Original subtitles

>> YOU KNOW THAT FEELING WE ALL

GET WHEN WWE IS TOTALLY AWESOME?

>> OH YEAH.

>> THAT FEELING OF FUN.

NOSTALGIA.

THE ICONIC SUPERSTARS THAT MADE

YOU A LIFELONG FAN.

I'M TALKING THE MOST AWESOME WWE

CHAMPIONS OF ALL TIME.

>> THE CHAMP IS HERE.

>> FROM THE GREAT ONE.

>> WHAT AN OVATION FOR "THE

PEOPLE'S CHAMP" THE ROCK.

>> TO THE HEAD OF THE TABLE.

>> ACKNOWLEDGE ME.

[CROWDS CHEERING]

>> THE ONES THAT INSPIRE US- >>

THANK YOU, BRET.

>> -RALLY US- >> HULKAMANIA'S

RUNNING WORLDWIDE.

>> -AND BRING US TO OUR FEET-

[GLASS SHATTERING]

>> -TO CHANT IN UNISON, "THIS

IS AWESOME."

[CROWD CHANTS "THIS IS AWESOME"]

>> WELCOME TO THIS IS AWESOME.

THE ONLY SHOW THAT DIVES INTO

THE MOST AWESOME EVERYTHING

THEN, NOW, AND FOREVER.

I'M YOUR HOST GREG MILLER,

@GAMEOVERGREGGY ON TWITTER AND

INSTAGRAM, AND TODAY WE LOOK AT

THE MOST AWESOME WWE CHAMPIONS

OF ALL TIME.

WINNERS OF THE MOST COVETED

PRIZE AND TITLE IN ALL OF SPORTS

ENTERTAINMENT.

GIVEN THAT 53 SUPERSTARS HAVE

HELD THE HONORABLE DISTINCTION

OF BEING WWE CHAMPION, HOW ON

EARTH DO YOU NARROW DOWN A LIST

TO THE BEST OF THE BEST AND WHAT

EXACTLY IS THE CRITERIA?

WELL, GIVEN THAT THIS IS ALL

ABOUT THE WWE CHAMPIONSHIP AND

NOT THE NWA OR WCW WORLD TITLES,

THAT'S CRITERIA NUMBER ONE.

AN IMPRESSIVE AMOUNT OF

CHAMPIONSHIPS, DURATION OF

REIGN, AND HOW YOU REPRESENT WWE

IN AND OUT OF THE RING ALL

FACTORS, BUT WHAT DO THE

SUPERSTARS AND CRITICS THINK?

GO SEE FOR YOURSELF.

>> WITH A TEAR IN MY EYE, THIS

IS THE GREATEST MOMENT IN MY

LIFE.

[MUSIC]

>> THE MOST COVETED PRIZE IN

SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT, THE WWE

TITLE.

>> IN THIS BUSINESS, WE CAN WANT

TO ACHIEVE A LOT OF THINGS.

MAIN EVENT WRESTLEMANIA, WIN A

ROYAL RUMBLE, BUT WHY?

IT ALL REVOLVES AROUND THE SAME

THING.

THE WWE CHAMPIONSHIP.

>> BEING WWE CHAMPION, YOU'RE

THE PERSON THAT'S CARRYING THE

COMPANY.

>> IT'S A JOB OF REVERENCE.

IT'S A HUGE WEIGHT.

>> IT TAKES A LOT OF BLOOD,

SWEAT, AND TEARS AND HARD WORK.

>> OH.

>> NO MATTER HOW TIRED YOU ARE,

YOU CAN'T BE TIRED.

NO MATTER HOW SORE YOU ARE, YOU

CAN'T BE SORE.

>> OH, MY GOD.

>> THIS IDIOT'S LIKE A

TERMINATOR.

>> YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE BEST

MATCHES CONSISTENTLY.

>> STYLES HAS DONE IT AGAIN.

>> YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO

CONNECT WITH THE PEOPLE.

>> IT'S THE PEOPLE'S CHAMP.

>> IT'S NOT JUST FOR THE 2 HOURS

OF SMACKDOWN.

IT IS 24/7 EVERY DAY.

>> YOU'RE ALWAYS ON CALL.

YOU'RE ALWAYS THE FACE OF WWE.

>> I THINK WHEN YOU KNOW YOU

HAVE THAT RESPONSIBILITY, AND

YOU GO ABOVE AND BEYOND, THAT'S

WHAT MAKES A TRUE CHAMPION.

>> THE IMPORTANCE OF THE WWE

CHAMPIONSHIP TIES TO THE

LINEAGE.

IF SOMEBODY WINS THAT TODAY,

THAT IS THE SAME CHAMPIONSHIP

THAT SHAWN MICHAELS AT

WRESTLEMANIA XII, THE BOYHOOD

DREAM LOOKING AT THAT TITLE.

>> THE BOYHOOD DREAM HAS COME

TRUE.

>> TO ME, THE WWE TITLE IS THE

TITLE.

AS COMPANIES CAME AND COMPANIES

WENT, IT WAS THE TITLE THAT

REMAINED CONSISTENT.

>> THE WWE CHAMPIONSHIP IS THE

TOP PRIZE JUST BECAUSE OF HOW

LONG IT'S BEEN AROUND AND THE

PEOPLE THAT HAVE HELD IT OVER

THE COURSE OF HISTORY.

>> TO BECOME WWE CHAMPION, YOU

JOIN A VERY SELECT GROUP.

>> GREAT CHAMPIONS THAT FOLLOWED

GREAT CHAMPIONS ARE NEVER CARBON

COPIES.

WE HAD BRUNO SAMMARTINO>> BOB

>> BOBVBACKLUND.

>> THE IRON SHEIK.

>> HULK HOGAN.

>> RIC FLAIR.

>> STONE COLD.

>> JOHN CENA.

>> ROMAN REIGNS.

>> WRESTLING FOR THE WWE

CHAMPIONSHIP, IT'S SURREAL.

>> KOFI IS CHAMPION.

>> MY FIRST FEELING WAS

DISBELIEF.

>> THE MIZ ON TOP OF THE WORLD.

>> I WAS LOOKING AT THE TITLE

AND THINKING ABOUT ALL THE UPS

AND DOWNS, THINKING THIS

WOULDN'T BE POSSIBLE.

>> DREW MCINTYRE'S QUEST TO THE

WWE CHAMPIONSHIP IS COMPLETE.

>> IF YOU GET THE CHANCE TO BE

CHAMPION, ENJOY IT WHILE IT

LASTS, BECAUSE WHEN IT'S AWAY

YOU WANT IT BACK.

>> NOW LET'S GET STARTED AND

COME OUT OF THE GATE STRONG WITH

OUR FIRST SPOTLIGHT, THE

STANDARD BEARER AND MEASURING

STICK BY WHICH ALL OTHERS ARE

JUDGED.

MR. HUSTLE, LOYALTY AND RESPECT

HIMSELF, JOHN CENA.

A 16-TIME WORLD CHAMPION TIED

WITH "THE NATURE BOY" RIC FLAIR,

AND A RECORD 13-TIME WWE

CHAMPION.

FOR A MAN WHO CANNOT BE SEEN,

HIS MARK ON SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT

CANNOT BE OVERLOOKED.

>> THE CHAMP IS HERE.

>> JOHN CENA, 16-TIME WORLD

CHAMP.

[MUSIC]

>> WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE

GREATS IN SPORTS, WHEN YOU TALK

ABOUT THE ICONS, YOU BETTER PUT

THAT MAN RIGHT THERE AT THE TOP.

>> JOHN CENA WAS ONE OF THE

GREATEST CHAMPIONS OF ALL TIME.

HE'S A LEGEND.

>> JOHN CENA CAN BE SUMMED UP IN

THREE WORDS, HUSTLE, LOYALTY AND

RESPECT.

THAT'S EXACTLY WHY HE WAS SO

SUCCESSFUL AS THE WWE CHAMPION.

HE KEPT COMING BACK.

HE NEVER GAVE UP WHEN IT CAME TO

CHASING THAT CHAMPIONSHIP.

>> I DID NOT QUIT.

>> THE RISE OF JOHN CENA CAME AS

THE RUTHLESS AGGRESSION ERA WAS

BEGINNING TO RISE.

[MUSIC]

>> WHAT IS THE ONE QUALITY THAT

YOU POSSESS?

>> RUTHLESS AGGRESSION.

>> OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS,

CENA'S RUTHLESS AGGRESSIVE

ATTITUDE WOULD SEE HIM RISE

THROUGH THE RANKS AND EVENTUALLY

CONTEND FOR THE WWE CHAMPIONSHIP

AGAINST THE REIGNING JBL.

>> THE LONGEST-RUNNING CHAMPION

IN 10 YEARS, JBL, WHETHER YOU

LIKE HIM OR NOT IS A SURVIVOR.

IS THE TIME NOW FOR JOHN CENA OR

WILL JBL'S HISTORIC REIGN

CONTINUE?

>> HE WAS WEARING THE REEBOK

PUMPS AT THE TIME.

HE PUMPED HIMSELF UP TO BE THE

NEW FRESH-FACED WWE CHAMPION.

