[action music playing]
[Big E] On this edition of Raw Classics,
it's the very best of "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels.
[Shawn] I will give you a show like you have never, ever seen before.
Why? Because I can.
[Big E] From defying authority to the sweetest of Sweet Chin Music.
[JR] Oh my God in heaven!
[Big E] Witness the jaw-dropping matches and moments
from the greatest in-ring performer of all time.
It's action you'll only see right here on Raw Classics,
exclusively on Netflix.
[energetic music playing]
Aw… welcome, WWE Universe,
to Raw Classics.
I'm your host, Big E.
And today, we're looking back at the very best of the icon,
"The Showstopper,"
"HBK" himself,
Shawn Michaels.
"The Heartbreak Kid" is practically Raw royalty,
having appeared in the very first episode back in 1993.
But of course, longtime fans of Shawn Michaels know
that his career began as one half of the legendary tag team The Rockers,
alongside Marty Jannetty
Fast-forward a few years,
and these two would be rock-and-rolling over the Intercontinental Championship.
[commentator] No! Oh my God!
[crowd clamoring]
["Sexy Boy" playing]
-♪ I think I'm cute… ♪ -[bell dings]
[Finkel] The following contest, scheduled for one fall,
is for the World Wrestling Entertainment Intercontinental Championship.
About to enter the ring, with his bodyguard, Diesel,
from San Antonio, Texas…
[Vince] It was just nine weeks ago, ladies and gentlemen,
when World Wrestling Entertainment history was made
right here on Monday Night Raw.
[Finkel] …Shawn Michaels.
[Vince] And there, Bobby Heenan. You remember very well what happened.
You witnessed it.
[Bobby] Yes, it's two against one.
And Marty Jannetty shouldn't have even had that match.
Who knows what's gonna go down tonight on Raw?
Is Perfect in the building?
[Vince] Nonetheless, a victory on the part of Marty Jannetty.
And Marty Jannetty is pumped. He is psyched.
He wants to return to New York City
and recapture an Intercontinental title.
[Bobby] But there's one very important obstacle in his way.
The insurance policy, big Diesel,
is in the corner of Shawn Michaels.
[Vince] Yes, an awesome man.
Many say, Macho, Diesel was partially responsible
for the title returning back to Shawn Michaels in Albany, New York.
[Randy] Not partially. Fully responsible.
[Vince] And here he comes.
[Finkel] His opponent and challenger,
from Columbus, Georgia, weighing 235 lbs,
Marty Jannetty!
[Bobby] What an ovation!
What a competitor, Marty Jannetty,
cranking it up here on Monday Night Raw.
[rock music playing]
[Bobby] If I were Shawn Michaels
and had the clout of the Intercontinental Champion,
I would have dictated to Jack Tunney this match will take place anyplace,
but not at Monday Night Raw.
This is bad luck for him.
[rock music continues]
[Vince] Marty Jannetty!
The fan support…
We are live from New York City.
-[Randy] Nothing like a title match. -[bell dings]
[Vince] Look at the size of Diesel.
[Randy] Bigger than the Empire State Building, no doubt.
[Vince] However, Diesel will not be in the ring.
A little consultation. That's all right.
But then from there Diesel has to step to the outside,
leaving Shawn Michaels all alone, one-on-one.
[Bobby] What a matchup.
[Vince] Cool dude in a loose mood, no doubt.
If you're Marty Jannetty.
what do you do here, Macho Man?
Wait a minute. From behind. You don't turn your back.
-[Bobby] You nail him from behind. -[Randy] That surprises me.
I thought Marty Jannetty was gonna start fast.
[Vince] Marty Jannetty on the receiving end of an attack
of Shawn Michaels.
Michaels, a series of elbows now.
[Bobby] Shawn Michaels trying to set up Jannetty.
Off the ropes for the ride. Back body drop.
[Vince] Look at that. Unbelievable balance.
Clothesline misses.
It's… No, it's not.
A backslide failed and a clothesline on target.
A cover. One, two, and…
Almost got it.
[Randy] Two great athletes. I'm excited. I got chills up and down my spine.
[Vince] Rolling back from behind. Two and… Yes.
[Bobby] No!
[Vince] Marty Jannetty on Shawn Michaels with victory on his fingertips.
From behind now, Shawn Michaels.
Driving down… Look, right up and over!
What a clever maneuver. Yes.
Talk about on a roll.
[Randy] This match has gone 45 seconds.
It's already one of the greatest I've ever seen.
[Vince laughs]
[Bobby] It looks to me like Jannetty played possum at the beginning.
He tried to sucker Shawn Michaels and to nail him from behind.
You don't wanna turn your back too many times to Shawn Michaels.
[Vince] And Marty Jannetty with a look over to Diesel,
and a look right back.
He's concerned with Diesel as well he should be.
[Randy] This is where they get down, right now.
[Vince] I would suggest Shawn Michaels may have a little bit more respect
for Marty Jannetty than he did earlier on.
[Bobby] Don't forget, McMahon, when he got in to fight Jannetty the first time,
he didn't know Jannetty would be his opponent.
He didn't know Mr. Perfect was gonna interfere.
He had everything going against him.
[Vince] See, by the way, I wonder if…
Can someone get… Is Mr. Perfect here tonight?
I wonder if Mr. Perfect is here.
[Bobby] I'll check with my staff.
Hey, stupid, come here. Go find out if Mr. Perfect's here tonight.
[Vince] On the rope, Michaels over Jannetty.
Coming back, and leapfrog by Jannetty.
[Bobby] And a hip toss… No. A reversal puts on the…
Look at that. A thumb to the eye.
And a clothesline misses,
and that kick missed.
[Vince] And now we see the frustration on the face of Shawn Michaels.
[Randy] I'm gonna tell you something right… right away.
Psychologically, this is awesome.
[Vince] Look of frustration on the face of Shawn Michaels.
He'll try and slow the tempo.
It's tough to do in a matchup with Jannetty.
He picks that tempo up,
and Jannetty, before you know it, you'll be wrestling his style of a match.
Back to the corner.
[referee] Come on! Move it out!
[Vince] Cheap shot by Michaels over the referee's head.
May have taken more out of Jannetty than we thought.
Look, and right in front of Diesel.
[Bobby] They're both former tag team partners,
and Shawn Michaels taught Marty Jannetty everything he knows.
Miss by Shawn there.
Bam! Arm drag takedown.
A hip toss.
Marty Jannetty with authority, a scoop and a slam! Oh!
-[Randy] Very interesting. -[Vince] Cover! That's two and three. No
So close!
[Randy] Nobody knows each other better than these guys, Vince McMahon.
[Vince] Yes, but I would suggest
Marty Jannetty knows Shawn Michaels a little better
than Michaels knows Jannetty.
[Bobby] What makes you think so?
[Vince] I would differ with that point of view, as Diesel looks on.
I would say that Marty Jannetty was the superior of the two
when they were a tag team years ago,
[Bobby] Oh, come on!
You probably voted for Spiro Agnew too.
-[Vince] Who? -[Bobby] Spiro Agnew.
[Vince] I wasn't old enough to vote when Spiro Agnew was around.
[Bobby] Spiro Agnew? Only 1936.
[Vince] Armbar now by Jannetty.
[Bobby] You had to be around.
[Vince] Thus far, Diesel has been relatively
ineffectual in this matchup.
[Randy] A non-factor.
[Bobby] Shawn Michaels told me Diesel's there just mainly
to keep the women off Shawn Michaels.
[Vince] Please!
[Bobby] They've been tearing at his clothes. They've been screaming.
It's worse than Elvis, worse than the Beatles,
the attention he's getting.
[Randy] All the women I know don't like Shawn Michaels.
[Vince] To the buckle now, Shawn Michaels, and here he comes.
Oh, he ran right into the boot.
Jannetty, on the second rope.
Yes! Beautiful maneuver.
-[Randy] Jannetty looks great tonight. -[Vince] Cover him.
[Randy] Absolutely. Cover him.
[Vince] Marty Jannetty's going up.
-He's gonna go for broke on this one. -[referee] One.
[Vince] Jannetty going way up. He's on the top rope now.
Marty Jannetty perhaps sensing victory.
And…
no.
[Bobby] Oh no, Shawn!
[Vince] Yes! DDT. Cover him.
One, two, three. Yeah!
-A new champion. -[Bobby] His foot's up.
-[Vince] A new champion. Way to go! -[Randy] Congratulations.
[crowd clamoring]
[Randy] He did it again.
[Vince] Marty Jannetty victorious.
We'll be back, as we continue.
We've already had one championship change
here on Monday Night Raw.
[Randy] Oh yeah!
[Vince] We're back, ladies and gentlemen, live from the Manhattan Center,
and believe it or not, this matchup is resuming here.
We've had a situation where the referee came over here during the break.
Bobby Heenan called Diesel and the referee over
and showed them the replay
where Shawn Michaels's foot was on the bottom rope.
The referee reversed the decision. The matchup resumes.
[Randy] Worst series of events I've ever seen.
[Bobby] Go ahead, chastise me for being an honest man.
[Vince] A cover here. Two. And almost a count of three again.
Come on!
[Randy] You wanna replay that one too?
[Bobby] Hey! Can I help that I'm an honest, decent man?
I can't let an injustice like that go by.
It's the instincts I have in me.
It's… it's the decency that oozes out of my pores.
I can't help it.
-Don't you smell the sincerity on me? -[Vince] Yeah.
-And down across the knee! -[Randy] Pin him!
[Bobby] Jannetty, another cover. Two and… Near-fall.
[Vince] Oh man. Jannetty now is getting frustrated.
[Bobby] And who wouldn't be frustrated?
During the break, ladies and gentlemen, he had the… the title in his hands.
He was walking around with the championship belt.
[Randy] I'm frustrated, too,
but the bottom line is he can't lose his cool.
He's gotta get over it. He's gotta beat him and beat him flat.
[Vince] Michaels now. Oh, nice maneuver by Jannetty.
And now he's gonna go to sleep.
-[Randy] Put him to sleep! -[Bobby] Oh no.
Get to the ropes, Marty. I mean Shawn. I mean Diesel.
-[Randy] Good night, Irene. -[Bobby] Come on, Shawn.
-[Randy] Say good night. -[Vince] Marty Jannetty piling pressure.
Really piling it on.
[Randy] He's in the middle of the ring too. That's a good sign.
[Bobby] It's the best place to be.
[Vince] There can be no mistake on this one.
There won't be any foot on the bottom rope this time.
Shawn Michaels is going nighty night.
There's nothing Diesel can do about it
except watch the title slip from the hands of Shawn Michaels.
Turning into him.
He's back to his feet.
[Bobby] Look at that maneuver.
Suplex.
[Vince] I've gotta give that to Shawn Michaels. What a maneuver.
[Randy] Give Shawn Michaels credit on that one.
[Bobby] It was all he could do. That was out of desperation.
[Vince] Marty Jannetty and Shawn Michaels in a seesaw matchup here,
opening up things here on Monday Night Raw.
We thought we saw the title change hands moments ago.
Elbow to the butt of the jaw.
[Bobby] Knock his teeth out.
[Vince] Michaels with a knee. To the outside, Marty Jannetty.
[Bobby] Wow.
[Vince] Out over there by Diesel.
[Randy] It's not a good place to be.
[Bobby] Let me ask you both something.
Let's say Marty Jannetty's foot was over the bottom rope
and Shawn had won the match,
would either of you have brought it to the referee's attention?
[Vince] Yes. Thank you.
-[Randy] I'm not even gonna answer. -[Bobby] 'Cause you're wrong.
[Randy] Maybe but maybe not. Who cares?
[Vince] Wait a minute. Coming up from behind now.
Shawn Michaels with Marty Jannetty. What's he gonna do?
[Randy] He hasn't decided.
