- 5 weeks ago
12/9/2025: Happy birthday to Kurt Angle.
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00:00We're going to see what should be a classic, a classic, no doubt about it.
00:04It will be Ross Shawn Michaels meeting SmackDown's Kurt Angle.
00:10A rivalry between two of the WWE's biggest icons that started at the Royal Rumble.
00:24Whoa!
00:25Kurt Angle, here we go!
00:26Angle is suplexing the world!
00:28Look at Kurt Angle!
00:30Uh-oh!
00:31Oh, yeah!
00:32It's blocked!
00:33Blocked and ankle locked!
00:34Ankle locked!
00:34I'm going to try to make your music.
00:36Oh!
00:36That's gone!
00:37Oh!
00:38Angle's out!
00:38God!
00:39Angle's crashed to be in the main event, and WrestleMania has been ended by Shawn Michaels.
00:46Shawn Michaels, my issue with you does go well beyond the Royal Rumble.
00:51It goes all the way back to 1996.
00:53I won a gold medal.
00:55And people are talking to me about some guys named Shawn Michaels gliding down from the rafters that year and putting on a wrestling clinic.
01:03And that ate me up, Shawn.
01:05Because truth be told, you are one of the best of all time.
01:09But to even suggest that you're the greatest wrestler of this generation is an insult to me and everything I stand for.
01:17He is the most decorated athlete in WWE history.
01:20I'm an Olympic gold medalist.
01:22Kurt Angle is a former European champion, tag team champion, intercontinental champion, WCW champion, a king of the ring, and a four-time WWE champion.
01:34I beat five of the greatest superstars in WWE history in a six-man hell in a cell.
01:40I, Kurt Angle, am the greatest athlete ever in the history of the WWE.
01:48Kurt Angle, the heartbreak kid Shawn Michaels is a doormat for absolutely nobody.
01:54Hey, despite all the accolades, you have never had the chance to go to the biggest stage of them all against Mr. WrestleMania.
02:08I will give you a show like you have never, ever seen before.
02:13Why?
02:13Because I can.
02:14I am simply the very best sports entertainer in the world.
02:22Nobody has ever, ever outperformed Shawn Michaels in a big-man situation.
02:30Shawn Michaels, this is what you can expect at WrestleMania.
02:36The heartbreak kid is a doormat for absolutely nobody.
02:52At WrestleMania, HBK and Kurt Angle, first time ever.
02:56Hey, check it out, JR.
03:04Celebrities are out.
03:05Billy Gibbons from ZZ Top is here, right at ringside.
03:08Our old friend Billy Gibbons.
03:09Mark Hagenberger from CSI.
03:12Hi, Mark.
03:13Oh, man.
03:13I think I'm cute.
03:18I know I'm sexy.
03:20I've got the looks.
03:23Her drives are cool.
03:25While I've got the moves.
03:27I hear you move on.
03:29I said she ain't.
03:31Up and down, there's fine.
03:33I'm just a sexy boy.
03:37I'm not your boy, Tori.
03:41I'm just a sexy boy.
03:43The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
03:50We introduce a first from San Antonio, Texas, weighing 227 pounds, the heartbreak kid, Shawn Michaels.
04:01You said that you thought that Christy Himme, Chris Stratus match was really that jealousy.
04:05What about what we heard from Kurt Angle?
04:07If that's not some jealousy of Shawn Michaels, I don't know what is.
04:11And the irony of that is, what does Kurt Angle have to be jealous about?
04:15I don't get it.
04:15He's the only gold medal winner in WWE history.
04:19But Shawn Michaels competing in his 11th WrestleMania has done it all.
04:25The first ring champion winner.
04:27He was Shawn and the first man in the history of the company to win every major championship.
04:32The showstopper, perhaps the icon, the wrestler of the decade, or so Kurt Angle disagrees.
04:44Well, you're right there.
04:46That's what this match is all about.
04:48This should be a classic.
04:49You said it, the first and only gold medalist in WWE history.
05:10Man still thinks he sucks, but be that as it may.
05:13From Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, playing 249 pounds, the only Olympic gold medal winner in WWE history, and a former WWE champion, Kurt Angle.
05:39Angle also, ladies and gentlemen, a two-time NCAA heavyweight champion, just named to the 75th annual NCAA all-time team.
05:51Angle won the NCAA title at 199 pounds at heavyweight, beating a 275-pound man.
05:59My point in that is that Angle is an amazing mat wrestler.