>> JOHN CENA IS THE CHAMPION.

>> THERE'S AN ICONIC SHOT OF HIM

THROWING HIMSELF BACK INTO THE

AUDIENCE, HOLDING UP THAT WWE

CHAMPIONSHIP FOR THE FIRST TIME.

I JUST WISH THAT HIS

CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE HADN'T BEEN

SO UGLY.

>> THE NEW WWE CHAMPIONSHIP,

DADDY.

>> JOHN CENA, HE STATED IT

HIMSELF.

HE STATED IT VERY WELL.

LOOK AT THAT.

OH, IT'S A SPINNER DEAL.

>> THE YOUNGER AUDIENCE

ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT.

THE MORE TRADITIONAL OLD-SCHOOL

AUDIENCE THOUGHT, "WHAT THE HELL

HAS THE PRESTIGIOUS WWE

CHAMPIONSHIP TURNED INTO?"

>> PEOPLE EVEN TO THIS DAY ARE

UPSET OVER IT.

JOHN CENA CAN DO WHATEVER HE

WANTS TO DO.

>> I DON'T KNOW THAT ANY

CHAMPION HAS HAD THE CONSISTENCY

OVER TIME THAT JOHN CENA HAS

HAD.

>> JOHN CENA IS NOW A 6-TIME, A

9-TIME, 11-TIME, 15-TIME-- AA

ONE MORE TIME.

16-TIME WWE CHAMPION.

"THE NATURE BOY" RIC FLAIR AND

JOHN CENA HAS JUST EQUALED ONE

OF THE MOST STORIED MARKS IN

SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT HISTORY.

>> CENA HAS A KNACK FOR WINNING

THE BIG ONES.

>> BECAUSE WE ALL TAKE NAMES AND

KICK ASS.

[MUSIC]

>> CENA CAME UP, BUT THEN HE

STAYED THERE FOR YEARS AND YEARS

AND YEARS AND YEARS.

EVEN WHEN HE WASN'T CHAMPION,

STILL BEING THE GUY THAT WHEN

YOU THOUGHT OF WWE, YOU THOUGHT

OF JOHN CENA.

>> I AM A CHAMPION WHO MAKES AN

IMPACT.

>> HE CHECKS ALL THE BOXES OF

WHAT I THINK MAKE A GREAT

CHAMPION AND A GREAT AMBASSADOR

FOR THE WWE.

>> JOHN CENA IS A MAN OF MANY

TALENTS.

NOT ONLY IS HE A 16-TIME WORLD

CHAMPION, BUT CENA REPRESENTED

THE WWE THROUGH ALL FORMS OF

MAINSTREAM ENTERTAINMENT.

>> PLEASE WELCOME EVERYBODY'S

FAVORITE.

>> WWE SUPERSTAR, MR. JOHN CENA.

>> WELCOME TO THE ESPY AWARDS.

>> HIS PASSION AND AUTHENTICITY

RESONATED WITH AUDIENCES

WHEREVER HE WENT.

HE IS ALSO A NEW YORK TIMES

BESTSELLING AUTHOR, A PLATINUM

RECORDING ARTIST AND AN

OUTSTANDING ROLE MODEL TO ALL.

>> YOU HAVE ALMOST OBSESSED

FANS, DON'T YOU?

>> THERE ARE A FEW.

>> NOT ONLY WAS HE AMAZING IN

THE RING, BUT HE REALLY SPENT A

LOT OF HIS TIME OUTSIDE OF THE

RING MAKING THE WORLD A BETTER

PLACE.

>> HIS MOST IMPRESSIVE FEAT TO

DATE IS HIS RECORD-SETTING

MAKE-A-WISH VISITS WITH 650

WISHES GRANTED, ETCHING HISTORY

IN THE GUINNESS BOOK OF WORLD

RECORDS.

>> YOU CAN'T SEE ME.

>> JOHN KNEW HIS ROLE AS A

CHAMPION.

HE HAD NO PROBLEM MAKING PEOPLE

HAPPY.

THAT'S WHAT WE DO.

WE PUT ASSES IN SEATS AND SMILES

ON FACES.

JOHN WAS ONE OF THE BEST.

>> COME GET SOME, DADDY.

>> HE IS AN OUTSTANDING 100%

HALL OF FAMER DESERVING OF ALL

THOSE WORLD TITLES, ALL OF THEM.

>> THE CHAMP IS HERE.

>> ARGUABLY THE HARDEST-WORKING

AND MOST PASSIONATE SUPERSTAR IN

WWE HISTORY.

WE SEE YOU, JOHN, WE SEE YOU.

OUR NEXT CHAMPION OR I'M SORRY,

WRESTLING GOD HAD A TEXAS-SIZED

EGO AS BIG AS HIS WALLET AND

MOUTH.

YES, MR. JOHN BRADSHAW LAYFIELD

WAS ONE OF A KIND AND QUITE

POSSIBLY THE MOST CUNNING WWE

CHAMPION OF ALL TIME.

>> AMERICA, YOU HAD A CHAMPION

THAT YOU PEOPLE WERE ASHAMED OF.

BE ASHAMED NO MORE BECAUSE THE

ERA OF JOHN BRADSHAW LAYFIELD

HAS ARRIVED.

>> JBL WAS A GUY WHO HAD BEEN IN

THE WWE FOR YEARS, BUT HE WAS

NEVER A TOP-OF-THE-MOUNTAIN GUY.

>> HE WAS ESSENTIALLY

BEER-SWIGGING CARD-PLAYING

TEXAS, GOOD OLD BOY AND HE

COMPLETELY REINVENTED HIMSELF.

>> IT'S BEEN REAL, BROTHER.

>> THANK YOU.

>> YOU'RE THE MAN.

HE WAS ALWAYS INTO THE STOCK

MARKET, FINANCE, WRITING THE

BOOKS ON IT.

>> I LOVE COMPANIES THAT MAKE A

LOT OF MONEY THAT DON'T HAVE A

LOT OF DEBT.

>> THESE WERE REAL-LIFE THINGS

THAT HE BROUGHT TO THE TABLE.

>> $1,000 TO ME IS REALLY JUST

FRONT-POCKET MONEY.

I GREW UP IN WEST TEXAS AND I

SAW THESE GUYS WHEN I WAS A KID,

THEY JUST RUBBED THEIR MONEY IN

EVERYBODY'S NOSE AND I THOUGHT

IF I HATE THOSE GUYS, THEN

EVERYBODY ELSE IS GOING TO HATE

THOSE GUYS TOO.

>> I HATED EVERY SINGLE THING HE

DID.

>> SHUT YOUR PIE HOLE, SON.

A RICH MAN DOESN'T WORK WHEN A

RICH MAN DOESN'T WANT TO.

I WANT IT SPICK AND SPAN.

I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN SMARTER.

I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN BETTER, AND I

HAVE ALWAYS WORKED HARDER THAN

ANYBODY ELSE.

>> I HATED HIS LITTLE TOWEL.

I HATED HIS TRAP JACKET.

I HATED HIS HAT.

I HATED HIS LIMO WITH THE HORNS.

>> HE WOULD COME OUT WITH THIS

SMILE ON HIS FACE JUST REVELING

IN THE HATRED THAT WAS BEING

SPEWED TOWARD HIM.

>> I'M HISPANIC SO WATCHING JBL

CHASING PEOPLE AT THE BORDER WAS

INSANE.

>> STOP RIGHT THERE.

STOP RIGHT THERE, YOU HEAR ME?

STOP RIGHT THERE.

>> HE DREW HEAT LIKE NOT MANY

PEOPLE HAD SEEN IN A LONG TIME,

BUT YOU COULD NEVER IMAGINE A

WORLD HE'D BECOME WORLD

CHAMPION.

>> WHAT A SHOT.

>> JBL IS THE NEW CHAMPION.

>> WOW.

>> NO ONE MAY HAVE SEEN JBL'S

WWE TITLE REIGN COMING, BUT SOON

EVERYONE HAD SEEN MORE THAN

ENOUGH.

BY HOOK OR CROOK HE KEPT

WINNING.

>> UNDERTAKER'S BEEN

DISQUALIFIED.

>> AND WINNING.

>> THE TITLE OFF THE SKULL, THE

CHAMPION STEALS IT AGAIN.

>> AND, WELL, MORE LIKE

SURVIVING.

>> I THOUGHT THE BIG SHOW HAD

WON THE TITLE, BUT APPARENTLY

THE CHAMPION GOT OUT OF THE CAGE

FIRST.

>> PROVING HIMSELF TO BE ONE OF

THE CRAFTIEST WWE CHAMPIONS IN

HISTORY.

>> WHEN YOU'RE A CHAMPION THAT

LONG YOU CONSTANTLY HAVE TO

REINVENT YOURSELF.

SON, IN CASE YOU HAVEN'T

NOTICED, I HAVE BECOME A

WRESTLING GOD.

>> HE FEUDED WITH SOME OF THE

BEST.

>> EDDIE GUERRERO, UNDERTAKER,

BOOKER T, JOHN CENA.

>> THIS ONE NIGHT HE ACTUALLY

GOT HIT WITH A TRANQUILIZER DART

AND WRESTLED GODZILLA.