[Vince] Back in the ring. It's Michaels with the momentum now.
Jannetty being set up, hurled to the far side.
[Bobby] Missed him with a clothesline, and…
Double collision but look at this.
[Vince] Another one.
Michaels is up. Not for long. Look at that!
[Bobby] Oh no.
[Randy] Turning point of the match there. Come on, Jannetty.
[Bobby] But he can't win the title with a count-out.
He can't do it.
You have to make the champion pin.
You have to pin the champion or make him submit.
[Randy] Shawn… Shawn Michaels is in a good place right now.
Get off him!
[Vince] Diesel over there with Shawn Michaels, trying to help him up.
The official outside.
Don't touch him!
We're gonna have to take this break.
We'll be right back as this match…
Oh, look at that. …resumes.
-Stay with us. -[Randy] Cheap shot.
[Vince] Shawn Michaels whipped to the buckle.
And no! Nice reversal by Shawn Michaels.
Michaels, with one leap, all the way up to the top rope,
and down!
[crowd cheering]
[Vince] We're back, live from New York City.
The Intercontinental Championship is up for grabs.
Here's a cover. One, two…
And a kick-out.
[Randy] One of the greatest matches I've ever seen.
[Vince] Barely a kick-out.
[Bobby] This hasn't stopped. They've been going just like this since the bell rang.
[Randy] Very controversial, I might add, Weasel.
[Bobby] And there's probably more hatred between those two
than anyone in the WWE.
[Vince] I don't know about that. I don't know how many--
[Randy] How about me and Weasel? Me and Bobby Heenan.
[Bobby] Yeah, but you're jealous of me, just like Jannetty's jealous of Michaels.
[Vince] Not much of an effort there to pin Marty Jannetty.
Shawn Michaels putting the bad-mouth on Jannetty.
-[Bobby] They're gonna be out of gas. -[Vince] Beg your pardon?
[Vince] They're gonna be out of gas, the pace they've been keeping.
They're in great shape, but what a pace.
[Randy] That's where champions are made, when they're running on empty.
[Vince] Jannetty reaching for the leg now, back to the high place,
trying to get back up.
Punch to the midsection. Breaks the hold. Another one!
Jannetty now with something on those punches, coming off, and… ooh!
The knee right in the midsection, Shawn Michaels on target.
[Bobby] Finish him off, Shawn. I've seen enough.
[Vince] You've seen enough?
[crowd] Whoomp! There it is! Whoomp! There it is!
[Vince] Front facelock, which can easily turn into a chokehold.
Very easily.
[crowd] Marty! Marty!
[Randy] Listen to these people.
[crowd] Marty! Marty! Marty! Marty! Marty!
[Vince] Capacity crowd on hand.
Unquestionably, the vast majority of them rooting for Marty Jannetty.
Jannetty, who earlier on thought he was
the Intercontinental Champion for the second time.
Uh…
[Randy] How about a replay on that one?
[Vince] Yeah, right.
Look at… look at this.
What trickery on the part of Shawn Michaels.
Michaels will do anything to retain the title. Anything.
He's been using the ropes all night. Look.
[Bobby] Are you trying to say Jannetty's had him on the ropes all night?
Or Shawn has had himself on the ropes all night?
Two ways to look at it.
[Vince] There's always two ways to look at things.
[Randy] I think Michaels is desperate.
[Vince] Third way would be the Weasel way.
Again using the ropes!
[referee] Get off the rope!
[Vince] Every extra bit of leverage that's applied takes its toll on Marty Jannetty.
Shawn Michaels really wearing down Jannetty.
[Randy] Michaels wouldn't use the ropes on Jannetty
if he wasn't worried about him.
[Vince] And again, the stern look of Diesel.
And the official concerned that Jannetty won't continue the matchup.
And no, he's still in there!
[crowd clamoring]
[Bobby] Keep him down, Shawn.
[Vince] Jannetty making his move. Back to his feet!
That takes its toll, trying to pick someone up by…
And he does it again!
Can't quite get him up.
-[Bobby] Jannetty now… oh! -[Vince] Oh!
What a cheap shot!
[Randy] Ride 'em, cowboy!
[Vince] That was, I believe, an inadvertent maneuver
on the part of Marty Jannetty.
[Bobby] Yeah.
That was deliberate, and you know it.
[Vince] I don't believe so. If it were, the official would call it.
And a right hand. And another one.
Jannetty now with Shawn Michaels, and, yes, the elbow.
[Randy] Jannetty's tasted the belt once tonight. He wants--
-[Vince] Two and three. -[Bobby] No!
[Randy] That could have been it. Almost.
Go get him, Jannetty.
[Vince] Michaels off the rope. Jannetty trying to--
No, look at this.
Shawn Michaels got Jannetty where he wants him.
Now look at this. Now who has who?
One, two, new champion!
-Yes! -[Bobby] Oh no!
[Vince] He got him. He got him.
[Bobby] Two or what? Two.
-Continue. -[Randy] Show me a replay.
[Vince] I'd like to see that on replay.
-[Bobby] Haven't got time right now. -[Vince] Michaels…
[crowd clamoring]
[Vince] Michaels going up to the top.
Shawn Michaels.
-And one… -[Bobby] Oh no!
[Vince] Yes! Yes!
-Two. -[Bobby] Unbelievable.
[Randy] My voice has gone, brother.
[Vince] You're exhausted calling a match like this.
[Bobby] Oh no!
[Vince] Imagine what the participants feel like.
[Bobby] Shawn can't get up.
[Vince] Jannetty's measuring him now. This is gonna be it.
Watch this thrust. Watch.
[Vince] Oh no.
[Bobby] Referee's gotta get him outta there.
[Vince] No, let Jannetty get him out.
Marty Jannetty with an unbelievable uppercut,
and he got him out of the ropes too.
Oh no!
[crowd clamoring]
[Vince] Back, back, back!
That one's outta here.
Holy cow. How about that?
[Randy] I've seen car wrecks not that bad.
-[Vince] Wait a minute. -[air horn blares]
[Bobby] What a kind gesture.
What a… what a fair sportsman that man is, Diesel.
[Vince] Yeah, right. Right.
No, don't cover him this way!
-One, two… -[Bobby] No, don't win the match this way!
-[Vince] Three. -[Bobby] Oh no.
[Randy] I'm sick.
["Sexy Boy" playing]
♪ I think I'm cute… ♪
[Finkel] The winner of this bout, and still Intercontinental Champion…
-[Vince] Look at this. -[Finkel] …Shawn Michaels.
[Vince] Shawn Michaels walks away with the Intercontinental Championship somehow.
Diesel at his side.
Shawn Michaels gets the victory.
♪ I'm not your boy toy ♪
Shawn and Marty certainly rocked the house that night,
with "HBK" picking up the win thanks to his bodyguard,
"Big Daddy Cool" Diesel.
Bodyguards were a "Boy Toy" staple in the 1990s,
and eventually Michaels enlisted the services
of one Sycho Sid.
To the surprise of no one,
Sycho Sid proved to be a little too psychotic for "HBK,"
leading to an epic showdown on Monday Night Raw.
["Sexy Boy" playing]
[Vince] Mr. Flamboyant.
Mr. Resilient.
Yes, Mr. Shawn Michaels, tonight, Monday Night Raw,
defending the Intercontinental Championship
against Sycho Sid.
It was some five months ago,
right after WrestleMania,
that Sycho Sid,
who was employed by Shawn Michaels as a bodyguard,
did a number on Michaels he will never forget
and put him out of action for some time.
[King] Don't you believe that Shawn Michaels regrets and rues the day
that he brought Sycho Sid into World Wrestling Entertainment?
[Vince] Perhaps so, but tonight, he can do something about it. Yeah.
Michaels can right the wrong.
Shawn Michaels, who has been on a tear as of late
here in World Wrestling Entertainment.
You might even liken Shawn Michaels to a modern-day Evel Knievel
here in World Wrestling Entertainment.
-[King] Evel Knievel? -[Vince] You got it right.
[King] You know what Evel Knievel was famous for?
Having every bone in his body broken at least four times.
[Vince] I can tell you this. Michaels throws caution to the wind.
There's nobody with this kind of flamboyance,
there's nobody with this kind of electricity,
and nobody with this kind of resilience.
He just keeps coming back, back right in your face.
[King] Yeah, he's all wrapped up in himself.
People who are wrapped up in themselves usually make a pretty small package.
And I can just see Sid taking that package and tossing it to the wind tonight.
[Vince] Well, originally at SummerSlam,
it was supposed to be Sycho Sid against Shawn Michaels.
-The match had already been announced. -[bell dings]
Then Gorilla Monsoon stepped in and said, "That's not what people wanna see."
"Fans of the WWE wanna see a ladder match."
And, boy, did they ever see it.
We know the ladder match took a lot out of Razor.
How much did it take out of Shawn?
We're about ready to find out. Here we go.
[King] I can tell you this, McMahon,
what this has done is prolong the inevitable
because Sid has just sat by. He has waited for this moment.
Look at him. And everybody knows that--
[Vince] Missing with a right-arm strike.
Michaels now with a series of left hands peppering Sycho Sid.
Sid for the ride. No, no, no. Bit of reversal there.
-And putting on brakes. Michaels-- -[King] Look out, Sid!
Michaels now still up, and yes.
Over the hip. Get him down, and… oh!
Sid drives down but nobody's there.
And a dropkick, nicely done by Shawn Michaels.
Michaels now coming off the rope. Michaels with a clothesline. Nicely done.
Sycho Sid down on the canvas.
Michaels thus far taking it to this big monster, Sycho Sid.
Look at him. Michaels is just all over Sycho Sid.
To the outside, Sid.
[King] Don't worry, McMahon.
It's gonna take a lot more than that to put him… Oh yeah.
He's not afraid of you.
You see, Sid is just as quick, he's just as agile as Shawn Michaels is.
But the difference is Shawn Michaels is six foot one
and weighs a mere 235 lbs,
but Sid, on the other hand, is six foot nine
and weighs 317 lbs, McMahon.
[Vince] Yeah, I know. He's a monster, no question about it.
No question about the athleticism of Sycho Sid as well.
It's anybody's guess who's gonna win this thing.
Is Sid gonna be the new Intercontinental Champion?
[King] Yes. Yes.
[Vince] Standing side headlock now applied by Shawn Michaels.
And you wonder what Ted DiBiase whispered in the ear of Sycho Sid
when Sid was collecting himself.
Michaels now, off the ropes, and--
Well, you don't do that.
Michaels bouncing off this monster, Sycho Sid,
this big 300-pounder. Off the rope again, and…
This time over the top. Yes.
Wait a minute. No! He didn't go over the top!
[King] Look out, Sid!
[Vince] And a dropkick. To the outside, Sycho Sid.
And Shawn Michaels is bringing down the house.
[King] He's a back-fighter. A back-fighter!
[Vince] You don't turn your back on Shawn Michaels,
and you better not spit in the wind.
Shawn Michaels, ladies and gentlemen,
proving why he is still the Intercontinental Champion.
[King] You mentioned earlier, McMahon, about the possibility
of myself and Isaac Yankem teaming up.
Well, everybody's talking about the fact that
Diesel and Shawn Michaels are teaming up,
Will they be Tag Team Champions? I don't think so.
I don't think Shawn Michaels
will be able to risk his Intercontinental title
because Shawn just may lose it to Sid right here tonight.
[Vince] All three titles up for grabs.
The first time that's ever happened here.
The first ever triple-header
coming your way, ladies and gentlemen, later this month.
However, right now, Michaels…
See, he just can't…
-There's too much strength. -[King] That's right.
[Vince] Michaels is gonna have to use his savvy,
have to use his agility, his speed.
Sycho Sid for the ride.
Coming off the rope. Dropki…
-[King] Oh no. -[Vince] Oh no!