06:04Shawn Michaels, a catch-us-catch-can stylist.
06:07Look at the intensity on the face of Kurt Angle.
06:14Either one of these guys are going to be intimidated.
06:22Michaels with the edge and experience, and that may prove to be a very effective asset for the showstopper.
06:31And as this match progresses, a SmackDown referee, Brian Hedmer has signed this contest.
06:37Angle again representing SmackDown.
06:39Shawn Michaels representing Raw.
06:41Uh-oh. Uh-oh. Uh-oh. And Michaels up.
06:52And one of the takedown by Angle, an aggressive takedown by Angle after being slapped in the face.
06:59We're trying to set out on Angle, but Angle, the consummate Matt Russell.
07:02There's no one in the WWE that can out-wrestle Kurt Angle.
07:07Not in my opinion, anyway.
07:10I'm going to tell you, I don't like, I don't like the, I don't like the strategy of Shawn Michaels.
07:16You're right.
07:16You may have more experience than Kurt Angle, but you said yourself, nobody has the wrestling ability.
07:21Nobody in the entire WWE has the wrestling ability of Kurt Angle.
07:24And Shawn Michaels to come out here and slap his face, start this thing off?
07:28I think what you're, I don't know, King, but you know, there's a lot of mind games being played in these big match,
07:35this confrontation.
07:36We saw it earlier with the Undertaker.
07:37Right.
07:38That didn't work too well for him, did it?
07:40And maybe Michaels is just trying to get Kurt Angle out of his game, out of his wrestling mentality,
07:46and make this a fight.
07:48That side hit lock tickle by Shawn Michaels.
07:51And a hair pull by Kurt Angle.
07:53Michael's side head lock, keeping it very basic here.
07:58And both men, their legs are so important in this match.
08:01Michaels with his sweet chin music, Kurt Angle with the ankle lock.
08:05And right now, Angle grounded shoulders into the mat for a long two, or a short two count.
08:13Well, I'm not, you know, don't get me wrong either.
08:14I don't think, uh, the wrestling ability, certainly Shawn Michaels is going to slap.
08:20He's beating the best of him.
08:21But I don't think you want to keep Kurt Angle and start off in a match like this on the wrong foot.
08:27Angle trying to free himself from that predicament he's in.
08:30The side head lock, and Michael's holding on.
08:32Look at him.
08:33Is this from Michaels' hands?
08:34How they are locked.
08:35Wrist to wrist.
08:36And a suplex by Angle.
08:38And somehow, amazingly, Michael's able to retain the control of the head lock, albeit being suplexed.
08:47You've got to give Shawn Michaels credit there.
08:51This is Kurt Angle.
08:52He is calculating.
08:54He is, he's cold, J.R.
08:55I've heard you said, cold as a stepmother's kiss.
08:57I mean, this guy is just, uh, what'd you say?
09:03Oh, another shot there.
09:04Nice shoulder by Michaels.
09:06Oh!
09:06High.
09:08Headlock takeover by Shawn Michaels.
09:10And Michaels literally pulling a page out of the Kurt Angle playbook.
09:15Side headlock takeover.
09:17And look at Angle.
09:18Turning into a pin.
09:19I don't know how the referee kept those shoulders up.
09:24On these shoulders he was counting in.
09:27Again, Michaels keeping it very basic.
09:30Michaels a master of the catches, catch can style.
09:33Michaels can brawl.
09:34We've seen Michaels in many situations.
09:36But again, oh, he's nice.
09:40I'm going to tell you something.
09:41This is more the strategy that I think Michaels can be successful with.
09:45I didn't like the snap to start off with.
09:47But now, you know, ever since then, this has been what Michaels has been doing has been successful.
09:52I'm impressed with the strategy employed early on by Shawn Michaels as Angle forces Michaels back into the corner.
10:00Referee calling for a clean break and somewhat surprisingly, we get one.
10:07Angle checking those years.
10:10A little rebukes, I'll tell you.
10:12A dollar flyer from all those years of wrestling as a youngster to the amateur ranks.
10:19Nice way of standing switch by another side headlock.
10:23Shawn Michaels again.
10:24Very impressive with a side headlock takeover.
10:28And a little frustration beginning to boil by the Olympian, Kurt Angle, grabbing the hair.
10:34Well, that's because the mat game is supposed to belong to Kurt Angle.
10:37And I don't think for one minute that Kurt Angle thought in his wildest dreams that Shawn Michaels would come out here and try to out-wrestle him.