>> I SLAP YOU IN THE FACE AND HE

WON'T DO NOTHING ABOUT IT.

SEE.

>> IT WAS SO LONG I FORGET THAT

IT WAS ONLY ONE REIGN.

>> AT THAT TIME, THE LONGEST RUN

IN THE HISTORY OF SMACKDOWN AS

WWE CHAMPION GOES TO JBL.

>> TO ANYBODY OUT THERE THAT

FEELS THAT I HAVE WRONGED THEM,

CRY ME A RIVER SNOWFLAKE.

>> I LOVE IT.

WHILE I DON'T LOVE BEING BLOCKED

BY JBL ON TWITTER, HOW CAN YOU

NOT RESPECT THE WRESTLING GOD'S

WAY OF DOING BUSINESS?

NOW, WE GO FROM LEGEND TO LEGEND

KILLER.

OUR NEXT SELECTION IS AS COLD

AND CALCULATING AS A VIPER

METHODICALLY RACKING UP

CHAMPIONSHIPS OVER THE BETTER

PART OF TWO DECADES.

RANDY ORTON IS UNDENIABLY ONE OF

THE MOST DECORATED WWE CHAMPIONS

IN HISTORY.

>> WHEN I THINK OF WWE CHAMPION,

I THINK OF RANDY ORTON.

>> RANDY ORTON, THE BUSINESS IS

IN HIS BLOOD.

THE MAN HAS EVERY GIFT THAT A

MAN CAN BE GIVEN.

>> HE HAD THIS NATURAL ABILITY

THAT WAS SO EASY FOR HIM.

>> WINNING GOLD WOULD SOON

BECOME A FORMALITY AND A

FORESHADOWING OF RANDY ORTON'S

DESTINY.

>> THIS ONE-MAN DYNASTY HAS ONLY

JUST BEGUN, AND I WILL BE WWE

CHAMPION FOR A LONG, LONG TIME.

>> WHAT RANDY HAS DONE IS

CREATED AND CRAFTED THIS CAREER

THAT HE'S JUST BEEN ABLE TO

BUILD AND BUILD AND BUILD AND

GET BETTER AND BETTER AND

BETTER.

>> RANDY ORTON HAS BEEN AT THE

TOP OF WWE FOR SO LONG NOW, HAD

MATCHES WITH EVERY SINGLE TOP

TALENT THERE IS, AND HE'S BEATEN

THEM ALL.

>> TOP TALENT OR NOT, RANDY

ORTON IS THE WWE'S APEX PREDATOR

AND, WHEN THE VIPER IS HUNGRY,

HE EATS.

>> RANDY ORTON SLITHERING INTO

THE RING.

RANDY ORTON WOULD TAKE

ADVANTAGE.

>> OH, THAT OPPORTUNISTIC SNAKE.

>> RKO TO THE BIG SHOW.

OH, THE VIPER STRIKES.

>> HE'S THAT BRUTAL.

>> NOBODY HAS BEEN A SPOILER IN

THE WWE CHAMPIONSHIP SCENE THE

WAY RANDY ORTON HAS, AND HE

SEEMS TO RELISH IT.

>> BRYAN IS DOWN AND COLD.

RANDY ORTON HAS CASHED IN MONEY

IN THE BANK.

[CROWD CHEERS]

>> WHEN AN OPPORTUNITY PRESENTS

ITSELF, I TAKE IT.

>> THERE IS NO GREATER CHALLENGE

THAN JOHN CENA.

>> HONESTLY, IT WAS LIKE BATMAN

AND JOKER.

COMPLETE DIAMETRICAL OPPOSITE

PERSONALITIES.

>> OH, WHAT A KICK.

>> OH, MY GOSH.

>> AN AMAZING OPPORTUNISTIC

MANEUVER FOR RANDY ORTON.

>> LOOK OUT.

>> ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT.

RKO.

>> OH, MY GOSH.

>> YOU SEE, IN THE COMIC BOOKS,

THE VILLAIN NEVER WINS.

WELL, THAT DOESN'T APPLY TO

RANDY ORTON.

>> RANDY ORTON IS THE NEW WWE

WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION.

>> RANDY ORTON HAS BEEN IN WWE

FOR 20 YEARS.

HE'S WON THE WWE CHAMPIONSHIP 10

TIMES, 10 TIMES IN 20 YEARS.

THAT'S AMAZING.

>> IN THIS VERY RING, I STOOD

HERE WITH FORMER CHAMPIONS, HALL

OF FAMERS, LEGENDS, AND NONE OF

THEM, AS I LOOKED AROUND, NONE

OF THEM HAVE ACCOMPLISHED WHAT I

HAVE ACCOMPLISHED.

I AM THE CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS.

I AM THE WWE WORLD CHAMPION.

>> NO ARGUMENTS HERE, RANDY.

YOURS IS A RESUME LIKE NONE

OTHER.

ALL THE POWER TO YOU, MAN.

NOW, THE HERO OF OUR CHILDHOODS

AND, PERHAPS, THE MOST

RECOGNIZED WWE SUPERSTAR ON THE

PLANET, HULK HOGAN'S MASSIVE

PERSONALITY AND CHARISMA WAS

LIKE NO OTHER.

IN THE RING, HIS ICONIC REIGNS

AS CHAMPION WERE HIGHLIGHTED BY

SOME OF THE BIGGEST MOMENTS IN

WWE HISTORY.

REMEMBER TO SAY YOUR PRAYERS,

TAKE YOUR VITAMINS, AND BELIEVE

IN YOURSELF BECAUSE HULKAMANIA

IS RUNNING WILD, BROTHER.

>> WHAT YOU GONNA DO WHEN THE

LARGEST ARMS IN THE WORLD AND

THE POWER OF HULKAMANIA DESTROY

YOU?

>> THE GREATEST PROFESSIONAL

ATHLETE IN THE WORLD TODAY.

>> THE LEGENDARY HULK HOGAN IS

ONE OF THE MOST ICONIC WWE

CHAMPIONS OF ALL TIME.

>> HE WAS THE ULTIMATE GOOD GUY.

>> HULK HOGAN IS THE MAN, WE ALL

KNOW IT, EVERYBODY KNOWS IT

HERE.

>> HE HAD ALL THESE LITTLE

THINGS THAT HE WOULD DO THAT THE

FANS COULD PARTICIPATE IN.

THE BONE ERA POSE.

HE WOULD DO THE OLD HULKAMANIA

THING.

>> THIS PLACE HAS GONE BANANAS.

>> HIS 24-INCH PYTHONS AND THE

WAY HE RIPPED HIS SHIRT OFF.

>> WHEN I WAS GOING OUT TO

WRESTLE IN HIGH SCHOOL, I WOULD

CUT THE BACK TO MY SHIRT TO HAVE

IT LIKE, THAT'S LIKE HULKAMANIA

RUNNING WILD, SO WHEN PEOPLE

RECOGNIZE IT AND IMMEDIATELY

KNEW THE DEAL.

>> IF YOU WERE A KID IN THE '80S

WATCHING WRESTLING, YOU WERE A

HULKAMANIAC.

IF ANYONE SAYS THEY WEREN'T,

THEY'RE LIKELY LYING TO YOU.

>> HOGAN'S GOT ALL THESE

HULKAMANIACS OUT THERE LIKE ME.

>> TRAIN, SAY YOUR PRAYERS, EAT

YOUR VITAMINS, AND BELIEVE IN

YOURSELF, BROTHER.

>> HULK HOGAN WAS REALLY THE

FIRST WWE SUPERSTAR TO BECOME A

POP CULTURE ICON.

>> I DON'T THINK WWE, OBVIOUSLY

SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT, DOESN'T

GET AS BIG AS IT GETS WITHOUT

HULK HOGAN.

>> WHEN I WAS A KID, I WOULD

WRESTLE MY LITTLE HULK HOGAN

WRESTLING BUDDY.

>> WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?

>> THAT'S HULK HOGAN.

>> HE WAS ON THERMOSES, ACTION

FINGERS.

>> I HAD THE WEIGHT SET AT MY

HOUSE.

>> THAT WAS MY LUNCHBOX, MY

BACKPACK.

IT'S JUST THE DUDE OOZED

CHARISMA.

>> SOMEONE THAT COULD OVERCOME

ANY ODDS JUST BY THEIR HEART AND

WILLPOWER ALONE, THAT WAS HULK

HOGAN.

>> NEVER SEEN THE HULKSTER

MANHANDLED IN THIS WAY.

>> HOGAN WILL GET BEAT DOWN IN

THE MATCH, AND THEN AT SOME

POINT, HE WOULD JUST START

HULKING UP, AND HE BECAME

IMPERVIOUS TO PAIN.

I'LL NEVER FORGET HEARING

GORILLA MONSOON.

>> THE HULKSTER IS HULKED UP.

HE'S IMPERVIOUS TO THAT PAIN.

>> HE WAS ALWAYS ABLE TO HULK

UP, GIVE THE POINT TO THIS

OPPONENT.

THOSE BIG FISTS, THROW HIM IN,

AND GIVE THEM THAT BIG LEG DROP.

BAM.

ONE, TWO, THREE.