Sycho Sid dropped Shawn Michaels down to the canvas.
[King] Right on the back of his head. Could be out like a light.
[Vince] Michaels might be seeing stars, or ladders, for that matter,
considering what that ladder match
took out of both Razor Ramon and Shawn Michaels.
Michaels now. Oh my goodness.
Back to the corner.
You have to question the wisdom of the interim president, Gorilla Monsoon,
making this title matchup here
on the heels so closely of SummerSlam.
Michaels unquestionably at a tremendous disadvantage.
[King] I guarantee you, Shawn Michaels could close his eyes
and not know whether that's
the huge, massive fist of Sycho Sid hitting him in the ribs
or that big metal ladder at SummerSlam.
[Vince] All right, now it's Sycho Sid sending Michaels to the corner.
My goodness, is he ever.
Wait a minute. Here comes Sycho Sid moving in.
[Vince] Look out. Oh wow.
That looked like Cofer kicking that…
kicking that winning field goal against the Jets yesterday.
[Vince] And look at that.
"The Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase peering down on Shawn Michaels.
Ted DiBi-- Oh no, to the outside.
This monster, this big 300-pounder, Sycho Sid,
who's giving Shawn Michaels a drubbing indeed.
Michaels now being hoisted up.
Look at the-- Oh no!
[King] That's it.
[Vince] Michaels hitting that apron, and Sycho Sid going back into the ring.
However, Sycho Sid cannot win the title if Michaels is counted out.
Sycho Sid must make Shawn Michaels submit
or he must… Oh, come on.
-Behind the official's back. -[King] What? What?
[Vince] Ted DiBiase getting in a few licks on his own.
Finally, the official coming back around. Michaels is hurt.
Michaels has not recuperated from the ladder match.
Michaels is in trouble.
[King] That's not it at all, McMahon. I can see it happening.
Look at this. That coward is gonna lay there.
Michaels is gonna lay there and get counted out
so he can't lose the belt.
[Vince] Well, it's true that the title only changes hands
via pinfall or submission.
And Michaels just seconds away from being counted out
and losing the match,
but he might save his Intercontinental title
if he just lays outside.
-Eight! -[Vince] Now we're up to a count of eight.
-[King] Ten. -[Vince] We're up to nine.
[Vince] Michaels comes back in.
What a competitor. The match continues. Stay with us.
[Vince] Welcome back, everyone, to more Monday Night Raw.
The Intercontinental title hanging in the balance.
Sycho Sid with a bear hug on Michaels,
and Michaels hammering away,
trying to escape.
Shawn Michaels finally now escaping the bear hug.
Off the ropes, Shawn Michaels. Oh, runs right into a boot.
Sycho Sid. A nice hip toss.
Leg scissors down, and a kip-up. Look at that maneuver.
-Look at the athleticism of Sid. -[King] I told you.
I told you. Here we go.
[Vince] Michaels… driven down to the canvas.
Unbelievable.
[King] ♪ We've got a new champion We've got a new champion ♪
[Vince] Michaels is not gonna get up after that.
Sycho Sid just drove him down to the canvas.
[King] Look at DiBiase. He's counting the money already.
[Vince] And Sycho Sid calling for the belt.
[King] There's only one thing left to do now.
Here it comes, McMahon. You know it as well as I do.
Powerbomb!
-Come on, baby. Yes! -[Vince] And Shawn Michaels being set up.
-Sycho Sid setting up Michaels. -[King] Enjoy it.
-Relish it. -[Vince] Here comes the powerbomb.
And…
-No! No! -[King] What?!
[crowd roaring]
[Vince] A last-minute back body drop there by Shawn Michaels.
And Sycho Sid had his shot.
Shawn Michaels paying the price. Here comes the double axe.
To the midsection, Shawn Michaels.
Michaels quicker than Sycho Sid.
Yes! Another shot to the midsection.
Michaels on his feet. Michaels with a right hand.
-Sid blocks. A right hand follows up. -[King] Come on, Sid.
[Vince] They're slugging it out here on Monday Night Raw.
And yes, Michaels peppering Sycho Sid.
A reversal. Off the rope. Oh yeah.
[crowd roaring]
[King] Come on, ref. How many fists are you gonna let him use?
-[Vince] Cover. Look at that. -[King] Look at this.
[Vince] Michaels incensed.
Michaels trying to even the score against this huge monster.
Michaels is on the outside. Shawn Michaels going up to the top.
Michaels now with an opportunity, and…
Yes, flying body press.
Hooked. One, two. It's over.
-It's not over. -[King] No! He kicked out. He's alive.
[Vince] That monster, Sycho Sid, turns the tide again.
What a matchup.
Michaels now, off the rope.
Under the roundhouse, Shawn Michaels.
Yeah. To the midsection, a superkick.
-[King] No, look out! -[Vince] Michaels.
-Shawn Michaels now and Sycho-- -[King] No.
[Vince] Cover him. Cover him.
-One, two… -[Vince] Not with DiBiase…
-[Vince] Yes! Yes! Yes! -[bell dings]
-[crowd roaring] -["Sexy Boy" playing]
[Finkel] The winner of this match,
and still Word Wrestling Entertainment Intercontinental Champion,
"The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels.
[Vince] Shawn Michaels
retains the Intercontinental Championship here tonight
on Monday Night Raw.
And Michaels has just gotta be dancing on the ceiling.
Dancing on top of the world.
What about it, Jerry Lawler? Take a look.
It's the new WWE generation coming at you.
[King] I can't stand him, McMahon.
I just can't stand him.
Look at him!
[Vince] Yes, indeed. Michaels, "Mr. Flamboyance."
-[King] Wait a minute. What's he doing? -[Vince] With a show after the show.
Which you can only get on Monday Night Raw.
Just how raw are we gonna get? Oh baby.
I don't know. What about the triple-header matchup coming your way?
-Michaels and Diesel. -[King] I can't… I can't look at this.
-[Vince] You can't look at what? -[King] Him!
[Vince] Look at the flamboyance of this man.
Yes, the resilience of Shawn Michaels extraordinary,
coming off that ladder match
and retaining the Intercontinental Championship tonight.
However, will Michaels still be the Intercontinental Champion
after that triple-header matchup
when he teams with "Big Daddy Cool" Diesel,
and they face Yokozuna and Owen Hart?
[King] Yeah, I can't wait to see the look on…
Like her face right there.
When Yoko and Owen rearrange the face of Shawn Michaels.
He won't be so appealing to all these young girls.
He won't be so cute when they've finished with him.
[Vince] What a matchup, ladies and gentlemen.
Shawn Michaels still the Intercontinental Champion.
The resourceful and wily "Heartbreak Kid" never backed down from a challenge
and proved it's not about the size of the dog in the fight.
It's about the size of the fight in the dog that truly mattered.
[upbeat music playing]
As "HBK" continued writing his own legendary story
in singles' competition,
he would at times find himself tagging with the most unlikely of allies,
like "The Texas Rattlesnake,"
"Stone Cold" Steve Austin.
These strange bedfellows, for better or worse,
were a dangerous combination
and vied for Tag Team gold
against champions, The British Bulldog and Owen Hart.
[bell dings]
[Vince] And here it comes.
[Finkel] The following tag-team contest…
[Vince] Before there was Shawn Michaels, there was Dude Love, right?
[King] Yeah.
[Vince] Wait till you see the footage next week.
as we look at the Mankind, the Cactus Jack years.
You're not gonna believe what you'll see next week.
[Vince] Here he comes. In action after a four-month absence.
Does he still have the goods?
[Finkel] …of 475 lbs,
from San Antonio, Texas…
[Vince] What a reception!
[Finkel] …"Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels.
[Vince] Shawn Michaels back in action.
Unquestionably, one of the greatest athletes in WWE history.
Will there be ring rust tonight?
Can he coexist with "Stone Cold" Steve Austin?
Oh baby!
[crowd cheering]
♪ They see me walk ♪
♪ They hear me talk ♪
♪ I make them feel ♪
♪ Like they're on Cloud nine ♪
[song fades]
[Vince] Yes, indeed, and here he comes.
Here comes the… the tag team partner
of Shawn Michaels.
[Finkel] His partner, from Victoria, Texas,
"Stone Cold" Steve Austin.
[Vince] And Austin is just about ready, if you'll pardon the expression,
to open a can of whoop-ass.
[King] My daddy did that to me in the ninth grade.
I'll never forget it.
That whoop-ass is hard to wash off.
This is like John Dillinger and Baby Face Nelson trying to coexist.
They wanna rob the same bank.
I just hope they don't shoot each other.
[Vince] And by the way, we can make it official.
We are just told that The Legion of Doom
will have an opportunity to face Michaels and "Stone Cold,"
should they become Tag Team Champions here tonight.
That'll take place next week,
if, in fact, Michaels and Austin can win the title.
["Hart Attack" playing]
[Finkel] Their opponents,
to be escorted by members of The Hart Foundation,
at a total combined weight of 480 lbs,
the World Wrestling Entertainment Tag Team Champions,
introducing first, also European Champion,
The British Bulldog,
and his partner,
three-time Slammy Award winner,
and current Intercontinental Champion,
Owen Hart.
[Vince] Seems to be a little conference going on.
We'll take this break while they sort it out.
If anything happens, we'll present it when we come back
live from the Tag Team Championship.
[King] We're back and we're live, ladies and gentlemen.
[Vince] Yes. Here we go. The Tag Team titles up for grabs.
The British Bulldog and Owen Hart.
Uh-oh, look at-- Michaels going after 'em.
Here comes "Stone Cold."
"Stone Cold" wearing out Owen Hart. Throws him in.
Likewise, Michaels and the Bulldog, sent him all the way through the ring.
[King] Titles on the line, and already tonight,
Austin and Michaels have been beat up by The Hart Foundation.
Owen Hart.
[Vince] Oh, that's a knee to the midsection.
[crowd roaring]
[Vince] And you talk about tenacity.
You've gotta be talking about "Stone Cold."
"Stone Cold" driving the elbow down in the face of Owen Hart.
-Going for the Sharpshooter. -[King] Look out.
[Vince] And The British Bulldog making certain that was not gonna happen.
Risking disqualification, and quite frankly,
they don't care if they're disqualified.
They don't care if they're counted out. They wanna save the title. Oh!
But you know what? They would also like to beat Austin.
And, oh, almost a pin there.
[King] You wonder what kind of continuity we'll see with Austin and Michaels.
-Are they gonna make tags? There's one. -[Vince] There's one.
[King] Well, keep track of that.
Michaels showing that great athleticism.
Nailing the Bulldog.
[Vince] Austin all over Owen Hart now.
Make that Shawn Michaels.
And Michaels trying to hang onto the wrist.
Nice maneuvering. And a nice reversal there by Owen Hart.
And a rake in the face. Here comes The British Bulldog.
Bulldog and Owen…
[wrestlers grunting]
[Vince] …obviously have a huge advantage here
in this matchup in terms of continuity.
[King] Well, yeah, not only are they brother-in-laws,
they've… they've been together so long as tag team partners.
They're the finest tag team in the world today
anywhere you wanna look.
[Vince] And thus far, Shawn Michaels is showing no ring rust.
-Michaels fighting… -[King] Hurricanrana by Shawn Michaels.
He hasn't missed a beat.
He hasn't missed a step in his four months off.
[Vince] Then again, it's early in the match.
We'll find out how he can do in the punishment department
if Bulldog and Owen can get to him.
Oh! Enzuigiri by Michaels.
One, two, and--
A kick-out by The British Bulldog. Just in the nick of time.
A less powerful athlete than the Bulldog would have been beaten right there.
Remember, this is for the WWE Tag titles.
"Stone Cold" Steve Austin gets the tag
and now goes to work on The British Bulldog.
"Stone Cold." Uh-oh.
