WWE Jukebox: November 2004 (part 2)

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And now, the second half….

SHAWN MICHAELS (with Jose Lothario) vs. SYCHO SID (for the WWF world heavyweight title)
January 19, 1997

WWE Preview: In front of more than 60,000 screaming fans, Shawn Michaels tried to pry the WWE Championship away from Sid. With the hometown fans on his side, find out if the Heartbreak Kid can regain the gold.

Michaels had been teasing a heel turn for months leading up to this – but at the last minute the WWF chickened out of the whole thing, and just went back to Michaels as the Super Babyface with Jose at his side. Michaels is battling the flu here, and as he does anytime he’s got an “injury” or otherwise, he hasn’t shaved to accentuate the idea he’s not 100%. Sid is the man during his ring entrance, stopping halfway down to start sniffing the air. “Smell that? That’s the smell of a powerbomb!” As soon as the bell rings, Sid shoves Michaels to the mat. Sid Big! Michaels Small! Michaels gets right back up in Sid’s area with a crossbody that takes him down! A boot to the chest sends Sid sprawling to the outside. Sid plays dead on the floor, so Michaels chases him out – and winds up being sent into the ring apron back first. Sid goes for a gorilla press, but Michaels rakes the eyes to escape and they head back in. Shawn hops up to the top rope, and tries a crossbody, but Sid turns it around in mid-air and slams him! They move to a camel clutch, which Sid works for the better part of a couple of minutes… Too many times Sid drops his weight down on Michaels, and Shawn moves aside on the third try, causing Sid to hit nothing. Sid’s back on Michaels immediately though, and whips Shawn to the corner, where Michaels flips over and to the floor. Battering ram time! Sid sends Michaels back first to the ringpost several times before rolling back in and getting 2. Michaels attempts to hammer his way back into this, but one Sid clothesline stops that. After some posing, he gets 2. Sid works a bearhug, but Michaels escapes with the Clap Behind The Head…for a second. Sid punches Shawn in the kidneys, and puts the hold right back on. After a minute, Michaels succeeds in getting a surprise atomic drop in, but when he bounces off the top rope for a double axehandle, Sid catches him in mid-air and puts the bear hug on again! This time they roll to the mat, and Sid gets a 2 count. A legdrop gets 2. Sid tries a chinlock, but Michaels is quick to escape and scoop slams Sid!!!! The flying jalapeno hits its mark, and Shawn nips up! To the top rope the elbow is dropped, and it’s time to warm up the band!!! Sweet Chin Music is blocked by Sid, and Michaels winds up being backdropped to the floor! Sid’s right behind him, and powerbombs Shawn on the mat! Sid grabs Jose Lothario by the throat, causing PETE LOTHARIO, his son, to jump in from the crowd!! Sid throttles him too – but the referee talks some sense into him and Sid lets go. Back in, Sid whips Shawn into the referee which knocks him cold. Chokeslam!!! No referee. A second ref hits the ring, and Sid gets 2. Sid knocks the new referee out on purpose, and turns to Jose Lothario. During the scrim here, Michaels grabs a TV camera from outside of the ring and hauls it in. The first referee wakes up, and Michaels gets a very close 2 count! Shawn sees victory though, and warms up the band. Sweet Chin Music hits the mark – and that’ll finish Sid off for good at 13:50, giving Michaels the belt back! **1/2 We get an extended celebration after the match, that basically sees Michaels slap hands with everyone in the first 2 rows.

SHAWN MICHAELS (with Triple H, Chyna, and Rick Rude) vs. THE UNDERTAKER (in a non-title hell in a cell match)
October 5, 1997

WWE Preview: The Hell in a Cell Match is one of the most feared matches. It can literally end careers. Watch as HBK and Undertaker compete in the first Hell in a Cell Match ever. This match also marked the first time WWE fans ever saw the Undertaker’s brother Kane.

Hey, a freebie! This match was actually included in the October Jukebox, and I’m not about to redo it again just a couple of weeks later. Instead, here’s my recap:

We cut in with SERGEANT SLAUGHTER looking around the ring for tomfoolery, and coming up bare. Sadly his search with a flashlight under the ring is cut out. Michaels enters carrying his trophy European title and appearing cocky…until the cell lowers and the eerie BONG hits the arena. Once the Undertaker hits the cage, forget it, the seat of Michaels’ pants turn brown. With the cage locked, Hunter provides words of encouragement to his boyfriend – but Michaels is clawing at the door desperate to get out. The bell rings and Undertaker gives Michaels a boot to the face that knocks him out cold 10 seconds in. Perhaps I should explain why Shawn’s scared to death…

Back in August, Michaels accidentally cost The Undertaker his World Title belt in a match against Bret Hart at SummerSlam. He’d been the referee and slammed Taker with a chair meant for Bret. Taker was understandable pissed, and Shawn quickly apologized by forming an alliance with Triple H and spending the next few weeks doing everything in his power to annoy The Undertaker as much as he could. Shawn was a master of his artform and succeeded brilliantly. This led to a match at Ground Zero against Taker, where about 10,000 people interfered and Shawn picked up the victory. In order to prevent such a thing from ever happening again, the two were locked in a cage with a roof and ordered to fight until we have a winner. And that brings us right back to…