>> HE GOT HIM.

THE HULKSTER HOLDS UP THE GOLD.

>> HE WAS LIKE CAPTAIN AMERICA,

BUT IN WRESTLING FORM.

>> HULKSTER, OUR NATIONAL HERO.

HE GOT HIM.

>> HE'S DONE IT.

>> DOWN GOES YOKOZUNA.

>> HULK HOGAN IS THE CHAMPION.

>> LISTEN TO THIS CROWD.

>> FOR YEARS, HOGAN WAS THE FACE

OF WWE AND HAD SIX MEMORABLE

CHAMPIONSHIP VICTORIES, BUT NONE

WERE SWEETER THAN HIS FIRST.

>> HULKAMANIA DEFINITELY HAS HIT

THE BIG APPLE.

[BELL RINGS]

>> HE DIDN'T WAIT FOR A MOMENT.

HULK HOGAN, HE DROPS THE BIG LEG

ON HIM.

HE DONE IT.

WE'VE GOT A NEW CHAMPION.

>> THAT'S RIGHT WHEN THEY KICKED

OFF THE HULKAMANIA MOVEMENT.

>> HULKAMANIAS RUNNING

WORLDWIDE.

>> THEN WRESTLEMANIA III JUST

LAUNCHED THE WWE TO A WHOLE

ANOTHER LEVEL FROM THAT POINT

ON.

>> YOU GOT 93,000 FANS STANDING

ON THEIR FEET FOR THIS ONE,

GORILLA.

>> HOGAN AND ANDRE WERE SO

LARGER THAN LIFE IT ALMOST SEEMS

MYTHICAL AT THIS POINT.

>> LOOK AT THIS.

>> HE SLAMMED HIM.

>> THE FIRST PERSON TO EVER SLAM

ANDRE.

>> HULK DROPPING THE BIG LEG.

>> HE GOT IT.

>> IT'S OVER.

>> UNBELIEVABLE.

>> THE GREATEST MOMENT EVER IN

MY LIFE, AS FAR AS MY CAREER, IT

HAS TO BE THAT WRESTLEMANIA.

[MUSIC]

>> IN 2002, HULKAMANIA WOULD

PROVE TO BE IMMORTAL.

>> HOGAN GOT THE LEG DROP.

[BELL RINGS]

>> WHAT?

OH, MY GOD.

>> HOGAN HAS DONE IT.

>> TWO OF HULK'S TITLES WERE 18

YEARS APART.

FROM THE IRON SHEIK TO BACK

AGAIN WITH THE WWE IN DEFEATING

TRIPLE H.

>> HULK HOGAN HAS CLIMBED AGAIN

TO THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN.

>> TO STAY RELEVANT FOR THAT

LONG, AND TO STAY ON TOP FOR

THAT LONG, AND WHERE PEOPLE CARE

FOR THAT LONG AND THEY'RE PAYING

TICKETS TO SEE YOU, IT'S JUST

ABSURD.

[CROWD CHANTS "HOGAN"]

>> YOU'RE GOING TO REMEMBER ME

FOR A LONG TIME, BROTHER.

>> I HAD THE LUNCH BOX TOO, AND

I STILL TAKE MY HULKAMANIA

VITAMINS, IF YOU COULDN'T TELL.

[GROANS]

I ALSO GOT CHOPPED ONCE BY HULK

HOGAN.

I WASN'T WEARING A SHIRT AND

[CHUCKLES]

LET ME TELL YOU, IT HURT,

BROTHER.

WELL, MOVING ON TO SOMEONE WHOSE

HERCULEAN TRAPS COULD LITERALLY

CRUSH ME.

THE BEAST INCARNATE, THE NEXT

BIG THING, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO

CALL HIM, BROCK LESNAR IS A

FORCE WHO BURST ONTO THE WWE

SCENE AND IMMEDIATELY MADE AN

IMPACT.

STEAMROLLING HIS OPPONENTS AND

GOBBLING UP CHAMPIONSHIPS LIKE

ONLY THE ALPHA MALE OF OUR

SPECIES CAN.

[MUSIC]

>> MY PASSION IS GETTING IN

THAT SQUARED CIRCLE AND KICKING

SOMEBODY'S ASS.

>> THIS ISN'T A TRICK, HE'S NOT

GOING TO POP OUT BEHIND ME,

RIGHT?

>> PEOPLE LIKE BROCK LESNAR, YOU

LOOK AT HIM AND YOU KNOW THAT

HE'S A BEAST.

>> WHO WILL BE ABLE TO STOP THE

NEXT BIG THING?

>> SINCE THE MOMENT HE WALKED

IN, HE JUST BUST ASS AND WINS

TITLES.

>> THE COVER.

>> ONE, TWO, THREE.

>> HOOK OF THE LEG.

[BELL RINGS]

>> LESNAR HAS DEFEATED THE

ROCK.

>> HIM WINNING THE TITLE AGAINST

THE ROCK WAS SUCH A HUGE MOMENT

BECAUSE HE HAD BEEN AROUND FOR

SUCH A SHORT TIME.

>> BROCK LESNAR HAS BECOME THE

YOUNGEST CHAMPION IN WWE

HISTORY.

>> FOR HIM TO COME IN AND BEAT

THE ROCK AT SUMMERSLAM IN THE

MAIN EVENT TO BECOME THE

YOUNGEST WWE CHAMPION OF ALL

TIME?

I MEAN, YOU CAN'T GET A BIGGER

MOMENT THAN THAT.

>> BROCK LESNAR WAS ESTABLISHING

HIMSELF AS THE MOST DOMINANT

CHAMPION IN THE HISTORY OF WWE.

[MUSIC]

>> I WAS THERE THE NIGHT BROCK

LESNAR TOOK JOHN CENA TO SUPLEX

CITY.

[MUSIC]

>> SETTLE IN.

IT'S FOR THE WWE WORLD

HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP.

CENA, LESNAR, THE BIGGEST FIGHT

OF THE SUMMER.

>> IT'S NOT EVEN A CONTEST, IT

IS JUST SUPLEX AFTER SUPLEX

AFTER SUPLEX AFTER SUPLEX AFTER

SUPLEX.

THIS WAS LIKE A NEW BROCK

LESNAR.

>> SUPLEX CITY, --.

>> KIDS ARE CRYING IN THE FRONT

ROW.

I'VE NEVER SEEN JUST STRAIGHT

DOMINATION FROM A MAIN EVENT

LIKE THAT.

[CROWD CHEERS]

>> F5 TO CENA.

[BELL RINGS]

>> LESNAR HAS WON THE WWE WORLD

TITLE IN CONVINCING FASHION.

[MUSIC]

>> STANDS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE

STAPLE CENTER WITH BOLD TITLES

OVER HIS HEAD JUST LOOKING AS

TERRIFYING AS I'VE EVER SEEN

ANYBODY LOOK.

>> I THINK WHAT MAKES BROCK

LESNAR SUCH A FEARFUL CHAMPION

IS HOW BADASS HE IS.

>> THEN OUTSIDE THE COMPANY,

JOINED UFC AND MADE HIS CRAZY

BOX OFFICE TEAR AS WELL.

>> HE GETS INTO MIXED MARTIAL

ARTS AND BECOMES THE UNDISPUTED

UFC HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION.

WHO ELSE CAN PULL THIS OFF

BESIDES BROCK LESNAR?

[MUSIC]

>> NO MATTER WHO HE'S

WRESTLING, IT FEELS LIKE A MAIN

EVENT.

>> BROCK LESNAR IS THE BIGGEST

BOX OFFICE ATTRACTION IN THE

HISTORY OF WWE.

>> PREPARE FOR THE STORM THAT IS

THE BEAST INCARNATE.

[MUSIC]

>> WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT BROCK

LESNAR, YOU DON'T THINK ABOUT A

GUY WHO HAS BEEN IN THE WWE

CHAMPIONSHIP SCENE FOR 20 YEARS,

BUT THAT'S EXACTLY WHO HE IS.

[CROWD CHEERS]

>> FOR THE 10TH TIME IN HIS

CAREER, BROCK LESNAR HOLDS A

WORLD TITLE.

[BELL RINGS]

[BROCK LESNAR'S MUSIC PLAYS]

>> BROCK LESNAR IS AN ANOMALY

IN OUR BUSINESS, AND I ALSO HAVE

REALLY ENJOYED GETTING TO KNOW

COWBOY BROCK.

>> YOUR WWE CHAMPION IS IN THE

HOUSE.

[CROWD CHEERS]

>> COWBOY BROCK.

[CROWD CHEERS]

>> A MAN OF THE PEOPLE.

>> NOW HE'S SMILING, WHICH IS

EVEN SCARIER TO ME THAT HE'S

HAVING SUCH A GOOD TIME.

[CROWD CHEERS]

>> THE ALPHA MALE OF OUR

SPECIES.

>> BROCK LESNAR DOES NOT KNOW

WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE NUMBER TWO.

>> HE'S JUST LIKE THE CHAMPION

OF CHAMPIONS.

>> AS THE YEARS GO BY, HE'S JUST

EQUALLY AS JACKED, EQUALLY AS

EXPLOSIVE.