In the lower abdominal area.
[King] Some teamwork there because Michaels distracted the referee.
Whoa.
And that almost brought The Hart Foundation,
the remaining members of the foundation,
down to get "Stone Cold."
Austin does not want to get disqualified here.
Neither does Shawn Michaels.
The WWE title does not change hands
on a disqualification or on a count-out.
[Vince] The Legion of Doom are scheduled to face The British Bulldog and Owen Hart
at the King of the Ring for the Tag Team Championship.
They're watching on right now live, ladies and gentlemen.
Indeed, if in fact, as we announced earlier,
if Austin and Shawn Michaels become champions,
they get a shot next week.
But you have to wonder how likely that is.
[King] It doesn't look too likely right now, but anything could happen.
Owen Hart doing a number on Steve Austin on the outside.
[Vince] All over him.
[King] Austin… Austin tastes the steel.
And it doesn't taste good.
Wait a minute.
-Here come The Hart Foundation. -[Vince] Oh no.
The whole foundation coming down here,
and the officials are trying to shoo them back.
Who'll keep control of this match? Stay with us.
[Vince] Raw Is War. The Tag Team titles up for grabs.
In the ring right now, "Stone Cold" Steve Austin,
in the black tights,
against Owen Hart,
a co-holder of the Tag Team Championship.
The challenger mowing down one of the champions.
Austin with a crisscross. Austin now…
Uh-oh, Austin's in trouble.
[King] Owen Hart with a sleeper. And Austin counters.
Austin drove his own head right up under the jaw
of one half of the WWE Tag Team Champions.
[Vince] And that's just one of the reasons why Austin is considered
one if not the toughest SOB in the WWE.
[King] I don't know of many people that would dispute that.
And the sea of Austin 3:16 shirts.
It's absolutely phenomenal.
[Vince] Here we go, the Bulldog in.
Here comes Austin's partner, Shawn Michaels.
Michaels… Wow.
[Vince] Michaels is electric.
Catching flies.
[crowd roaring]
[Vince] Dropkick.
It's as if Shawn Michaels hasn't missed a day.
Michaels off the rope. Uh-oh!
-Oh! -[King] Oh!
[King] That's a difference-maker right there.
[Vince] Now the official could disqualify The British Bulldog
if he wanted to right there.
That's a judgment call.
If he did, of course,
that would certainly prevent Bulldog and Owen from losing the titles,
although they would effectively lose the match. Oh!
[King] Nobody wants to see a disqualification or a count-out.
Let's have a winner by submission or pinfall.
Shawn Michaels's back just rammed into the steel ring post
by Owen Hart, who is not the legal man in the ring.
[Vince] But The British Bulldog is.
And now the question is can the Bulldog put away Shawn Michaels?
This was the true test for Michaels here
as to whether or not Michaels can take the punishment
after being out for so long.
That's far, he's done quite well,
both in offense as well as defense. Oh!
And…
And the cover, and is it a…
Almost, but no.
[King] Fatigue's gotta be a factor now for Shawn Michaels.
His first match back in weeks and weeks.
-[Vince] Uh-oh! -[King] Upside down! What impact.
Michaels upside down.
He may be turned inside out here.
-Uh-oh. -[Vince] He is. Here we go.
Here comes the powerslam, and Bulldog likely to put Michaels away.
That could do it. The cover. The count.
-[King] Look out! -[Vince] Austin comes in.
[crowd clamoring]
[King] "Stone Cold" Steve Austin saves Shawn Michaels.
-Well, this thing is… It's chaotic. -[Vince] Oh no.
[King] Austin just defies authority.
A gutwrench into a suplex.
[Vince] And down with the leg.
-Leg drop. Is it enough? -[King] Michaels…
[Vince] No. Kicks out again.
[King] A real gut check for Shawn Michaels,
the former WWE Champion,
right back from the frying pan into the fire.
His first match back for Tag Team gold here.
[Vince] We last saw Shawn Michaels
in the ring, you will recall, Lowell, Massachusetts,
when he surrendered the WWE Championship.
He's back.
And thus far, surprisingly,
Michaels and Austin have coexisted quite well.
[King] They certainly have, much to everybody's surprise,
including yours truly.
[Vince] From the other side, and… Oh!
[King] Tremendous belly-to-belly suplex.
-Should be all, but here comes Austin. -[Vince] Pulling Owen Hart off.
And Austin risking disqualification.
Uh-oh. Look out.
Austin… taking the bait.
A double-team effort now on Michaels in the corner.
[King] The Tag Team Champions with an illegal double-team,
taking advantage of every opportunity
to gain that unfair advantage.
[Vince] And now the Bulldog and Owen Hart are slowing things down.
They're masters at tag team competition.
No team has ever been better.
[King] It's… it's all about pace
and dictating pace.
Michaels, sunset flip.
One, two…
-[Vince] The ref distracted by Owen Hart -[King] Three, four, five.
[Vince] And Owen Hart distracted the official as long as he could.
Oh no. The Bulldog mowing down Michaels.
The British Bulldog drops the leg. What a seesaw match.
And another cover.
Wow. That left shoulder barely up.
[King] Whether you love Shawn Michaels or you hate him, it's really irrelevant.
He's a magnificent athlete with a tremendous fighting spirit.
A lesser athlete would have stayed down on the canvas on that one.
[Vince] Shawn Michaels…
trying to reach to tag his partner,
an unlikely tag team partner at that in "Stone Cold" Steve…
Oh, tag is made!
And the official had his back turned.
Owen Hart distracted the official again. That's what we're talking about.
Owen and Bulldog, masters.
[crowd roaring]
[King] The referee did not allow the tag
because the referee did not see the tag.
[Vince] And Austin just made an obscene gesture
to "The Hitman" Bret Hart.
Uh-oh, and Michaels…
[King] It may be time for a superplex.
[Vince] Michaels is in trouble.
[King] Michaels better block it, or it'll be all over.
[Vince] Michaels hammering away on Owen Hart.
Drops him back.
[crowd cheering]
[Vince] "HBK" will fly!
Oh!
One, two, and… No.
Oh! Forget about it.
[King] That's what put Shawn Michaels on the shelf.
-[Vince] Remember-- -[King] On the same mat.
The same hold in the same ring over a year ago.
Oh, what atmosphere here. What a tag team matchup.
[Vince] And… Oh no.
[crowd cheering]
[Vince] Michaels's dexterity pays off again.
Michaels trying to reach for the tag.
[King] Michaels and Austin…
[Vince] There it is.
[King] …they're challengers. Michaels gotta tag.
[Vince] Bulldog tagged in. Here comes Austin.
[crowd roaring]
[Vince] Austin is cleaning house. The official better watch out.
Austin'll mow the official down too.
"Stone Cold" to the Bulldog. Look at him go to work.
Austin's like a rabid animal.
[crowd clamoring]
[King and Vince] Oh!
[King] Austin going for the Stone Cold Stunner.
And Owen Hart broke it up.
All four in the ring now.
[Vince] The official trying to maintain control.
[King] Sweet Chin Music!
He got it! He got it!
One, two…
-Yes! Yes! Yes! -[Vince] Yes!
[crowd roaring]
[bell dings]
[Vince] We have new Tag Team Champions.
But look at this. The Hart Foundation…
-[King] A Hart attack. -[Vince] …is all over Shawn Michaels.
[bell dings]
[King] And Austin's not helping Shawn.
[Vince] Austin has that championship belt.
[Vince] And wait a minute. He just spotted Bret Hart.
"The Hitman" is up there all by himself.
Bret "The Hitman" Hart.
-[bell dinging] -[Vince] Oh no!
[crowd roaring]
[Vince] Austin is all over Bret Hart.
No! No!
[King] Austin is taking Bret Hart apart!
Here comes The Hart Foundation.
But I think the damage has been done to "The Hitman,"
as damn sure they've done to Shawn Michaels.
[crowd clamoring]
[Vince] Shawn Michaels has paid the price of victory.
[crowd] USA! USA! USA!
There's no question that it's always better
to dance with a friend than an enemy.
And in 1997, fellow degenerate Triple H would become Shawn's right-hand man,
forming the legendary faction D-Generation X.
The juvenile duo became known
for their outrageous envelope-pushing behavior.
And on this edition of Monday Night Raw,
The Kliq members set their sights
on poor WWE Commissioner Sergeant Slaughter.
["Sexy Boy" playing]
[JR] And you might be saying, a week from now,
"The new WWE Champion, Shawn Michaels."
-Cut the music. -[music stops]
[crowd booing]
[JR] "Ravishing" Rick Rude.
What I'd like to have right now
is for all you fat,
out-of-shape,
Pennsylvania pissants…
[crowd booing]
[JR] Wow.
[Rick] …button your lips and open your eyes
while I give you the past,
the present,
and the future of professional wrestling,
D-Generation X.
["Sexy Boy" playing]
[JR] Quite an introduction
by "Ravishing" Rick Rude. And here they come.
Hunter Hearst Helmsley,
along with Shawn Michaels and Chyna.
♪ I got the moves that really move 'em… ♪
[JR] Who really wears the pants in the family is what I'm wondering.
[Vince] I don't know that it matters.
Watching us live, ladies and gentlemen,
in his home in Calgary, Alberta, Canada,
a man who refused to be here tonight
as a result of the comments and the actions of that man last week.
We're talking about Bret "The Hitman" Hart.
The best there is, the best there was,
and perhaps the best there ever will be.
But all of that will come to a head
this Sunday on pay-per-view.
when Shawn Michaels and "The Hitman" get it on.
And it wouldn't surprise me, as you said earlier on, JR,
that it was gonna be the very last time they would ever be in a ring together.
[JR] It's gonna be very special.
We'll say hello to all our fans watching across Canada on TSN.
We're looking forward to seeing you this Sunday in Montreal on pay-per-view.
Shawn Michaels, "The Heartbreak Kid."
♪ Eat your heart out, girls ♪
♪ Hands off the merchandise… ♪
[JR] What does that gesture mean?
[King] I have no idea.
-You really want me to tell you? -[JR] I don't know. Just wondering.
They are degenerates, and they are proud of being degenerates.
And if Shawn Michaels does become the WWE Champion,
who knows what's gonna happen?
[crowd clamoring]
Shawn Michaels,
let's take you back to this past week on Raw.
Bret Hart vs. "The World's Most Dangerous Man," Ken Shamrock
for the WWE Championship.
Near the end of the matchup,
you came from out of nowhere… Look at the TitanTron.
…and interfered.
[Vince] Oh! Ever the opportunist.
[Cole] Now, perhaps now…
as you see, Ken Shamrock…
[Vince] Shamrock could have become the WWE Champion.
[JR] Should be the champion right now.
[crowd clamoring]
[King] Whoa.
[crowd whooping]
[Vince] Wait a minute. Did he just…
Perhaps now, Shawn Michaels and D-Generation X,
you may have--
You talked enough.
Let me tell you something, Michael Cole.
You know, D-Generation X has come out here,
week after week…
-[crowd clamoring] -Shut it.
[crowd clamoring loudly]
We've come out here week after week,
we've given you an extremely hard time,
and you've done one heck of a job.
Most people would have taken off by now,
and God knows, we've run out our share of announcers.
You've done a heck of a job. Put it here.
That's right.
You deserve all the…
[JR] Oh…
[crowd clamoring]
-[King] That about does it. -[JR] He shouldn't take that.
-[Vince] No. -[JR] Listen--
[Shawn] Okay, now… now that we've had the comic relief,
it's time for the wrestling world
to hear it from the lips of the man.
As everyone knows,
"The Heartbreak Kid" is "The Showstopper,"
the main event,
the icon of World Wrestling Entertainment that can still go.
But now I have decided
to take it up one level higher.
From now on, Shawn Michaels
will always be known
as the wrestling--
No, no, no, no, Shawn.