…The Undertaker slamming Shawn’s face into the turnbuckle! This goes on for awhile with Shawn bumping around like a pinball until Taker gets bored and goes for a chokeslam! Michaels fights out of it and throws every haymaker he’s got. This flurry continues for about 30 seconds before getting whipped to the corner and having the shit clotheslined out of him. Give us a 2 count! We go for an Old School ropewalk, and Taker chokes out Michaels with his boot to the throat. Scoop slam, big leg drop, but Hulk Hogan he is not and Michaels kicks out at 2. Taker dumps Michaels over the top, and Shawn takes a ropeless back bump to the floor he had no business taking, but did because he’s awesome!!! Michaels thumbs Taker in the eye and tries to scale the cage to safety, but Taker yanks him right back off from the middle and sends him back to the floor on his back again! And you wonder why he retired! Taker whips Shawn into the cage, and on the rebound clotheslines him to the floor! And because it’s so much fun the FIRST time, we do it again! Taker has a big ass grin on his face, and sets up a powerbomb! Shawn hammers away, so Taker runs him back first into the cage and drops him to the floor from there. Figure we’re about 7 minutes in, and Michaels is losing his 9 lives quicker than a cat on a highway. In a spot stolen from Rocky, Taker sets Michaels against the ring and pounds as hard as he can on the ribs. They move into a bearhug position, and Taker starts ramming Michaels repeatedly into the ring and cage posts! Taker’s having an absolute blast kicking the shit out of Shawn, and sets up a battering ram. Michaels slips off the back, so Taker clotheslines him and smashes his face into the steps! Shawn takes an elbow to face, and Taker stands on his throat, looking as casual as someone awaiting a bus. He gets too cocky though, and misses a clothesline charge into the cage – and off the rebound Shawn JUMPS on his and throws as many punches as he can. With Taker temporarily dizzy Michaels dives into the ring for his safety. Taker draws Shawn to the apron where after Michaels gets in a couple of shots, Taker simply gives him a massive jawbreaker over the top rope! He goes to follow…but Shawn throws himself at Taker’s body, knocking him to the outside, and follows with a tope suicida!!!! He quickly scales the cage and drops an elbow on Taker to keep him from getting up, and heads to the apron for a diving clothesline! Sensing his chance, Michaels grabs the steps and starts slamming them into Taker. Lawler: “Those steps weigh at least 150 pounds!” I appreciate the thought… Michaels stands on the bottom steps now, picks up Taker…and gives him a freakin’ SPIKE PILEDRIVER! Unf*ckingbelievable! A heel section of fans start chanting “REST IN PEACE” while Michaels gets back into the ring. He rests for a second but sees Taker recovering, and hits a double axehandle from the apron to floor! They both head in, but Michaels brings with him a chair…causing some noise from the fans remembering SummerSlam! Nice payoff. Michaels slams Taker in the back while the referee pleads for him to stop. Having done the damage, Michaels whips the chair into the cage, goes for the pin…but Taker is out at 2. I can’t believe the fans even bought that nearfall. Taker starts his comeback, coming punch for punch with Shawn, but Michaels is able to tie him up in the ropes crucifix style! However, off the charge, Taker escapes and backdrops Michaels to the outside and on top of a camera man. Michaels is shaken…but suddenly gets an idea, and beats the crap out of the camera man! He throws him face first onto a chair, while JR shakes about the impending lawsuit coming this way from the camera man. The guys remaining in the cage call for some medical help because he’s not moving. Meanwhile, back in the ring, Michaels hits a forearm on Taker and nips up! Slaughter comes back to ringside to get the cage open for the camera man while Michaels hits the flying elbow off the top! Michaels wants this over with and warms up the band. Taker slowly stands, and walks right into SWEET CHIN MUSIC! Michaels can’t even go for a cover before Taker sits up, and Michaels has had QUITE ENOUGH of this and goes running to the outside – through the open door he created when he took out the camera man.

The action spills out to the floor with Taker following. A dropkick is shrugged off, and Taker catapults Shawn into the cage! Here comes the juice!!! Blood starts pouring from his head, and Taker does him no favors by punching him in the face, and using him as a battering ram into the cage a couple of times! Taker wants to continue, but Shawn kicks him in the nuts and decides the only place he can go to safety is up!

Now on top of the cell, The Undertaker looks up and is right behind him. Michaels desperately tries to piledriver Taker the second he arrives, but he’s backdropped. An eerie shot sees Taker grate Michaels’ face on the top of the cage while blood drips down onto the camera below! Michaels takes a press slam, and the whole cage starts to look like it’s breaking. Michaels figures he’s taken enough and starts heading down. Taker isn’t done though, and grabs him by the hair – then tosses him off the side THROUGH the announce table at ringside!!!!! JR: “MAH GAWD! HE MAY BE BROKEN IN HALF!” Shawn’s scraped off the floor like the Coyote after falling off a cliff – and Undertaker starts his descent.

