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00:30You know, King, it's obvious that Bobby Lashley, just by the naked eye, has no physical weaknesses.
00:39But you've been in many big man situations.
00:42Here's a young man with a great American bash and his first opportunity to take the WWE title from John
00:49Cena.
00:50What is the mental aspect of this challenge?
00:53Well, absolutely the only person that can tell you that is that man, Bobby Lashley himself.
01:01But we heard him say out of his own mouth, he welcomes pressure.
01:04Well, he should be welcoming this situation because you don't get any more pressure than being in front of the
01:10world at the great American bash and wrestling for the WWE title against John Cena.
01:15Lashley's career, albeit a short one thus far in the WWE, includes two ECW World Heavyweight Championships, the United States
01:24Championship.
01:38And as we said, a lot of the fans, a lot of our fans referred to Bobby Lashley, and he
01:47refers to himself sometimes as the uncrowned champ because he was the ECW World Heavyweight Champion, but stripped of that
01:53title.
01:59Certainly the biggest moment in the career thus far of Bobby Lashley.
02:04Lashley's career, Lashley, Lashley, Lashley, Lashley, Lashley, Lashley, Lashley, Lashley, Lashley, Lashley, Lashley, Lashley, Lashley, Lashley, Lashley, Lashley, Lashley, Lashley,
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02:25Lashley, Lashley, Lashley, Lashley, Lashley, Lashley, Lashley, Lashley, Lashley, Lashley, Lashley, Lashley, Lashley. Lashley, Lashley, Lashley
03:04John Cena's 308 days into his third reign as WWE champion.
03:15An amazing reign when you consider the level of competition that
03:21John Cena has faced in those 308 days.
03:26Boy, listen to this, look around you, this is what I call an ovation, J.R.
03:46The following contest is scheduled for one fall, and it is for the WWE Championship.
03:53Introducing the challenger from Colorado Springs, Colorado,
03:59weighing in at 273 pounds, Bobby Mashley.
04:08And from West Newberry, Massachusetts,
04:11weighing in at 240 pounds, he is the WWE Champion, John Cena.
04:27Cena and Lashley, in their own right, that's what it's all about.
04:31Senior referee on Raw, Mike Chiodo, holding up the WWE Championship.
04:35Without a doubt, the most coveted title in the entire WWE.
04:40We'll see a lot of our fans, J.R., holding up their sides that they've
04:44brought to the Great American badge.
04:46I saw one on about the third row that said, it's your time, Lashley, and it just may be.
04:52Lashley Spear and Dominator versus Cena's FU and the STFU.
04:58John Cena's a man that made the mighty Umaga tap at the hands of the STFU.
05:07The question would be to you, King,
05:10could John Cena make Bobby Lashley tap to the STFU?
05:14Well, that's a question I can't answer.
05:17I can only speculate.
05:18And you know what?
05:20I would have to say, I don't think so.
05:24I don't think that Bobby Lashley, I think that Bobby Lashley has the strength.
05:30And he's focused, of course, on this match that he would not tap.
05:36So it sounds as if you may be saying that you feel there's going to be a new
05:41champion here tonight.
05:42I'm not saying that, I'm just saying that John Cena's gonna have to find,
05:45in my opinion, another way to win.
05:48Cena, steel blue eyes, calm, and Lashley showing a great deal of movement
05:53before this match is officially now underway with the collar and elbow tie-up.
05:58Look at the strength here, JR, who's stronger?
06:02Cena's legs actually shaking with the force that he's trying to withstand.
06:08And look at Lashley, back Cena into the corner.
06:10And not many men can say in a collar and elbow tie-up that they backed John Cena
06:15into a corner, Lashley just did.
06:18And the nine games and the physical games certainly underway in the first minute or
06:25so of this one fall match for the WWE Championship.
06:29Well, we saw on that tail of the tape, John Cena weighs 240 pounds.
06:33Bobby Lashley, 273 pounds.
06:37And that's a little extra weight that you can push your opponent around with when
06:41you weigh 30 plus pounds.
06:42Test of strength here.
06:44These two young bulls in the WWE, we have the privilege of seeing them on
06:50Monday Night Raw, but we're seeing them now in the biggest match of their
06:54respective careers, the first match for Lashley and Cena.
06:58And look at the strength here, that it seems as if Lashley is winning at this moment.
07:03Cena down to one knee right now.
07:07Well, we've seen this, Bobby Lashley's strength is absolutely unbelievable.
07:12And right now Cena, uh-oh, wait a minute.
07:16Look at the determination on the face of John Cena, look at this strength.
07:19Cena was down on both knees, but Cena regaining his vertical base, which is imperative for
07:26Cena to do in this match up with Lashley's amazing amateur, mat wrestling oriented skills.
07:33Come on, hey, let's go.
07:35Come on, come on.
07:36Come on, come on.