Now, I'm your friend. I'm your best friend.
And I know where you were gonna go with that.
Right.
But you might be the icon,
and you are "The Showstopper," but let me tell you what,
to be the god,
you actually have to be as old as God.
To be a god,
you had to be there when Pontius Pilate made the turn.
You had to be the main event in the Colosseum
when the wall came down.
And you had better be able to walk on water
if you expect anybody to watch "Age In The Cage."
Okay, Triple H, you've made your point.
But one thing is for sure.
At Survivor Series, I will show Bret Hart
that I am indeed the man.
But what I wanna comment on right now
is what everybody was talking about last week.
Everybody is upset because last week
Shawn Michaels cracked a few people up. [laughs]
[King] So to speak.
But that is nothing,
nothing, compared to what I'm gonna do next week.
[Vince] Wait a minute.
Next week I've got two things I'm gonna do.
First, "The Heartbreak Kid" is gonna come out here
and walk naked.
-[cheering, screaming] -[Vince] What?!
[JR] What is he talking about? Good God.
[Vince] He's gonna what? Wait a minute.
This is going entirely too far.
[Shawn] And then the next thing that I'm gonna do
is take "The World's Most Dangerous Man," Ken Shamrock,
and show him the world's most dangerous man.
[crowd cheering and booing]
[Vince] I guess by that, he's going to challenge Mr. Shamrock…
-Everybody knows DX calls the shots. -[Vince] …next week.
So, Slaughter, why don't you get out here and make that match official?
[Vince] I can tell you, the Commissioner is watching this
because of what--
Come on, Chin, get out here.
-[Vince] …of what Michaels did last week. -[Shawn] And that's an order.
[Vince] The Commissioner forbidding Michaels to drop his trou or…
[Shawn] Come on, Chin Man!
-[Vince] …anything at all like that. -[Shawn] Bring that huge chin down here.
[JR] He said he's gonna be naked, McMahon.
[Triple H] …so you can get it in.
[Vince] This is interesting that Shawn Michaels and DX would call out…
Make it official, big man.
[Vince] …Commissioner Slaughter.
-Asking for a match with Shamrock. -Let me get this straight, "HBK."
You want Ken… Ken Shamrock in a match here next week on Raw?
Hold… hold on. Hold on.
[Vince] What?
[chuckles] Give me…
-[Shawn] Go ahead. -[Triple H] Go ahead.
[Vince] They'll do anything to humiliate anyone.
Let me get this straight, again.
You want Ken Shamrock here next week?
Whoa, whoa. Hold… hold on. This isn't working.
[Vince] What are these two degenerates up to now?
[JR] It's a sophomore class field trip.
-Harpo and Groucho. -We're ready.
Now you can go.
[JR] Oh, they're… they're a riot. Windshield wipers?
I remember guys like you at boot camp. Real cute.
But we had ways to straighten them out.
Let me tell you.
You want Ken Shamrock next week right here on Raw?
Well, there's one stipulation.
You are gonna wrestle Ken Shamrock,
but it's gonna be tonight right here on the War Zone.
-[crowd roaring] -[Vince] Uh-oh.
[JR] Don't think that's what they had in mind.
[inaudible]
DX and their humiliation of the Commish, Sgt. Slaughter,
proved that no one was off-limits
when it came to the sophomoric antics of D-Generation X.
While it seemed like all fun and games for the "Sexy Boy,"
injuries would force Shawn Michaels to step away from active competition
for nearly four years.
But like a phoenix, "The Heartbreak Kid" would rise again,
and he didn't miss a step.
♪ Ain't no stopping me now ♪
♪ You can't rock with me ♪
♪ No stoppin' … ♪
[Garcia] Making his way to the ring,
from Orangeburg, South Carolina,
weighing in at 248 lbs,
he is the Intercontinental Champion,
Shelton Benjamin.
[King] Well, you know what, I hope Benjamin's opponent is Triple H.
[JR] Well, it might be.
All I can say is that Shelton Benjamin proved last night what I've been saying.
He's the best pure athlete in the WWE.
♪ And I'll pass their test Believe in yourself ♪
♪ Change is everything ♪
[song fades]
[Garcia] And his opponent…
["Sexy Boy" playing]
-[King] What?! -[JR] Oh, King, look!
-[King] Wait a minute! -[JR] Shawn Michaels.
[Garcia] …from San Antonio, Texas,
"The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels.
[King] Shawn Michaels is in the tournament?!
[JR] Shawn Michaels in the Gold Rush Tournament.
Shawn Michaels is gonna wrestle Shelton Benjamin.
[crowd roaring]
-[King] Oh man, this is huge. -[JR] This is gonna be awesome.
This is gonna be awesome.
Shawn Michaels and Shelton Benjamin.
Oh man, the styles.
-Oh, the history. -[King] Forget the styles.
Let's talk about "HBK" back in the title hunt.
"HBK" wanting to be the number-one contender.
Wanting to be the World Heavyweight Champion again.
Oh, this is big.
[JR] I'll tell you what, General Manager Eric Bischoff
has not disappointed here tonight with these matchups.
These men did not know
they were gonna be even in a tournament earlier today.
They didn't know who their opponents were gonna be
until they were introduced.
Did you… Look at it. It's still there.
Did you see the reaction on the face of Shelton Benjamin
when "HBK" was announced?
Oh man!
[crowd cheering]
[JR] I'll tell you what, Shawn Michaels at Backlash,
along with Hulk Hogan, electrified the crowd.
It was a part of WWE history that will live forever.
The first-time pairing of "The Immortal" Hulk Hogan
and Shawn Michaels, just 24 hours ago,
that brings us here and now to tonight.
[King] That's right. 24 hours ago.
If you missed Backlash, you really missed something special. Look at this.
[JR] Nice waist-lock takedown by Michaels
on the former amateur wrestling All-American.
And Benjamin sits out.
Benjamin trying to hook the legs. Michaels trying to sit out.
Michaels in the ropes quickly.
[Earl] Come on, Benjamin. Let him up. One…
-[JR] Michaels quickly in the ropes. -Two! Need a break.
[JR] Senior referee Earl Hebner calling for a break. Got a clean one.
[King] That's a form of… a form of an escape, isn't it?
[JR] Absolutely.
-[crowd chanting] "HBK!" -[JR] "HBK."
That "HBK" chant is starting here already here in Boston.
[King] You've gotta remember one thing.
We heard Jericho chants last night at Backlash,
but those chants didn't do "Y2J" any good.
[JR] Michaels, nice chain move into the hammerlock on Shelton Benjamin.
And Michaels is a…
just a… a wonderful… wonderful, talented veteran from San Antonio.
Counters again into the hammerlock on Shelton Benjamin,
the reigning Intercontinental Champion.
Waist-lock takedown.
[King] Nice takedown there. That's a… There you go.
[JR] And Michaels again trying to sit out.
He got on his back there.
You don't wanna get on your back long with Benjamin.
And Michaels, again, wrestles and fights his way…
-[Earl] Get him off. All right. -[JR] …to the ropes.
Mi… Michaels must be thinking, King, "What do I have to do here
to gain an advantage?"
Well, Shelton Benjamin, he's got a…
I kinda like a little bit of an arrogant streak in a man like this.
Little bit of cockiness. Reminds me of myself.
You can see on Benjamin's face--
[King] Nice. Nice side headlock takeover.
[King] I don't think that Shelton Benjamin is intimidated by Shawn Michaels, do you?
[JR] I don't think so. There's a great deal of respect
for this young man from Orangeburg, South Carolina.
[King] Well, you know and I know, we've talked to him,
we've seen a difference in Benjamin
since becoming the Intercontinental Champion.
All of a sudden, once he won that title, he gained a world of confidence.
[JR] Shawn Michaels, nice shoulder block.
The pace quickens here.
-And Michaels, good counter. -[King] Oh, there you go.
[JR] Nice counter.
Benjamin with a couple of kicks. The first one stunned Michaels,
and a deep arm drag takedown.
And another deep arm drag takedown.
Michaels stepping away. Got beaten to the punch.
Michaels getting frustrated here now.
[King] Little bit of frustration from "HBK."
[JR] Benjamin quicker than a hiccup.
Those two deep arm drag takedowns reminded me of Ricky Steamboat.
[King] I… I like it when Shawn Michaels gets a little bit frustrated.
-You know why? -[JR] Why's that?
[King] Because then he'll pull out all the stops,
and you'll see the good old Shawn Michaels that we know and love.
I mean, a guy, the "HBK" that'll do absolutely anything to win a match.
[JR] Side headlock takeover and an…
Ironically, right into a near-fall.
Benjamin, side headlock,
and Michaels now rolling Benjamin on the shoulders.
Benjamin, though, certain to be looking for that T-bone suplex,
even though he did not use the T-bone suplex
in winning last night…
Into the cover!
…at Backlash.
Michaels certainly infamous,
as far as his opponents are concerned, for the Sweet Chin Music.
[King] Oh yes.
[JR] Michaels a multiple-time champion.
Benjamin has never been World Heavyweight Champion.
Michaels working those ribs.
Finally, side headlock by Michaels with the advantage,
but look how long he had the advantage.
-Not long. Hard shoulder block. -[King] He's still got the advantage.
-Uh-oh, look at this! -[JR] Oh, and Michaels…
Nice move there.
Very clever move by Michaels.
And, man, Michaels with a forearm shot.
[King] There's the Shawn Michaels we know and love.
-That's what I'm talking about. -[JR] That was a forearm shot.
A legal maneuver.
But one that Shelton Benjamin certainly didn't see coming.
Nice knife-edge by Michaels.
And… Benjamin sent for the ride here.
Michaels trying to get Benjamin off balance and out of his game.
Michaels holding on.
Benjamin up there quickly.
And Michaels and Benjamin both go over the top rope.
[King] But Benjamin landed on his feet, and I think Shawn landed on his head.
[JR] Benjamin landed on his feet like a cat,
but Shawn Michaels, as you said, King,
got the worst of the situation.
It's a single-elimination tournament. You must win or you lose.
-[Shawn] Get out of my face! -[JR] Michaels frustrated.
This match continues live from Boston.
-Uh-oh. -Oh, look at this right here.
Michaels and Benjamin in this Gold Rush Tournament,
where we're back, ladies and gentlemen, we're live here on Monday Night Raw.
-Look out! -[King] Oh man!
[JR] Benjamin turned in midair.
Shelton Benjamin turned in midair.
He countered the superplex with a crossbody off the top.
[King] All of Shelton Benjamin's weight
right across first the chest and then the face of Shawn Michaels.
[JR] This is the Gold Rush Tournament created by Eric Bischoff.
[King] Check this out one more time,
and watch where Shelton Benjamin's body winds up.
Wham! Man.
[JR] An eight-man single-elimination tournament
that starts tonight with four big main-event matches.
This is the second one.
Kane has already advanced,
and we're gonna find out when this tournament concludes,
who the new number-one contender is for the World Heavyweight title.
[King] And a… Oh! Check it out.
Speaking of the World Heavyweight Champion,
he is watching every move,
every minute of this Gold Rush Tournament.
[JR] Michaels hammers with a chop,
finding its mark on Shelton Benjamin, the Intercontinental Champion,
This single-elimination tournament, you win or you--
[King] Oh man.
[JR] And what a Samoan drop by Shelton Benjamin
on "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels.
For either one of these two men,
I'd love to see either of these two guys
compete with Batista for the World Heavyweight title.
[King] Well, right, either one of these guys
would give Batista everything he could ask for
with that championship at stake.
Two more tournament matches tonight.
Two more tournament matches, big main events tonight here.
And Benjamin fights back. Right hands. Has "HBK" reeling.
"The Showstopper" in trouble.
Though maybe not.
Reverses, and yes, he is.
That quickly, the momentum changes.