Back on the floor, Michaels is thrown into the Spanish announce table – and then back into the wreckage of the US table! Vince gives us replays of what we’ve just seen while they fight back into the cage. His face is very literally the crimson mask we hear so much about, and Taker runs him right over with a clothesline in the ring while we take a look at it. Michaels is put on the top rope…and takes a chokeslam off it!!!! A pool of blood starts forming underneath Michaels while Taker goes and gets the chair! The fans start to wake up in a HUGE way, because justice will be served. And sure enough, it is, with Michaels taking a shot RIGHT between the eyes!!! JR: “PAYBACK’S A BITCH!” And you can figure that’s it…except the lights go out, and some unfamiliar organ music hits! The arena turns red, and next thing you know PAUL BEARER and SOME GUY IN A MASK head to the ringside area! Vince: “THAT’S GOTTA BE…THAT’S GOTTA BE KANE! THAT’S GOTTA BE KANE!!!!” And indeed it is, as Kane rips the cell door RIGHT off its hinges and throws the referee away. Into the ring, Kane stands face to face with The Undertaker. Taker’s eyes grow winder than watermelons while he stares this man in the face. Kane lights the turnbuckles on fire while causes Undertaker a distraction…and Kane spins him around RIGHT into a tombstone!!! His task completed, Kane and Bearer start to the back to a very loud chorus of boos.

Oh yes, and in the ring? Michaels rolls over and drops his arm over Taker. Hebner enters and does his patented slow 3 count, and Michaels win again at 29:59! ***** Michaels simply lies in a pool of red while he’s announced as the winner. Triple H, Chyna, and Rude rush to ringside to haul Michaels’ ass out of there before Taker can wake up. Hunter holds Shawn’s arm high in the air, as the bloody unconscious European champion is dragged out of the arena.

SHAWN MICHAELS vs. BRET HART (for the WWF world heavyweight title)
November 9, 1997

WWE Preview: This match is undoubtedly the most controversial match in the history of sports-entertainment, and the effects of its outcome are still felt today. Find out what all the talk is about in this classic Survivor Series encounter.

We open with Shawn in the back, headed out towards the arena with D-GENERATION X, though they don’t accompany him to ringside. He hauls a Canadian flag with him, and proceeds to wipe his ass and nose with it…before laying it down and humping it on the mat. Now THAT’S funny, though I bet you’ll never see a similar stunt attempted in the States.

From there we cue Bret and THE HART FOUNDATION in the back seeking the entrance way – and Shawn’s theatrics have ensured Bret gets a pop that blows the roof off. There was a fear they’d react poorly since the WCW news was out – but things were okay…for now. Though just watching it, you can feel the tension all the way around.

Michaels rushes the ring to attack Bret with his back turned – but Bret quickly turns it around and pounds Shawn down on the mat. A clothesline sends Shawn over the top rope and to the floor – and Bret quickly posts him. EARL HEBNER tries to maintain control and get it officially started, but he can’t until they settle down and take it to the ring. Bret tosses Shawn into the crowd, and pummels him amongst the sea of Canadians. Bret runs him face first to the guardrail and throws him back to ringside. SERGEANT SLAUGHTER has headed down to ringside, and strangely enough so has VINCE MCMAHON. Of course, Vince’s presence doesn’t really make a lot of sense since until this point he’d been an announcer, and had been MIA that evening until just now. Shawn chokes Bret out with camera cables, and then throws him back into the crowd. He attempts a piledriver, but Bret winds up backdropping Shawn back over the guardrail and to ringside. Bret follows that with a boot to the netherregions. Lawler: “What does Vince think he’s doing out here?” Michaels takes a backdrop on the concrete, and that’s followed by a vertical suplex. EVERY REFEREE in the company has now surrounded these two, trying to regain order – and for no apparent reason, Shawn suddenly flies and decks PAT PATTERSON. JR mentions that this looks like the locker room in Hartford, which is just a tad insider… The fight goes to the back where Bret launches Michaels onto the concrete again, and pastes him with a fire extinguisher. Vince: “Get in the ring!!!” Jack Doan gets in Bret’s face, and winds up getting knocked out. Vince continues to scream at Bret, and Bret looks ready to strike to a surprisingly loud pop. He remains cool though, and doesn’t do anything. The fight finally spills back to ringside where Bret rolls Shawn into the ring, and the bell rings to start it!