07:37Come on.
07:38Come on.
07:39Come on.
07:40Right back in the face, and Lashley, the quick go-behind waistlock take down,
07:44and Lashley again, look at the amateur skills.
07:48Lashley, getting in deep and quickly, taking down John Cena.
07:51There's a pinning combination.
07:55Lashley a nice ankle pick.
07:57And Lashley again, using his amateur background, single leg, trying to get-
08:02Cena was too close to the ropes.
08:04Break it down, Bobby.
08:05Break it.
08:06Break it.
08:07Break it.
08:07One, two.
08:09I gotta tell you, that was an impressive display of Matt wrestling there by Bobby Lashley.
08:16Great fundamental match kills by Bobby Lashley.
08:19John Cena trying to grab a quick headlock and good.
08:21Rock Toho, Cena thinking STFU, and Lashley thinking not today, not now, I would rather not.
08:29So that tells me, obviously, that Bobby Lashley has great respect as he should for the STFU.
08:37Don't think Bobby Lashley is not concerned about the STFU, of course he is.
08:51Great athleticism, but Lashley, and Lashley steps in, and again using his strength with a shoulder block,
08:58a modified version, taking Cena down.
09:00Come on.
09:01Cena and the ropes, referee calling for a break.
09:07Here comes Lashley.
09:09Cena out of the way.
09:10Lashley, look at this.
09:12Emotionally, really in this match, overzealous perhaps there.
09:15Yep, that could be a difference, maybe you saw Lashley's head bounce off that bat.
09:19And the scoop slam, the up ball, and a near fall by the reigning WWE Champion.
09:26John Cena conversing there momentarily with the official.
09:30Well, it's gonna take more than that to beat Bobby Lashley, but I think the first really
09:34difference has been made in this match, that was the first really heavy blow landed.
09:40Watch the athleticism here of Bobby Lashley.
09:42Look at that great vertical leap frog, and then the agility, the great vertical leap,
09:48this pure athleticism by Lashley, somewhat haunting.
09:53And now Cena reverses it.
09:57Fisherman's suplex, hook on the leg with John Cena.
10:00Cena crossed for the cover, didn't get there as quickly as unsure John would have liked.
10:09Cena back up to that vertical base again, as we said.
10:12It's the amateur skill set of Lashley versus the street fighting abilities,
10:18among others, of John Cena.
10:22And Lashley again, a little clip on the draw.
10:26Nice recovery by Lashley.
10:30Almost a T-bone like a fall away.
10:33One, two, three.
10:34And Cena, boy Cena got his shoulder up.
10:37I didn't think Lashley was gonna be able to hold Cena down.
10:40Bobby Lashley bleeding, JR, I believe he is.
10:45And Lashley buries knees into the abdomen, and hands up John Cena by hard shoulder block.
10:52Look, listen, listen to him.
10:55I hear it, we all hear it, but John Cena's feeling it.
10:58And the issue there is, ladies and gentlemen, those hard shoulder blocks just taking the air out of John Cena.
11:05So now John Cena is laboring to try to get some oxygen in that big body of his,
11:11which is a fuel that runs the engine.
11:14Look out here.
11:16Sidewalk slam, Cena slammed with authority, it might be here.
11:22And Lashley seems to be turning up the gas here, turning up the heat on John Cena.
11:27And you know what I think that comes from?
11:30I think the fact that, I don't know if Ashley realizes where his blood is coming from,
11:35but he realizes that's his own blood.
11:36And whenever you realize that you're bleeding, it creates a sense of urgency.
11:41Not a cut over his eyes, so it's not gonna affect his vision.
11:43Top of his head.
11:44What a hard Irish whip.
11:47Amazing velocity.
11:49And the perseverance of Lashley as it relates to his wrestling skills and game plan.
11:57Very impressive.
11:58And as the blood flows to the brain of John Cena.
12:03Lashley demonstrates his amazing, haunting strength.
12:07The suplex, the coomer, and Cena barely able to roll his right shoulder off the canvas.
12:13But it was Bobby Lashley who is dominating, no pun intended,
12:18the WWE Champion in the early going of this matchup.
12:21Well, we both agreed it was gonna take more than strength.
12:25And Cena shows- Look at this!
12:28Cena with a blockbuster, driving Lashley's head into the canvas.
12:33At least Cena bought himself some time here.
12:35Well, that's the, in my opinion, the experience coming into play.
12:38That's what we agreed may be the difference in this match.
12:43John Cena in the high-risk, high-risk distance.
12:48Yes!
12:49And look at that leg drop!
12:52John Cena went to the top turnbuckle, took a huge chance.
12:58You can only imagine what would have happened if Lashley had been able to counter,
13:02but that was not the case.
13:06And Cena trying to, he shows up Lashley over.
13:10Cena hooking both legs, and Lashley kicks out.
