- 20 minutes ago
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:01It's time to play, time to play the game
00:22It's all about the game, and how you play it
00:26All about control, and if you can take it
00:34The following contest is for the World Heavyweight Championship
00:39and is scheduled for the best two out of three balls.
00:43The first ball will be a street fight.
00:45The second ball will be held inside a steel cage.
00:48And the third ball, if necessary, will be a ladder back.
00:53At this time, accompanied by Nature Boy Ric Flair,
00:57here is the challenger from Greenwich, Connecticut, weighing 272 pounds, Triple H.
01:07Triple H is the number one contender for the World Heavyweight Championship.
01:11The Cerebral Assassin is a calculating career killer.
01:17And tonight, the game wants to win the world title.
01:21And it would love to end Shawn Michaels' career here tonight.
01:26Well, it's it for all.
01:28You're right, we've heard it over and over.
01:30The end is near, and the game may be the end of Shawn Michaels.
01:42It's all about the game, and how you play it.
01:45It's all about control, and if you can take it.
01:48This is such a personal matchup.
01:50Yes, it's worth the richest prize in our business, as far as I'm concerned.
01:54The World Heavyweight Pack from Shawn Michaels and Triple H.
01:58At one time, we're best of friends.
02:00They were like brothers.
02:05But those days are long gone.
02:08They've come to an end.
02:10Uh-oh.
02:12I think I keep it.
02:14I know I'm sexy.
02:16I've got the looks.
02:19They drive so cool.
02:21While I've got the moves.
02:23They're really moving.
02:25I said cheer.
02:27Up and down.
02:28That's fine.
02:29I'm just a sexy boy.
02:31Well, let me just say this, JR.
02:33It looks like HBK.
02:36It looks like the Showstopper.
02:42But is it really?
02:44Or is it just Shawn Michaels?
02:48Well, I'll tell you what.
02:48From San Antonio, Texas, weighing 225 pounds, the World Heavyweight Champion,
02:55HBK, Shawn Michaels.
03:00And what we will know last week was Shawn Michaels jumping up that semi,
03:05brought in, brought in, grabbing his elbow into the black heart of Triple H,
03:10who was in approximately in that dumpster.
03:13I think that answer our question.
03:16Is it gonna be Shawn Michaels or is it gonna be HBK?
03:19And senior referee Earl Hedman will be efficient in this hugely important matchup.
03:27Well, I don't think it truly answered the question, JR.
03:30Sure, that was HBK.
03:32That wasn't a showstopper jumping off the top of that semi.
03:35But if you ask me, that was Shawn Michaels who had to lay in wait and hit Triple H with
03:41a shovel
03:41to get Triple H into that position.
03:43I'm just a sexy boy.
03:44Now what's gonna happen when they face each other nose to nose tonight?
03:49The only way to find out is to step back and watch this two out of three fall matchup.
03:53Shawn Michaels is a proud athlete.
03:56The soul of a warrior.
03:57I can't believe that Shawn Michaels has the audacity to taunt Nate.
04:01You don't taunt Ric Flair to get away with it.
04:03He's mocking him.
04:03Get out of here!
04:05Get out of here!
04:06Well, Ric Friel Hedman just made the biggest call of the match.
04:12Already the bell hasn't sounded.
04:14Ric Flair been ejected?
04:16Ric Flair can go take a shower.
04:21Ric Flair is absolutely livid.
04:23That is unfair to Flair.
04:25Well, I don't know if it is or it isn't, but as the referee's call, the referee's call this final.
04:30What did Triple H do to deserve that?
04:32What did Flair do to deserve that?
04:33I don't have any idea.
04:34It doesn't matter.
04:35The call was made.
04:37And this is the first fall.
04:39This match is a street fight.
04:40There's no disqualifications.
04:42There's no count outs.
04:44The match will continue until one man either loses by pitfall or submission.
04:49Anything goes in a street fight.
04:52They're not exactly wearing their street clothes.
04:55I did hear that HBK used to walk down the street dressed like that.
04:59And again, he swept inside.
05:01Boy, here we go.
05:02It's all legal.
05:03These two men can use anything.
05:07That's right.
05:08I wouldn't be surprised to see Shawn Michaels drive that semi in here.
05:11Up against the ring and try to jump off of it.
05:13Well, stay tuned.
05:15You never know.
05:16Triple H pulling that trash can from around the ring.
05:19Again, it's legal in this environment.
05:21Look at Shawn Michaels.
05:23Shawn Michaels.
05:24Nobody home.
05:26And Triple H is able to, he stepped right out of the way.
05:29And Shawn Michaels, was Triple H just a step quicker than Shawn Michaels there, JR?
05:35Whether he was or he wasn't, it's certainly a very smart move from the Cerebral Assassin.
05:41It's just hard to put into words what this comeback for Shawn Michaels has meant for
05:45so many of us, away from the ring for over four years, King,
05:51after severely injuring his back back in 1998.
05:55I realize all that, but was it a smart decision to make that comeback?
06:00I mean, could it cost him his health in his later years?
06:04Well, I think you're, I think you're doing it.
06:06Yes, it could.
06:07And it's not.
06:08But it's something Shawn Michaels had to do.
06:10Triple H is hooking away.
06:12That's it.
06:13Shawn Michaels.