10:44Yeah.
10:44A waistlock hard elbow.
10:46Hard elbow by Kurt Angle with a shoulder block.
10:49Angle with a shoulder block knocking down Shawn Michaels.
10:53And Michaels.
10:53Oh, high hip lock.
10:55High hip lock.
10:56And Michaels now applying a short-arm scissors.
11:01I'm telling you.
11:02I haven't seen that in a long time.
11:03I've got to believe, and I'm only assuming.
11:06Come on.
11:07That Kurt Angle did not prepare for a mat wrestling match as far as the offense of Shawn Michaels is concerned.
11:14And why should he have?
11:15I certainly would have thought that a little bit.
11:18Nice reversal.
11:20And Michaels reverses back.
11:22And Angle's got to be careful with those shoulders on the canvas for a long two-count that time.
11:26One, two, three, four.
11:28Short-arm scissors, a time-tested maneuver.
11:31You don't see a lot of anymore.
11:34And Michaels trying to get, the shoulders are down.
11:37At least one of them was.
11:38And Michaels again using his leg strength and the leverage applied.
11:42That's what I'm saying.
11:44That's short-arm scissors there.
11:45I can't get over the fact that Kurt Angle's been grounded in this match.
11:49I mean, if you were Kurt Angle, would you have ever thought that this is what you were going to see from Shawn Michaels?
11:54It's going to be his game plan?
11:55I would have thought Michaels would have had a real fast pace by Franklin.
11:59Oh, man.
12:00Oh, man.
12:01What a strength.
12:02The strength and power of Kurt Angle.
12:04And Michaels counters.
12:06Sunset Fleming.
12:07And a near fall.
12:09Look at this.
12:10Backslide.
12:10Backslide.
12:11Backslide.
12:12By Shawn Michaels.
12:13And another near fall.
12:14And a side headlock.
12:17Yeah.
12:18I just heard Kurt Angle slap the mat and said, damn it.
12:20So he's becoming very frustrated.
12:23I'm almost speechless at this wrestling clinic that Shawn Michaels is putting on on an Olympic gold medalist.
12:33Well, if you'd have watched tapes of your Kurt Angle scouting Shawn Michaels prepared for this match,
12:37you'd have seen Michaels' sweet chin music, the high-risk, the catch-as-catch-can style, the brawling.
12:44But you would have never thought the mat wrestling would have been an influence in this match.
12:48But it has been.
12:49And I'm sure that that's what Kurt has done.
12:50He's a student of the game.
12:51Look at this now.
12:52Angle, the right hand.
12:54And Michaels now retaliates with rights of his own.
12:57Angle again trying to gain an advantage.
12:59And look at Michaels.
13:00He's trying to wrap his legs around Kurt and wrap him up once again wrestling.
13:05Look, he's having a challenging time separating these two men and getting them out of the corner.
13:12Oh, Michaels.
13:13And Michaels again retaliates with the right hand.
13:17Kurt Angle now trying to just shut down Michaels.
13:19Kurt Angle with the hair.
13:21Handful of hair.
13:23That's something Michaels can't retaliate in that area.
13:25He's a wrap.
13:26Oh, what a hard shot from behind.
13:29And in the ankle lock.
13:30There's the ankle lock.
13:32The shot from behind led to the ankle lock.
13:34And a quick counter by Shawn Michaels.
13:36Whoa.
13:37Oh, but a clothesline.
13:38Folk men over the top from the clothesline.
13:42Man, Michaels in a desperate state quickly.
13:45And I mean quicker than a hiccup got out of that ankle lock.
13:48What?
13:49Well, I'm going to tell you something.
13:50This is a...
13:50Uh-oh.
13:51Oh, no.
13:51Come on now.
13:53Oh, Shawn Michaels.
13:54So much for the wrestling, JR.
13:55Short fuse.
13:57Michaels has...
13:57This has been in Shawn Michaels.
13:59This is what I expected from HBK.
14:02Michaels in a more...
14:04This is more WWE style right here.
14:07And Michaels rolling back in the ring to break the referee's 10 count.
14:12I'm telling you, it looked like...
14:13Oh, Shawn.
14:14Right hand.
14:15Right in front of us.
14:16A hard European uppercut form by Kurt Angle, the Olympian.
14:21Look at the other big shot.
14:22It looked like Shawn had lost his temper and was going to plan something with that tail.
14:25Look out, look out here.
14:26Look out here, King.
