[MUSIC]
[SOUND] This is contest is set for one fall.
Currently the ring, from Lawrenceburg, South Carolina,
weighing 248 pounds, The Gold Standard, Shelton Benjamin!
>> You are looking at one of the best pure athletes
in the WWE today, Sheldon Benjamin.
[SOUND] >> [APPLAUSE]
[SOUND]
[MUSIC]
>> His opponent, from Death Valley,
weighing 299 pounds, The Undertaker!
>> [APPLAUSE]
[MUSIC]
>> What an amazing response, an amazing show of respect.
With a man that's 17 and 0 at WrestleMania.
[MUSIC]
>> A victory over Shawn Michaels in what many are calling the greatest WrestleMania
match of all time.
>> Certainly the greatest WrestleMania match I ever saw.
[MUSIC]
>> Undertaker dodged so many bullets in the great Shawn Michaels,
in Reliance Stadium before over 72,000 fans.
And of course last night we saw The Undertaker in the very first match of
WWE superstars.
And, you know what?
I knew The Undertaker would come out the WrestleMania match with Michaels
unscathed, and certainly, Matt Hardy tried to exploit the neck injury.
And everybody's been kind of whispering about regarding The Undertaker.
>> When the Undertaker flew over that top rope and landed directly on his head,
and that could play a factor here tonight as well.
[MUSIC]
>> The most intimidating force the WWE has ever seen.
From Death Valley, the one and only Undertaker.
[MUSIC]
>> Indeed 17 and O.
Has there ever been a more impressive streak in this genre
than The Undertaker's 17 and O streak at WrestleMania?
>> Will it ever be matched?
Will anyone ever come even remotely close to that perfect WrestleMania record?
>> And what n opportunity here tonight for Shelton Benjamin,
who athletically speaking, has every gift it takes to beat The Undertaker tonight.
>> A former Inter Continental Champion, US Champion and Tag Team Champion.
And despite that goal,
to win here tonight would certainly be the biggest of Shelton's career.
[MUSIC]
>> Wow.
The Feared Phenom.
Has he already gotten into the head of Shelton Benjamin?
>> What must be going through the mind now of the Gold Standard
as he stares down the icon that is the Dead Man?
[SOUND] >> Well, I don't think that Benjamin's
gonna be intimidated by The Undertaker or anyone else.
>> Really? >> Absolutely not.
>> I think there's respect there, there's- >> Well, the look on his face.
No offense here, Jeremy.
Shelton looks, certainly a little bit intimidating.
>> Maybe he is.
>> I just think the got the athletic skills, and
the ability to withstand The Undertaker.
On a given night anything can happen, at a fast start a physical start.
>> With a spike athleticism that Shelton Benjamin provides, The Undertaker's
intimidation has beaten many superstars before the match even starts.
>> That I agree with, without a doubt.
>> Shelton Benjamin has been in the ring with the Undertaker on other occasions.
>> The Undertaker knows Benjamin is a viable, viable threat.
>> That's why The Undertaker is starting this match off so
aggressively in a dead serious mode.
>> Shelton Benjamin's resume speaks for itself.
A two-time amateur All American at the University of Minnesota,
set records in the 100-meter dash.
>> With this agility from the near seven-foot 300-pound Undertaker.
>> So certainly Shelton could run away if he so chose.
>> Man, I'll tell you what, I still think back to WrestleMania so many, look out!
>> Drop to the neck!
>> A neckbreaker by Sheldon Benjamin.
Benjamin went to the neck!
Is Shelton on the verge of the biggest win of his career?
Welcome back to Friday Night SmackDown, you're watching Shelton Benjamin's
bid to upset The Phenom, The Undertaker here tonight.
>> Everything about the head and neck right now.
It was a neck breaker.
Benjamin's amazing athleticism gotten the advantage, there's a cover!
Will it be?
This is what happened right before the commercial break.
[SOUND] And this without a doubt has been the turning point of this match.
>> Strategic.
Great timing!
Great athleticism!
>> You talk about the athleticism of Shelton Benjamin,
how about his intellect to know to target the Dead Man's neck?
>> And right now that will be the focus of this college educated,
amateur All-American Shelton Benjamin.
The Undertaker, that neck, in a very uncomfortable angle.
>> And millions around the world saw exactly what happened to The Undertaker's
neck against Shawn Michaels in a match for the ages.
Shelton certainly one of those and is targeting it tonight.
>> Come on, get back in your corner.
>> The Undertaker at WrestleMania like a human missile, leaping over the top rope.