And the ultra-quick Intercontinental Champion
is out-quicking Shawn Michaels.
Inverted backbreaker.
Michaels in trouble. That could be it. The cover.
And how close, folks. How close was that?
[King] What a move by Shelton Benjamin.
What a series of moves by Shelton Benjamin.
[JR] I thought… I thought that Michaels was finished.
A great sequence of offense, but don't count Shawn Michaels out.
"HBK," a knife-edge chop.
[man] Go on, Shawn!
[JR] Michaels… No, it's gonna be reversed by Benjamin.
And Michaels fires a flying forearm.
Both men down.
-Single-elimination tournament. -Two!
[JR] If both men are counted down, they'll both be eliminated.
Three.
[JR] Eight men have been invited into this tournament.
Four.
[JR] Referee's count is up to four.
Five.
[JR] Five.
-Six. -[JR laughs] Six?
[King] These guys are out.
Seven.
-[JR] I'd hate to see it end this way. -[King] Whoa! Michaels up.
[JR] Michaels up and, oh, look at Benjamin!
Benjamin nipped up, just like Michaels.
-[King] Look at this! -[JR] Benjamin skinning the cat.
-[King] He's got Shawn. Shawn's got him. -[JR] Victory roll. Michaels counters.
-[King] Oh, Benjamin's got Shawn. -[JR] Benjamin counters. He's got three.
-[King] Oh, no, it was not a three. -[JR] It was close.
[JR] And a knife-edge, hard shot taking Benjamin down.
Michaels and Benjamin trading extreme near-falls there.
[King] Shawn Michaels now, I think, is starting to think,
"What is it gonna take to beat this young guy?
[crowd chanting] "HBK"! "HBK"!
[JR] Michaels forcing Benjamin back into the corner.
Is Michaels waiting on Benjamin to make one fatal mistake?
Or is Benjamin just looking for that T-bone suplex,
his one big home-run-hitting move?
-[King] Oh man. Look out. -[JR] Hard whip.
[JR] And what a night this is, live in Boston here.
Live in Boston on Monday Night Raw.
If you just joined us,
this is the second match in the Gold Rush Tournament,
an eight-man single-elimination tournament
that just started earlier tonight
to determine the number one contender for the World Heavyweight title.
This is only the second match.
We've got two more main events still to come here tonight.
[King] Kane was victorious earlier over "Captain Charisma,"
but I'm beginning to wonder,
does Shawn Michaels have what it takes to be victorious over Shelton Benjamin?
[JR] Michaels looking for Sweet Chin Music. It was blocked.
[King] You heard the impact. I heard impact.
[JR] I saw teeth. The cover. The hook.
Yes. No!
Didn't get him.
-Benjamin can't believe it. -[crowd roaring]
[JR] Shelton Benjamin can't believe it.
[King] Can we see that one more time?
Check this out. Sweet Chin Music? No.
I think Benjamin was going for the same thing, but he did connect.
Like you said, right to Shawn Michaels's face.
[JR] To the best of my knowledge, this is the absolute first time
that Shelton Benjamin and Shawn Michaels
have ever faced each other one-on-one.
You're seeing it live as it happens here tonight in Boston.
[King] What a match it is.
[JR] Let me tell you, May 2nd's a big day.
This tournament starting on May 2nd.
Michaels-Benjamin, first match on May 2nd.
And here we go. Up to the top, Michaels.
[King] Okay.
If Michaels can hit this, he can move on in this Gold Rush Tournament.
-He hit it! -[JR] And Michaels…
-With the elbow. He got it. -[King] Cover. Cover him.
[JR] Michaels may be bleeding from the mouth.
-[King] Cover! -[JR] Michaels is hurting.
[King] He may have hurt himself.
-[JR] Well… -[King] No, wait.
[JR] Look at Michaels fight up.
Look at the heart of the legendary Shawn Michaels.
This legendary Shawn Michaels has pulled himself up.
He's willed himself back into this match.
[King] And now he's begging, he's asking,
he's pleading with Shelton Benjamin to get up,
so that Shelton Benjamin can hear a little bit of that Sweet Chin Music.
He's tuning up the band.
[JR] What a wrestling match we have seen here.
And it is far from over.
Michaels looking for Sweet Chin Music,
his one big shot.
One big shot.
Michaels… No, he didn't get it. And blocked.
The kick was blocked.
[King] Michaels gets some Sweet Chin Music of his own.
[JR] The hook. Crossbody. And…
[King] Oh!
That three? Was that three?
No, it was not a three.
Two and three quarters.
[JR] That was as close to three as you can humanly, possibly get.
[King] Watch Shelton Benjamin catch the kick.
And then Shawn Michaels caught a kick from Shelton Benjamin,
but with his head.
[JR] Benjamin… Benjamin with a…
-With a reverse elbow. -[King] Look at this!
[JR] And, oh my God, what athleticism.
My God, it's uncanny. The balance.
The cover. Here it is.
There's the cover. The hook of the leg.
-Yes. -[King] No!
Once again, "HBK" has that will to win.
[JR] But Benjamin's getting closer and closer
with each… with each cover here.
Look at this vertical leap.
-Unbelievable -[King] Athleticism.
Unbelievable, world-class athleticism
from the former University of Minnesota--
No, Shawn, he didn't go.
-[JR] Shelton landing on his feet. -[King] Look out!
-[JR] Good God. Oh my God in heaven. -[King] Oh my God!
[JR] That Sweet Chin Music.
-It is academic. -[bell dings]
[King] He had to kick his head off.
["Sexy Boy" playing]
[Garcia] Here is your winner,
"The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels.
[King] Shelton Benjamin might never wake up.
[JR] I don't think I've ever seen anything like that in my life.
How vicious was the Sweet Chin Music?
Benjamin committed himself.
He springboarded off the top rope.
He could not stop in midair.
He had nowhere to go
but eat the foot of Shawn Michaels.
And Michaels has advanced.
[King] I'm sure he's happy to advance,
but I guarantee you,
he is just as happy that this match is over.
This match is in the books, thank goodness.
Look at the look on Shawn's face. What he's been through.
I guarantee you, there's a… a newfound respect
between these two amazing athletes.
[King] Watch this one more time.
This high leap,
and right into the waiting boot of "HBK."
One more time from another angle.
-[JR] Nowhere to go up there. -[King] Look at this jump.
And… Oh my God.
-[Garcia] Here is your winner… -[King] That's almost a decapitation.
You can't see this too many times.
[JR] You heard the impact. You heard the impact.
The head snapped back.
The hook of the leg.
And Michaels wins this,
the second match in this tournament.
[King] Not just any Michaels, JR.
The old Shawn Michaels that we, as I said, that we know and love.
That's the one I know and love.
[JR] But what did this victory take out of Shawn Michaels?
Man, what a hard-fought victory.
[King] Better question is what did it take out of Benjamin?
-[JR] One hell of-- -[King] He's still not up.
Ask him where he is.
♪ I'm not your boy toy… ♪
Unquestionably, the "Gold Standard" of Sweet Chin Music.
And speaking of gold,
one of Shawn's greatest rivalries was with a man obsessed with it.
"The Olympic Hero" Kurt Angle.
Two masters of their craft and in their physical primes,
these future WWE Hall of Famers would square off in a Michaels specialty,
an iron man match.
["Medal" playing]
Take a deep seat, ladies and gentlemen.
You're about to see a classic.
[crowd] You suck!
You suck!
-You suck! -[bell dings]
[Garcia] The following contest is a 30-minute iron man match.
The rules are
the first person to have the most falls after 30 minutes wins.
Introducing first,
weighing in at 232 lbs,
he is the only Olympic gold medalist in WWE history,
Kurt Angle.
[JR] Well, there's no doubt Kurt Angle is well on his way to becoming a legend
that you'll see sitting at ringside.
Angle a two-time NCAA Champion,
four-time WWE Champion,
and the only Olympic gold medal winner in WWE history.
And this is the rubber match with Angle and Michaels.
[King] I'm telling you, this match is gonna be extraordinary.
-Look at Kurt. He's ready. -[crowd cheering]
["Sexy Boy" playing]
♪ I think I'm cute ♪
♪ I know I'm sexy… ♪
[Garcia] And from San Antonio, Texas,
"The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels.
[JR] Shawn Michaels has won every major title in the history of WWE.
♪ I'm just a sexy boy… ♪
[JR] The first grand slam winner, a multiple time WWE Champion,
a former World Champion.
[King] As great as this match is going to be with Shawn Michaels and Kurt Angle,
you can say what you want, hype 'em up all you want.
It'll still be underhyped.
The bottom line is, you know what they say,
there is nothing like the appreciation of your peers.
And with all those legends sitting at ringside,
with the thousands in the building,
and the millions watching around the world,
Shawn Michaels and Kurt Angle are about to--
-[JR] Here we go. -[King] Here we go.
[JR] The bell sounds.
And this one, again, most falls in 30 minutes wins the match.
Michaels and Angle.
Michaels lost to Angle at WrestleMania.
Michaels regained the victory at Vengeance.
So far in this rivalry, they're one and one.
This being the rubber match.
[King] And check it out, we've got a clock in the corner
counting down those 30 minutes.
And the man with the most falls--
[JR] Cover by Michaels.
[King] The man with most falls at the end of 30 minutes
is gonna be the winner in this iron man match.
[JR] Knife-edge chop by Michaels knocking down Kurt Angle.
And Michaels has the edge in experience.
He's got a, literally, a home field advantage,
here in his home state of Texas.
[Coach] Certainly when you think about an iron man match,
their game plan would have to be different than a normal match.
You gotta be more aggressive, I think, upfront
and try to get the lead.
[King] I don't know if I agree with you.
You gotta pace yourself in an iron man match, Coach.
[JR] What a neckbreaker.
Swinging neckbreaker by Michaels taking down Kurt Angle.
[King] You can't afford to burn out early.
[JR] Michaels going for a cover here.
And Angle able to kick out.
The second near-fall created by Shawn Michaels in this matchup.
And Michaels tosses Angle over the top.
[Coach] Yeah, but, JR, near-falls don't count.
It's like hand grenades and horseshoes. They don't count.
[King] This is why I was surprised to see
Shawn Michaels come in here just on fire like that.
I would have thought Shawn would wanna pace himself more than this.
[Coach] Well, once you get the lead, then you can pace yourself, King.
Once you know that you have a couple of pinfalls in the bag,
then you can change the game plan,
take it easy just a little bit, and defend instead of being the aggressor.
[JR] Certainly getting a couple of falls ahead, King,
would allow a guy to change his attack a little bit.
Maybe go on the offensive. Maybe counter wrestling.
What have we got here now? Look out.
Michaels taking a chance.
How many high-risk chances will Michaels take tonight?
The sledge, and Michaels now,
yes, going for a cover, hooking the far leg.
And again, Kurt Angle able to kick out.
Michaels ahead on near-falls.
-But, again-- -[Coach] Near-falls don't count.
That's the third time that Shawn Michaels was not able to get the job done.
-[King] Uh-oh. -[JR] Angle retaliates.
Kick to the midsection. Hard right hands.
[JR] Angle breaking the rules earlier.
That uppercut forearm a legal shot.
A stiff shot right to the face of Michaels.
And Angle now has Michaels trapped in the corner.
Angle perhaps the greatest mat wrestler in the history of this business.
-[King] Oh no! -[JR] And the sleeper.
The sleeper applied. Nice counter by Shawn Michaels.
[Coach] The anticipation for this night has been off the charts.
Everybody talking about
what's gonna be your favorite match tonight on the show?
And a lot of people that I've talked to
said this is the match that they desperately wanted to see.
-Another counter. -[King] Man.
[JR] The Olympic gold medalist with that suplex
countering out of the side headlock.
No better way to kick off the action here tonight at Homecoming
than this iron man match.
