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00:00Ladies and gentlemen, the following is the finals of the King of the Ring Tournament
00:06in which the winner will go on to challenge for the undisputed WWE Championship at SummerSlam!
05:59At 222 pounds, the American Nightmare, Cody Rhodes!
07:42Here tonight in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
07:45Thousands of WWE fans singing in unison
07:49to both Randy Orton and Kodia Rhoads entrance music.
07:53Today, now, we get down to business
07:55in the finals of the King of the Ring.
07:58In the year 2008, Randy Orton joined forces
08:18with Cody Rhodes and Ted DiBiase Jr.
08:21in a group that will be called Legacy.
08:23Over their two years together,
08:25Orton won three world championships
08:27and a Royal Rumble.
08:29Cody Rhodes and Ted DiBiase won two tag team titles.
08:33Rhodes and DiBiase would kick Orton out of the group
08:36in the year 2010.
08:38They would then do battle and one-on-one action.
08:40And over the years, Orton owns a 7-3 singles record
08:44against Cody Rhodes.
08:46Will that change tonight in the finals
08:48of the King of the Ring tournament?
08:57Cody Rhodes, very successful in Riyadh back in November.
09:19He won the first-ever Crown Jewel Championship.
09:22For Randy Orton's about some retribution tonight.
09:24Last year, Wade, in the finals of the King of the Ring tournament,
09:27he lost to Goethe in a very controversial manner.
09:31Goethe would go on to SummerSlam to win the world title.
09:34Yeah, the final of the King of the Ring tournament last year
09:37was absolute BS, in my opinion.
09:39A massive refereeing error.
09:41And to a lot of people, Randy Orton is the sentimental favourite title
09:46right last year's role.
09:48There are no words to describe the atmosphere inside the Kingdom Arena tonight.
10:16It is absolutely electric.
10:19So for the first time in 12 years, these two men go one-on-one.
10:30They might not need us two tonight, Cole.
10:32I think this audience is going to do it for us.
10:35Winner of this match heads to SummerSlam.
10:38The first weekend of August, MetLife Stadium in New Jersey
10:41to take on the undisputed WWE champion
10:44and since both of these men are from Friday Night SmackDown.
10:47Could be Cena, could be Punk'd.
10:48We find out later on tonight.
10:50And Orton now with a shoulder tackle.
10:52And down goes Cody Rhodes.
10:55I'll tell you right off the bat, from the entrances,
10:58I saw so much nerves in the eyes of both Cody and Randy.
11:02It's astounding, considering where they've both been previously in their careers.
11:07But it's off many times.
11:09I don't know whether it's the stakes of this match
11:13or whether it's the fact that you're probably going to have to do
11:16some heinous things to a good friend of yours at some point tonight
11:19if you're going to be successful.
11:20It's also the fact that you're getting screwed over by John Cena.
11:23Both of these men, Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania,
11:25Randy Orton back at his hometown of St. Louis at Backlash.
11:28They'd love to get their hands on Cena again
11:30if Cena survives tonight.
11:32Yeah, I'm sure CM Punk might have something to say about that
11:35in tonight's main event.
11:36We'll see how that goes.
11:37But right now, you need to put yourself in pole position for SummerSlam.
11:41And we've mentioned before, these two know each other very well.
11:45They've had a legacy together.
11:47However, first time in 12 years they've gone one-on-one.
11:50So still a feeling out process, so to speak.
11:52Yeah, they know each other incredibly well.
11:54And I promise you, they've studied each other incredibly well,
11:57even if they haven't been competing against each other.
12:01But for me at this point, we've felt each other out briefly.
12:04We've tied up a couple of times.
12:05We've got to sweat on.
12:07Throw the friendship to one side.
12:09Focus on what counts.
12:10That's beating the hell out of this man stood across the ring
12:14who wants to take away what you badly want.
12:21And Cody Rhodes with a far-on to the face of Randy Orton.
12:25And now Rhodes off the rope zone.
12:27Big knee takes Rhodes down,
12:29well placed into the midsection of the American Nightmare.
12:33Mentioned before, 24th King of the Ring Tournament.