Bret grabs a nearby Quebec flag and chokes out Shawn with it in the middle of the ring. When Shawn starts to pass out, Bret releases and drops a leg. An inverted atomic drop sees Michaels drop hard, but he manages to come right back with a flying jalapeno and nip up. Shawn kicks Bret in the face a couple of times, and takes his turn to choke out his opponent with the Quebec flag. Shawn dumps Bret to the outside and pastes him with a couple of rights. Michaels moves the top portion of ringsteps aside, and stands on the bottom portion so that he can faceplant Bret on it. The Canadian flag is broken so that Shawn can grab the pole, and he drives it into Bret. Back in, Michaels hits a double axehandle off the top, and takes him down with a front facelock. Bret manages to fight to his feet, and escape. With Shawn temporarily down, Bret drops an elbow to Michaels’ leg, but Shawn kicks and fights Bret away. Shawn rakes the eyes of Bret, and delivers a scoop slam. He heads up, tries a top rope crossbody, but Bret rolls through and gets 2. To the corner, Bret wraps Shawn’s legs around the ringpost, and puts on the figure four!!! Michaels squeals in pain, and Bret breaks at 4. Back in, Bret drops all his weight down on Shawn’s leg across the bottom rope. Dead center, Bret puts on the figure four, and Shawn fights like crazy to keep from tapping! Michaels manages to roll it over after about 30 seconds in the move, and Bret has to scramble to get to the ropes, which he does fairly easily. Bret whips Shawn to the corner, and off the rebound hits a Russian legsweep for 2! Bret headbutts Michaels in the midsection, and delivers a vertical suplex for 2. The backbreaker hits, and Bret heads up for the double axehandle…only Shawn pulls the referee into the way, and he’s out! Michaels rakes the eyes, and goes to put Bret in the Sharpshooter. Hebner recovers in record time by referee standards and suddenly calls for the bell at 12:22. **1/2 Listening, of course Vince had called for Hebner to “ring the f*cking bell”. TRIPLE H rushes down to ringside with GERALD BRISCO, both of whom rush Shawn out of the building, and the PPV goes off the air immediately.

THE MIDNIGHT ROCKERS vs. BUDDY ROSE and DOUG SOMERS (with Sherri Martel) (for the AWA world tag-team titles)
September 2, 1986

WWE Preview: For the first time in WWE Jukebox history, an AWA match is made available with this Tag Team Championship Match pitting Shawn Michaels and Marty Jannetty against champions Buddy Rogers and Doug Somers. You are not going to want to miss this graphic blood bath.

I don’t know how the WWE site could confuse Playboy Buddy Rose with Nature Boy Buddy Rogers, but by god – they did it! Michaels is all of 20 years old at this point. Rose and Michaels start, and Michaels gets an early rollup for 2. Rose tries a backdrop, but it fails, and Michaels sneaks in a victory roll for another 2. Somers tries to talk some sense into the very off balance Rose, but he immediately winds up eating Sweet Chin Music for 2. Somers has enough, and drags Michaels face first to the buckle, and sends him to the floor. Jannetty runs over to help his partner before they get counted out, and succeeds in helping Shawn back in, who’s been busted open with his fall on the floor. Somers boots Michaels in the face, and hammers at the open wound. Rose sneaks in some shots when the referee is busy with Jannetty, and then officially tags himself in. Rose jumps on Michaels, and punches away at the face. Somers re-enters, and teases Jannetty by holding Michaels up by the hair – then drops an elbow on his face. Michaels throws a haymaker to the midsection of Somers, but it’s not enough to send him off, and Somers continues to punch away. Rose again gets in a couple of freebies on the apron. Somers backdrops Michaels, and drops an elbow for 2. Michaels staggers to his feet, and throws a right hand that causes Somers to fall, but before the tag is made Somers cuts him off. Michaels is sent to the floor, and Jannetty has enough – attacking Somers from behind. That’s quickly broken up. Rose enters while Michaels lies on the concrete floor, trying to get up. He gets back in before the 10 count, and fights off Rose – only to be faced with Somers. A series of rights and boots sends Somers to the ground, so Somers rakes the eyes to keep Shawn from tagging. Michaels isn’t going to be phased by that though, and continues to fight – and makes the tag! Jannetty is a house of fire, and backdrops Somers! A right sends Rose to his ass, and a whip sends Somers rushing hard to the buckle. Sherri gets to the apron, and Jannetty grabs her by the hair! Rose is all over him, and knocks him quickly back into the ring. Rose sends Jannetty face first to the buckle, and pounds away. Michaels tries to get involved, but the ref sends him back to the corner. Rose bites at the face of Jannetty, and Marty falls to the mat hard. Marty’s face pretty much explodes, because blood is all over the place. Somers dropkicks Jannetty in the face to make things worse, and gets 2. Jannetty fights, but misses with a huge punch and falls. He continues to blindly throw punches around, and succeeds in knocking Rose down. In retaliation for his wound, Jannetty pounces on Rose, and bites at him. Rose punches him off…sending Jannetty flying into Michaels! Shawn immediately jumps on Rose in the corner, and just pounds on him in the corner. Jannetty works a headlock on Somers, and the referee gets knocked out in the melee. Rose and Jannetty get knocked to the outside, and Rose gives Marty a gutbuster on a chair. In the ring, Michaels works over Somers – and another referee gets involved. Somers tosses this new one aside, and the original one wakes up to throw the whole mess out at 16:09! **1/4 The champs destroy the referees before turning their attention to the Rockers. SOME OF THE LOCKER ROOM exits to save the challengers. Rose and Somers immediately head to the back to escape any attacks, but Michaels isn’t done – and jumps on Rose! Somers pulls him off, grabs Sherri, and quickly heads to the back for good. Coolest part of the whole thing: Michaels’ blood smeared over the camera lens.