06:14It's legal, but nothing referee can do about it.
06:16Referee in this ball.
06:18Only here to count with pinfall or ring the bell for submission.
06:22They can stay out of the ring and fight all over the building if you want, right?
06:26That's the way I see it.
06:27That's the way that the- Come on.
06:28The ring is gonna go out in the street.
06:30Pimps the street fight environment.
06:34I can't believe Shawn Michaels coming back after over four years.
06:38Not only just to be good, but to be great.
06:41Shawn Michaels, please, to become the world's heavyweight champion.
06:45And quite frankly, King, I don't know if another athlete in the world could have done that.
06:49Four years high cross body, tried to connect with Triple H, but instead connected with a trash can.
06:57Got that right.
06:58That's the Shawn Michaels move against me.
07:03Triple H, for so long, lived in his view anyway, in the shadow of Shawn Michaels in the late 90s.
07:11I find it interesting that before Shawn Michaels had injured, Triple H had two title reigns.
07:16When Shawn Michaels got hurt and had to sit down for four years, Triple H has had ten different title
07:23reigns.
07:24Well, I think that, what you just said proves Triple H's point.
07:30Once Shawn Michaels was out of the way, Triple H became the man.
07:35Yeah, but is that the way Triple H is really in his heart, in his heart of hearts, wanted to
07:39become the man.
07:41In any event, Shawn Michaels is setting his table up.
07:47If that's the case, he don't care how he becomes a champion.
07:50As long as he's a champion, good point.
07:54Wait a minute.
07:55Face locked by Shawn Michaels, with that table set up.
07:57The first of all of this two out of three fall match by Street Fight.
08:01Locked.
08:02Triple H, the bigger and stronger of the two, is the number one contender.
08:07His size and strength came into play there.
08:09That's why I say.
08:11Street Fight wins favor Triple H in this contest.
08:15I'll tell you something else, King, because if anything goes in this first fall, in my view,
08:19the first fall of this potential three fall match is the most important fall of this entire contest.
08:32I think because of the Street Fight, because you gotta believe that whoever prevails in the first fall,
08:39is gonna punish and pulverize their opponent to where that opponent may not be able to recuperate.
08:46No matter how resilient both these men are.
08:49He's got a good point, but believe me.
08:52Man.
08:53He's a cerebral assassin.
08:55He's big and strong and he's smart.
08:58He got his foot up, saw it coming, and showed that trash can right back in the face of the
09:03world's heavyweight champion.
09:04You gotta hand it to the game.
09:05So far, every one of these big high-risk, well, these patented HBK maneuvers has been thwarted.
09:11There he goes.
09:12He's rewarded by the game.
09:13Almost every single one of them.
09:15He's got his feet up in the face of the game.
09:17He's coming across the body.
09:19The game trying to, he's trying to roll through and die.
09:21And another!
09:22Powered it up!
09:22No, he got the third fall.
09:24That is the power and strength advantage.
09:26And the Triple H on a bad wheel there, apparently.
09:31That quadricep ball taped up.
09:35Obviously in a lot of pain, giving him a lot of problem, but that's not gonna stop Triple H, believe
09:39me.
09:39His mentor and advisor Ric Flair has been ejected from this contest unfairly.
09:45He probably cut Triple H's right leg off at the knee and he'd still compete here tonight.
09:49Well, we've seen him come back through great injury.
09:53Now what?
09:54Torn quadricep, the trachea injury he sustained at Survivor Series.
10:01And a hard right hand.
10:02Come on Triple H!
10:03Locking Shawn Michaels down.
10:05I can tell right now, the game has something devious in mind.
10:10Here it is.
10:11Wait a second here.
10:13Two tables set up on the outside.
10:16Shawn Michaels.
10:19He's trying to counter the game.
10:22He did.
10:22He does.
10:23That took a lot out of the champion.
10:24But he floats over.
10:25Hooks up.
10:26What?
10:26It got a near fall out of it.
10:28In this first of all, street fight.
10:32Remember back at SummerSlam, Shawn Michaels' first match in over four years was a street fight.
10:37It was against the game.
10:39But Hardy race like high knee.
10:41And Triple H lost the match in a non sanctioned match at SummerSlam to Shawn Michaels in the same basic
10:48environment.
10:48I realize that.
10:50Also, look at this.
10:51Where's Triple H going now?
10:53But Triple H has got to be smarter than just that last move I saw from him.
10:57He's gonna have to avoid doing things that can further injure that right leg of his.
11:03Watch.
11:05You gotta wonder Triple H is able to separate his will to be the world's heavyweight champion from his personal
11:12animosity for the man he considered his best friend.
11:16And that's a shot right to that lower back.
11:18And you gotta wonder, King, how vulnerable is Shawn Michaels' lower back?
11:23And will Shawn Michaels' back become a crucial factor in the outcome of this match?
11:29Well, it looks like it's becoming a target, that's for sure.
11:31Nobody knows better than Triple H the damage that that HBK or Shawn Michaels' back has suffered through the years.
11:38Much of it at the hands of Triple H.
11:40Remember the sledgehammer attack after Shawn Michaels beat Triple H at SummerSlam.
11:45Remember what we've seen Triple H do to Shawn Michaels using just one of these metal chairs.
11:49And it's all legal.