Over 280,000 fans voted on WWE.com
on who was gonna win this match.
70% went with Shawn Michaels.
[Coach] This is the type of night, the type of match…
-[King] Man! -[Coach] …that redefines a career.
[JR] And that can separate your jaw, chip your teeth.
What an uppercut forearm by Kurt Angle.
Certainly has a mean streak, a pronounced one.
What a knee lift.
And a hard Million Dollar Knee Lift by Kurt Angle
taking down Shawn Michaels.
This a 30-minute iron man match.
The man to score the most falls in 30 minutes will win it.
[Coach] If you note, Kurt Angle has not even attempted
to cover Shawn Michaels.
In my opinion, that's great strategy.
Attempting to wear out "The Heartbreak Kid" before he attempts…
and to beat him up before he tries to get the pinfall.
-[JR] Scoop slam by Angle. -[Coach] Here we go.
[JR] A lateral press by Angle and a near-fall.
Angle pressing… pressing the moment.
[JR] I had the opportunity to speak with Kurt before this match,
and in all the years I've known Kurt Angle,
I don't think I've ever seen him more confident.
He just feels certain that he's gonna be able
to come out of this match with a victory.
[Coach] Kurt Angle's in the best shape he's ever been in,
maybe better than in the Olympics,
and his mind is in the best shape of his career as well.
Put those things together, he's almost unbeatable.
[JR] Angle crimping that neck with that side headlock, reverse headlock.
Started as a reverse chinlock,
but Michaels was being made to carry Angle's weight.
And as this 30-minute time limit goes on,
strategy and nuances like that are so important.
Again, Angle with the leverage advantage,
torquing the neck of Shawn Michaels.
[Coach] When you've got 25 minutes remaining in this match…
It's not gonna end for another 25 minutes.
If you can wear your opponent down,
that's gonna be so important in this type of match.
[JR] Will it be Sweet Chin Music versus the ankle lock?
Or are we looking for something else from these two men tonight?
As they have prepared diligently for this confrontation.
-[Coach] And you know-- -[JR] Jawbreaker. Nice counter.
[Coach] And, JR, you can almost feel the crowd in here just waiting
'cause they know how great this match is gonna be.
The crowd's almost feeling out these two
while these two are feeling out each other.
[JR] Another knife-edge by Shawn Michaels on Kurt Angle.
Angle reverses. Irish whip to the center of the ropes.
[King] Look out here!
-[JR] And a facebuster by Michaels. -[Coach] Oh man.
[JR] The momentum continues to turn.
-[JR] In the name of God, the elevation! -[King] Oh my gosh.
[JR] That could be a difference-maker.
Angle holding his shoulder, holding his arm.
The back body drop over the top rope,
all the way to the floor.
[Coach] That was dangerous, Kurt Angle nearly over-rotating all the way…
Almost fell on his front and on his face.
[King] I don't think you can say "nearly." He did over-rotate.
[JR] Wait a minute. Shawn Michaels…
And Michaels tried the baseball slide.
-[King] Angle Slam! -[JR] Angle Slam on the outside.
And Michaels punished on the outside
with the Angle Slam.
[Coach] You can see immediately, the way Shawn Michaels came up,
that that lower back got hit.
And that's what Kurt Angle is going to try to get to quickly,
that injured lower back of Michaels.
[King] When Kurt Angle was flipped over that top rope,
I said, "There's a difference-maker in the match." Here we'll see it again.
I thought that this was definitely gonna be a big difference-maker.
Look at this. Look at the way Kurt lands on his shoulder.
But then for Kurt to be able to come back with this,
this Angle Slam… oh! That's huge.
[JR] And now Michaels at a distinct disadvantage here
in this 30-minute iron man match.
No decisions have been rendered thus far,
with 23 minutes and change remaining.
Get him out of there.
Get him out!
[JR] Hard shots going downstairs.
And Kurt Angle stomping away, taking the air out of Shawn Michaels.
Again, remember, following the Angle Slam to the floor on the outside.
[King] Not a whole lot the referee can do in this match
except be in there to count pinfalls and tap-outs.
He can admonish these guys, but
this match is gonna go 22 minutes and 57 seconds longer,
whether he likes it or not.
[JR] Michaels fighting back.
Michaels a catch-as-catch-can expert.
-[King] Uh-oh, look at this. -[JR] The veteran. Now…
-And, oh! -[King] Oh man!
[JR] A vertical powerbomb into the top turnbuckle.
-Michaels's spine hit. Could it be over? -[Coach] The cover.
[JR] A count, and…
A long two-count.
As Shawn Michaels able to kick out.
[King] Check this out. Shawn Michaels driven into that turnbuckle.
His head bouncing right on that… that turnbuckle.
I think Angle showed a bit of frustration when he didn't get a pinfall out of that.
[Coach] These two guys know each other so well,
they really have to dig down deep,
pull out something they haven't tried before
if they wanna get the advantage.
[JR] Look out. Michaels in a precarious position here.
-[Coach] Kurt Angle. -[JR] And Michaels knows it.
He's desperately fighting away from this top turnbuckle.
Kurt Angle wanting to try to suplex "HBK" off of that top.
-[crowd roaring] -[JR] Now what?
Shawn Michaels fears nothing or any move.
And Angle. Angle up!
-[Coach] Angle Slam! -[King] Look! Angle Slam from the top.
[Coach] Are you kidding? -[King] Oh God, it's a car wreck.
There you go. There's one.
[JR] And Angle gets the first pin.
[Garcia] Ladies and gentlemen, the first fall goes to Kurt Angle.
The score is now one to zero.
[JR] At the 21:40 mark,
Angle scoring with the Angle Slam.
We'll be back.
Who's gonna survive 30 minutes of hell?
We're back live here on WWE Homecoming. A 30-minute iron man match.
Kurt Angle up one fall to none,
with 17:50 remaining in this 30-minute time limit.
Let's take a look at how Shawn Michaels lost that first fall.
It was the second of two Angle Slams.
[Coach] Yeah, quick as a cat.
Look how fast Angle's able to get to that second rope.
Nailed the Angle Slam.
And just like that, Kurt Angle goes up one fall to none.
[JR] No rest for the weary.
Kurt Angle was right back on "HBK," and he's been on him this entire time.
[Coach] It'll stay that way for the entire 30 minutes.
I've been trying to tell everybody.
Shawn Michaels has done nothing to show me or anybody else
he's gonna be able to win this one.
[JR] Well, that's an arguable point.
Don't count Shawn Michaels out of any situation.
And Michaels down one fall to none.
Seventeen minutes and counting in this 30-minute iron man match.
And Michaels with a reverse elbow connecting solidly
to the Olympic gold medal winner from Pittsburgh, Kurt Angle.
[JR] Well, Kurt now can wrestle defensively…
-[Coach] Oh my gosh. -[JR] …since he's got that lead.
Kurt knows how to wrestle defensively.
Man, that is a bad break for Shawn Michaels,
driving his shoulder into the steel ring post.
-[King] Uh-oh, look at this. -[JR] Look at the suplex.
The hook of the leg.
-The suple-- -[King] No!
[JR] Angle almost got his second fall.
[Coach] Look at the difference in game plan. He may have tried more,
but pinfalls are so important, you gotta get 'em whenever you can.
[King] I'm gonna tell you something, I don't care whether it's Kurt or Shawn,
I'd say if either of these guys go up two falls on the other one,
that'll be it.
-[Coach] Lights out. -[King] Yes.
[JR] And Angle is certainly well on his way to accomplishing that.
Angle is in the driver's seat offensively.
[King] This match is the rubber match, but another reason--
[JR] Hard suplex on that bad back of Michaels.
-[Coach] Counting again. -[JR] Hook of the leg. Shoulders down.
And referee Jack Doan got a near-fall out of it.
-You know-- -[Coach] Well--
[King] Another reason this match is so important.
Mr. McMahon made this match last week on Raw,
and he said that it could go a long way in determining who faces the winner
of the WWE Championship match tonight between John Cena and Eric Bischoff.
[Coach] Without a doubt, I certainly see, in the future,
Eric Bischoff going one-on-one with Angle
for the WWE Championship.
[King] What?
[Coach] 'Cause Eric's gonna be the new champion.
[JR] What a hard Irish whip.
Tremendous velocity there.
Again, focusing on that… that damaged back of Shawn Michaels is Kurt Angle.
So calculating.
Uh-oh. Look at Angle, just waiting.
[JR] Another angle Slam.
-[King] No, wait. Look out. -[JR] Michaels counters.
-Into a sunset flip. -[Coach] A beautiful counter.
[JR] Nice counter by Angle.
Into the ankle lock.
[Coach] This could do it. This could be it.
It'll be 2-0 in a matter of a heartbeat.
[JR] Michaels is in a hell of a lot of trouble here.
[King] Locked in. I think Michaels is tapping with his foot.
-No, wait! -[JR] Michaels countered. The roll-up.
-[King] He got it! -[JR] He got it.
He got it. Michaels got it. Michaels able to--
[Garcia] Shawn Michaels has taken this one.
The score is now one to one.
[JR] We are halfway home.
Fifteen minutes and counting.
Each man has won a fall
in this most-falls-in-30-minutes iron man match.
[Coach] Michaels may have won that fall,
but how is Shawn Michaels gonna compete for the next 15 minutes
with, essentially, one good foot or ankle?
[JR] Well, let's take one more look at this.
Kurt Angle had that ankle lock locked in.
-Wait a minute! Inside cradle! -[referee] One, two, three.
[King] You're seeing on the left side of your screen there
how Shawn won that fall and almost won a second one there.
[Coach] Everything's happened so quick.
[JR] Another scintillating uppercut forearm by Kurt Angle.
He's used that maneuver very effectively thus far in this contest.
[Coach] JR, wouldn't you say that with these two,
you don't talk about conditioning being a factor?
They're two of the best-conditioned athletes,
but when they're competing against each other, the pace is so quick.
[King] And something like that ankle lock being locked on
for just a matter of a few seconds could be a difference-maker.
[JR] The key thing here is the condition of Michaels's back.
Both these men are amazing athletes.
They're both gonna be WWE Hall of Famers someday,
in my opinion.
But right now the story is
can Michaels rebound from a damaged back?
Remember, that first Angle Slam was on the floor.
And now the cover by Angle.
And Michaels kicking out.
And how much does that take out of Michaels,
to kick out of that predicament?
[Coach] Without a doubt, JR, his--
[JR] Oh, look at this.
[Coach] Shawn Michaels's back and his ankle.
Kurt Angle continues to work
a lot of parts of the body, not just the back.
[King] This is definitely punishing Shawn Michaels's back right here.
[JR] A wrestler in the '30s named Joe Stecher
used to win championships with this very move
because of the strength of his legs,
much like Kurt Angle.
Angle has got that body scissors wrapped around Shawn Michaels's back.
-[King] Look. -[JR] Now look at this.
That forearm rubbed right in the face of Shawn Michaels.
[Coach] That mean streak you were talking about that Kurt Angle has, JR.
[King] Insult to injury. No doubt about it.
[JR] Michaels has shoulders down. He's in so much pain.
Both shoulders on the canvas, and…
Again, referee got a near-fall out of it.
You see a great camera shot there, taking you right inside the ring
and seeing both those shoulder blades right on the canvas.
And that's what the referee's looking for.
Angle with that body scissors,
a maneuver that is tried and true, King.
I've seen… You've seen those on many occasions
when it's not a move that a lot of men utilize nowadays.
[King] Look at this now.
Shawn Michaels trying to turn Kurt Angle over on his back here.
[King] What is that? I think Shawn Michaels is biting.
-[JR] Michaels is biting Angle. -[King] That's not an Olympic move.
[Coach] It's not, but Shawn Michaels is doing whatever he can,
and he had to to get out of those leg scissors.