SHAWN MICHAELS vs. TRIPLE H (in a street fight)
August 25, 2002

WWE Preview: Shawn Michaels and Triple H will always be linked as founding members of D-Generation X, but on this night they were bitter enemies and it showed in their attempt to destroy each other in this battle. Blood poured from the skulls of both Superstars in this instant classic that stole the show on this hot August night.

I initially recapped this one right after SummerSlam aired – but since it’s been some two and a half years and the initial buzz from Shawn’s return has worn off a little, I’d like to see if this is still the classic I believed it to be. Michaels attacks Hunter before the bell, and takes him right down while continuing to hammer in the rights. Hunter comes back with a shoulderblock, but winds up getting tossed to the outside moments later. A slingshot plancha takes Hunter down, and Michaels sends Triple H face first to the ringpost! A clothesline keeps Triple H down long enough for Michaels to go digging under the ring, and he comes up with a trashcan. With Hunter in the ring now, Michaels delivers a blow with the trashcan lid – and skins the cat to re-enter the ring to a pop! A full on trashcan shot takes Hunter down, and that’s followed by a double axehandle off the top! Shawn wants this one over with in just 3 minutes, and starts to warm up the band. Sweet Chin Music misses the mark, and Triple H hits a backbreaker which Shawn sells like death. A second one draws some great heat, because we had been told for years that Michaels’ back could snap like a twig at anytime – and even in the buildup Shawn had been making vague hints he wasn’t 100%. Hunter whips Michaels back first to the turnbuckle a couple of times, and with Shawn begging for mercy, Triple H gives him a “SUCK IT” for old times sake! Elbows are dropped on the back, and Triple H decides to take it up a notch with a chair. It’s slammed into Shawn’s back repeatedly, drawing a 2 count. Triple H tries to continue the assault, but Michaels gets in a surprise rollup for 2! That won’t continue though, because Triple H nails a facebuster, and then DDT’s Shawn face first on the chair! It only gets 2, but the juice has started flowing from Michaels. Triple H rips the belt straight off of Michaels’ waist, and starts whipping Shawn. When that grows old, Hunter wraps the belt around his hands, and with the belt buckle on the outside, he punches Shawn in the face – further opening up the wound. Triple H starts running circles around the ring, desperately seeking something from under the ring, and eventually comes up with a sledgehammer! EARL HEBNER shits a brick, and tries to stop Triple H – but it’s all legal. Michaels avoids a beating, by firing off shots with everything he’s got – getting Triple H to drop the sledge, but he winds up whipped back first to the buckle seconds later, and caught in an abdominal stretch! JR begs Michaels to submit before winding up with permanent back damage. Since there are no rules, Triple H uses the ropes for leverage right in front of Earl, but Hebner’s had enough and starts to shove him around. He and Hunter scream at eachother for about 30 seconds, and Triple H actually backs down. Michaels and Triple H wind up on the top rope – and Michaels actually fights Triple H off, only for Hunter to shove Hebner to the ropes, causing Michaels to be crotched and fall into a tree of woe. Triple H, ever the gentleman, slams the chair into Michaels’ exposed back. Middle of the ring, Triple H sets up the chair, and gives Shawn a backbreaker THROUGH the chair, actually drawing a “HOLY SHIT” chant! Michaels still continues to kick out at 2! JR: “It may be his last match, but he isn’t giving up!” Triple H gives Shawn a side slam on the chair. “Fast count him Earl!” Shawn won’t give though, and kicks out at 2. Triple H tries numerous covers, but it ain’t happening. “HBK” chant. Triple H decides to put the cherry on top with a Pedigree on the chair, only Michaels drops down before the move and delivers a lowblow!!! Hunter staggers to his feet and grabs the chair – but Michaels fires off Sweet Chin Music onto the chair and into Hunter’s face! Now Triple H is bleeding, and it’s a gusher! He and Hunter start to trade punches, but Michaels wins with a flying jalapeno, and immediately nips up to a MASSIVE pop!!! Backdrop to the chair! Chairshot to the face! HBK is alive tonight! Michaels dumps Triple H to the outside and smacks him with a trashcan lid between the eyes! Turning briefly to the bible, Shawn remembers a verse from the book of Deuteronomy which says “Revenge Is Sweet”, and starts whipping Triple H with the belt. Or perhaps I made that up. Once his hide is properly tanned, Michaels smacks Hunter around with the trashcan, starting a “WE WANT TABLES” chant somehow. Instead, Michaels grabs the shoe of HUGO SAVINOVICH and pastes Triple H across the forehead! Triple H staggers away, but Michaels comes flying in with a running bulldog, smearing Hunter’s face across the ringsteps as he sails by! Under the ring Shawn goes digging and comes up with a ladder. It’s promptly used not for climbing, but beating, in the form of a battering ram. Michaels sets it up against the ringpost, and catapults Triple H into the ladder. They head back in, and JR squeals like a schoolgirl when Michaels tries a pinfall. It only gets 2. Michaels heads back out to get the ladder, but on his way in he’s met with a baseball slide dropkick! Back in, Hunter heads up, but Michaels manages to cut him off and nail a superplex for 2! A rollup gets 2! Triple H finally has enough, and hits a running knee strike to the face of Michaels, and heads outside. Triple H decides the ringsteps are sadistic enough, and brings them in, only to be hit with a drop toe hold, sending Hunter face first to the steel! Michaels clotheslines Hunter to the outside, and grabs a table to another big pop! It’s set up, and Michaels ensures that Hunter’s gonna remain knocked out by slamming a fire hydrant over his head!!! With Hunter on the table outside the ring, Michaels heads back in…and leaps off the top turnbuckle, delivering a splash through the table!!! Everyone’s dead! Fire up another “HOLY SHIT” chant from the fans! Michaels rolls Hunter back in, and sets up the ladder near the corner. Shawn makes the long climb to the top, tells everyone that he loves us, and drops an elbow off the top! The adrenaline is flowing like you wouldn’t believe now, and it’s time to warm up the band!!! Hunter blocks the shot, goes for the Pedigree, but Michaels manages to trip him up, bridge back, and scores the massive upset pin at 27:20!!! ****3/4 Still as good as I remember it! Michaels celebrates the victory, and the Jukebox decides to cut out before we get the sledgehammer to the back, and Triple H drawing more heat than a furnace on full blast.