>> SOMEBODY LIKE BROCK LESNAR

ELEVATES THE WWE CHAMPIONSHIP.

>> WHEN HE HAS THE TITLE, YOU

HAVE TO STEP IT UP.

BROCK IS THE BEAST.

>> I'M THE MEANEST AND BADDEST

--- >> LESNAR IS LIFTING UP THE

RING WITH ROMAN REIGNS IN IT

[CROWD CHEERS]

>> -THAT EVER WALKED THE FACE

OF THE PLANET.

[MUSIC]

[CROWD CHEERS]

>> I TEND TO AGREE WITH BROCK

ON THIS ONE, BUT THEN AGAIN, CAN

YOU IMAGINE WHAT IT'S LIKE NOT

TO AGREE WITH HIM, NOT TO AGREE

WITH THE BEAST INCARNATE?

I DON'T WANT THAT.

I SAW WHAT HE DID TO PAUL

HEYMAN.

NOW A LOOK AT THE OG OF WWE'S

OGS.

BRUNO SAMMARTINO, THE LIVING

LEGEND WAS A PHYSICAL SPECIMEN.

BRUNO WOULD SET STANDING RECORDS

FOR LONGEST REIGNS AND SOLD OUT

THE WORLD'S MOST FAMOUS ARENA,

MADISON SQUARE GARDEN, AN

ASTOUNDING 187 TIMES.

[MUSIC]

>> ONE OF THE GREATEST

HEAVYWEIGHT WRESTLING CHAMPIONS

IN HISTORY.

HE HELD THE TITLE LONGER THAN

ANY OTHER CHAMPION, EIGHT

CONSECUTIVE YEARS.

HE IS WRESTLING'S LIVING LEGEND,

FROM PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA,

LET'S WELCOME BRUNO SAMMARTINO.

[CROWD CHEERS]

[MUSIC]

>> BACK IN THE '60S AND '70S,

BRUNO WAS THE MAN.

[CROWD CHEERS]

>> IN 1963, SAMMARTINO WOULD DO

THE UNTHINKABLE DEFEATING

"NATURE BOY" BUDDY ROGERS IN

JUST 48 SECONDS, KICKING OFF THE

LONGEST CHAMPIONSHIP REIGN IN

WWE HISTORY.

>> HE TOOK THAT TITLE FROM BUDDY

ROGERS, WHO WAS THE HOTTEST

HEEL.

THAT TO ME MADE THAT WWE TITLE

THE MOST PRESTIGIOUS TITLE IN

SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT, AND IT IS

TO THIS DAY.

>> WELCOME TO MADISON SQUARE

GARDEN AND TONIGHT'S ALLSTAR

PARK OF PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING.

>> A BIG CHUNK OF WWE HISTORY IS

MADISON SQUARE GARDEN.

>> THE LIVING LEGEND OF PRO

WRESTLING, BRUNO SAMMARTINO.

[CROWD CHEERS]

>> GROWING UP IN NEW YORK AS AN

ITALIAN, BRUNO WAS LIKE GOD.

[CROWD CHEERS]

>> HERE WE GO.

THE ROAR OF THE CROWD FOR BRUNO

SAMMARTINO.

>> IF YOU SPEAK TO THE OLDER

GENERATION, THEY TALK ABOUT

GOING TO SEE BRUNO WHEN HE WAS

CHAMPION, HAD SUCH A PASSIONATE

FAN BASE IN NEW YORK.

>> THERE'S BRUNO SAMMARTINO.

[CROWD CHEERS]

[MUSIC]

>> BRUNO SAMMARTINO SOLD OUT AN

UNFATHOMABLE AMOUNT OF MADISON

SQUARE GARDEN SHOWS.

HE TOOK ON EVERY OPPONENT.

>> THE BIG MAN IN THE CORNER,

COMING RIGHT OFF, LOOK AT THAT

BACK DROP.

>> [INDISTINCT]

GOES FLYING HEADFIRST INTO THAT

TURNBUCKLE.

>> SELLING OUT MADISON SQUARE

GARDEN 187 TIMES, I DON'T THINK

THAT WILL EVER BE TOPPED.

[CROWD CHEERS]

[MUSIC]

>> IN ORDER TO BE ON TOP, YOU

HAVE TO BE A WINNER.

YOU HAVE TO BE A TOP MAN.

[CROWD CHEERS]

>> HE WAS ONE OF THOSE FOLKS

THAT JUST HAD A NATURAL

CONNECTION WITH THE AUDIENCE.

[CROWD CHEERS]

>> THE FANS GO ABSOLUTELY

BERZERK.

[MUSIC]

>> HAVE YOU EVER SEEN ANYTHING

LIKE THIS?

THE INCREDIBLE BRUNO SAMMARTINO.

[CROWD CHEERS]

>> BRUNO WAS CHAMPION FOR YEARS

AND THAT REALLY BROUGHT

CREDIBILITY TO THE SPORT.

>> IN 2013, ITALY'S FAVORITE SON

TOOK HIS RIGHTFUL PLACE IN THE

WWE HALL OF FAME.

>> HE FILLED THE GARDEN 187

TIMES AND TODAY IT'S SOLD OUT

AGAIN, SO HE BROKE THE RECORD

AND IT'S 188 TIMES.

[APPLAUSE]

>> I THANK YOU FOR THE SUPPORT

AND THE KINDNESS YOU SHOWED ME

FOR ALL THESE YEARS.

FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART, I

THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS ALL OF

YOU.

[CROWD CHANTS "BRUNO"]

>> THE WINNER AND STILL THE

WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT WRESTLING

CHAMPION, BRUNO SAMMARTINO.

>> A RECORD-SETTING 2,803 DAYS

AS CHAMPION, A FEAT LIKELY NEVER

TO BE DUPLICATED OR SURPASSED.

BRUNO WAS THE TEMPLATE AND ROLE

MODEL FOR LEGIONS OF FANS AND

EVEN FUTURE WWE CHAMPIONS, LIKE

"THE KING OF KINGS" TRIPLE H.

ANOTHER DOUBLE-DIGIT CHAMPION

WHO LITERALLY CHANGED THE GAME

WITH HIS CEREBRAL METHODOLOGY,

RELENTLESS PASSION, AND

INCREDIBLE DRIVE TO RULE THE

THRONE.

[TRIPLE H'S MUSIC PLAYS]

>> ARE YOU READY TO PLAY THE

GAME?

>> THE 14-TIME WWE CHAMPION,

TRIPLE H.

>> THE GREATEST WWE CHAMPION OF

ALL TIME TRIPLE H.

I ALWAYS RESONATED, HUNTER, WITH

HAVING A TITLE AND BEING A

CHAMPION.

>> I AM THE GAME.

>> TRIPLE H IS AN AMAZING WWE

CHAMPION BECAUSE HE'S HELD THE

WWE TITLE UNDER SO MANY

DIFFERENT CONTEXTS.

>> I THINK IT WAS LIKE 1999, YOU

START SEEING TRIPLE H.

HE'S WEARING THE KANGOL LEATHER

HAT AND DOING THE SITDOWN WITH

JR. >> YOU GUYS TALK ABOUT BEING

STUDENTS OF THE GAME.

I AM THE -- GAME, JR. THERE IS

NOBODY THAT EATS, SLEEPS OR

BREATHES THIS BUSINESS MORE THAN

ME.

>> WHEN HE DID TURN INTO THE

GAME, HIS CAREER TOOK OFF TO A

WHOLE NEW LEVEL.

>> PEDIGREE TIME.

HE GOT IT.

>> THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE.

>> WILL IT BE?

WILL IT BE?

>> YES.

>> TRIPLE H WINS THE WWE TITLE.

>> YOU TALK ABOUT THE COMPLETE

PACKAGE.

IT'S ONE PERSON.

IT'S TRIPLE H.

>> IN 2002, HE WAS ONE OF THE

TOP HEROIC FIGURES IN THE

COMPANY, AND HE GOES TO

WRESTLEMANIA X8 AND HE BECOMES

THE WWE UNDISPUTED CHAMPION.

>> THE GAME CAME TO WRESTLEMANIA

AND HE IS LEAVING AS THE MAN.

>> BUT IT'S INTERESTING.

WHEN WE THINK ABOUT TRIPLE H AS

WWE CHAMPION, I THINK ABOUT

TRIPLE H AS A HATED CHAMPION.

>> I'VE GOT THE BODY, I'VE GOT

THE ABILITY, I'VE GOT THE TALENT

AND I'VE GOT THE BRAINS.

>> TRIPLE H IS LIKE YODA FOR

WRESTLING.

HIS MIND FOR THE BUSINESS IS ON

ANOTHER PLANE.

>> HE'S AS DEADLY AS THEY COME.

THE CEREBRAL ASSASSIN.

>> HE WAS THE TERMINATOR OF WWE

IN A WAY.

NOTHING REALLY STOPPED HIM.

HE WAS SO BRUTAL, SO EXTREMELY

BRUTAL.

>> IN FACT, I THOUGHT IT WAS SO

COOL.

2016, THE ROYAL RUMBLE.

[TRIPLE H'S MUSIC PLAYS]

[CROWD CHEERS]

>> OH, MY GOD.