14:28But now Kurt Angle's going to use that announce table.
14:31Kurt Angle's going to suplex.
14:32Michaels on the announce table.
14:35And Michaels now retaliating.
14:37And Kurt Angle...
14:39Angle slams.
14:42Oh, my God.
14:43Shawn Michaels spined in his lower back from the angle slam into the steel ring post.
14:50And you talk about a difference maker.
14:52A tight turner in a match.
14:54That's Kurt Angle in the ring to break the referee's count.
14:57But the end may have been called.
15:00The bell may have been sounded.
15:02For HBK.
15:03Check this out.
15:04Oh, God.
15:05That's sick.
15:06That is sick.
15:07Oh.
15:07The lower back.
15:11That back that's torqued.
15:12And we know Shawn Michaels was away five years approximately from the WWE from a back injury.
15:20Having major back surgery.
15:21Yeah, we know it.
15:22And so does that man.
15:23Kurt Angle certainly knows it.
15:24And he's going to capitalize on it right now.
15:26And he's going to capitalize on it right now.
15:27Focusing on that lower back.
15:29The kicks, the knees, the floor.
15:30The high-impact moves.
15:32The concussion moves to the lower back.
15:34Trying to knot up that back and continue to apply the pressure.
15:38And this will certainly slow down the ultra-quick Shawn Michaels.
15:43The momentum has changed in this match.
15:46The suplex.
15:47The suplex.
15:47The cover.
15:48And a lateral press.
15:51Another cover.
15:53And you heard the referee with a two-count.
15:55You said this.
15:56I mean, in the emphatic statement there, the momentum has certainly changed.
16:01I mean, the first part of this match was all Shawn Michaels.
16:03But now, get off the head and go, one, two, three.
16:07Kurt Angle flying the old Joe Sticker body scissors.
16:10Going, pressing that lower back and out.
16:14I got a little strong legs wrapped around Shawn Michaels.
16:17There's just the meanest.
16:19The form.
16:20Mean streak.
16:21Kurt Angle.
16:22It's all legal in that regard.
16:23That form's not an illegal maneuver.
16:25But it does show the tenacity of Kurt Angle as he's rubbing that forearm across the face.
16:31The bridge to the nose of Shawn Michaels.
16:33Go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go.
16:37Reverse chin locking it.
16:38Michaels backed up.
16:39In a fighting mood here.
16:40Michaels backed up.
16:41The vertical base.
16:42Angle with a hard knife edge chop.
16:45And another one.
16:46You can hear that one.
16:49Oh, look out here.
16:51Oh.
16:52The velocity that Angle sent Michaels to the corner.
16:55Turn Michaels inside out.
16:56Oh.
16:57Belly to belly.
16:59Overhead suplex.
17:01Michaels landing on that injured lower back.
17:04And Kurt Angle is in control.
17:06Momentum is in the court of Kurt Angle.
17:10Kurt Angle has got to be feeling that victory is near for him.
17:14I think right now, Kurt Angle is so confident he's in no hurt.
17:17Well, here they come in.
17:18The cover.
17:19Can I knock?
17:19No.
17:20Michaels kicked out.
17:21Angle popped those hips so expertly.
17:24Textbook suplex by the Olympian.
17:27Look at that knee.
17:28Look at that right knee.
17:29That right knee intended to do more damage.
17:32Shawn Michaels already damaged lower back.
17:34The pressure, not only on the neck, but more primarily on the lower back of Shawn Michaels
17:40after being angle slammed and whiplashed around the ring post just a few moments ago.
17:47Oh, hey, come on.
17:48Look at this now.
17:50He's got to get a break there.
17:52Well, you know, you would think the referee might make him break the entire hole.
17:55You would know.
17:56Yeah, you think.
17:57Be that as it may.
17:58Smackdown referee for us.
18:00Okay, it might not be the same since this move right here.
18:03And maybe this is Michaels strategy here.
18:29Now, let's just fight.
18:31No one will ride him by Angle, but Michaels known for his brawls and his slugging.
18:36And Angle known for his wrestling.
18:38And another slap to the face.
18:40And that is Pio to Angle who almost beheaded Shawn Michaels with a clothesline.
18:45The cover.
18:46And Michaels barely, and I mean barely able to kick out.
18:50Angle thought that he had the showstop.
18:52Slaps are never a good idea.
18:55All they do is, like you say, Pio somebody.
18:57And what a nice shot.
19:00This came right after the slap.
19:03And Angle, he didn't slap.