SHAWN MICHAELS vs. CHRIS JERICHO
March 30, 2003

WWE Preview: Growing up, Chris Jericho idolized Shawn Michaels. He even attempted to pattern his wrestling career after HBK. But at WrestleMania XIX, the two charismatic Superstars were battling for each other’s respect.

I recall really liking this one the first time out, so we’ll see if it holds up. Michaels fires confetti cannons on the way to the ring, half of which don’t work – but since this is New Millennium Shawn, he doesn’t flip out. We start the match with an “HBK” chant, which Shawn naturally encourages. They trade armdrag takedowns, but Shawn’s not at all impressed with what he sees – and lies down on the top rope hammock style. That serves to piss Jericho off, and he tries a hammerlock. Shawn easily reverses. They continue to trade wrestling holds, all of which Michaels is able to beat Jericho with. Chris finally has enough and bitchslaps Shawn, but Michaels quickly decks Jericho and tosses him outside. Michaels starts a slingshot plancha, but Jericho sidesteps to show us how smart he is…completely missing Shawn’s oncoming baseball slide dropkick. Back in, Michaels hits a top rope crossbody which Jericho rolls through and gets 2. The chops finally start via Jericho. Jericho’s running bulldog is blocked when Michaels tosses him through the momentum crotch first against the ringpost! Michaels applies a Figure Four, but Jericho quickly reverses. Shawn hits a single leg atomic drop, but again Chris is able to shrug it off and shove Michaels to the corner. Jericho tries to dump Michaels, but he skins the cat and catches Jericho with a rana OVER the top rope to the outside! That’s followed by the slingshot plancha, and Jericho’s hurting. A dropkick from Michaels gets swatted away, and Jericho puts on the Walls Of Jericho! CHARLES ROBINSON isn’t putting up with it though, and starts his 10 count – and Jericho’s back in at 9. Robinson: “Stay in the ring!” Of course he doesn’t, and slams Michaels back first to the ringpost outside! That’s met with some loud heat from the fans, and Jericho dances. Michaels slowly climbs back to the apron, and walks into a springboard dropkick from Jericho, sending him RIGHT back out again! Jericho hauls Michaels back in, and hits a backdrop suplex. “I’M BETTER THAN YOU!” A vertical suplex gets 2. A running backbreaker is followed with the Arrogant Cover, and again the fans are NOT thrilled with Jericho’s antics while Chris gets 2. He starts working a chinlock, and when Shawn tries to escape, Jericho rakes the eyes. Jericho goes for a double leg slam…but Michaels shifts in mid air and connects with a DDT! Jericho comes back with a flying jalapeno, and nips up!!! While posing like Shawn, the real deal nips up and hits Jericho with an atomic drop! A backdrop works, and a moonsault gets 2! They start rolling back and forth with pin attempts, but eventually Jericho rolls all the way through into the Walls. Michaels uses his leg strength to shove Jericho off, but can’t avoid a Northern lights suplex which gets 2 for Jericho. The running bulldog works this time, and the Lionsault hits the mark, getting 2!! Michaels tries to come back with a rana, but Jericho simply folds him up into the Walls Of Jericho, dead center of the ring! Michaels crawls and scratches to the ropes, and makes it! Jericho opts for a double underhook backbreaker, and follows with a back elbow off the top rope to ground Shawn. And now the fun begins, because Jericho’s decided to warm up the band. Sweet Chin Music hits…but Michaels kicks out at 2!!! Michaels immediately comes back with a flying crossbody off the second rope, much to the surprise of Jericho. A catapult sends Chris face first to the corner, and a schoolboy gets 2! Jericho regains control by ducking a clothesline and delivering a kidney shot, and they head up to the top rope together. Jericho’s belly to back superplex is countered in mid air with a crossbody for 2! Michaels then slowly makes the climb back up, and with no strength left Jericho shoves the referee with his boot, causing Robinson to hit the ropes and crotch Shawn!!! Jericho plays innocent, heads up, but Michaels sends Jericho crashing back down with a faceplant! Now he hits the elbow, and warms up the band!!! Sweet Chin Music MISSES, and Jericho puts Shawn into the Walls for a third time now, again in the middle of the ring!!! Michaels starts his crawling, but Jericho drags him right back out to the middle again! A second crawl sends Michaels to safety, and Jericho nearly bursts into tears and starts pleading with Robinson. “He tapped out! I know he tapped out!!!” Jericho turns back to his opponent, only to eat Sweet Chin Music!!! Michaels covers…but only gets 2!!!! Both guys are running out of gas. They slowly stand, and slug it out in the corner. A whip sends Michaels hard to the corner, but a backdrop fails and Michaels rolls up Jericho for the win out of nowhere at 22:31! ***3/4 Jericho’s in tears, and when Michaels offers his hand, Jericho collapses into his arms, and they share a manly tender moment…until Jericho boots Michaels in the testicles, and walks to the back with a pissed off look on his face. Now THAT’S class!

