[NOISE]
[SOUND]
>> Booker T gets set to take on
Cody Rhodes in his big matchup here tonight on Monday Night Raw.
Booker goes 6'3 256, he is a six time world champion.
>> And this is a very rare appearance for Booker T, especially here on Raw.
And I'm just looking to see what Booker T or what Cody Rhodes is gonna be able to do
with fresh Booker T that hadn't been attacked from behind before the match.
>> Well, many people blame Cody Rhodes for bringing Booker T back in action,
I'm looking at the other way.
>> Wait, did you say blame Cody Rhodes?
>> Yeah, well, the bottom line is this,
Booker was out here on commentary on SmackDown each and every week.
And he was offering his was very biased opinions of Cody Rhodes.
And you can't blame for
Cody Rhodes of getting upset and what Booker T was saying about it.
And here's the cover by Booker.
>> And you're out here calling somebody's opinion biased and being upset about it.
>> Hey, I'm an award-winning journalist.
>> Okay. >> So ladies and gentlemen,
later on tonight, as you heard earlier on the WWE champion,
CM Punk is gonna be forced to run the Gauntlet.
If he defeats three men tonight and John Laurinaitis, our acting general manager,
trying to determine who those opponents will be.
But I can't believe- >> If John Laurinaitis
a trending on Twitter.
>> If Punk can actually run the Gauntlet tonight, what does that mean?
>> Well, that means that we're gonna in store for the.
This is the last Raw of the year to be the greatest Raw of the year,
because CM Punk will get to have a match with John Laurinaitis.
>> High elbow by Booker T to the nose of the Intercontinental Champion.
Remember, the facial reconstructive surgery Cody Rhodes went through
earlier this year.
It's been a great year for
Cody to come back from such a tragedy to- >> Man.
>> Win the Intercontinental championship.
>> I guess he had a great plastic surgeon?
>> And again, cover my Booker and Cody at one.
>> Is it true when the plastic surgeon first saw him,
Cody suggested adding the tail?
>> You think about what Cody had to go through.
He had to wrestle for so many months with that mask over it,
that protective mask on his face.
And then being forced to shed it at the hands of [CROSSTALK] here comes
the scissors kick.
And Cody Rhodes ducking underneath it and now, look out, Rhodes taking over.
>> [NOISE] >> The swinging neck breaker to Booker and
again, it looks like Father Time may catch up to Booker T,
here tonight in the hands of the Young Gun, Cody Rhodes.
>> [NOISE] >> I don't think I can get him over,
I can't get, most people like you, yourself, Jerry, explained this to me.
Wait a second, I've been trying- >> Pay attention to his win,
Cody Rhodes pulled down that knee pad and
jammed his knee right in the ribcage of Booker, Booker maybe hurt here.
>> Watch out.
>> Good. >> [NOISE]
>> Booker is hurt,
you gotta wonder if Booker T can continue, Cody's in control.
As Monday Night Raw rolls on Live from Chicago.
>> [NOISE] >> And
we are back live on Monday Night Raw, sold out tonight in Chicago.
Cody Rhodes,
the Intercontinental Champion really taking it to the legendary Booker T.
>> [NOISE] >> What I wanna
to get back to as mentioned earlier on, Jerry?
The fact of the matter is this,
many people say Booker T shouldn't even be competing, that he's passed his prime.
He's over the hill in some cases.
When does someone like yourself know when it's time to hang up the boots?
>> Well, first of all, I'll address that question just a second.
But let's talk about Booker T for a minute, he was very happy,
perfectly satisfied doing commentary,
until Cody Rhodes stuck his nose into Booker T's commentary business.
>> Yeah, but Booker T brought this on himself.
>> Okay, look, you talk about when do someone know it's time.
Hey, as an athlete gets older, certainly their skills diminish,
you may lose a step.
But the great thing about the WWE, it's not like team sport football or
baseball where if you're not as good as you once were,
you're dragging the whole team down, Booker T is out there by himself.
Hey, anybody can win a match at any given time.
Cody Rhodes make a slip up, make a mistake.
>> Cody up and knee to the skull and the forearm right jaw and
Booker T kicks out at two.
>> I mean, if you asked me, Booker T is just as powerful as he's ever been.
>> [NOISE]
>> Tonight, we're rolling through Chicago,
14,804 in attended sold out tonight at the Allstate Arena.
Look at Cody continuing to wear Booker T down,
sound strategy from the Intercontinental Champion, Cody Rhodes.
Sthis could have all been over for Booker back at TLC.
But he just had to do it again Friday Night at SmackDown,
he had to poke the bear again.
So there's little Christmas Carol and this is what he gets for it.
>> [NOISE] >> No.
>> I'm sure that Booker T is not through with Cody Rhodes yet.
As I said, this is about pride, this is about being a man stand.
He's not gonna sit around as illustrious career as Booker T has had,
you think he's gonna sit around and just count out to Punk like Cody Rhodes who
wants to get the Booker's face and try to embarrass him?
>> But at some point enough is enough as Booker T and look at,
Cody, beautiful move by Cody Rhodes.
And Cody follows it up with a clothesline.
Quickly into the cover, hook to the leg, little drop down punch,
look familiar by Cody.
