crawls toward the ropes, and a ‘fan’ jumps into the ring to try and break things up. Another ‘fan’ comes in from out of nowhere while the ref is distracted and clocks Cena with something. Barrett pins Cena and gets the three count.
Winner: Wade Barrett
The crowd looks shocked as the Nexus celebrate, and when Cena recovers he looks pretty dejected.
Josh Mathews is shown wandering around backstage in a dimly lit hallway with purple lighting. Paul Bearer creeps out from a dark doorway. Matthews asks why Bearer has come back after six years. Bearer says that he’s been developing a master plan, and biding his time, and while Kane may be the devil’s favorite demon, he will never be the Undertaker.
Unified WWE Divas Championship Match
– Michelle McCool (c) vs. Natalya
Michelle McCool is out to the ring first with Layla in tow, and she gets almost no reaction from the crowd. Natalya is out next, and her reaction is a bit better, but still pretty apathetic.
The start:
Natalya takes McCool down at the bell with a headlock and she locks her up in a waistlock, but McCool rolls to the outside, trying to call for a timeout. Layla distracts Natalya, and she runs into a big clothesline from McCool. McCool launches Natalya into the barricade, before taking her back into the ring and burying knees in her back. McCool locks Natalya in a body scissors and tries to wear her down.
Mid-match notes:
Natalya picks McCool up and slams her back first into the turnbuckle, scoring a near fall, but McCool is quick to lock the body scissors right back in. Natalya gets the crowd behind her, and the ref catches McCool using the ropes for leverage to force a break. Both women get back to their feet and McCool gets a back body drop and a couple of back elbows from Natalya. Natalya catches McCool with a clothesline, but Layla distracts the ref. McCool tries to use that to her advantage, but she ends up kicking Layla. Natalya goes for a roll up, but only gets a two count.
The finish:
Natalya takes McCool off her feet and is able to lock in the sharpshooter, but McCool counters out of it into a heel hook. Natalya is able to roll over and right back into a sharpshooter. McCool almost taps, but Layla throws her shoe at Natalya, and that scores a DQ for McCool. Natalya tries to lock in the sharpshooter on Layla, but both co-Champs bail, Layla throwing another shoe.
Winner by DQ: Natalya. STILL WWE Unified Diva’s Champion: Michelle McCool
Hell in a Cell Match for the WWE Championship
– Kane (c) vs. The Undertaker w/Paul Bearer
We get a video package highlighting some of the extensive history between these two men, and the events over the last few weeks that have led directly up to this match. The video package is a bit long, but that’s not surprising as they’ve really been killing a lot of time this whole night. The cage is lowered, and Michael Cole rattles off a couple of demonic adjectives about the cell. Tony Chimel announces that this will be a Hell in a Cell match, and it will indeed be for the World Heavyweight Championship. Kane is announced, and the champion makes his way out to the ring.
The gong hits, and the fans go nuts right on cue. The dead man makes his way out to the ring, being led by Paul Bearer, who is of course, carrying the urn. Taker takes off his robes, and for some reason, Bearer is in the cage, I’m not sure if he’ll stay in for the match or not, but it looks like he might. Bearer nods.
The start:
Takers sends Bearer to the outside, and Kane ambushes Taker, and the two fight to the outside for a bit. They make their way back into the cell, and Kane grabs a chair, but Taker gets his foot up, and it backfires, catching Kane in the face instead. Taker sends Kane face first into the cell wall, following it up with a chair to the ribs before sending him head first into the ring steps, and then back into the ring. Taker his two big splashes and snake eyes Kane in the corner before hitting a big boot, and huge leg drop that’s good for a two count.
Mid-match notes:
Kane gets up to his feet and grabs the chair, burying it into Taker’s midsection, than bringing it down across his back. Kane brings Taker into the corner, where he burying his shoulder into Taker’s midsection, before dropping Taker to the mat, and kicking away at him repeatedly. Taker rolls to the outside, and Kane follows, catching a throat chop for his troubles. Taker slams Kane’s head into the ring steps again, before laying Kane across the steps and kicking away at his head. Taker slams Kane’s head into the ring steps yet another time before taking Kane and slamming him, back first, into the cage wall.