>> SEEING LIKE OLDER CORPORATE

TRIPLE H WINNING THE ROYAL

RUMBLE AND SEEING HIM WITH THE

CHAMPIONSHIP IN THIS NEW KIND OF

MODERN ERA.

[BELL RINGS]

>> TRIPLE H IS A 14-TIME WWE

CHAMPION.

>> TO GO FROM 1999 TO 2016 AND

WIN TITLES IN BOTH YEARS, THAT'S

UNHEARD OF.

>> HE'S SOMEONE THAT'S

DEFINITELY CEMENTED THEIR LEGACY

HERE.

HE'S DONE ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING.

>> I AM THE GAME AND I AM THAT

DAMN GOOD.

>> WHEN IT COMES TO WWE, HE IS

THE FIRST PERSON I THINK OF,

TRIPLE H, HE REPRESENTS EVERY

ASPECT OF THIS COMPANY, AND I

DON'T THINK THERE'S A BETTER

PERSON TO CONSIDER THE GREATEST.

>> TRIPLE H WILL ABSOLUTELY BE

REVERED AS ONE OF THE BEST TO

EVER DO IT, BUT THE BEST THERE

IS, WAS, AND EVER WILL BE, WELL,

THAT SELF-PROCLAIMED TITLE

BELONGS TO JUST ONE MAN, BRET

"THE HITMAN" HART.

HIS CHAMPIONSHIPS SPEAK FOR

THEMSELVES, MANY OF THEM INSTANT

CLASSICS, BUT IT WAS HIS ABILITY

TO CONNECT WITH HIS FANS IN

THOSE HOT PINK SUNGLASSES THAT

SOLIDIFIED HIS STATUS AS ONE OF

THE GREATEST CHAMPS OF ALL TIME.

PLUS, LIKE THE GREAT DAVID

HASSELHOFF HIMSELF, HE'S HUGE IN

GERMANY.

>> BRET.

[BRET HART'S MUSIC PLAYS]

>> THE PINK AND BLACK ATTACK

HERE IT COMES.

>> LISTEN TO THE OVATION HERE

FOR THE HITMAN.

>> PEOPLE ASK THE QUESTION LIKE,

WHEN YOU SEE THIS CHAMPIONSHIP,

WHO DO YOU THINK OF?

WHEN I SEE THAT EAGLE ON THE

CHAMPIONSHIP, EASY ANSWER, IT'S

BRET HART.

>> WITH BRET HART AS A CHAMPION,

ONE WORD, RESPECT.

>> THE EXCELLENCE OF EXECUTION.

>> WHAT MADE BRET SPECIAL WAS

HIS WRESTLING ABILITY.

>> WHEN HE SITS FOOT INTO THAT

RING IT IS NO JOKE.

>> HE WAS A WRESTLER AND TOOK

HIS WRESTLING VERY SERIOUS.

>> WHEN I FIRST WON THE TITLE, I

WAS WRESTLING RIC FLAIR.

>> OH, HE GAVE UP.

WE'VE SEEN HISTORY MADE.

>> I WAS ALWAYS PROUD OF THAT

AND THAT GAVE ME THIS REPUTATION

OF BEING THE BEST THERE IS, THE

BEST THERE WAS, AND THE BEST

THERE EVER WILL BE.

>> WHEN YOU CAN BEAT A GUY LIKE

RIC FLAIR FOR YOUR FIRST-EVER

WWE CHAMPIONSHIP, YOU

AUTOMATICALLY PUT YOURSELF ON

THE MAP.

>> I'VE DEDICATED MY WHOLE LIFE

TO BECOME THE WORLD WRESTLING

-- CHAMPION, THE BEST.

>> HE WON IT FIVE TIMES, BUT THE

ONE I ALWAYS THINK ABOUT IS AT

WRESTLEMANIA X.

>> TWO, THREE.

>> NO.

NO.

>> WE HAVE A NEW CHAMPION.

>> NO WAY.

>> THE ENTIRE LOCKER ROOM CLEARS

OUT, PUTS BRET ON THEIR

SHOULDERS, SOLIDIFYING HIM AS A

SUPERSTAR FOR THE YEARS TO COME.

>> THERE WAS NO CARTOON ELEMENT.

HE WAS REALLY RELATABLE.

>> HEY MAN, I JUST WANT TO BE

LIKE YOU WHEN I GROW UP.

>> YOU TALK ABOUT A COMMUNITY

THAT YOU WOULDN'T EXPECT IT TO

BE CATERED TO A PERSON WHO WEARS

PINK AND BLACK FROM CANADA, BUT

I WOULD GO TO SCHOOL IN THE

BRONX, NEW YORK, AND I'D SEE

PEOPLE WEARING THE BRET HART

GLASSES.

>> WHAT A CHAMPION.

>> THERE WAS A PRESTIGE TO THE

TITLE WHEN BRET WOULD SHOW UP ON

REGIS AND KATHIE LEE WITH THE

CHAMPIONSHIP.

>> BRET "THE HITMAN" HART.

>> OR BE ON THE SIMPSONS.

>> HEHE, I'LL TAKE IT.

>> THERE WAS A MAINSTREAM APPEAL

TO HIM.

>> TAKE TWO, BRET HART, SCENE

SEVEN.

>> THIS IS BRET "THE HITMAN"

HART HANGING OUT ON THE SET OF

MAD TV.

>> THANK YOU, BRET.

>> HIS ABILITY TO CONNECT ON A

HUMAN LEVEL IS WHAT MADE HIM SO

SUCCESSFUL INTERNATIONALLY.

[CROWD CHANTS "WE WANT BRET"]

>> HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF

PEOPLE BOMBARDING AIRPORTS AND

CLASSROOMS AND WHEREVER BRET

WAS.

[CROWD CHEERS]

>> DO WE LOVE THIS MAN OR WHAT?

[CROWD CHEERS]

>> HE WAS A ROCKSTAR.

>> THE ONE THING THAT IS THE

SAME WITH BRET HART AS THE

CHAMPION AS BRET HART THE PERSON

BEHIND THE SCENES IS INTEGRITY.

>> LITTLE KIDS LOOK UP TO ME TO

BE A HERO.

I'VE TRIED MY HARDEST TO

REPRESENT THAT AS WELL AS I

POSSIBLY COULD.

>> BRET PUT THE CHAMPIONSHIP

TITLE UP EVERY NIGHT.

HE WAS A FIGHTING CHAMPION.

>> HE WAS LIKE, I'LL SHOW WHY

I'M THE BEST AND THERE'S NOBODY

THAT CAN TOUCH ME, AND HE DID

IT.

>> HE REALLY MADE THE TITLE MEAN

AS MUCH AS IT EVER DID.

>> HE WAS THE GUY THAT YOU'D

LOOK AT AND BE LIKE THAT'S WHAT

A CHAMPION'S SUPPOSED TO BE.

>> THE BIGGEST DREAMS CAN STILL

COME TRUE.

>> GO GET THEM, CHAMP.

>> HE'S RIGHT.

DREAMS DO COME TRUE, AND I'M

LIVING PROOF OF THAT.

I HAVE MY OWN WWE SHOW.

I STAR IN THE NEW GHOSTBUSTER'S

VIDEO GAME, AND I JUST LAUNCHED

OUR NEW STATE-OF-THE-ART 5,000

SQUARE FOOT FUNNY STUDIO, THE

SPARE BEDROOM.

SORRY.

IT'S A LITTLE HUMBLE BRAG/TRASH

TALK, BUT THAT'S NOTHING

COMPARED TO SOME TRUE TEXAS

TRASH TALK, WHICH JUST HAPPENS

TO BE ONE OF THE ATTRIBUTES OF

"STONE COLD" STEVE AUSTIN.

UNLIKE ANY AND I MEAN ANY WWE

CHAMPION BEFORE OR SINCE, STEVE

AUSTIN POSSESSED THAT WON'T QUIT

ATTITUDE.

NOT TO MENTION THE I DON'T GIVE

A -- SHAVED HEAD, BLACK TRUNKS,

JORTS, AND KNEE BRACES, WHICH

NOT ONLY SEPARATED HIM FROM THE

PACK, BUT MADE HIM ONE OF THE

MOST RELATABLE AND UNIVERSALLY

REVERED WWE CHAMPIONS ON THE

PLANET.

>> GIVE ME A HELL YEAH.

[CROWD YELLS "HELL YEAH"]

>> STEVE AUSTIN REDEFINED WHAT

IT MEANT TO BE WWE CHAMPION.

HE WAS THE ANTI-HERO.

>> AUSTIN 3:16 SAYS I JUST

WHIPPED YOUR ASS.

>> STEVE CAME IN AT THE RIGHT

TIME.

YOU CAN ALREADY SEE THAT STEVE'S

RISE WAS GOING TO BE SOMEBODY IN

THIS INDUSTRY.

>> STONE COLD WOULD DEFEAT "THE

HEARTBREAK KID" SHAWN MICHAELS

AT WRESTLEMANIA XIV FOR HIS

FIRST WWE CHAMPIONSHIP.

>> MIKE TYSON IN.

AUSTIN IS THE CHAMPION.

STONE COLD.