-[JR] As they say, desperate times… -[Coach] Desperate measures.
[JR] And a right hand by Michaels.
Angle again going downstairs.
Angle still seems to be the aggressor here thus far.
-Michaels blocking the suplex. -[King] Blocked.
[wrestlers grunting]
[JR] Angle catlike. Great athleticism.
And Michaels with a roll-up.
-[Coach] This could be… -[JR] No.
A near-fall.
But Angle's working for that ankle lock.
And he's got it. Kurt Angle's got the ankle lock on Shawn Michaels.
[Coach] Nowhere for Michaels to go in the middle of the ring.
-[King] Oh, he's trying to kick out. -[JR] No!
-[King] Not this time. -[Coach] Angle hangs on.
[JR] Angle holding on pugnaciously
like a pit bull dog here.
Holding onto that ankle lock.
Shawn Michaels is in one hell of a way here.
[Coach] If you can't get to those ropes…
[JR] Shawn's gonna have to tap. Oh, look at this!
The grapevine. Michaels in the center of the ring.
-He's history. -[King] The pain is excruciating.
[JR] Michaels's ankle could snap at any moment in this ankle lock
from the Olympic gold medal winner Kurt Angle.
[King] You better tap, Shawn.
You look like that football player from Alabama this weekend.
-He'll snap that leg. -[JR] There you go.
Michaels tapping out.
Michaels taps out.
[Garcia] The winner of the third fall is Kurt Angle.
The score is now two to one.
So with 11 minutes left,
Angle is up two falls to one.
[JR] Who will win the iron man match? We'll find out when we come back.
[JR] We're back live here on Monday Night Raw,
WWE Homecoming.
Seven minutes and 30 seconds and change
remaining in the 30-minute iron man match.
Kurt Angle ahead two falls to one.
The man that wins the most falls in 30 minutes wins this match.
Angle using the ankle lock to win his second fall.
Will that be the focus of Kurt Angle here
with seven minutes and change left in this match?
[King] Well, you can see that the focus of Kurt Angle
has done the damage to that leg of Shawn Michaels.
He's in a bad way.
[Coach] Shawn Michaels behind the eight ball.
Not only does he need to pin Kurt Angle one more time
but needs to get an additional pin to win this match.
[JR] Angle scoring, or being scored on
with those knife-edge chops by Shawn Michaels.
Michaels's catch-as-catch-can style. The amateur style of Angle.
But the single-leg takedown.
And now the grapevine.
And is Kurt Angle now utilizing the clock?
With six minutes and 40 seconds remaining.
[King] Yes, of course he is.
Shawn needed to stay on the offensive there,
but Kurt Angle went right back for that leg,
got Shawn down, and…
[JR] Look out here. Mich…
[Coach] JR, we talked about it when there was about 25 minutes to go.
Once you get an advantage, especially down inside of ten minutes,
that certainly changes the way you'll attack the rest of this match.
[JR] Michaels beating his way out of that situation, that predicament.
And back in the corner goes Michaels.
And another scintillating uppercut by Kurt Angle.
Angle has done it all.
He's done it in the amateurs. Two-time NCAA champ.
Four-time WWE champ.
Olympic gold medal winner.
And look at Michaels fighting back with that right hand.
-[King] Big right hand. -[JR] What a shot.
-[King] Look at this. -[JR] And a slap.
That has gotta humiliate and infuriate Kurt Angle.
[King] No doubt about it.
Why would you wanna disrespect Kurt Angle
when you're at a decided disadvantage right now?
[JR] Well, Shawn Michaels needed to do anything to change the momentum.
Flying Burrito, and it's also…
Look at this! The nip-up by "The Showstopper."
-[King] Look at the leg though. -[Coach] Not the smartest move to make.
[JR] Michaels trying to get inside Angle's head with those slaps.
He may have succeeded. Inverted atomic drop.
It seems like Angle is just a half a step off now,
with Michaels gaining the advantage offensively.
[King] Yeah, but it seems like Michaels is a half a step off.
He's barely able to put his weight on that leg.
I can't believe he's gonna try this now.
[Coach] Michaels wants to get it done, but you gotta do things that are smart.
[King] This is not smart, Shawn.
-[JR] Michaels, the ultimate risk-taker… -[King] Well--
[JR] …wants to win this match. He's gotta hit it to tie it up.
-Michaels, elbow from the top. -[King] He hit it! He hit it!
[JR] Michaels drove his elbow right into the sternum of Kurt Angle.
[Coach] All well and good, but now you've got to somehow
get Kurt Angle pinned.
[JR] In under five minutes.
Not once to tie it, but twice to win it.
[King] Oh, look at this. You know what Shawn's thinking about.
-Yeah! -[JR] Uh-oh.
[King] Sweet Chin Music!
[JR] Sweet Chin Music!
And the three-count.
-[Garcia] The winner of the fourth fall… -Michaels ties it.
[Garcia] …is Shawn Michaels.
The score is now even at two apiece.
[Coach] Shawn Michaels didn't get a whole lot of time to tune it up,
but it was right on key when he connected with Kurt Angle's chin.
[King] Check this out one more time.
Like you said, almost out of nowhere.
Bang!
[JR] The shot right there!
-[King] Oh man. -[JR] On the button. Right on the jaw.
Angle gets pinned.
Has enough faculties about him to roll outside.
Michaels now trying to capitalize.
-We're tied at two… -[King] Yeah.
[JR] …with just over four minutes remaining
in this 30-minute iron man match.
[King] Kurt Angle looking for some sort of a respite there,
some sort of a rest,
but there's no rest period between these falls.
[Coach] Isn't it apropos that this match would come down to the final four minutes,
we would be tied going into the final four minutes
between these two great competitors?
[JR] Two of the most phenomenal in-ring performers I've ever seen.
[King] Reversal.
[JR] The velocity turning Michaels upside down.
And now Angle will turn Michaels inside out…
-[King] It's gonna be 3-2. -…with another Angle Slam.
[JR] The hook of the leg. Should be it.
-But it's not it. -[King] Are you kidding? What?!
[JR] Angle's so frustrated. He thought that he had a layup there.
[King] I thought he had a layup. I thought he had the three-count as well.
[Coach] With all the damage that Shawn Michaels has taken,
that was a remarkable kick-out.
[JR] Right hand by Angle.
Anybody's ballgame here at three minutes and counting.
-Score is tied at two. -[King] Punt.
-[JR] Angle… -[King] Another Angle S--
[JR] …going for that Angle Slam.
[King] Look at that DDT!
[JR] Angle got countered by Michaels into the tornado DDT
at just under three minutes.
One!
[Coach] You can see now both of these two guys, as we knew that they would,
have put it all on the line, put it all out there.
Right now it's gonna be desperation time
for one of these two men to get the win.
[JR] And what a way to kick off our in-ring action
here on Monday Night Raw.
-[King] Look at this. -Here at WWE Homecoming.
[King] Shawn Michaels trying to get that arm across the chest of Kurt.
-He's got it. -[JR] Michaels cover.
-[King] Kick out! -[JR] He got him!
[King] No.
[JR] The referee says Angle got his shoulder up.
[King] My gosh, how close.
[JR] Again. Another shot at it.
This time, Angle emphatically got a shoulder off the canvas.
[Coach] And a pinfall at this juncture of the match
would… would undoubtedly be lights out.
[JR] Michaels, if he got that pinfall,
might have been able to put it in the old deep freeze there.
[King] Well, both of these men are just almost spent.
Only two minutes remaining in this iron man match.
[JR] What athleticism,
what drama we are seeing unfold before our eyes here tonight.
A hard Irish whip.
Hurting Michaels's back, but Michaels countered.
Michaels now going back up to the top.
[King] Oh no. Look at this!
[JR] Michaels, moonsault. No.
-[King] Kurt Angle. What a reversal! -[JR] My God, a counter!
[King] Look at this!
[JR] The ankle lock!
[crowd roaring]
The moonsault was countered.
Angle… Angle's got that ankle lock locked in.
[Coach] And Shawn Michaels is gonna somehow have to hang on
for a buck and a half.
[King] He's trying to reverse. Whatever it is not working.
[JR] Michaels trying every reversal he can think of
against this deadly ankle lock
that can beat any human being.
-Michaels kicks out… -[Coach] Oh no.
[JR] …but Angle holds on.
[Coach] Kurt Angle is digging deep now as well.
[JR] Angle not gonna let go.
But can Michaels hold on with a minute and change remaining?
[King] Shawn, if he could get… Oh no!
He tried to get to the rope, but Kurt Angle pulled him back.
We're down to almost just one minute.
Now Angle's got the grapevine.
-[JR] Michaels in the center of the ring. -[King] He's gonna have to tap out.
[JR] We're under 60 second remaining with the score tied.
[Coach] I can only imagine how much pain Shawn Michaels is in right now.
You can see the heart that Shawn Michaels always did have.
-[King] Here he goes. -[Coach] Shawn Michaels is gonna tap.
[JR] Michaels is reaching for every ounce of adrenaline he can muster.
[King] Forty-two seconds!
But can he hold on? There's no way he can last this long.
[JR] Michaels trying to reverse the pressure.
Trying to roll toward the ropes.
[King] And look at Kurt Angle. He's like a boa constrictor.
He's wrapped around Shawn Michaels's entire leg.
[Coach] Under 30 seconds.
[King] There's no getting Kurt Angle off. Oh!
-[JR] Apparently there is. -[King] Great shot to the face.
Big boot right to the face of Kurt Angle.
[JR] Michaels kicked his way free.
[Coach] There's only 15 seconds left.
-[King] He's got it again! -[JR] Angle again with the ankle lock.
Can Michaels hold on? We're under ten.
-We're under five. -[King] Oh!
Sweet Chin Music.
-It's over! It's over! -[bell dings]
[JR] The bell sounds.
-Michaels had it. -[King] But wait, what?
[JR] But the time limit expired.
[Garcia] …the 30 minutes has expired,
therefore the match is a draw.
[King] What?!
[JR] Nothing settled in the rubber match
with Michaels and Angle.
Each have won one.
This one a 30-minute iron man time-limit draw.
[Coach] All Shawn Michaels needed was three more seconds
to win the rubber match.
[Coach] Maybe less than that. Maybe just two more seconds.
I can't believe it's come down to this.
[King] Look at Shawn Michaels.
No way, Dallas. What is that?
[crowd booing]
[Shawn] Exactly.
Let's go to sudden death. Come on.
[Coach] Uh-oh. I would love to see that.
[JR] Michaels wants sudden death.
And in my book, that means one fall to a finish.
With no clock.
Michaels ready to fight. Is…
is Angle just walking away from this confrontation?
[King] Kurt's leaving. Wait a…
This isn't… this isn't like the Kurt Angle that I know.
[JR] Why is Kurt Angle not accepting
this sudden-death challenge of Shawn Michaels?
["Sexy Boy" playing]
♪ I think I'm cute… ♪
[JR] And we still haven't settled the rubber match
between two of the greatest of all time.
♪ I got the moves ♪
♪ That really move 'em ♪
An incredible Raw legacy for one of the true GOATs in WWE,
"The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels.
Well, that does it for this edition of Raw Classics.
We hope you enjoyed reliving the defining Raw moments
of "HBK"'s career.
I'm Big E, saying,
"You think I'm cute."
"You know I'm sexy."
"I've got the looks
that drive the girls wild."
"I've got the moves
that really moves them."
"I send chills
up and down their spine."
♪ I'm just a sexy boy ♪
♪ Sexy boy ♪
♪ I'm not your boy toy ♪
♪ Boy toy ♪
♪ I'm just a sexy boy ♪
♪ Sexy boy ♪
♪ I'm not your boy toy ♪
♪ Boy toy ♪
["Sexy Boy" instrumental playing]
[song ends] instrumental playing]