12:37Dropped down by Cody.
12:38And there's the right hand, stunning Orton.
12:41Cody playing a little possum there on that knee to the game.
12:44God, making out is a lot more painful than perhaps it really was.
12:47Just sucking Randy in.
12:48Rhodes ripped into the corner.
12:50High elbow catches Randy on the bridge to the nose.
12:53There's a bulldog by Cody.
12:54Quickly into the cover on Randy.
12:56Hook to the leg now.
12:57Kick out at two.
12:58Referee Charles Robinson working this matchup.
13:02It's so crazy.
13:03The mental machinations going on now
13:05in the mind of both Randy and Cody.
13:07You know full well that your opponent is expecting certain things early.
13:11You need to make sure you don't do those things.
13:14Keep your opponent guessing.
13:15Not sure if I'm ready for Cody Rhodes to go to the top rope so early.
13:19But he did it.
13:20It may have cost him as Randy Orton catches him there.
13:22Randy certainly was ready for it.
13:25Those are those reflexes and instincts of the Viper that are simply unsurpassed.
13:30In 1985, the first King of the Ring was crowned, none other than Don Morocco.
13:35As Orton climbs to the top rope with Cody in position.
13:39And there's a superplex from Randy.
13:41And wait, wait a second.
13:44I don't know if you notice how Randy, when he bounced off the Maddie,
13:47he quickly went to his lower back.
13:49Perhaps it seized up a bit.
13:51And Randy Orton clearly in some sort of pain here.
13:53Let's watch this again.
13:55And look at him right there.
13:56Right there, Randy realizes he may be in trouble
13:58as he moves to the ropes and grab for his lower back.
14:01Yeah, that could be a nerve issue.
14:02Of course, Randy Orton has had major lower back issues in the past.
14:06That lumbar spine that kept him out for about 12 months not so long ago.
14:11May have tweaked something there.
14:13And Cody Rhodes now stalking his man, Randy Orton.
14:16And goes right to the lower back and the kidney.
14:18Yeah, it's all fair game.
14:20You have to.
14:20Disaster kick by Cody.
14:22God, it could be a disaster for Randy Orton here.
14:24Cover by Cody for the win.
14:26Hook to the leg.
14:27Orton's forced to kick out.
14:28Oh, and that was a weak, weak kick out.
14:30This is not the kind of abuse that keeps Randy Orton down traditionally.
14:36But that lower back, that lumbar spine,
14:38apparently has now served a handicap to the Viper.
14:42Yeah, Cody Rhodes targeting the lower back as...
14:45goes to work on...
14:46Nice suplex by Cody.
14:50Cover again by Cody.
14:53Finals of the King of the Ring Tournament.
14:55Well, whatever game plan Cody Rhodes came into with this one probably just changed.
15:04I don't know what his plan to target was, but now throw that out the window.
15:09Go for what hurts.
15:10Yeah, Randy, you've clearly heard as Cody Rhodes unloads.
15:13Orton trying to fight back as well.
15:15Rhodes and Orton exchanging blows.
15:19Randy now.
15:20Oh, and there's the patented backbreaker.
15:22And even that, even that causes Orton to collapse to the mat in pain.
15:26Yeah, that's an instinctive move from Randy Orton.
15:29He's done it millions of times before.
15:32His brain automatically went there.
15:36And now clearly regretting it.
15:38Take another look at this.
15:39Standard stuff from Orton.
15:41But it hurt him far more than it did Cody Rhodes.
15:47Of course, the King of the Ring Tournament, one of it's Christian.
15:49Surviving to get to the finals and then winning.
15:52And now Cody Rhodes.
15:53And Cody now torturing Orton, working on the lower back, wrapping him around the ring post.
16:01Cody Rhodes here.
16:02Yeah, being completely vicious.
16:04This is a very different side of Cody Rhodes.
16:07Why?
16:08Because the stakes are so massive this evening.
16:10Yeah.
16:11Not just the crown, but that opportunity beckoning at SummerSlam race.
16:16Chucked at the goal.
16:19Let's go, Randy.
16:20Chance for our capacity crowd here in Riyadh.
