[MUSIC]
And now it's time to determine the number one contender for
the World Heavyweight Championship.
[MUSIC]
>> Fully contestant's a number one contender's match for
the World Heavyweight Championship.
Making his way tonight from San Diego, California,
weighing in at 170 pounds, Rey Mysterio.
>> What an incredible opportunity tonight for Rey Mysterio and
the world's strongest man, Mark Henry.
The winner in this match up class will meet the new World Heavy Weight Champion,
Kurt Angle in nine nights at the Royal Rumble.
>> In this match up, here is one of those matches that has made SmackDown a hit to
other take all the great SmackDown fans.
For making last week's Friday night SmackDown the highest
rated show on Friday in the history of UPN.
>> Rey Mysterio has got his hands full tonight, Cole, for
the World's Strongest Man.
>> But we've seen Rey Mysterio over the years.
He doesn't back down from anybody.
This is another day David versus Goliath.
[CROSSTALK] He's never faced, he beat Rey Mysterio, the world's strongest man.
And that's just what Mark Henry is.
[MUSIC]
>> But Rey Mysterio as well doesn't back down from anybody.
He's loaded with [INAUDIBLE] nothing but heart, Rey Mysterio.
[MUSIC]
>> Boy, here comes that
monstrous Mark Henry.
[MUSIC] >> And from Shelby, Texas,
weighing in at 400 pounds, the World's Strongest Man, Mark Henry.
[MUSIC]
>> Mark Henry brought in to SmackDown to protect Melina.
Melina at ring side watching her big man in action here tonight.
So this is what I expected today.
Mark Henry versus Rey Meysterio, the winner of the match up,
to take on the New World Heavyweight Champion Kurt Angle at the Royal Rumble.
>> Let's start with Rey Mysterio task.
What type of strategies do you use against Mark Henry?
>> You use your speed in such a high stakes type of situation, high stakes,
big Mac.
Use your speed, man.
That's what you need against a monster, a mist of monster like Mark Henry.
>> And you saw Rey Mysterio going for the hamstring much like he did last week.
If you wanna knock this big Sequoia down to size,
get them on the mat where he's at Rey Mysterio's eye.
>> Easier said than done there, buddy.
>> And if you're Mark Henry, how do you combat the speed of Rey Mysterio?
>> Don't chase him around.
You just slow him down.
If you want to slow him down, it takes one time.
Just if you're Mark Henry, just once, you got to get your hands on Rey once.
>> I don't think Rey's gonna escape it.
>> And here's Rey Mysterio again, looking on that hamstring of Mark Henry's,
hung up on the second rope.
And Mark Henry, the World's Strongest Man.
>> Rey Mysterio would like to snatch up to go on a little bit, because obviously
Mysterio probably in better condition from a cardiac [CROSSTALK]
>> I don't know.
I mean, you're talking about a former Olympian, to Mark Henry,
he's the world's strongest man, isn't he?
The heart's a muscle, his heart's strong.
>> [INAUDIBLE] Better be careful.
Walking right in front of us.
Mark Henry just- >> I can't explain to people at
home watching this on television, you can't explain how big this guy really is.
>> Well, there's some of the [INAUDIBLE] you were talking about in
Mark Henry as well.
He grabbed Rey Mysterio, yanking Mysterio out of the ring and into the barricade.
>> Watch out!
>> Hits with a clothesline, and Mysterio stoops out of the way.
>> Hey, that's it, he's been playing, as Rey Mysterio.
>> And look at Mysterio, drop kick to the sternum.
>> And the big man's teetering.
>> He almost stopped him down.
>> Through the second rope.
>> [APPLAUSE] >> But Henry is still not down.
>> Rey Mysterio is woolly.
A championship opportunity at the Royal Rumble hangs in the balance when
we return to SmackDown.
>> And Rey Mysterio keeping the pressure on Mark Henry right here.
Watch out! Watch out!
>> And Mysterio just ran in to a brick wall, ladies and gentlemen.
And now Mark Henry is in control and Melina realizes it.
>> Well, the problem is though that brick wall moves, and very quick, I might add.
>> Let's take a look and watch this impact.
>> I, anybody, >> No,
I can't even hit by some of that big FS, but that's all it takes.
If you're Mark Henry to get.
>> To get control here, they control and
slow the match down to your pace.
And that's just what the World's Strongest Man is doing.
>> That's a mere 400 pound man splashing Mysterio in the corner,
and the World's Strongest Man.
>> Melina's loving it. She got that devilish look on her face.
>> Look at Rey Mysterio, looking on the hamstring again.
Mysterio shows signs of life here,
the never say die attitude of Rey Mysterio, man.
Got caught, watch out, face first!
>> One hand, see that Mark Henry bombed Rey Meysterio's head and
with one hand, slammed it with a ferocious force to the mat below.
>> [NOISE] >> Well, turns out these SmackDown fans
trying to encourage Rey Meysterio and get into the head of Mark Henry.