13:14Probably Lashley kicks out.
13:16And luckily- And John Cena, as you see there on the left side of your screen,
13:21not considered a high flyer by any means, but he flew at that point.
13:25Look out, look out, look out!
13:26And did some damage, whoa!
13:27Gosh!
13:28And Lashley dropping the air out of Cena.
13:31Uh-oh!
13:31And now Lashley, for that reverse chin lock and the body scissors, and squeezing the air.
13:38Now, John Cena's gotta inhale, he's gonna inhale, exhale, obviously.
13:42And look at this, it's gonna be laboring for John Cena to do that after this move right here.
13:47Yeah.
13:47No air.
13:48What's this?
13:49Bam!
13:52And now Cena, you can imagine John Cena being wrapped up by this
13:58marginally strong man.
14:00You know, JR, we gotta think back, but I can't recall if John Cena has ever wrestled
14:07any opponent with the amateur and the wrestling ability that Bobby Lashley has.
14:14Can you remember an opponent that's faced Cena with this kind of experience?
14:19I really can't.
14:20And especially combined with the strength that Bobby Lashley has.
14:23Well, it's all, again, King, it's John Cena really thrives in these situations,
14:28quite honestly.
14:29It's a new challenge for John Cena.
14:31We have seen Cena rise to the occasion, challenge after challenge.
14:38And Lashley, that huge arm, that's a, look at this.
14:42Look at John's struggling to try to break that.
14:44Yeah.
14:45Drip.
14:45And the strength of Bobby Lashley is Herculean-like, which adds an entirely
14:52intangible element to the most basic and elementary of wrestling maneuvers.
14:57Well, I love to listen to what these guys say before big matches.
15:01We heard Bobby Lashley say, opportunity knocks on your door only once.
15:07And this is his opportunity, he feels like.
15:09Lashley's had trouble in those turnbuckles, Cena aboard the contact.
15:13And Cena with a modified slam there after one mistake by Bobby Lashley.
15:18Bobby Lashley's on Green Street, the back of his head, bounce off that mat.
15:22He's in trouble.
15:22And Cena again, going back to the well for the second time with high impact.
15:31You can't see me.
15:33Here comes the champ, five knuckle shuffle, bang, he hit it.
15:37Cena with a right hand.
15:39Look at Lashley, he's up to his feet.
15:41And Lashley may not know where he is.
15:43And Cena looking for the FU, Lashley escapes.
15:46Lashley escapes, and a power slam, a power slam.
15:50The hook, the challenge of that was one second away from becoming the WWE Champion.
15:56My gosh.
15:57What a great counter by Lashley, who capitalized immediately.
16:03And this time, Lashley finds success in the corner.
16:07This time, John Cena could not avoid the contact.
16:12Got to be a little frustrating for Cena.
16:14He hit that five knuckle shuffle just the way he wanted to.
16:17And it had little or no effect on Bobby Lashley.
16:19And now Lashley firmly in command.
16:21Lashley with that torture rack.
16:23The overhead.
16:25With authority.
16:27What an exclamation point to the torture rack.
16:30That could have cracked ribs.
16:32That could have broken Cena in half.
16:34This may be a J.R.
16:35Lashley's gotta get, he can't waste any time here.
16:38Cena's very resilient.
16:39But we don't know how badly Cena's hurt.
16:44I actually look at where Cena slides out the backside.
16:49Cena hits the FU.
16:51Cena hits the FU.
16:53Cena hits the FU.
16:53Cena hits the FU.
16:54And now can John Cena capitalize.
16:56Cena hits his FU on Bobby Lashley.
17:00But Cena had taken a hellacious amount of punishment.
17:04Cena unable to capitalize.
17:06Man.
17:07I didn't think the SDFU would do it, but I thought the FU could do it.
17:11But Cena, like you said, not able to cover Bobby Lashley.
17:15And it's still Mike King.
17:16It's still Mike.
17:17He's gotta cover him.
17:20Cena crawling with everything he's got to get into a pinning situation.
17:24There it is.
17:25There it is.
17:25That'll do it.
17:26That could do it there.
17:28No.
17:31He elapsed time for the FU to cover.
17:34Too long.
17:34Too long.
17:36Superbly conditioned Lashley.
17:37Don't sit there and think about it, Cena.
17:39You better get up and get back on the offensive.
17:43Man, the heart and the courage.
17:46Good grief.
17:48One shot to the head.
17:49And another win by Lashley.
17:51And now Cena.
17:52Cena can get that extra burst of adrenaline.
17:56He's tapped and loaded.
17:59Lashley's got the adrenaline.
18:00Sorry.
18:01Lashley's got the adrenaline.
18:03Cena doesn't know where he is.
18:04He doesn't know the way to San Jose.
18:06No.
18:07Well, the WWE title is on the line.
18:09Lashley uncorving.