11:50I couldn't see it again.
11:51And it's all legal in a street fight.
11:52And look at Shawn Michaels.
11:54Shawn Michaels countering in mid-air.
11:56Look at him.
11:56Takes the game.
11:57And the game now.
11:58We'll find out just how it feels to have that lower back punished as never before.
12:06Well, that looked like the showstopper to me.
12:09Shawn Michaels, we know he can be a controversial.
12:11He can break as many rules inside the ring as anybody.
12:15And a hard-eyed whip right after that backbreaker on the chair.
12:18And Triple H's his lower back.
12:20That huge muscular back.
12:22Sammy Evans has also taken another hard shot.
12:25And Michaels giving everything he's gotten us in the game for
12:29that very uncomfortable ride with an even worse landing.
12:33But for the moment, the showstopper has showed up.
12:35Let's see if he can stay for the party.
12:38The longer this first fall goes in this barbaric environment of a street fight,
12:45rudest altercation.
12:47Back to the back goes Shawn Michaels.
12:49He won't waste any motion now.
12:50But the longer this fall goes, this is gonna continue to shorten the career and
12:56take more and more out of both men.
12:59I'm surprised that Shawn Michaels doesn't go after that leg.
13:02That bandage on Triple H's right leg should be just like a big red bullseye.
13:07Yeah, but that back's gotta be the most vulnerable part of the anatomy for
13:11the game right now.
13:14And you can see it, you can see it.
13:16And leave him, that garbage can, leave the pin of a bullseye on Triple H's back.
13:21Again, around that lower back, and Shawn Michaels, whose lower back caused him to retire,
13:27essentially, for over four years.
13:32And now the game can see exactly how that whole thing is.
13:36HBK, sweet chin down.
13:40What a counter by the game.
13:42Watch the sweet chin music.
13:44And then torquing that knee and twisting the knee.
13:47Taking it down with that 265 pounds right on the knee joint.
13:51I used to never see that happen to HBK.
13:53You'd never see the showstopper get that big super kick block.
13:56Would you, JR?
13:57Do you ever remember that?
13:58Look at that.
13:58Not very often, but is that a testament to he's a half a step slower?
14:02Or just the cerebral assassin's ability to counter?
14:06Well, it's probably a little bit of both.
14:09And if HBK or the showstopper is half a step slower, believe me,
14:14the cerebral assassin is gonna take every advantage of it.
14:16My gosh.
14:18What are you saying?
14:19The game driving that knee right into the trash can.
14:23He has to miss.
14:25He has to give up, JR.
14:26First ball would be over, and Triple H would win it.
14:29And do you know how long then Shawn Michaels would last inside that steel cage?
14:32About 30 seconds.
14:33I don't like his chances if that were to occur.
14:35And again, the game, the well-named Cerebral Assassin,
14:42focusing on that left knee of Shawn Michaels.
14:46That was a tip of the music.
14:48It was countered into a corkscrew-like take down by the game,
14:54twisting and turning on the knee joint as he dropped 265 on it.
14:58And you know what you gotta realize?
15:00If there's anybody, anybody in this game that knows the moves of Shawn Michaels,
15:05it is the game, it's Triple H.
15:06Well, there's no doubt about that.
15:07They travel together, they train together, they strategize together.
15:11One time they were virtually inseparable, and a chop block by the game.
15:15They formed DX together.
15:16No, no, no, no, no.
15:19referee again asking Shawn Michaels if he wants to give it up, and you heard the reply.
15:23It was a no, emphatically.
15:26And again, Triple H focusing on that one body part.
15:32Well, I'll tell you what, Shawn Michaels had an advantage.
15:35Shawn Michaels has seen Steve coming in here.
15:37This will nullify him on it.
15:38It certainly will nullify it.
15:39It is more of the smart tactics by the number one contender.
15:46You know, Triple H seems to me that he needs to be the world's heavyweight champion,
15:51to exist in the WWE.
15:54He needs it.
15:54We heard Shawn Michaels say that.
15:56Shawn Michaels certainly believes that.
15:57That's what this is all about.
15:59Shawn is.
16:00Hey, Johnny.
16:02Well, Nature Boy.
16:03Nature Boy.
16:05He's enjoying this right now.
16:06I'm sure he's watching on the monitor.
16:07In your four leg lock up by the game on Shawn Michaels.
16:12Boy, Nature Boy.
16:14Nature Boy.
16:14There's anywhere coming to the front here.
16:16Come on.
16:17And Claire has popped this great maneuver to Triple H.
16:21What do you say?
16:22What do you say?
16:23What do you say?
16:23I'm sure came in here wanting to protect his back.
16:26Not thinking perhaps that his team may be the focus now from Triple H.
16:31And you think back on the strategy.
16:32What do you say?
16:33What do you say?
16:36What do you say?
16:40And the pain's gotta be shooting through Shawn Michaels' body from the top of his head to the tip of
16:45his toes.
16:46You can't imagine, JR.
16:47I've had this applied to me many times.
16:49You can't imagine the pain that you feel from this.
16:52I mean, just seeing it does not do it justice.
16:55Especially when you consider what happened preceding this figure four.
17:00The figure four alone is bad enough.
17:02The trash can, the leg take down.