And now here comes Mark Henry on the plat.
My god, no, no, no.
>> My, come on!
>> That's 400 pounds right on the abdomen of Rey Mysterio.
>> And here, Rey Mysterio just groaning in pain.
No, don't do that.
It's over, bro.
>> Come on, now.
>> Here comes the flash, nobody home, Mysterio rolling out of the way.
>> I thought Mysterio is gonna be just a ruined,
just be a bold splat right in the middle of the ring.
>> And Rey Mysterio trying to make it back into the feet and he does.
The big man is down in the match center of the ring [CROSSTALK] kick on the side
of the head.
>> Rey Mysterio trying to build momentum, get a little bit of life here.
>> That's the thing, bring the speed, but can Rey do that?
Rey has been bouncing around pretty hard here by Mark Henry.
>> Rey Mysterio doing all he can.
>> Man, into a vicious clothesline.
>> My Lord, wow.
>> Mysterio knocked for a loop.
>> How the hell is Rey Mysterio gonna recover from that, Cole?
>> [INAUDIBLE] He looks more motivated, more focused, more vicious,
bigger, faster.
>> Look at this.
>> No, he's using the ropes for leverage, 400 pounds into the chest,
the lungs of Mysterio.
>> Mark Henry's digging it.
I think Mark Henry is trying to crush the skull [INAUDIBLE] of Rey Mysterio.
Again, the SmackDown fans are getting to the head of Mark Henry
trying to root on Rey Mysterio.
>> Following the lead of Kurt Angle a little bit earlier on tonight.
>> My.
>> Look at this, Mysterio hanging up on the top rope.
Mark Henry makes that look so easy.
>> Planting Rey Mysterio off the top rope to the floor below.
It's just a matter of time, ladies and gentleman, before Mark Henry's heading
to the Royal Rumble to meet Kurt Angle for the world heavy weight championship.
>> That's how high the stakes are in this match.
This isn't just a match, the winner goes out for
an opportunity to face the champion at the Royal Rumble.
That's a gigantic stage. >> Well, Mark Henry stalking Mysterio,
stomping on Mysterio, now dragging Mysterio back to the ring.
>> Rey Mysterio is not in a good way right now, ladies and gentlemen, and
you're looking at Mark Henry, The World's Strongest Man.
He might just go on to a victory here tonight.
>> You can see the confidence just growing in Mark Henry by leaps and bounds along.
>> You should be confident.
Mark Henry's got Rey right where he wants him.
>> Watch out. Watch out, nobody home.
Henry went to the victory, nobody home as Mysterio rolled out of the way.
Melina trying to get Henry back into this thing when Mysterio may have
an opening here.
>> All right, we're back right there.
Going right to that leg, watch out.
>> Man, man, man.
>> My God.
>> Mark Henry.
>> Look at this.
>> Resting Rey Mesterio.
>> [CROSSTALK] You read my mind, watch out.
Rey's in trouble, he's got be out of this, Cole.
>> Rey Mysterio merely, can't feel the air here.
Look at this!
Mysterio though landing on his feet.
Took the big man out of the knee.
>> He took the back of his leg, the leg, the hamstring he's been working on.
You don't treat the champ down.
>> Rey Mysterio out to the apron.
>> The quick reflex. >> Mysterio, caught in mid air.
[INAUDIBLE] to last week, my God.
>> That happened last week?
>> [INAUDIBLE] this time Mysterio hung on.
And I believe Henry got caught up with something in the top rope.
>> He did, my God.
>> Just drop kick, spring board drop kick.
>> Didn't knock him down though.
>> Mysterio trying to knock, and look at the 6 foot 9 to the back of Mark Henry.
>> But Henry's still standing!
Mysterio with everything he has in that 619 to the gut of Mark Henry.
>> When you're out of breath, man, that sucks to get hit in
the gut.>The big man is down to his knees.
>> My God! >> Is Mysterio gonna be able to
[CROSSTALK] 619 connecting.
The end may be near for the world's strongest man.
>> My God, Cole, don't tell me Rey can win this thing.
>> Rey Mysterio senses he's closing in on a victory.
>> Rey versus Kurt Angle at the Royal Rumble, Cole.
[CROSSTALK] the championship.
>> Onto the apron.
These fans chanting for Eddie, trying to will Rey Mysterio on.
>> Everyone here is on their feet, all the SmackDown fans and Rey is on his feet.
He got the Frog Splash, cover by Mysterio.
>> One, two.
>> Did he do it?
>> And Mark Henry.
>> What the hell is this?
>> And look at the roll through by Mark Henry.
>> My God, you got to be kidding me.
>> Here is the cover.
>> One, two, three.
[SOUND] >> Mark Henry is heading
to the Royal Rumble to meet Kurt Angle for the title.
>> Here is your and the number one contender for
the Heavy weight championship,
the World's Strongest, Man Mark Henry.
[MUSIC]