16:24I like this from Cody Rhodes.
16:26I promise you, if the roles were reversed, Randy Orton would have no hesitation.
16:29It's a flop kick.
16:31In attacking Cody.
16:32Cover again by Cody.
16:34Orton forced to kick out.
16:35Now listen, if you have a back issue, obviously each and every time you're forced to kick out, it bothers the back.
16:40Any movement whatsoever.
16:42I mean, even lying in bed with a bad back hurts.
16:44I cannot possibly fathom how Orton, from this point, can now negotiate his way back into the match.
16:52But that's Joe Tessa's issue, carrying you every week.
16:55Oh, come on, mate.
16:55There's no need for this.
16:56Cody now.
16:56He just died.
16:58Knee placed to the spine.
16:59And now Rhodes continuing to wear down Randy Orton.
17:02And as you mentioned earlier, whatever Cody's strategy was, it's out the window.
17:06As he's completely changed things now in his attack on Orton.
17:10We're now attacking with that for a bat that's really a neck hold.
17:13But Randy Orton having to use all the weight on that lower back to force his way back up.
17:18And now Cody smartly pressing against the upper back of Randy, forcing him back down.
17:23And again, all that pressure goes on the lumbar spine.
17:26And referee Charles Robinson making sure that the arm remains wrapped around the jaw of Orton and doesn't slip underneath into a choke here.
17:34And Cody Rhodes continues to put the pressure on Randy.
17:37And Randy's in deep trouble.
17:39Randy could be fading here in the center of the ring.
17:42Randy just has that competitive spirit that never say die.
17:48He thinks he can figure something out here, even if the rest of us may doubt it.
17:53Yeah, Orton trying to break the hold here.
17:56And finally does as he buries Cody in the corner.
17:59And now Randy Orton almost went shoulder first.
18:02Uh-oh.
18:02Great move by Randy.
18:03And a big clothesline now to Rhodes.
18:05And now Randy Orton starting to build some momentum now.
18:07Here comes the Viper.
18:09Power slam.
18:13Hesitation.
18:15Barely being able to go for the cover here.
18:17Couldn't even hook the leg.
18:18Yeah, and that was a solid two or three before Randy could even execute that cover.
18:24Just hampered in every regard.
18:27But pretty much the word go in this match.
18:35Now there are occasions when you tweak something early in the match that over time as the body warms up,
18:42natural endorphins get released.
18:44It can numb that injury to an extent.
18:47And Randy is clearly hoping that is the case here.
18:51And Orton looking to drape Cody over the second rope.
18:56The WWE's apex predator was going to the...
18:59Ooh, that draping DDT.
19:01And Cody went right back to the back.
19:03And another shot to the kidneys.
19:07Got to be ruthless here if you're Cody Rhodes.
19:09Oh, he's got her.
19:11This could be it.
19:12Rhodes cover.
19:13Hook of the leg.
19:14Randy stays in it.
19:18And it really is that slight turn of speed for Randy Orton that is now gone completely.
19:26And that was the difference there in allowing Cody Rhodes back into the match
19:29when it looked like Randy was starting to build a little bit of momentum.
19:34Just cannot capitalize on the damage you cause to Cody if you can't move quick enough to get the next shot in.
19:41Cody now heading up to the top rope now.
19:50And the last Cody cutter.
19:52Is that enough to put Orton away?
19:54Randy stays in it again.
19:56And now Cody Rhodes beginning to maybe question himself.
20:00What do I need to do to put Randy away?
20:01Well, that is the sweetest sight in the world if you're Cody Rhodes, a viper in agony.
20:12And Cody deftly maneuvering to the top rope, executing yet another Cody cutter.
20:19Randy in big, big trouble.
20:21Well, Hall of Famers over the years have been king of the ring.
20:25Ten world champions have been king of the ring.
20:28The best of the best have won this tournament crown.
20:32The names of Booker T and Stone Cold Steve Austin, Triple H and Harley Race among others.
20:38And Cody ends up on the apron.
20:41Kick right to the midsection by Orton.
20:42Randy's got him where he wants him.
