SURVIVOR SERIES PRESS CONFERENCE

LOCATION: Radio City Music Hall, New York City DATE: November 4, 2000 MODERATOR: Joe Rogan

The stage was a powder keg. On the left, the Wrestling Elite: Hogan, The Rock, Triple H, and Ted DiBiase. On the right, the Boxing Syndicate: Butterbean, Oscar De La Hoya, and legendary promoters Bob Arum and Don King. In the center sat the Chairman, Vince McMahon, looking bruised but defiant after his Extreme Rules loss.

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[[ THE MEDIA Q&A ]]

REPORTER (ESPN): “Vince, the fans are confused. You’ve announced a ‘5-on-5 WarGames’ match between the Pro-Wrestlers and the Boxers. This isn’t the sanitized version we see in the magazines. What are the rules for this ‘Indie-Style’ WarGames?”

VINCE MCMAHON: (Grinning) “It’s simple. Two rings. One cage. No escape. We’re going back to the blood and guts of the American Indie circuit. Two men start; every two minutes, a new combatant enters. The ‘Match Beyond’ only begins when all ten men are in. No pinfalls. No count-outs. You win by Submission or Surrender. If a boxer wants to stay in his world, he’d better learn how to breathe while he’s being choked out.”

REPORTER (Yahoo Sports): “Don King, you’ve called Pro-Wrestling a ‘circus.’ Why put your fighters in a cage against 300-pound grapplers?”

DON KING: “It’s a symphony of pugilistic excellence, my friend! My boys have the ‘Touch of Death’ in their gloves! One punch from the ‘King of the 4-Rounders’ Butterbean, and these ‘superstars’ will be sleeping in the hospital! We are here to reclaim the dignity of the combat arts!”

REPORTER (Bleacher Report): “Ted DiBiase, you’ve forced Hogan into a corner. What happens if he chooses to fight for the UWC title first? Are you prepared to fight a man who is already half-dead?”

TED DIBIASE: (Laughing) “Prepared? I’ve been praying for it! Hogan’s ego is his greatest weakness. He wants the ‘Holy Grail’ UWC belt, but he knows he has to face me to keep his flag. I don’t care if he’s fresh or if he’s crawling—the USA title is coming to the Million Dollar Corporation.”

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[[ THE COMMOTION: THE “STREET” INTERRUPTS ]]

Just as the Rock began to speak, the heavy oak doors at the back of the hall kicked open. The room went silent as three figures marched down the aisle, bypassing security: Ken Masters, Guile, and Zangief.

KEN MASTERS: (Shouting over the boos) “Look at this stage! A bunch of ‘Superstars’ and ‘Prize Fighters’ talking about who is the best! The truth is, the Wrestlers have been ducking the Street Fighters since day one! You guys are scared of the real grind!”

TRIPLE H: (Leaning into the mic) “Ducking you? Ken, your ‘golden boy’ Ryu barely survived fifteen minutes with a Top 30 guy in the British Bulldog. He left the ring looking like he’d been through a meat grinder! And your ‘King of Muay Thai’ Sagat? He got absolutely demolished by the Big Show. You guys aren’t fighters—you’re highlight reels.”

GUILE: “Keep talking, Hunter. While you were busy playing family politics, we were training in the trenches. We don’t need a cage; we just need a target.”

ZANGIEF: (Slamming his fist on the podium, nearly breaking it) “You call this ‘War’? I wrestle bears for breakfast! If the wrestlers and the boxers want to play games, the Red Cyclone will spin you all into the dirt!”

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[[ THE REACTIONS: BOXERS VS. STREET FIGHTERS ]]

• THE BOXERS: Oscar De La Hoya looked unimpressed, checking his watch, while Butterbean stood up, daring Zangief to step onto the stage. Don King was seen frantically talking to Bob Arum—likely calculating the pay-per-view buy-rate of a three-way war.

• THE WRESTLERS: The Rock removed his sunglasses, giving Ken the “People’s Eyebrow,” while Kurt Angle stared at Guile with Olympic-level intensity, clearly offended by the “street fighter” label.

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[[ HOGAN’S DECISION ]]

The room reached a deafening roar until Hulk Hogan stood up. He didn’t need a microphone; his voice boomed over the chaos. He pointed a finger at Kurt Angle, then at Ted DiBiase.

HULK HOGAN: “Enough! I’ve heard the Million Dollar Man’s threats, I’ve heard the Street Fighters’ bickering, and I’ve seen the Boxers’ arrogance! I’m the #1 P4P for a reason, brother!

Here is my decision: At Survivor Series, I am going after the Holy Grail! I will fight Kurt Angle for the Vacant UWC Title in the middle of the night! And after I win that ‘Holy Grail,’ I’m not going to the locker room. I’m staying right in that ring to defend the USA Title against Ted DiBiase! I’m going to the World Cup as a Dual Champion, or I’m not going at all!”

The room exploded. Hogan had chosen the hardest path possible—two back-to-back fights against the world’s most dangerous technician and the world’s richest strategist.

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[[ ADMIN_NEIL NOTE: Hogan just bet his entire legacy on a single night. If he loses to Angle, he enters the DiBiase match without a belt and without his pride. And we still haven’t heard from Steven Seagal… ]]