19:05Johnny tried to take his head off.
19:06Angle now setting Shawn Michaels up on the top turn.
19:08But this classic battle between two future Hall of Fame.
19:12But I'll do it now here.
19:13Michaels with a bad back.
19:14Michaels trying to hold on.
19:16He knows the results of a suplex from this position.
19:20I don't think that HBK could withstand one of those.
19:23And he's not going to have to.
19:24Michaels knocked off the top.
19:26Shawn Michaels.
19:26Wait a minute.
19:28Shawn.
19:29Uh-oh.
19:30There comes Vincent Shawn Michaels.
19:32What a wise move here on the bad back.
19:34Here comes the showstopper.
19:35Oh, the showstopper.
19:36The knock on the neck.
19:38Michaels again crashing and burning on his lower back.
19:43Michaels was all or nothing there.
19:46And now Kurt Angle has got to be sensing victory.
19:53I have a poise and ready for Michaels to stand.
19:57And Angle going from the angle slam.
19:59Look at that.
19:59Nice camera arm drag.
20:01The arm drag by HBK.
20:04Watch it.
20:04Watch it.
20:05Oh, my God.
20:06The bad body drop over the top.
20:09Shawn Michaels, the veteran, using Kurt Angle's own momentum
20:14against the Olympian and backdropping Angle over the top rope
20:18all the way to the floor.
20:19I'm going to tell you something a few seconds ago.
20:21I thought Shawn Michaels was out of it when he missed that move off the top rope.
20:24What the hell is Shawn doing?
20:26I don't know.
20:27Shawn Michaels with a cross body.
20:29Michaels with a cross body.
20:31His knee may have hit Angle in the face.
20:34Come on.
20:34This is, let's see if I think you're right there.
20:38Watch Shawn Michaels' knee.
20:40Oh, that is an ill move.
20:43I'll tell you, a nasty move to say the least.
20:46Angle laying out here in front of us.
20:49Michaels trying to fight his way back in the ring to beat the referee's 10 count.
20:54As I said, I think Shawn Michaels' leg and knee went right into the face,
20:57the mouth, the nose.
20:58And Angle trying to angle back in this thing.
21:04And Angle from the apron.
21:06Oh, my God.
21:06Oh, no, no.
21:07Angle's going to try to.
21:08He's trying to German suplex Shawn Michaels off the apron of the ring.
21:14Through the table.
21:15Hang on, Shawn.
21:16Hang on for your life.
21:17My God.
21:18Michaels has got to hang on.
21:19His career is at stake here.
21:22A German suplex from the edge of the ring.
21:25Through the table.
21:26To bring Michaels back.
21:29Michaels fighting.
21:31Desperately fighting.
21:32Throwing those elbows.
21:33Brought to the face of Angle.
21:35Oh, no.
21:37And the referee is up.
21:38Luckily for Michaels went undetected with a low blow.
21:41Well, desperate men have to resort to desperate measures.
21:47And I think that Shawn Michaels, his entire,
21:50certainly this match, his entire career,
21:52and maybe his life could have depended on him not getting suplexed into that table.
21:56And Michaels kicking Angle away.
21:59And Shawn Michaels, Shawn Michaels, wait, no.
22:03No, yeah.
22:03Oh, my God.
22:05Michaels, Michaels leap progging, springboarding.
22:10Oh, my.
22:11Rose putting his body and soul on the line.
22:14And my God.
22:17Oh, my God.
22:18Oh, my God.
22:18This Michaels and Michaels and Angle are motionless.
22:23You can see that these tables, you saw it there.
22:25They've got so many people busting through tables that they've reinforced these tables with steel.
22:29And look at this.
22:32Oh.
22:33Michaels hit the mark.
22:35But, man, the price paid by both men.
22:40That table did not snap.
22:42As you said, reinforced.
22:44Human bodies bouncing off a table.
22:48The referee out to check on both these men on their, well, their well-being, I guess you would say, their health.
22:54But this match can end momentarily, quite frankly.
22:57Neither one of these men may be able to continue.
23:02Referee is counting, starting his 10 count.
23:05These men have got to return to the ring before that 10 count.
23:08Blood coming from the mouth of Kurt Angle.
23:10I don't know if that's from that knee in his face earlier from Sean or from internal injuries from.
23:18Smashed into that table.
23:20Referee is up to seven now.
23:24These men are in danger of being counted out here.
23:27What a shame for a match to end of this magnitude by a countout.