THE AUSTIN ERA HAS BEGUN.

>> AS THE NEWLY CROWNED FACE OF

THE COMPANY, THE TEXAS

RATTLESNAKE DIDN'T QUITE FIT THE

MOLD OF HIS PREDECESSORS.

YOU CAN'T STAND ANYTHING ABOUT

ME.

YOU CAN'T STAND THE FACT THAT I

LIKE TO DRINK A FEW BEERS.

>> MR. MCMAHON, HE DID NOT WANT

AUSTIN TO BE THAT GUY FOR HIM.

HE EVEN TRIED TO CHANGE HIM.

HAVING A MORE CORPORATE AUSTIN

AND THAT DIDN'T REALLY WORK OUT

TOO WELL.

>> THIS IS THE ABSOLUTE LAST

TIME YOU WILL EVER SEE "STONE

COLD" STEVE AUSTIN WEARING A

RIDICULOUS SUIT LIKE THIS --

I'VE GOT ON.

>> I KNEW IT.

>> HE REALLY CHANGED THE GAME.

HIS CHUGGING BEERS AND AUSTIN

3:16.

HE JUST BOUGHT THIS ENERGY.

>> WHAT?

>> YOU HAD TO WATCH HIM AND EVEN

IF YOU WERE WALKING THROUGH THE

LIVING ROOM, YOU WOULD STOP AND

WATCH AS "STONE COLD" STEVE

AUSTIN WAS ON THE SCREEN.

>> I'M GOING TO KEEP KNOCKING

YOUR ASS DOWN UNTIL YOU DON'T

GET UP.

ONE, TWO, THREE, THAT DAMN BELT

IS MINE AND THAT'S THE BOTTOM

LINE BECAUSE STONE COLD SAID SO.

>> HE WAS THE FIRST NON-VILLAIN

CHAMPION WHO WAS ABLE TO BREAK

ALL OF THE RULES AND PEOPLE

LOVED HIM FOR IT.

>> DON'T YOU LET HIM IN HERE.

>> HE SAID ANYTHING HE WANTED TO

SAY AND HE DID ANYTHING THAT HE

WANTED TO DO.

>> EVERYONE WANTED TO BEAT UP

THEIR BOSS, EVERYONE WANTED TO

NOT TAKE CRAP FROM ANYONE THAT

THEY WORKED FOR, AND HE WAS JUST

SO INCREDIBLE.

[STEVE AUSTIN'S MUSIC PLAYS]

>> UH-OH.

WHAT?

>> WAIT A MINUTE.

STONE COLD GIVING A BEER BATH.

>> AUSTIN'S ANTI-AUTHORITY

PERSONA AND HELL-RAISING ANTICS

MADE HIM A BONAFIDE SUPERSTAR,

BUT WHAT TRULY MADE STONE COLD A

GREAT CHAMPION WAS HIS ABILITY

TO OUTSMART HIS OPPONENTS AND

CONTINUE TO DEFY THE ODDS WHEN

THE DECK WAS CONSTANTLY STACKED

AGAINST HIM.

>> THE ROCK IS GONE.

STONE COLD IS GOING TO

WRESTLEMANIA.

>> IT WAS THAT PARTICULAR PERIOD

WHEN HE WAS CHAMPION, EVERYBODY

WAS WATCHING THE PRODUCT.

I COULDN'T GO ANYWHERE WITHOUT

HEARING PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT

WRESTLING, WHICH DID NOT HAPPEN

EVER.

IT WAS SO COOL THAT EVERYBODY

WAS WATCHING WHEN STONE COLD WAS

CHAMPION.

>> I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE'S EVER

BEEN THAT HOT IN THE WRESTLING

BUSINESS EVER.

I HIGHLY DOUBT IT.

IT WAS INCREDIBLE.

>> "STONE COLD" STEVE AUSTIN

BECAME A CULTURAL PHENOMENON.

HE WENT WAY BEYOND WWE.

EVERYONE KNEW STONE COLD.

EVERYONE LOVED STONE COLD.

HE WAS THE COOLEST GUY IN THE

WORLD.

>> HE WAS EVERYWHERE.

THAT'S HOW BIG HE WAS.

>> HE WAS SUCH A PART OF CULTURE

AND HE WAS SUCH A PART OF THE

SUCCESS OF THE ENTIRE COMPANY.

>> YOU DON'T SUCK BECAUSE THESE

PEOPLE SAY YOU SUCK.

YOU SUCK BECAUSE STONE COLD SAID

SO AND THAT'S THE BOTTOM LINE.

>> I DON'T THINK THAT THERE'S

EVER GOING TO BE A TIME LIKE

THAT AGAIN IN WWE.

WHAT HE WAS ABLE TO DO WAS

SIMPLY AMAZING, AND THAT WAS

REALLY LIGHTNING IN A BOTTLE.

>> THAT'S THE BOTTOM LINE

BECAUSE STONE COLD SAID SO.

>> IF YOU HAVE A BROKEN SKULL

IPA HANDY, LET'S RAISE A TOAST

TO THE TEXAS RATTLESNAKE AND ONE

OF THE MOST AWESOME WWE

CHAMPIONS OF ALL TIME.

HELL YEAH.

NOW, MOST ELECTRIFYING, HOWEVER,

THAT HONOR GOES TO STEVE

AUSTIN'S GREATEST RIVAL, THE

ROCK, WHO IS NOT ONLY THE MOST

ELECTRIFYING WWE CHAMPION IN ALL

OF SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT BUT

HOLDS THE DISTINCTION AS THE ONE

AND ONLY PEOPLE'S CHAMPION.

NOW, A SHOT OF TEREMANA SALUD.

[THE ROCK'S MUSIC PLAYS]

>> TRAILBLAZING, EYEBROW

RAISING, "PEOPLE'S CHAMP" THE

ROCK.

>> EVERYONE KNOWS THE ROCK.

HE'S ONE OF THE MOST WELL-KNOWN

PEOPLE ON THE PLANET.

>> FINALLY, THE ROCK HAS COME

BACK.

>> THERE'S A REASON HE'S CALLED

THE GREAT ONE.

THERE'S NOBODY WHO HAS MORE

CHARISMA THAN THE ROCK.

>> THE ROCK, THE NUMBER ONE MAN

IN THIS BUSINESS.

>> THE PEOPLE'S ELBOW.

>> I'VE GOT THE GREATEST

RELATIONSHIP WITH THE FANS AS

THE PEOPLE'S CHAMPION.

>> OH, WHAT AN OVATION FOR "THE

PEOPLE'S CHAMP" THE ROCK.

>> ROCK WAS LIKE A MAGNET TO THE

FANS.

HE HAD ALL THE RIGHT INGREDIENTS

TO BE A CHAMPION.

>> HIM BEING CHAMPION JUST

LOOKED RIGHT.

IT MADE SENSE, LIKE OF COURSE HE

WOULD BE CHAMPION.

>> WHATEVER SURPRISES YOU GOT TO

THE ROCK, THE ROCK SAYS, "JUST

BRING IT."

>> NOBODY HAS CHARISMA LIKE HIS.

NOBODY COULD TALK LIKE HIM AND

THEN, OH, WAIT, HE COULD GO IN

THE RING TOO.

>> HE IS SO QUICK, HE'S SO

AGILE.

WHAT A BLUE-CHIP ATHLETE.

>> TO ME THE FIRST TIME HE WON

THE TITLE IS THE MOST

INTERESTING WAY BECAUSE HE SOLD

OUT TO VINCE MCMAHON AND THE

CORPORATION.

>> THERE'S A SHARPSHOOTER.

>> SHARPSHOOTER?

>> HEY, MCMAHON SAID RING THE

BELL.

[BELL RINGS]

>> WAIT A MINUTE.

>> HE WAS SO POPULAR BACK THEN.

IT WAS THE LAST THING YOU'D

EXPECT HIM TO DO.

>> WHAT THE HELL?

THEY WERE IN IT ALL ALONG.

>> THE ROCK AT THAT POINT BECAME

THE YOUNGEST CHAMPION OF ALL

TIME.

>> PART OF IT IS BEING ABLE TO

DELIVER IN BIG MATCHES, WHICH HE

CERTAINLY DID, BUT ANOTHER PART

OF IT IS BEING ABLE TO JUST HAVE

THIS CONNECTION TO THE AUDIENCE.

>> THERE IS NO ACCOLADE THAT IS

MORE DEEPLY INGRAINED IN MY

BLOOD THAN THIS WWE

CHAMPIONSHIP.

AS GOD IS THE ROCK'S WITNESS,

THE ROCK WILL FOREVER BE THE

PEOPLE'S CHAMPION.

>> WHEN WE TALK ABOUT CONNECTING

WITH THE AUDIENCE, IT'S TOUGH TO

ARGUE THAT THE ROCK DIDN'T DO IT

BETTER THAN ANYBODY ELSE.

>> THE FIRST THING THE ROCK

LIVES FOR IS TO ENTERTAIN THE

MILLIONS.

[CROWD YELLS "AND MILLIONS"]

>> THE ROCK WAS ABLE TO TAKE

THE AUDIENCE THAT HE CONNECTED

WITH IN WWE AND CARRY IT ACROSS

THE WORLD INTO MAINSTREAM

CELEBRITY.