SHAWN MICHAELS vs. TRIPLE H vs. CHRIS BENOIT (for the world heavyweight title)
March 14, 2004

WWE Preview: WrestleMania XX was when it all began…again. On this night, however, it was when Triple H’s World Heavyweight Championship reign ended. Watch this WrestleMania main event to find out who emerged as the new Champion.

This one’s another freebie, since I just covered it in my Hard Knocks: The Chris Benoit Story recap about 4 months ago. Here’s my recap of this one:

And now the main event to end all main events, we culminate at Wrestlemania XX. Unfortunately the crowd is a little drained from FIVE HOURS of action leading up to this – and we can only hope the WWE learned that once in awhile Less Is More. Triple H’s entrance gives me goosebumps here. Everyone shoves each other around to start, with the basic fight being between Shawn and Benoit for the right to beat up on Hunter. Benoit tries a Crossface, but it’s WAY too early and they wind up chopping each other. Triple H gets dumped in the mess, while Benoit and Shawn chain wrestle. Chris bridges out of a pinfall attempt, but gets cradled for 2. Benoit comes back with a bridge suplex for 2. Hunter gets involved with Benoit down and clotheslines Shawn to take control of the ring. He tries to dump Shawn, but Michaels skins the cat and dumps Benoit. Triple H and Shawn start their fighting, and Michaels chops away. Hunter gets a running kneelift for 2. Benoit tries to re-enter the fray, but gets dumped back out and powered back first to the apron by Triple H. Shawn gives them both a baseball slide dropkick for ignoring him. Up he goes…and hits a moonsault on both guys! Shawn opts to roll Hunter into the ring, and gets 2. Triple H hits a facebuster, goes for a Pedigree…but it’s stopped by Benoit via a clothesline – and Shawn gets posted. Chris delivers a snap suplex to Triple H, and chops away in the corner while JR makes it clear to those at home that Benoit’s really from Atlanta and certainly not Canada. Hunter hangs Benoit in the tree of woe and whips Shawn into him, taking them both out. Now that’s using your head! A cover on Shawn gets 2. Michaels reverses a second whip – and Benoit kicks Hunter in the head giving Shawn a 2 count. Michaels delivers the flying Jalapeno to Triple H – nips up, and gets clotheslined outside by Benoit! Triple H stands, and meets the trifecta of Germans from Benoit! Chris calls for the end, and heads to the top. Michaels flies back in to the ring to crotch Benoit on top – and Hunter DDTs Shawn sending him back outside. Benoit and Triple H fight on the top rope, and Hunter wins this exchange via superplex! Three successive covers get three successive 2 counts. Chris fights back, and applies the Crossface! It doesn’t last, because Shawn’s back in and breaks it up. Shawn now hits a German on Benoit to BOOS – and when Benoit reverses, the place goes nuts! Three in a row for Shawn, and it’s the thumb to the throat! The flying headbutt CONNECTS, Benoit covers…and gets a close 2! Benoit tries another cover to similar results. Michaels comes back with a flying Jalapeno for Benoit, sending him outside. Shawn nips up again, slams the recovering Hunter, and heads up. The flying elbow is good – and Michaels dances around the ring to a LOT of boos now. The band is warmed up…and nails the mark!!! Shawn covers, and Benoit yanks Hunter right out of the ring to save him. The fans start chanting for Benoit as Shawn lays in the chops. Chris tries a Sharpshooter, but Shawn’s too wiggly, so Benoit catapults him into the corner which busts him right open. Shawn likes tapping those arteries methinks. Benoit applies the Crossface, and Michaels goes to quit…but Hunter grabs Shawn’s arm and won’t let him tap!!! Triple H breaks the hold and forces Benoit out to the floor. Benoit’s violence isn’t done though, and he beats the piss out of Hunter on the floor, slamming him face first into the steps. Triple H returns the favor seconds later. With Benoit down, Triple H rips apart the Smackdown! announce table to a loud pop. Benoit recovers, and they rip apart the Spanish announce table. While on it, Chris tries to give Hunter a German onto the RAW table – but Triple H blocks and Shawn joins the mess! Speaking of messes, the blood is all over Shawn’s body now. Shawn and Triple H eye each other…and team up to throw Benoit through the Smackdown! table. Shawn points to Hunter through a legit crimson mask – and calls him out! Triple H gets into the ring, and the fist flying begins! Shawn wins the exchange, and dumps Hunter over the top on top of a nearby camera man! Michaels follows and throws Triple H into the ringsteps…drawing bloody from him! They fight back in…and out of nowhere, Triple H hits the Pedigree, drawing the ire of some 20,000 folks! He goes for the cover…and Benoit comes FLYING back in to break it up!!! Hunter, losing blood now, slowly gets to his feet – and tries to Pedigree Benoit! However, in mid-move, Benoit counters and applies the Sharpshooter!!!!!!!! Triple H SCREAMS for dear life while trapped in the hold and the fans are going ape shit! Hunter crawls and claws his way to the ropes…and Benoit drags him right back in to the middle of the ring! Michaels scoots back in and out of the picture, he hits Benoit with the Sweet Chin Music!!!!! Michaels covers…but it’s only a 2 count!!!! Shawn warms up the band again, but Benoit sidesteps and dumps Shawn!!! Triple H stands up, behind Benoit, and tries to sneak in a Pedigree! However, Benoit counters it in mid-move and puts on the Crossface!!!!!!! The place is going insane, because they can feel it now!!! Hunter hangs on for dear life, but he’s caught and caught hard! Benoit rolls when Hunter gets close to the ropes, and yanks him back to the middle of the ring!!! Hunter hangs on, hangs on….AND TAPS AT 24:46!!!!!!!! ***** “Ladies and gentlemen…the winner of this match…and NEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEWWW HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION OF THE WORLD…. CHRIS BENOIT!” The belt is presented to Benoit who takes one look at it and bursts into tears. As he celebrates, he turns and sees EDDIE GUERRERO standing behind him. The two just fall in to each other’s arms, and burst into tears as confetti falls throughout the arena over the two longtime friends and the fans give them a non-stop standing ovation.