17:06And Shawn Michaels trying to fall on his back, trying to get to those ropes, which would at least-
17:11Come on, Shawn!
17:12Come on!
17:13Shawn, what do you say?
17:15Tap!
17:16Triple H.
17:18He's not referring to Shawn as HBK.
17:22He's not referring to him as the showstop.
17:24He's calling Shawn Michaels.
17:25Come on, Shawn, tap!
17:26What are you saying?
17:27Triple H sliding back to the center of the ring.
17:30In great position, Shawn Michaels.
17:32Shoulders are down.
17:33So much pain.
17:34You almost forget the shoulders are down.
17:36They're down again.
17:37And he got another near fall.
17:38The Triple H.
17:39I don't think I can recall someone remaining in this figure four for this length of time king.
17:46Well, let me tell you something.
17:48Well, there may be a reason for that.
17:50This is personal.
17:51I don't think the Triple H just wants to beat Shawn.
17:54I think he wants to drag this thing out.
17:55I don't think he wants to humiliate him in the process.
17:58Shawn Michaels trying desperately to turn it, reverse the pressure here.
18:03Shawn Michaels reversing the figure four in the game quickly gets himself unhooked
18:08before the pressure becomes so great on his knees.
18:11He will be in the same position Shawn Michaels.
18:13Look at this, the damage I believe is done there.
18:16Here comes that trash can lid again.
18:18Michaels has lost his speed, quickness advantage here.
18:20The game back up to his vertical base with that weapon.
18:25Scramble brains and eggs.
18:28Who is smarter than Triple H?
18:29Where did you think?
18:30Where did everybody?
18:31This has got to be in here.
18:33Shawn Michaels.
18:35Well, I'll tell you what.
18:35Where did you think and where did everybody in this arena and where did Shawn Michaels
18:38think that Triple H was gonna hit Shawn with that trash can lid?
18:41In the knee, right?
18:42Yeah, I would have guessed that.
18:43But where did he blast him?
18:44He scrambled his brains just like you said.
18:49Look at that shot.
18:50This crashed him.
18:51Listen to this.
18:53Wow.
18:54That scrambled brains and eggs, let me tell you.
18:56That shot right to the head and now they're on the outside.
18:59And again in this first fall, the street fight, can't be disqualified, can't be counted out.
19:04Shawn Michaels clearly able to stand in his bigger, stronger, more powerful adversary.
19:09The game now imposing his will on the world's heavyweight champion.
19:13A little bit late.
19:15Imposing a little bit of will on the referee as well.
19:17I don't know why the referee bothers to tell him to get back in the ring.
19:20They go anywhere they want now.
19:22Shawn Michaels' Texas-sized heart cannot be measured in inches and pounds, but he is still a human
19:28man.
19:29And when your body starts flowing, when it becomes dismembered and dismantled, as
19:34Triple H is doing here, he's still a human being.
19:38And I can't see Shawn Michaels being able to survive in this street fight much longer.
19:43Uh-oh, wait a minute.
19:44This is a street fight.
19:45You know, look, where are these guys about to go?
19:48Man.
19:48Let's see where Shawn's going.
19:50Hunter, what are you doing?
19:52What are you doing?
19:52That seat metal.
19:53Metal wall.
19:56Let's see if Triple H is thinking about something here.
19:58I don't know.
19:59He's got an evil mind, JR.
20:01He's got a sick mind.
20:02If I were you, Shawn, I would stumble, stagger, do whatever, crawl if you have to,
20:06and get away from that fire, get back towards that.
20:08Uh-oh.
20:10Uh-oh.
20:10That's two-by-fours.
20:12He's got, that's Thorn Warrior.
20:14Uh-oh.
20:15Triple H has got a two-by-four loaded with barbed wire.
20:20And he's gonna hit Shawn Michaels right in the face with it.
20:25I don't know, his second thoughts.
20:29Is he showing that he's got a heart?
20:32He does have a heart.
20:34Wait a minute.
20:36Maybe he's just got a better idea.
20:38Yeah.
20:42He was just mesmerized by that fire.
20:50No.
20:52My God.
20:52You gotta be, my God.
20:54The two-by-four is on fire.
20:56It's a run in barbed wire.
20:59And the cerebral assassin, the world's heavyweight champion.
21:05He did in his own sick mind.
21:07Triple H had a better idea.
21:08Shawn Michaels scored a kick.
21:11It may have been long, but maybe not.
21:13In any event, Shawn Michaels.
21:16Wait a minute.
21:17Now Shawn Michaels has got that.
21:22My God.
21:23My God.
21:24Shawn Michaels has hit the game right in the face with that barbed wire.
21:28The flaming barbed wire.
21:31The flaming barbed wire wrapped around a two-by-four.
21:35Holy shit.
21:35That was sick.
21:37Holy shit.
21:37It was damn sick.
21:39And Shawn Michaels, not only did he want to rip Triple H's face off,
21:44he wanted to set him up.
21:44Look at this.
21:45Uh-oh.
21:46You see the buzz?
21:47Look at this.
21:48This is.
21:49That is heinous.
21:51That is heinous.
21:52And that's how high the stakes are.
21:54And the game has been busted open with the hands of the two-by-four,
21:57the burning two-by-four, and that barbed wire.
22:00And now I gotta face a fact here.
22:03Shawn Michaels would never have pulled a stunt like that.