Kane retaliates by sending Taker shoulder first into the steel ring steps, and kicking away at him. Kane grabs a chair and uses it to smash Taker’s left knee, working over Taker’s entire leg. Kane sends Taker back into the ring, and he wraps Taker’s leg around the steel ring post, before lodging it between the post and steps, and kicking the steps.
Kane rolls Taker into the ring, and brings the fight right to Taker, stomping away at Taker’s leg and back. Kane slams Taker’s leg into the apron before laying into him with a series of right hands. Kane charges Taker, but Taker moves and Kane ends up crashing into the steel wall. Taker pounds on Kane with a series of big fists to the side of the head before sending Kane back into the ring. Taker kicks at Kane’s head before going for, and connecting with his signature apron leg drop.
Kane hits Taker with a knee to the side of the head, and he stomp at him for a bit before wrenching away at Taker’s leg and working over his knee. Kane will not let up, leaping and dropping his knee right into Taker’s before going right back into another submission. Taker pounds away at the back of Kane’s head, trying to get him to let go of the submission. Taker is able to force Kane to break the hold, and he hits Kane with a series of blows on his knees. Kane fights back, and he stomps at Taker’s chest. Both men trade blows in the cents of the ring and Kane gets the advantage, but Taker comes right back with a leaping lariat.
Taker goes for Old School, but Kane kicks the ropes and Taker ends up crotching himself on the top turnbuckle. Kane goes up and tries for a superplex, but Taker fights him off, only to catch a big right hand to the head for his troubles. Kane hits Taker with a few more rights before trying for another superplex. Kane connects this time, getting right back up and going back to the top rope. Kane launches himself off the top rope, and connects with a clothesline, but Taker locks in Hell’s Gate out of nowhere. Kane is able to crawl to the outside, but Taker holds on. Kane finally breaks out of it, and falls to the floor.
Kane climbs back into the ring, and both men go for, and hit, a big boot. Both men are down. Both men sit up, as they’re known to do, and they immediately begin trading blows. Kane catches Taker with a huge right hand, but Taker comes right back with a big DDT. Taker goes for the chokeslam, and he brings Kane down with force. Taker goes for the cover, but he only gets a two count. Taker kicks Kane in the gut, and goes for the last ride, but Kane hits Taker in the leg, fights out of it, and hits a chokeslam of his own that’s good for a two count.
Taker gets up to his feet, but he looks dazed. Kane takes advantage and hits three consecutive splashes in the corner before hitting Taker with a couple of big right hands, and climbing to the second rope to deliver a few more right hands. Taker grabs Kane by the legs, and uses the opportunity to deliver a Last Ride. Taker goes for the cover, but he only gets a two count. Taker goes for the tombstone, but Kane is able to reverse it. Kane pins Taker, but Taker kicks out at two!
Kane argues with the ref and lays him out with a big right hand. One of the refs on the outside calls for help. The ref is taken out of the ring, and replaced, and Paul Bearer makes his way into the cell in the meantime. Kane sees this, and he goes for the manager. Bearer tries to run from Kane, but Kane follows. Kane tells Bearer to get into the ring. Kane follows Bearer, telling him he shouldn’t have come back. While Kane is tied up with Bearer, Taker sits up. Taker delivers a big chokeslam to Kane.
The finish:
Taker calls for the tombstone, and the lights go out, and ‘lightning’ hits. Bearer opens the urn and a light comes out, blinding Taker. When the lights come back on, Taker recovers, but Bearer hands the urn to Kane who uses it to lay out Taker. Kane hits another chokeslam, goes for the cover, and gets the three count.
Winner & STILL World Heavyweight Champion: Kane
After the match, Kane makes his way to the back, with Bearer in tow. Bearer takes the lid off the urn again to expose the light inside. Taker ends the night laid out in the ring, while Kane stands at the top of the ramp, with light from the urn shining on his face.
Amazon.com has updated its preview for Chris Jericho’s new book, Undisputed: How to Become the World Champion in 1,372 Easy Steps.