SHAWN MICHAELS vs. RIC FLAIR
June 15, 2003

WWE Preview: Two future Hall of Famers square off in this Bad Blood match, as Shawn Michaels and Ric Flair go one-on-one. Find out which legendary competitor had the upper hand on this night.

This was an interesting feud taking place during a not-so-interesting time… Basically, Shawn Michaels let Flair know that he was his biggest fan, and nearly succeeded in turning Flair against Hunter. Of course, it ultimately failed, as most people do who try to screw with Triple H – and this match was born.

During the entrances, Lawler notes that nobody dominated the 90’s quite like Shawn Michaels… I’d argue that nobody dominated 1996 quite like Michaels, but I’d leave the rest of the decade up for some serious debate! They start with some chain wrestling, and a stalemate leaves Flair strutting. Michaels takes Flair down, and dances on his back, just to show him that he’s not the ONLY arrogant star in down. Flair’s not impressed and takes Michaels down. However, Michaels is quick to ride Flair, and upon standing he slaps him. Flair charges in anger, and winds up in a drop toe hold. A clothesline sends Flair crashing to the floor, and Michaels quickly follows with a slingshot plancha. Back in, Michaels works a headlock, but Flair escapes and starts the chops! Michaels fires right back with his own. Flair rushes in with a chop block, and that immediately turns the tide. With Michaels hurting, Flair makes it worse by dropping a knee on Michaels’ leg. The Figure Four is applied, and Michaels writhes in pain! He spends about a minute fighting it before finally making the ropes – and Flair’s so upset he gets into a shoving match with EARL HEBNER. He refocuses though, and goes to the leg…only to see Michaels hit an enzuigiri! Michaels delivers a backdrop to Flair, and follows with a blind charge to the corner – but Flair gets an elbow. Flair quickly heads up, and you can imagine how well THAT goes. With Michaels now back in control, he goes for Sweet Chin Music – but Flair blocks and takes Michaels down! He goes in, but Michaels rolls him up for 2! Michaels then does what every opponent of Flair MUST do, putting Ric in the Figure Four. Flair’s too smart for that though, and delivers a thumb to the eye of Michaels. They go through a series of counter roll ups, all of which get 2 counts. Flair goes up a second time – and this time he makes it off on his own, but Michaels clotheslines him on the way down! They head back up where Michaels superplexes Flair off the top, and Michaels rolls out. Shawn goes digging under the ring and comes up with a table. Outside, Michaels sets Flair up on the table, and from the corner of his eye catches RANDY ORTON hitting ringside and charging! Before Randy can strike, he walks right into Sweet Chin Music! Michaels then goes up to the top rope and splashes Flair through the table – busting Flair’s BACK open! Ow! Back in, Michaels gets a 2 count. They battle into the corner, and when the referee tries to break it up – both Michaels AND the referee take a lowblow courtesy of a mule kick! Michaels is quick to recover, hits the flying jalapeno and nips up! With a scoop slam, he heads up to the top, and drops his trademark elbow. Shawn warms up the band, NAILS Sweet Chin Music, turns, and meets a chair from Randy Orton right across the skull!!!! Randy drapes Flair over Michaels, wakes up the referee who has been passed out ever since the Flair lowblow, and Flair scores the win at 14:19!!! **3/4

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