23:31Angle's trying to crawl back in.
23:32He's in.
23:33Sean is in.
23:35Referee is in.
23:36Both men are in.
23:36Both men are in.
23:38About a second to spare is all they had.
23:41But, nonetheless, as Angle bleeds from the mouth, you don't know what Shane Michaels back is in.
23:47I think that may be from some sort of internal injury.
23:51Both men trying to stand.
23:53And they do, looking eye-to-eye.
23:55These two icons.
23:57Anybody's getting blocked.
23:58And our right-hand Angle suddenly right got blocked.
24:01Michaels at the ninth bench top.
24:02Fighting back into him.
24:04The will of Sean Michaels.
24:05The will to win this match is overwhelming.
24:09And the same can be said for Kurt Angle.
24:11These guys are trying to literally destroy each other.
24:15Look out!
24:16Dying for him by Sean Michaels.
24:20The showstopper.
24:21What?
24:21Pulling in.
24:22Oh, no!
24:22And Michaels somehow reaching down into places men don't have.
24:27They want to nip up after the punishment that he's taken.
24:31And a right-hand to Kurt Angle.
24:32And another right-hand.
24:33Oh!
24:34Oh!
24:35Oh!
24:36Inverted Atomic Rock.
24:37Michaels now building momentum.
24:39He can feel the momentum changing.
24:41He can feel the momentum.
24:42Back in the corner of Sean Michaels.
24:44As he may be thinking about one of his favorite tunes.
24:47I'm going to tell you something.
24:48Kurt Angle keeps...
24:49Oh, he's holding his stomach.
24:51There's...
24:51I think there's internal injuries on Kurt Angle.
24:54Blood coming from his mouth.
24:55This could be it right here.
24:57Michaels going to take another chance.
24:59Michaels going for it all here.
25:01It will be all or nothing for Sean Michaels.
25:03He got it!
25:03And Michaels stuck the elbow.
25:06Michaels stuck the elbow from the top.
25:09Driving it into the sternum.
25:11Into the heart of Kurt Angle.
25:14And now Michaels feels it.
25:16He can sense it.
25:18His body filled with adrenaline.
25:22I'm going to tell you the turning point.
25:25Was Sean landing with the ribcage in the midsection of Kurt Angle out on that announce table.
25:30Michaels tuning up the band.
25:32Versus sweet ten music.
25:34Michaels needs one shot.
25:35Without the right foot.
25:36He's looking for it.
25:37And go.
25:38No, he didn't.
25:39Oh, my gosh!
25:40Angle blocked.
25:41Angle blocked.
25:42Into the ankle lock.
25:43Oh, my gosh!
25:45Angle blocked sweet ten music.
25:47Into the ankle lock.
25:48And you can't believe that Kurt Angle still had the stamina and the wherewithal.
25:52He can't show Michael the mid-king.
25:55An excruciating maneuver.
25:57That could easily break a man's ankle.
25:59And Angle is tenacious, tenacious.
26:02You won't let go.
26:03He's going to break his leg.
26:04He's going to break his leg.
26:05The free of breakfast is to ask Michaels if he wants to give up.
26:10Michaels.
26:11He's trying desperately to get to the rope.
26:14That is absolutely the only thing that can save him.
26:17Michaels reaching, desperately reaching for the rope.
26:21He's just inches away.
26:22Push, crunch.
26:24WrestleMania has missed so much.
26:25To Shawn Lovell's career, to his life.
26:28And then he blends himself in a position where he may have to give up at the hands of Kurt Angle.
26:34Oh, you're right.
26:34And his ankle lock.
26:35And that means so much.
26:37They know how he's done it.
26:40Breakfast counting.
26:41He's got to let go.
26:42Maybe this is why Shawn Michaels calls himself Mr. Wrestlemania.
26:47He excels.
26:49He somehow pulls it all out at Wrestlemania.
26:53But he saved himself once again.
26:55But Michaels was in the ankle lock for a long time.
26:58A long time.
26:59And Angle's playing.
27:00Reverse.
27:01And Michaels turns.
27:02Oh, no!
27:03Angle comes again.
27:04The ankle lock applied again to Shawn Michaels.
27:07And Michaels counters.
27:08He's got it.
27:09He's got it.
27:09Did he get him?
27:10Did he get him?
27:11That's a long two count.
27:13Oh, my God.
27:14A real long two count.
27:16Angle looking for a clothesline.
27:18Again, Michaels.
27:19Switching music.