Runs in the family, I guess, as Cody tries to put Booker away, but
Booker T trying to stay in it here.
>> [NOISE] >> I don't know from the look on
Booker T's face, if he's just trying to get back into this thing or
if he's just been knocked gloopy.
>> I hope that Cody's not holding back here, I hope is not feeling sorry for
Booker T tonight.
>> [CROSSTALK] you made your commentary.
I keep thinking to myself, is he holding back?
Surely, this is not as good as he can be.
Look at Cody Rhodes, he's not holding back.
>> [NOISE] >> All he wants to do is embarrass
Booker T, just like he did when he started this whole situation.
>> He's already embarrassed him, what else does Cody have to prove?
>> How do you figure jumping a man twice from behind before
your match is embarrassing doing?
That would be, if I were Cody Rhodes, I'd be embarrassed.
>> I call it, try to take advantage of the situation.
>> [NOISE] >> Look at Booker,
trying to build a little bit of momentum.
Booker, the veteran mentioned before six World titles to his credit,
15 Tag Team titles.
The king of the ring and there's a drop kick by Cody, and
just as Booker tried to get back into it, Cody Rhodes shuts it up and down again.
>> [NOISE]
>> And cover and Booker at two.
>> [NOISE] >> Cody Rhodes,
the Young Gun appears to be getting a little bit frustrated.
That it's not as easy to put Booker T away as he thought it was gonna be.
>> But Cody's been dominating, you gotta admit that, I mean,
it's just a matter of time here.
Cody continues to pressure.
>> [NOISE] >> Eight right here,
how much more is Booker gonna be able to take?
He has been punished by the Intercontinental Champion
throughout this matchup.
>> Well, we got poor Booker T twisted up like a pretzel here,
Booker's gotta get out of this.
>> Aah!
>> [NOISE] >> He got his hands free, come on, Booker.
>> I mean, how much more of this Booker trying to get back into it.
Does he have one last gasp left?
Is Booker have anything left?
Trying to get back to a vertical base and Cody, knee again to the kidney.
>> What do you say, Booker, you all right?
>> You gotta give Cody credit.
Lawler, I mean, he's- >> I'm not taking anything away from
Cody's abilities.
His in ring ability is as good as anybody.
Yeah, he's young, he's Young Gun, he's got youth, he's got stamina on his side.
But he's still been unable to put Booker T away, and
there's a nice retaliation from Book.
>> Booker, the elbow and now, Cody Rhodes is stunned a bit.
>> So what I'm talking about, all it takes is one little lapse,
one little mistake by Cody Rhodes and Booker can win this thing.
>> [NOISE] >> There you go.
>> And again, and Booker T beginning to build some momentum,
>> [NOISE]
>> Side slammed by Booker,
hook of the leg, Cody's in trouble.
>> Rolls the shoulder out at two.
>> [NOISE] >> And
again, every time, I mean, there's one thing that's obvious.
Hey, how long's it been since- >> Look at this, look at this,
look at this, look at this, shoulders down and a kick out.
And Cody Rhodes stacking Booker up, and Booker kicks out again.
You were saying?
>> Well, I'm saying it's obvious that Booker has,
sometimes we refer to it as a little ring rust.
It's been a long time since he's been in the ring on a regular basis.
>> Now, look at Cody Rhodes, shoulders down, Cody.
>> Even trying to grab a handful of Booker's thighs,
Cody Rhodes couldn't hold him down.
Look at him, beautiful Disaster Kick caught Booker on the jaw,
this could be it, can Cody take advantage?
He crawls to the cover, hook of the leg, shoulders down,
Booker T at two and a half.
>> [LAUGH] Yes, come on, Book.
>> [NOISE] >> I can't tell you how it would make my
holiday season to see Booker T upset the Young Gun right here.
>> [NOISE] >> Would you be.
>> What? >> Would you wear one of those bags that
Cody Rhodes used to pass out if your team wins this thing?
>> Cody Rhodes going for crossroads here and Booker T countered,
Booker T, here's that high kick to the face.
>> And Booker T is trying to get back in this thing, but
how much does Booker read left in the tank does he have anything left?
>> [NOISE] >> Booker.
>> Missed, come on, Booker.
>> That's what I'm talking about, Booker just can't get going,
he can't get out of the blocks here.
Goes on offense for a bit, there's a knee to the midsection, can he take advantage?
Scissors to the back of the head, Booker out of nowhere,
Cody's in trouble, Booker to cover.
>> One, two, three.
>> Booker got him.
>> My gosh, my gosh, my gosh [LAUGH].
[MUSIC]
>> The winner of this match, Booker T.
>> This is great.
>> Well, pigs are flying everywhere in Chicago tonight.
This is a late Christmas present for Booker T.
I think Cody Rhodes just slams the Raw away for a moment,
he got caught with a scissors kick.
>> What did I tell you, Cole?
That's all it takes.
>> Booker can't believe it himself.
[MUSIC]
[LAUGH] It's like a Christmas miracle congratulation, Booker T.
[MUSIC]
>> It's like the Christmas flu.
>> What? [MUSIC]
>> This is a great win.
[MUSIC]
Great.
>> What?
Come on, we wanna hear it.
How about it, Cole, get on Spinaroonie here at Christmas time?
>> [NOISE] >> [LAUGH]