18:10Here comes Lashley.
18:12Hey.
18:15STFU.
18:16My God, Cena's got the STFU.
18:19Well, here's the test.
18:20Will it work?
18:21A submission maneuver.
18:23And the WWE title's on the line.
18:26Everything's at stake.
18:28It's a one ball match.
18:30And Lashley is locked in.
18:33Lashley locked in is right in the center of the ring.
18:36The WWE Champion is ripping and tearing us.
18:40Look at Lashley.
18:43He's quiet.
18:44He's scratching.
18:45He's digging his nails into that mat.
18:47Trying to pull himself to the ring ropes.
18:51Extraordinary perseverance by Bobby Lashley.
18:54But look at Cena's face.
18:56Look at the strain.
18:58Lashley's turn to get to the rope.
19:00Lashley needs the rope.
19:01Do you think he's gonna make it?
19:02He did.
19:03He made it.
19:05Lashley, in the rope, a hole will be broken.
19:10And another chapter will be written in this WWE title match.
19:15What an amazing match this is.
19:18This is truly a WWE Championship match, but Cena has to-
19:22No!
19:23Cena called for the referee.
19:25Imposting the title.
19:26That was a spear.
19:27He's gone.
19:28Yeah!
19:31My God!
19:34Good Lord, how close was that?
19:37Lashley seemed disoriented when he hit the spear and getting there to make the cover.
19:44That was so close.
19:46Both of these men, Lashley and Cena, have to be wondering what is it gonna take?
19:51What a great match.
19:52What a competitive match.
19:54Cena, Cena hit Lashley with his best FU.
19:57Lashley hit Cena with his best spear.
20:00And the moment they're standing.
20:02And now the-
20:03My God!
20:04Look at the strength.
20:05The strength of Cena.
20:06No!
20:07FU from the cover!
20:09Cena with the FU from the top.
20:11Cena going for the cover.
20:13Cena's got the cover.
20:14Cena beats Lashley.
20:16Cena beats Lashley.
20:18Cena beats Lashley.
20:19He's on the top of the door right here.
20:21Here is your winner and still, the WWE Champion,
20:27John Cena!
20:30Man, amazing!
20:32There must have been ten occasions in this match.
20:35It looked as if Bobby Lashley was gonna become a new WWE champion.
20:41John Cena barely leaving the great American badge with a WWE title
20:47in one hell of a wrestling match.
20:49What a main event!
20:50What a battle!
20:52Cena racks with pain.
20:54He can barely stand up.
20:55He can barely lift that championship title.
20:58But he is victorious.
20:59He's been in the fight of his life today, aren't he?
21:01The intensity of both men.
21:05The passion of both Cena and Lashley.
21:08The raw emotion.
21:14On display of the great American badge.
21:18But on this night, it could have just as easily been Lashley's night.
21:24It is John Cena's moment to shine.
21:29And that look on the face of John Cena told it all.
21:31Look at this.
21:32Early on, Cena hits the MCU.
21:35I'm sure he hoped it was over, but he didn't get there to kick.
21:39Another shot.
21:40Right here, the kick out.
21:41Right.
21:42The kick out by Lashley was amazing.
21:45Cena couldn't believe it.
21:46The spear and Lashley trying to get the cover.
21:51Lashley thought he had the title won.
21:53But Cena kicked out of the spear.
21:55And here's how it ended.
21:56This was the difference maker.
21:58All the way from the top, above the top rope.
22:01The FU hit by the champ, and that was all she wrote.
22:07The FU right off the top turnbuckle.
22:11Wow, what impact.
22:12Amazing impact.
22:13And John Cena, in the match of his life at the Great American Bash,
22:20still stands tall as the WWE champion.
22:25You can't see me, my time is dead.
22:34You know, King, there has to be so much mutual respect, or at least I hope so,
22:40between these two amazing, amazing athletes.
23:13There's the hand.
23:34There you see it, ladies and gentlemen.
23:36Not one, but two great Americans who laid it all on the line,
23:42right here for each and everyone.
23:44one of us at the Great American Bash.
23:48Wow.
23:48And John Cena knows, behind those blue eyes, that he was just in the match of his life.
23:55And that young man, Bobby Lashley, is a freak of nature.
23:59What an amazing wrestling.
24:01Here's Bobby Lashley.
24:03Like a thunder and lightning.
24:04Ain't no way you're breaking me, kid.
24:06I'm hard to nail.
24:07Plus I keep it on lock.
24:08Like I'm part of the jail.
24:09I'm smarter than stale.
24:10Competition.
24:11I got the whole clock.
24:13What a night.
24:14What a bash.
24:20Man for the business started.
24:26Great American Bash started in 1985.
24:29It's made history virtually every year since.
24:31Tonight.
24:32No exception.
24:34No exception.
24:36No exception.
24:39Yeah.