22:06This is definitely HBK.
22:08This is definitely the show stuff for now, JR.
22:11Shawn Michaels, he did it to the game before the game could do it to the champion.
22:16And straight right hand by Shawn Michaels.
22:18His bad back.
22:20His knee has gotta be killing him.
22:22And look at the game, trying to create a little distance.
22:24The game said, I don't know if I want any more of this.
22:28And that barbed wire ripped off the forehead of Triple H and that goes clean.
22:34And the seer of the flesh on his face.
22:35Come on.
22:36Triple H's head bouncing off that steel ring post like a basketball.
22:42And the bloody number one contender now, who had a distinct advantage.
22:47Can you see what you need to get a close up?
22:49Has Triple H's face been burned?
22:51If his eyes or his face is burned, that could be worse than the blood.
22:59John Michaels, that trash can lid again.
23:02I don't like to agree with you very often, JR.
23:04But now that I think about it, you're right.
23:06Whoever wins this first fall after this abuse they've both been put through,
23:10is gonna have a huge advantage.
23:12And I say that because of the street fight rules in this first fall.
23:16And you see what these two men are taking out of each other,
23:19out of themselves, out of their body and soul in this first fall alone.
23:23Trying to absolutely destroy each other.
23:26All that's on the world champion.
23:31God almighty, that was a dropped toehold in Michael's face,
23:36crashing into that steel chair.
23:38He's out.
23:39He doesn't have a clue.
23:41He's out.
23:41He doesn't have a clue.
23:42The game with a thunderous DDT, taking down the world's heavyweight champion.
23:47And this street fight, this first fall of a potential three fall match continues.
23:53And either one of these guys last three falls.
23:58Losing a lot of blood.
24:04One more look they are just, Shawn's head bounces off the chair.
24:09My God, did you hear that?
24:10A sickening fud of a man's skull against a steel folding chair.
24:15You can't, this doesn't sound any nastier than that.
24:19And here comes a pedigree.
24:21The illegal logo in a street fight.
24:24You're right.
24:25The game going for that pedigree.
24:27It's all legal.
24:28Shawn Michaels.
24:29And elevated himself right in the game's face.
24:32His bloody face.
24:33And the world's champion, the number one contender, are both down.
24:37Look at this.
24:38Shawn Michaels is up.
24:39No.
24:40Shawn Michaels is down.
24:42Shawn Michaels is down.
24:43Shawn Michaels dipped up in the game.
24:44Another chop block right on that bad knee.
24:46And now the game.
24:47Sean Michaels up.
24:49Pedigree.
24:49Got him with a pedigree.
24:52The pedigree by the game.
24:54The hook of a man.
24:56Now Triple H wins the first fall.
24:58The winner of the first fall, Triple H.
25:02How big is that, JR?
25:03How huge is that?
25:04It's very big.
25:05We've always talked about Shawn Michaels' toughness, his resilience.
25:10He's a fearless competitor.
25:12But now he's got a bad wheel.
25:14And now the second fall will be contested inside the steel cage.
25:21My gosh.
25:23To win the fall.
25:24Here it comes.
25:25You must win it by either pinfall or escape through the door or over the top.
25:32In either case of escape, both feet must touch the floor.
25:37So the cage-
25:39They don't get any rest?
25:39They don't get any- They're gonna get enough-
25:41Recover?
25:42The only time they're gonna rest is as this cage is lowering.
25:47Pinfall or escape is the rules, as you heard.
25:50Boy, look at Triple H.
25:51How smart is he?
25:52He's loading up this ring with weapons that he can use during this cage match.
25:58And this is gonna be another bloodletting, if you ask me.
26:01Shawn Michaels on one leg now, down one fall.
26:05Triple H may make it two out of three.
26:07And Triple H's finest hour was, it'll be close to two years.
26:12It'll be two years in February when he beat Stone Cold Steve Austin.
26:16Two straight balls in a three-ball match.
26:19Underway!
26:20The cage still being lower.
26:22This one may be, this one.
26:23This whole thing now may be academic team.
26:26But that first ball taking so much out of both men.
26:29Well, the game is obviously hurting, but nothing compared to Shawn Michaels,
26:33who is down and has a decision to try to fight this match on one leg.
26:39You're right.
26:40Shawn Michaels is here with us now, no doubt about that.
26:44HBK and the Showstopper have left the building.
26:46Well, I wouldn't say that.
26:48They left with that pedigree, JR, just like I told you.
26:51Well, we'll see about that.
26:52It's not over yet.
26:53Somebody's gotta win two falls.
26:56And right now, the game is up one fall and none.
26:59Well, I told you, if you'll remember back, that the street fight, that first ball
27:02being a street fight favors Triple H.
27:04And now the cage favors Triple H.
27:07Well, Shawn Michaels beat the game in that elimination chamber back at the
27:10Survivor Series.
27:12And that was a little different.
27:13That wasn't a cage match.
27:15Look out.
27:16It was Eric Bischoff, our general manager, adaptation of the cage.
27:22Man, let's face it.
27:25Shawn Michaels gets right into the steel cage.
27:28It's over, he's history.
27:30Triple H's an amazing competitor.
27:32He lined up Michaels.
27:34Uh-oh.
27:34Uh-oh.