>> EVERY TIME HE COMES BACK TO

WWE, EVERYONE'S CAPTIVATED AND

EVERYONE'S WATCHING IT.

WHETHER YOU'RE A WRESTLING FAN

OR NOT, YOU WANT TO SEE WHAT THE

ROCK IS DOING.

>> THE ROCK IS AGAIN THE

PEOPLE'S CHAMPION.

>> CONSIDERING HOW BIG OF A

MEGASTAR THAT THE ROCK IS RIGHT

NOW, IT IS NO SURPRISE THAT HE

WAS A WWE CHAMPION AND A GREAT

WWE CHAMPION AT THAT.

HE HELPED TAKE WWE TO NEW

HEIGHTS.

>> "THE PEOPLE'S CHAMPION" THE

ROCK IS LIKE A MEGA SUPERSTAR.

HE'S THE EPITOME OF WHAT WE ALL

HOPE WE CAN BECOME.

>> IF YOU SMELL WHAT THE ROCK IS

COOKING.

>> WHAT CAN I SAY?

EXCEPT YOUR WELCOME.

THE GREAT ONE CAPTURED THE WWE

HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE A COOL 10

TIMES AND NOW SITS FIRMLY AT THE

TABLE WITH HOLLYWOOD'S ELITE,

BUT THE HEAD OF THE TABLE?

THAT'S STILL A SOURCE OF DEBATE,

IN MY OPINION, BUT DON'T TELL

THAT TO ROMAN REIGNS, WHO SINCE

GOING GOD MODE ON THE WHOLE WWE

ROSTER HAS ASSERTED HIMSELF AS

THE MOST DOMINANT CHAMPION OF

THE MODERN ERA.

HIS GREATNESS MUST BE

ACKNOWLEDGED AND AS THE CURRENT

UNDISPUTED WWE UNIVERSAL

CHAMPION FOR AS OF THIS

BROADCAST 786 DAYS AND COUNTING,

IT'S FAIR TO SAY THIS CHAMPION

IS ONLY GETTING STARTED.

>> ROMAN REIGNS WAS GOING TO BE

THE NUMBER ONE AT ANYTHING HE

WAS GOING TO DO.

>> THIS IS MY YARD NOW.

>> I'VE ALWAYS KNOWN I'M

SUPPOSED TO BE SOMEBODY.

I'M SUPPOSED TO DO SOMETHING

SPECIAL.

>> WITH THE ENTIRE WWE UNIVERSE

WATCHING HIM WINNING THE

HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP ON

MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, YOU COULD

NOT DENY THAT THIS WAS HIS TIME.

>> REIGNS IS THE CHAMPION.

REIGNS IS THE WWE WORLD

HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION.

>> ONE VERSUS ALL, RIGHT?

ROMAN REIGNS IS THE WORLD

CHAMPION, HAS TO DEFEND THE

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP IN A ROYAL

RUMBLE.

NEVER BEEN DONE BEFORE, HASN'T

BEEN DONE SINCE.

>> ROMAN REIGNS COMES IN HERE

TONIGHT AS THE WWE WORLD

HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION, WHICH

MEANS HE HAS A TARGET ON HIS

BACK, 29 OTHER SUPERSTARS

GUNNING FOR THAT TITLE.

>> WINNING THE TITLE IN THE

ROYAL RUMBLE MATCH HAS BEEN DONE

BEFORE AND THAT'S QUITE AN

ACCOMPLISHMENT BUT DEFENDING IT

AGAINST 29 OTHER PEOPLE THAT TO

ME AUTOMATICALLY MADE HIM ONE OF

THE ALL-TIME GREATEST CHAMPIONS

BECAUSE HE DID SOMETHING THAT

NOBODY HAD EVER DONE.

>> ROMAN REIGNS ESTABLISHED

HIMSELF AS THE GREATEST OF ALL

TIME THE DAY HE WENT FROM THE

BIG DOG TO THE TRIBAL CHIEF.

>> REIGNS WITH A SPEAR TO

STRAWMAN AND THE COVER BY

REIGNS.

ROMAN REIGNS HAS WON THE

CHAMPIONSHIP.

>> EVERYTHING I'VE EVER DONE IS

TO GET INTO THE POSITION TO

WHERE I HAVE THE POWER AND NOW I

HAVE THE POWER.

>> ROMAN REIGNS, THE MAN WHOSE

JOB IT IS TO MAKE SURE HIS

FAMILY STAYS AT THE TOP OF THE

FOOD CHAIN.

>> ACKNOWLEDGE ME.

>> OVER TWO YEARS, THIS MAN HAS

REIGNED AS A CHAMPION.

>> HE HAS TRANSFORMED HIMSELF

INTO AN ABSOLUTELY LARGER THAN

LIFE PERSONALITY.

>> I'M THE TRIBAL CHIEF, THE

HEAD OF THE TABLE, WWE CHAMPION

FOR HOWEVER LONG I WANT TO BE.

I'M IN GOD MODE.

>> ROMAN REIGNS IS TILTING THE

ACCESS IN WHAT IT MEANS TO BE

THE TOP STAR IN SPORTS

ENTERTAINMENT.

>> THE BIGGEST WRESTLEMANIA

MATCH OF ALL TIME WINNER TAKE

ALL CHAMPIONSHIP UNIFICATION.

BROCK LESNAR VERSUS ROMAN

REIGNS.

>> EVERYBODY WAS GLUED TO THE

MONITORS, BECAUSE WHAT'S GOING

TO HAPPEN?

WHO'S GOING TO BE THE CHAMPION

OF RAW, SMACKDOWN?

THIS WAS THE MOMENT.

>> SUPERMAN PUNCH AND LESNAR'S

DOWN.

OH, MY GOD.

REIGNS SPEARING LESNAR.

>> THAT MATCH AND ROMAN

DEFEATING BROCK LESNAR TO UNIFY

THE TITLES, THAT'S HISTORY.

>> AM I BEING A PRISONER OF THE

MOMENT IF I'M SAYING WE'RE

LIVING IN THE GREATEST WORLD

CHAMPIONSHIP RUN OF ALL TIME

RIGHT NOW BECAUSE I THINK WE

ARE.

THIS GUY'S GONE UP AGAINST THE

GREATEST WRESTLERS WE'VE EVER

SEEN, BROCK LESNAR, JOHN CENA,

DANIEL BRYAN, EDGE, SETH

ROLLINS, YOU NAME IT.

>> NO ONE IS ON HIS LEVEL AT

ALL.

HE IS THE PERFECT REPRESENTATION

FOR WHAT PRO WRESTLING HAS

BECOME.

>> THIS IS GREATNESS ON A

DIFFERENT LEVEL.

>> HE CHECKS EVERY SINGLE BOX,

HIS BOX OFFICE, HIS MATCHES

BANG, HIS PRESENTATION IS TOP

TIER.

I ACKNOWLEDGE YOU, TRIBAL CHIEF.

>> THEY'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO

TRY TO STEP UP AND THEN THEY'RE

GOING TO BE FACED WITH THE HARSH

REALITY THAT THEY DON'T MEASURE

UP TO ME.

>> HE IS IN A WORLD OF HIS OWN

RIGHT NOW.

>> ROMAN REIGNS CHANGED THE

GAME.

>> YOU ALREADY KNOW WHO'S GOING

TO BE ABLE TO STEP UP AND CARRY

THE SHOW, IT'S THE TRIBAL CHIEF.

>> THESE CHAMPIONS HAVE SHOWN US

GREATNESS ON SO MANY LEVELS.

TRULY, THE DEDICATION, THE

PASSION, THE PURE LOVE FOR THE

SPORT, AND MORE THAN ANYTHING,

THEIR ABILITY TO MAKE US FEEL

LIKE WE KNOW THEM.

IT'S WHAT MAKES THEM ICONS AND

HEROES AND ULTIMATELY THE MOST

AWESOME WWE CHAMPIONS IN

HISTORY.

WE HOPE YOU'VE ENJOYED

CELEBRATING THESE LEGENDS WITH

US.

I'M KINDA FUNNY'S GREG MILLER

AND UNTIL NEXT TIME IT'S BEEN MY

PLEASURE TO SERVE YOU.

[CROWD CHEERS]

>> ON THE NEXT THIS IS AWESOME,

THE MOST AWESOME WWE DEBUTS OF

ALL TIME.

>> POP-UP POWERBOMB.

[CROWD CHEERS]

>> FROM BIGGEST- >> HE'S

COLOSSAL.

>> -AND THE BADDEST- >> THAT'S

GOT TO BE KANE.

>> -TO THE HIGHLY ANTICIPATED

AND PUMP-YOUR-FISTS SURPRISES.

[CROWD CHEERS]

>> CAN IT BE?

>> RELIVE THE AUSPICIOUS

ARRIVALS THAT WOULD CHANGE THE

FACE OF WWE FOREVER.

>> HOLY.

>> "ROWDY" RONDA ROUSEY.

[CROWD CHEERS]

>> ONLY ON THE NEXT THIS IS

AWESOME.

[CROWD CHEERS]

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