27:20Angle slam.
27:21Angle slam in the center of the ring.
27:23With a crash of a car wreck.
27:26That should do it.
27:28The hook of the leg.
27:29And the count.
27:29Oh, no!
27:31It's not a count of three.
27:33I thought it was a count of three.
27:35What are these men going to have to do?
27:36I think Kurt Angle has lost some teeth.
27:43Angle saying, I don't know what he said.
27:45I'll give you the expression.
27:46Tells the story.
27:47You can't believe it.
27:48He's frustrated.
27:49Wondering what the hell he's got to do to beat Shawn Michaels.
27:52And maybe it's not Kurt Angle's night.
27:56Uh-oh.
27:57He's rededicated himself to this match.
28:00What's he doing now?
28:01Oh, wait a minute.
28:03Anyway, it's a Shawn Michaels-like maneuver.
28:05Look out!
28:07Angle went for the moonsault.
28:09A page out of Shawn Michaels' book.
28:12Angle has said, whatever Shawn Michaels can do, I can do better.
28:16Angle left his ground attack.
28:18Left his wrestling fundamental.
28:20And went for the high risk.
28:21A high risk is right.
28:23And look at this.
28:24High in the air.
28:25Oh, but nobody home when he came down.
28:27That may be the deciding factor in this match if Shawn Michaels can fight back into it.
28:34Because Angle knocked the breath of out of himself.
28:37He took that huge chance.
28:38And now what is Shawn Michaels doing?
28:40I don't know.
28:41I don't know how he would be able to fly much less.
28:44I mean, even stand here.
28:46He's had that ankle I clamped on.
28:47Not one, but both of his legs.
28:49But he's still going to the top.
28:51Michaels fearless.
28:53Absolutely fearless.
28:54Trying to climb him to the top.
28:56To put the penalty detectors on Angle.
28:58Now Angle.
28:59No, no, no, no.
29:00Oh, the Angle slammed off the top.
29:02Angle with a cover.
29:04Oh, look.
29:05The cover.
29:05The three.
29:06Oh, no.
29:09A long, a long tune.
29:11And somehow the will to survive for Shawn Michaels again comes to the front.
29:17He kicked out.
29:18He is Mr. WrestleMania.
29:19I'm a believer.
29:20The capacity crowd of over 20,000 fans.
29:25Absolutely stunned.
29:27And why not so am I?
29:29And Kurt Angle, nobody is more stunned than Kurt Angle.
29:32No, no, Kurt.
29:33You can't beat him tonight.
29:34The tenacity leaves two men.
29:37And now Angle.
29:39You think you're done.
29:40You think you're done.
29:42The top ball.
29:43You hear me, Michael?
29:44Oh.
29:45Angle talked too much.
29:50He talked too long.
29:52He got a foot in his mouth.
29:53Oh, my gosh.
29:55Angle was bad-mouthing Shawn Michaels.
29:57He told Shawn to tap out.
29:59Your days are done.
30:01And the next thing you know, Kurt Angle, he's out like a light.
30:05The thing about it is that Michael scores with sweet tin music.
30:08But he can't capitalize at this moment.
30:10Oh, what a knockout shot.
30:14It couldn't have been more perfect.
30:15What a knockout shot.
30:17But what have we got here?
30:19Both of these men are down.
30:20Both of them are out.
30:22He's only got one option here, and that's a count.
30:25Shawn's stirring.
30:27Let's see this kick one more time.
30:28And here it's this.
30:29Oh.
30:30Man, perfect.
30:32That was a shot.
30:34The shot heard around the world, if you will, by Shawn Michaels knocking down Kurt Angle.
30:39And Michaels trying to crawl.
30:42That's about all Knuckles can do.
30:42He's getting an arm across him.
30:43He's out, Shawn.
30:45Just cover him any way possible.
30:48Michaels eyes blazed.
30:49There you go.
30:50And the claw him over.
30:51It'll count.
30:52It'll be over.
30:53It'll count.
30:54Oh, wait a minute.
30:57Did he get his shoulder up?
30:59Angle got his right shoulder up.
31:01Some fans, certainly cheering for Michaels, thought it should have been a three.
31:06That's not a three.
31:08Smackdown referee, that might have been the longest count I've ever seen.
31:11Well, in any event, Angle got his shoulder up.
31:15The match continues.
31:17This is a one-fall match between two men who, no doubt in my mind, will both be in the WWE Hall of Fame someday.