27:34Shawn Michaels has now busted open as well.
27:37Shawn Michaels has been lacerated.
27:39This steel cage, it'll rip you worse than that barbed wire if you're not careful.
27:43Well, Triple H's fine, Triple H.
27:44Shawn Michaels up for that post in the middle of those support beams.
27:49The metal braces, sure.
27:50Those braces.
27:51That's because he's a cerebral assassin.
27:52They are.
27:53Thanks.
27:55Man, Shawn Michaels now.
27:59Let's watch his head go right into the cage here, Jared.
28:04Man.
28:05I don't know.
28:05I don't know.
28:06I don't know.
28:06Support beam and a shot now to the face.
28:08And Triple H is a, he's a breath or two away from taking this thing two straight balls and
28:13becoming once again the world's heavyweight champion.
28:16How can even Shawn Michaels regroup and take two balls from the cage?
28:22Gosh.
28:25Gosh.
28:26Gosh.
28:27I mean, there's a cheese grater.
28:28You're leaving Shawn Michaels' epidermis all over that cage.
28:33What?
28:34That's his skin.
28:35The outer layer.
28:39For Shawn Michaels.
28:42It's a shame to see this.
28:44Shawn Michaels who dominated the WWE until it was injured in 1998.
28:48That was HBK.
28:50That was the showstopper.
28:52This is Shawn Michaels.
28:53We knew this was gonna happen, JR.
28:55No, we, who's we?
28:56You got a mouse in your pocket?
28:58I didn't wee.
28:59I didn't know it was gonna happen.
29:00I don't, I'm not counting Shawn Michaels out yet.
29:02I still believe, I still believe Shawn Michaels.
29:05His heart is beating and he's got the soul of a warrior.
29:10He's not gonna quit.
29:11Look at these fans, they're dreaming, they're hoping that HBK can come back.
29:16Sorry, folks.
29:18We thought it would be Shawn Michaels back being the big factor in this match.
29:22That has not been the case.
29:25And Michael's a step off, he's been beat up, he's been battered, he's been fried.
29:30And it reverses the game, and the game went face first.
29:34Okay, okay, he's still got a little bit left, Shawn still got something left there.
29:37Shawn Michaels came, coming back and becoming the world champion.
29:41One of the great stories of all time in the WWE.
29:44And him retaining it here, perhaps it even topped that.
29:48After what we have seen in the first fall, Shawn Michaels on the Lutez press.
29:53And Shawn Michaels now with a straight right hand on the number one contender, Triple Eight.
29:58And vintage HBK, I gotta admit, vintage showstopper.
30:01But you wouldn't ordinarily see HBK just get flipped off like that after that Lutez press.
30:06And kind of those pistol moves.
30:08Hey, he's gonna get out.
30:08Triple Eight's trying to escape, he can win this match last second.
30:11Get over, get out.
30:12Triple Eight's going to the top, and both feet hit the floor.
30:14It's over, and the game wins it two straight.
30:18Shawn Michaels trying to bring Triple Eight's back in the ring.
30:21And man, you talk about no man's land.
30:23These two on that top rope, and Michaels sliding right down the cage.
30:27He's gonna keep all of his foot.
30:28Losing more skin and more hide.
30:30With the foot, Shawn.
30:30Shawn Michaels is the world's champion.
30:31Shawn Michaels has gotta stop the game, or it's over.
30:35He's gotta bring the game back into the cage, or it's over.
30:39His body is out, but Shawn's gotta hold his hair.
30:42Both feet have gotta touch the floor.
30:44And Shawn Michaels.
30:46Hey, look, look who just showed up back at ringside.
30:52That's Ric Flair back at ringside, but the focus is on the top of this cage.
30:56Man, whoever, if somebody falls to the floor, and obviously both feet would touch,
31:02this one's over.
31:03And normal somebody.
31:04That's even worse, he's hooked.
31:05He can break his ankle.
31:07Shawn Michaels.
31:07His other knee now getting twisted there, getting twisted in that cage.
31:12Shawn Michaels trying to pull himself back up.
31:17What is he?
31:18Triple H directing traffic, he's telling-
31:21What the hell is Flair doing?
31:24He's doing what he's told to do by Triple H, but I don't know what Triple H told him to
31:28do.
31:30I know that Triple H told Flair to get some tables out, but-
31:34What?
31:35Shawn Michaels, now he escapes, he wins his second ball, King.
31:39Triple H's got a handful of hair.
31:42Triple H's holding on.
31:43What is this?
31:44Holding on again and pulling Michaels.
31:47What is Flair doing?
31:52He's setting up a third table, JR.
31:54But what happens if the game goes off the top of the cage and goes through those tables,
32:00he wins this match.
32:02It's escaping.
32:03If you escape the cage and both feet touch the floor, it's over.
32:06That's an escape.
32:08Maybe the game's trying to figure a way to, I don't know, break his ball?
32:14If he crawl down and climb down on those tables, I don't know.
32:17Michaels has got the game back inside the cage now.
32:20Flair set up three tables.
32:22That's bad.
32:24That's not what Flair wanted to see.
32:26It's not what Triple H wanted to feel.
32:29Look at this, Earl Hebner is livid that Flair's back out here, but I don't think there's a thing he
32:33can do about it as long as he's inside that cage.