Michaels pulling the cameraman in front of The Undertaker, who's in mid-air.
Couldn't make any adjustment.
And The Undertaker went straight down from that height right to the concrete floor.
His skull hitting the concrete.
>> And The Undertaker fighting back.
We've seen it so many times.
The Demon of Death Valley.
>> That [INAUDIBLE] situation WrestleMania could
have been a career ending moment for The Undertaker.
Thank goodness it was not.
>> And a win here tonight could be a career-defining moment for
Shelton Benjamin.
Can you imagine if The Gold Standard were able to beat the preeminent power
that is The Undertaker?
>> Vincent just got to get on a roll.
>> Again we're talking about his physical at some point that's gonna stop buying you
groceries.
>> Vincent's gotta hold that mean streak, maintain a mean streak.
Get that focus embodiment and keep it.
Don't let it get away.
>> And right now Benjamin is showing us just that.
>> Early in this match it looked like Shelton Benjamin was a little intimidated,
perhaps a little bit scared, but right now all the nerves appear to be gone, and
Shelton Benjamin imposing his presence against The Undertaker.
Yes, I said it, look at Shelton Benjamin.
>> This Undertaker has turned from his side to his back,
trying to find a way out of this situation.
But Benjamin has his hands locked, using leverage and strength.
>> Can Benjamin close?
Can he finish?
That's what really separates the pretenders from the contender.
>> It is a very, very rare opportunity for
The Undertaker to have a chink in the armor, in this case his neck.
And when you find that chink, you better, you better make sure you take
advantage of it, as Benjamin walks into his right hand, but retaliates.
>> Is this what Sheldon wants to do?
Does he want to go toe to toe, punch for punch with the Dead Man?
>> I think this is where Benjamin deviates from his game plan.
It's much like Jeff Hardy earlier tonight,
standing in front at of on occasion of The Big Show.
>> Undertaker's of great strength.
That right hands and last, good Lord.
>> My God!
It was there!
>> Benjamin took that chance!
He deviated from his game plan.
Undertaker caught Benjamin, no, no, no!
>> The counter by Shelton Benjamin!
Beautifully executed, a DDT!
It's the Shelton's moment!
Has he done it?
Has he beaten The Undertaker, no!
>> Undertaker gets planted again on his head with an amazing DDT!
Benjamin had the- >> My gosh.
>> Undertaker sitting up, and look at the eyes.
The eyes of the Demon of Death Valley.
>> It's like The Undertaker just realized how serious this threat was.
Benjamin, just an inch away perhaps from beating The Dead Man.
>> Benjamin's gotta re-create that sense of urgency that he had earlier in this
contest.
The Undertaker doesn't give many men second chances.
>> The Gold Standard has given it everything he's got!
But will it be [INAUDIBLE]?
>> Will the Suplex!
[INAUDIBLE] >> How close is that?
>> Undertaker just got so great power and leverage and
technique, the skill it takes to back-Suplex,
a mere 7-footer, a mere 300-pounder, is astonished.
>> I'm always surprised every match at the athleticism that Shelton Benjamin
provides, but there it was all about power.
>> And technique.
>> Getting underneath, and Benjamin may be getting too big for his breaches here.
>> Well, that's a mistake Benjamin again in his-
>> Look at this!
>> As he tried to Tombstone The Undertaker!
>> [CROSSTALK] >> And The Undertaker's power,
big time Tombstone!
>> Tombstone from The Undertaker!
One, two, three!
[SOUND] >> What a match-up!
>> [NOISE] >> The winner of this match,
The Undertaker!
>> I thought it was gonna happen, JR!
I thought Benjamin was gonna do it, and perhaps The Gold Standard would have,
had he not decided to steal a page out of The Undertaker's own playbook.
>> Benjamin sometimes as his own worst enemy, deviating from his game plan.
But then he risked any event how do you non-respect The Phenom, The Undertaker?
Throwing his way back in this match, we know The Undertaker is not 100%.
That was the difference maker.
That's where the match turned for Benjamin.
>> And Shelton Benjamin kept it up, ladies and gentlemen,
with a DDT to The Dead Man, and then like we just saw,
going for the Tombstone, Benjamin did not need to go there.
>> Shelton Benjamin outsmarted himself.
The Undertaker took advantage of the opportunity, and
nobody's gonna get up from a Tombstone that one.
[MUSIC]
>> The Feared Phenom.
>> [APPLAUSE]
>> There's nobody like The Undertaker.
[MUSIC]