31:25And Shawn, I think he thinks he's won right now.
31:28Does he even know that the referee said that was just a two-count?
31:33Michaels is out of it.
31:34Michaels is absolutely out of it here.
31:37And so is Kurt Angle.
31:38Angle is still on his shoulders.
31:41And Michaels, but Michaels is not sure where he is.
31:45If he was, he would be covering Kurt Angle right now.
31:47I think Shawn Michaels thinks he won.
31:49Oh, no, no, Angle.
31:51No!
31:51Angle out of nowhere.
31:53Oh, my gosh!
31:53Angle, I don't know where the ankle is.
31:56Angle, I don't know where the ankle is.
31:58There was like something from a scary movie.
32:00He rose from the dead and grabbed that ankle.
32:02And Angle by God will break Shawn Michaels' ankle.
32:05He'll snap him on the quid and enjoy doing it.
32:09Michael's agent for the ropes.
32:11Kurt Angle dragging him back.
32:12And Michaels fighting with everything he's got.
32:14Kurt Angle would not let go.
32:16Michaels fighting desperately with a huge sense of urgency.
32:20Oh, my gosh, he's got a break through Angle.
32:23Michaels in excruciating pain from the ankle off, from the Olympic champion.
32:29Michaels walked up to the center of the ring.
32:32Michaels is writhing in pain.
32:35He doesn't want to tap at WrestleMania.
32:38He's fighting for his life here.
32:40Michaels reaching.
32:41He's leaping.
32:42He's lunging for a rope, for anything.
32:45And now, Angle's right behind the legs.
32:48And look at that hideous position of Angle's ankle, or of Shawn Michaels' ankle.
32:54It's in a sick position.
32:55It's a break at any moment.
32:58I mean, I can't do anything short of a miracle here.
33:02What can he do?
33:04Michaels, the pain has got to be riveting.
33:08Accentulating pain.
33:10Michaels can't get to the ropes.
33:13Why can he take it?
33:15Michaels' ankle could snap at any moment.
33:19Michaels refusing.
33:20Refusing to give up.
33:22Refusing to die here.
33:24He will not.
33:24He will not.
33:25He is with the WrestleMania.
33:27Michaels doing all the camps to counter.
33:30But how do you counter?
33:32Oh, no.
33:33They're defending.
33:35No, no, no.
33:36I thought he was going to tap, but he didn't.
33:40One form of will.
33:41The will to win.
33:42Michaels trying.
33:43Everything he's got.
33:45Everything he has.
33:46How long can this ankle lock been locked in?
33:48How much can he stand?
33:50Oh, my God.
33:52He'll tap down to the ankle lock.
33:55He may have broken.
33:56The ankle may be broken.
33:57Here is your winner, Kurt Angle.
34:04Unbelievable.
34:05Wow.
34:07Only at WrestleMania will you see a match like that.
34:13Kurt Angle finally able to.
34:15Great line to the leg.
34:18While he had the ankle lock applied.
34:20Look at this.
34:21I mean, even.
34:23Even fans that are saying you suck are applauding this.
34:26This effort by both of these superstars.
34:29It was a phenomenal effort by two amazing athletes.
34:32I'm worried that Shawn Michaels' ankle may be broken.
34:35That may be the only reason he would tap.
34:37But WWE has no two finer athletes than Kurt Angle and Shawn Michaels.
34:44But on this night, it was SmackDown's Kurt Angle and his ankle lock.
34:51That has led him to a very impressive victory.
34:55One we will talk about for years at WrestleMania 21.
34:59Well, I'm going to tell you, impressive is the word.
35:04I'm exhausted just watching that.
35:06I can imagine what these two individuals feel like right now.
35:10I tell you, I'm sharp.
35:11His ankle may be broken.
35:12It may be fractured.
35:14Michaels is going to need some medical attention.
35:16What a great effort.
35:18The fans cheering Shawn Michaels for his gallant, courageous effort.
35:23In a match, no one could argue the point.
35:30Could have gone either way on several occasions, Kane.
35:33Right there.
35:35I thought Shawn Michaels had it.
35:36There was a, what appeared to me to be a long three count.
35:46Hands up, applauding Shawn Michaels and right holding so.
35:50That's what I think.
35:50That was a Hall of Fame performance by two world-class athletes.
35:57That was a show stealer, a show stopper.
36:00But tonight was Kurt Angle's night.
36:01I'm telling you, Shawn Michaels is going to have to take a while to recover from that one.
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