32:35He's got to give a fist to fry here now.
32:38Boom, boom, boom.
32:39He's trying to communicate this contest.
32:41What now?
32:42And Sean, look at this.
32:45HBK, that's a showstopper move.
32:47Okay, I'll give him that.
32:48He pulls one out every now and then.
32:50He reaches way down deep, pulls one out.
32:55But see, this is part of the HBK persona that is not good.
32:59Hey.
33:00He's wasting time.
33:01Come on.
33:02What the hell is Flair doing?
33:03Flair, that sound of a bitch does not belong in that cage.
33:07What?
33:08He has no business being in there at all.
33:11Shawn Michaels now, if two against one.
33:16Well, it is not.
33:17Shawn Michaels is eating the hell out of it for Ric Flair.
33:19If Two Rates escapes, it's over.
33:21He's halfway out the door.
33:23Two Rates was halfway out the door and now Flair's got a chair.
33:29That's how Michael took Flair.
33:31My God.
33:33It's one against two and one's winning.
33:35Shawn Michaels just went deep on two occasions to the opposite field on Flair.
33:41Look out, Flair.
33:44Flair's got just exactly what he deserves.
33:47No, that's it.
33:48Flair, that's neat.
33:51The former 16 title champion has gotten too close to the fire.
33:55And he'll realize, you better not hook Flair, what you can't kill.
34:00This is bad.
34:01One, two, three, four.
34:02Come on, referee, do your job.
34:03Get Flair out of there.
34:05We're so good.
34:07Flair is a bloody mess, but he can't be disqualified in a cage match.
34:13And the game, he just got back to his feet.
34:16He won the first film with the Pedigree.
34:18Triple H.
34:20Shawn Michaels counters the Pedigree in the back body drop.
34:23No!
34:24The Sweet Tim Music on Flair.
34:25It's a handicap match.
34:27Let's go.
34:27He got the shot in.
34:29The Sweet Tim Music on Triple H.
34:32It's a handicap cage match.
34:33Shawn, you gotta cover it.
34:34You gotta cover Triple H.
34:36No, I think Shawn wants to inflict some punishment.
34:39He wants to humiliate Triple H.
34:41This could be a huge mistake for Shawn Michaels in this cage match.
34:45There's no doubt he can pin Triple H right here.
34:50He got mine.
34:51Shawn Michaels gonna do here.
34:53Michaels down one fall to nine in this potential three fall match.
34:58We're in the second fall in this cage match.
35:00Uh-oh.
35:02Well, just as the game wanted to cripple Shawn Michaels,
35:06to put the showstopper back in a wheelchair.
35:09This is not smart.
35:10Why don't you just go ahead, climb out of the ring, win this fall,
35:14take your chances on the third, try to remain the champion.
35:16But no, HBK has to show up.
35:19The showstopper has to please the people.
35:22He's got to defy it all right here.
35:24This is-
35:25No!
35:27Right to the table, right to the blackboard,
35:30and Shawn Michaels evens it all up.
35:33The winner of this fall, evening this bout at one fall apiece, Shawn Michaels.
35:40And now-
35:41And now to ladder match.
35:43We've said if necessary, it's just become necessary.
35:46And I said that the street fight favored Triple H, and I said the cage match.
35:51And now, the third and deciding fall will be contested as a ladder match.
35:56Shut up Howard Finkle, we know that.
35:59The second fall, the cage match I thought favored Triple H.
36:03But even I have to admit, the ladder match favors Shawn Michaels.
36:08Shawn Michaels had the first ladder match.
36:10My God, look at Flair.
36:11He's a wreck.
36:13Flair, his face is a crimson mask.
36:18Hospital time.
36:19Get his ass out of here.
36:21My God, this is amazing.
36:23This is scary.
36:25What kind of internal injuries could that move have on both men?
36:32On both men is right, but Shawn Michaels able to immediately hook the leg of Triple H and
36:39get the pin.
36:39In the World's Heavyweight Championship, as Ric Flair being escorted back to the locker room.
36:44He's gonna need some medical attention.
36:45Shawn Michaels, bringing that huge ladder in the ring.
36:51Michaels has been bloodied, so is the game.
36:53We are down to the final and deciding fall.
36:56And to determine who will be the World's Heavyweight Champion.
36:59Look there, the World Heavyweight Championship belt is being hoisted up in the air,
37:05high up in the air.
37:07That belt better get that belt up there before Shawn gets it.
37:10He gets it now, it's over.
37:12Shawn Michaels stacking that ladder in the corner.
37:15Shawn Michaels in the game.
37:17It is a true gut check.
37:18Here deep, deep in the fourth quarter of this World Heavyweight Championship match.
37:24Fourth quarter.
37:25Third fall, JR.
37:28Man, that ladder is, as we have said, that steel, the steps, the posts, the cages,
37:35the ladders, so unforgiving.
37:37The steel doesn't give a damn about an individual's anatomy.
37:41Well, believe me, Shawn Michaels doesn't give a damn about Triple H's anatomy and vice versa.
37:48These two men have proven their innate toughness.
37:51Uh-oh.
37:51Time to begin here.
37:53And Michaels ramming that ladder right through the head of the game.
37:57That's about like getting hit by a car, I would think.
38:00Man.
38:01Much like getting it.