20:44Drake in DDT coming.
20:45That's it, Jordan!
20:46Thank you, Jordan!
20:51Adrenaline is pumping.
21:08The viper is ready to strike.
21:15Measuring his man.
21:16Going to the RKO.
21:18Blocked by Cody.
21:19Into Crossroads!
21:20Great cover by Cody!
21:22Cover!
21:23Randy kicked out!
21:24Randy's kicked out of just about everything so far.
21:28Yeah, that is a wild, wild kick out for a man with a busted back who's been beaten from pillar to post already.
21:36And Cody hits his biggest shot of them all.
21:40And it's not good enough.
21:42Now, what happens on this kick out to the mindset of Cody Rhodes, who has dominated this match?
21:49I'll tell you what happened.
21:49And I was just looking at Cody, looked him straight in the eyes, and he had a blank look on his face.
21:54He was like, what do I need to do?
21:55He was staring out into space trying to figure out, how do I take out Orton here?
22:00Yeah, remember, this was once upon a time your mentor.
22:03The guy you looked up to.
22:05The guy who taught you things.
22:06That will lay...
22:07Oh, an RKO from out of nowhere by Orton.
22:10Cover for the win!
22:12Cody at two and a half!
22:14Oh my god, never count out the Viper.
22:25Cody just thinking he had all the time in the world to talk some trash to a beaten and apparently broken Viper.
22:33But the RKO out of nowhere.
22:37Quick as a flash.
22:39But again, now the role reversal.
22:41How frustrating is that for Randy Orton?
22:43He got the kill shot in just when he'd been written off.
22:47And it wasn't enough.
22:47Randy glancing back at Cody.
23:04Oh, you wonder what's going through the mind of the Viper now.
23:09Ever dangerous.
23:10Oh no, Cody's in position!
23:12Cody's in position!
23:13Cody's in position!
23:17And he's second guessing himself.
23:25All the time in the world to hit this punt.
23:30Albeit against a true friend.
23:36Orton psyched himself up to do it.
23:39Took too long.
23:40Cody Rhodes avoided it.
23:43Now takedown on Randy Orton.
23:45Hey, Cody now.
23:46Look at the figure four.
23:49Figure four.
23:49Center of the ring.
23:51Locked in.
23:51Orton's in trouble.
23:53Well, Orton just gave a massive gift to Cody Rhodes.
23:56Cody's embraced it.
23:58And thrown it back in the Viper's face.
24:01Cody's got the figure four locked in.
24:04Randy Orton, center of the ring.
24:06Nowhere to go as Cody continues the pressure.
24:09Only one way to go from here.
24:11It is quite simply tap out.
24:13Randy has a massive fray, but he is so far from Andy Roach.
24:17Unless Randy can turn over onto his belly and reverse the pressure onto Cody Rhodes, which
24:22is what Orton's trying to do here.
24:24And he's able to do that, and now it's Cody Rhodes who's in trouble.
24:28Randy Orton now has the upper hand.
24:29And Cody has to roll to the ropes and force a break.
24:33That was a hell of a long time in that figure four leg lock.
24:37And if Randy wasn't already in a bad way, things are looking messy now for the Viper.
24:52Bad back, issues with the legs now.
24:56Randy had the opportunity there to finish that with the puck.
24:59Simply took too long.
25:01Cody moved out of the way, and it's still game on.
25:03And now Orton Rhodes.
25:12Right hand stunned Randy.
25:13You mentioned on the countdown show today, Wade, the fact that it's extremely humid and warm inside this arena.
25:35And will it affect these athletes tonight?
25:37It's affected me, sat here at ringside.
25:40I promise you, it is destroying the endurance of both, mate.
25:57Ready, fight now.
25:58Cody goes to the midsection with another kick now.
26:01Rhodes.
26:01Off the second rope.
26:03Oh, KO!
26:06Orton with the interception.
26:09Cody kicks out again.
26:19Oh, God.
26:20Take it flat.
26:22And again, out of nowhere.
26:24Oh, KO.
26:25Connecting flush to Cody Rhodes.