38:01Look out.
38:03That ladder right on the game, adding insult to injury.
38:07The game is still bleeding profusely.
38:09The number one contender, almost like a junkie needing that World Heavyweight Championship
38:15to simply survive in his life.
38:19That's Shawn Michaels assumption.
38:22Look at this.
38:23The ladder down.
38:25This is gonna be ugly here.
38:29Triple H trying to, he tried to twist his body away from that ladder but to no avail.
38:35That probably made it worse.
38:37His side ladder right on the edge of that ladder.
38:40Look.
38:40Now Shawn Michaels, he's got a one leg, he's done everything he could do physically and mentally
38:47to survive the first two falls of this slobber knocker of slobber knockers tonight.
38:53Here in Armageddon.
38:54What's he gonna do?
38:57King, who do you think showed up here?
38:59Tell me, is it Shawn Michaels or is it a showstopper?
39:02All right, all right.
39:04Well, he arrived late but showstopper's here now.
39:07He's damn right, he's here.
39:08And his heart's beating stronger than ever.
39:11And Shawn Michaels, what is he doing?
39:13He can't reach that title belt from there.
39:16I'm telling you.
39:18Maybe he wants to hit a bow.
39:20Grab that belt and one belt swoop and fall right up.
39:22No, look out.
39:23Shawn Michaels going for a pitch.
39:26And the game able to barely, and I mean by inches, avoid most of the contact.
39:33And that may come back and haunt HBK.
39:37He had the chance.
39:39If he had only taken that same amount of time.
39:43Look at this one more time.
39:46That's like, no.
39:48That's the Wile E. Coyote camera man.
39:50What an abrupt stop.
39:52That was just like he just landed with a splat, JR.
39:54Shawn Michaels carcass came, and now the game.
39:57Looking for a pedigree, and got his pedigree again.
40:01A bloody challenger with a world's heavyweight title.
40:04I told you it was Shawn Michaels that was here tonight.
40:06I told you all along.
40:07You didn't say that.
40:08You just, you changed your mind more than an old, old lady.
40:14Look at this now.
40:16This is what Shawn Michaels should have done just a few moments ago.
40:18If he'd taken that same amount of time and just set that ladder up instead of trying to do that
40:22huge splash on Triple H and grab that championship belt, he'd still be the world heavyweight champion.
40:29Triple H is not gonna waste any time.
40:31He's going right after the prize.
40:32Triple H has got that ladder right under the world's heavyweight title belt.
40:35This is the third in the signing fall.
40:37We're all leaving that one fall apiece here at Armageddon.
40:40The number one contender now, slowly, on that bad leg.
40:44Well, what do you expect?
40:45You think he's just gonna be able to climb up that ladder with ease?
40:47I'm surprised either of these guys can stand up or walk.
40:50I am too.
40:50I wasn't complaining.
40:52And Shawn Michaels now, trying to grab both feet of the game.
40:57Shawn Michaels holding on to what may be the last step before losing the world's heavyweight championship,
41:05if he can't get the game off that ladder.
41:10Shawn Michaels jerking the number one contender down.
41:15What a shot.
41:17All right.
41:17This is gonna be over now.
41:19Man.
41:20Shawn Michaels' sweet chin music takes the game to the outside.
41:24Do they have enough left?
41:26Does HBK or the Showstopper have enough left to get up?
41:30Now that Triple H is incapacitated.
41:32We've talked for years about Shawn Michaels' resiliency, his will to win.
41:37And we're gonna, the Supreme Test is here and now.
41:41With a bad wheel, losing blood, having the hell beat out of him in that street fight.
41:47Shawn Michaels is just three or four steps away.
41:52He's gonna make it.
41:54From getting to the top of the ladder.
41:55Shawn Michaels is gonna do it.
41:56Can you believe this?
41:58The place is not even in sight.
41:59The comeback after four years was extraordinary.
42:03He's got this.
42:04Three more steps.
42:06He's gonna do it.
42:07Shawn Michaels is gonna do it.
42:09He's got it.
42:09He's touching his title.
42:11No.
42:11My God.
42:16Shawn Michaels taking off that ladder.
42:18Going through three tables.
42:21The table set up by Triple H's advisor, Rick Flair.
42:25He's breathing.
42:27I don't think he's breathing.
42:29Shawn Michaels has crashed and burned thanks to the game in that 12 foot ladder.
42:35I don't think Shawn is breathing.
42:37Triple H doesn't give a damn if Shawn Michaels ever takes another breath.
42:42If he ever holds his child.
42:44If he ever sets foot in a wrestling ring as long as he lives.
42:48You're right.
42:48The game only cares about himself and being the world.
42:51And the dog, he wants to hold.
42:53Right there, he's got it.
42:54And the game is done.
42:58Here is your winner and new world heavyweight champion, Triple H.
43:06Hit the paramedics.
43:07Hit the helper for Shawn Michaels.
43:15Both these men may never be the same at the end of the game.
43:18Embracing the world's heavyweight title belt.
43:21Like it was a life-saving circus.
43:27My God, I'll tell you what, folks.
43:29You got your dollars worth here tonight out of this event.
43:34Unbelievable.
43:43I'll see you next time.
43:45Bye.
43:46Bye.
43:47Bye.
43:48Bye.