26:29And it really speaks volumes to the caliber of these two competitors that they are taking the best shots each has to offer and still somehow taking.
26:40Again, the king of the ring on the line, but also an opportunity at the undisputed WWE Championship at SummerSlam.
26:48Yeah, and that's really why the caliber of competitors in the tournament this year is so high.
26:55The crowd is great.
26:57Everyone wants it.
26:58But trust me, that opportunity at SummerSlam is as big as winning a Royal Rumble now.
27:03Uh-oh.
27:04Randy now with a steel chair in hand.
27:07Disqualification will hand this thing to Cody Rhodes, so I'm not quite sure what Randy's thinking here.
27:11Well, he's not thinking straight.
27:12That's the issue.
27:13The red mist has now descended for Randy.
27:16Give me the, give me the, give me the, you know that, man.
27:20What are you thinking?
27:22I don't know.
27:24Come on, get over here.
27:26Jay.
27:27Wait a minute.
27:28Oh.
27:29Randy Orton now.
27:31We're doing the top turn, but the referee's back turn.
27:33That was entirely a ruse.
27:35It was a decoy by Randy.
27:37Yeah, Cerebral Orton has exposed the top turnbuckle.
27:41Put it out to the official Charles Robinson.
27:44Cody Rhodes, though.
27:45And now it's Randy Orton, blocking.
27:53And he went for the RKO.
27:54Into the corner.
27:56Rips first.
27:57Into the exposed steel.
28:00Crossroads by Cody.
28:02Cover.
28:03One, two, three.
28:04Cody Rhodes is kick of the ring.
28:07What an incredible victory for Cody Rhodes.
28:37Cody Rhodes tonight, who earns himself an opportunity at the Undisputed WWE Championship at SummerSlam.
28:44What a fight tonight.
28:46And I'll tell you right now, Cole, I've known Cody Rhodes a long time.
28:50That was a very different version of Cody we saw in there tonight.
28:56And all bets were off.
28:57Cody turned up the violence, darling.
29:00And it was, in fact, the Viper at times who showed some restraint.
29:04Not so much for Cody.
29:05This is early on in the matchup.
29:15Randy going for that signature superplex and paying the price.
29:20Tweaking that lower back.
29:22And Cody Rhodes exploited it.
29:24But Randy O is ready and dangerous to strike with this RKO out of nowhere.
29:30Cody good for it.
29:31And then Randy Orton, after bringing a steel chair into the ring, as Wade said, clearly a ruse to allow Randy Orton to expose the turnbuckle.
29:39But it would backfire on the Viper.
29:41And fell on his own sword.
29:43Shoved straight into it here in that lap.
29:45Those ribs weakening the Viper.
29:49And then Crossroads, number two, connecting.
29:52And we have ourselves a 20-25 King of the Ring.
29:59Here is your winner and the new King of the Ring, the American Nightmare, Cody Rhodes.
30:19General Manager Pierce from Raw and Aldis from SmackDown congratulating the new King of the Ring.
30:34Let's go up to our own Byron Saxton for an interview.
30:37Cody Rhodes.
30:39Cody, first off, congratulations.
30:42How does it feel to know that you now have a chance to finally reclaim the undisputed WWE title at SummerSlam?
30:54Byron, first of all, I have to thank Randy Orton, the legend killer.
30:58Nothing but respect from the guy who mentored me, the guy who spoke up for me.
31:07He's a future Hall of Famer.
31:10And this isn't his last stop here in Saudi Arabia.
31:12One more time for Randy Orton.
31:14I am well aware, I hear each and every one of you, this is an arduous path.
31:27First, Jey Uso, the most beloved character in all of WWE.
31:34Then, the modern locker room leader, the man, Randy Orton.
31:38And at SummerSlam, that means I'm facing either CM Punk or John Cena.
31:49And I completely get how you feel as an audience when I go up against these beloved characters.
31:55But I want you to hear it from me.
31:57I was born to do this.
31:59Whether it be CM Punk or John Cena.
32:02They are holding on to that belt for themselves.
32:04And they are holding on to it for me.
32:07Because at SummerSlam, I get the ball back!
32:15The words of the quarterback.
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