WWE Armageddon 2002 - Shawn Michaels vs Triple H (Three Stages Of Hell Match, World Heavyweight Championship)
Transcript
00:00Thanks very much, uh, well, ladies and gentlemen, we are just moments away.
00:03The first fall of this two hour free fall match King will be in a street fight.
00:08Oh, you got that right.
00:09I don't know.
00:10I got to think that that favors triple H and then the second
00:13fall will be inside a steel cage.
00:17Well, I don't know.
00:19I got to think that that favors triple H Jr.
00:21And the third fall of necessary, the ladder match.
00:24Let's take you back folks to survivor series.
00:27When this personal animosity escalated off the page,
00:36Shawn Michaels, triple H.
00:37I love it.
00:38These guys hate each other.
00:51How does it now feel to be the one sitting in the hospital
00:56bed, watching me as the new world heavyweight champion.
01:05That's something I want, Sean.
01:07Something that belongs to me.
01:15They're trying to completely destroy each other.
01:21Shawn Michaels.
01:22Look at his face.
01:23My God.
01:27Hey, Sean, you put your tail between your legs.
01:31You go home because I am going to force you to admit it to yourself.
01:37That now I am the man.
01:40Now I am the one that is twice as good as you.
01:44Sean Hunter, after everything that you two have been through, it's clear to
01:49me that your world title match at Armageddon cannot be just a regular match.
01:55Your world title match at Armageddon will be two out of three falls.
02:01The first fall is going to be a street fight.
02:06The second ball will take place inside a steel cage.
02:13And if it goes to a third fall, well then Hunter, you're going to have a chance to
02:18compete in a match that Shawn Michaels made famous.
02:23A ladder match.
02:25Sean Hunter, the end is near.
02:34The end is here.
02:39The end is here.
02:44The end is here.
02:47Hey, Sean, face back now.
02:50I am the man.
02:52I will cripple your ass.
02:54HBK is dead.
02:57You're going to find out, Hunter, that the heartbreak kid is alive and well.
03:02You're going to see a showstopper.
03:05You talk about hatred, pure, unadulterated hate between
03:09Shawn Michaels and Triple H.
03:11The end is here.
03:17Time to play the game.
03:23Time to play the game.
03:39It's all about the game.
03:41And how you play is all about control.
03:45And if you can't take it, it's all about you.
03:48And if you can't take it, it's all about me.
03:51And who's going to make it?
03:53The following contest is for the World Heavyweight Championship,
03:58and is scheduled for the best two out of three falls.
04:01The first fall will be a street fight.
04:03The second fall will be held inside a steel cage.
04:07And the third fall, if necessary, will be a ladder match.
04:12At this time, accompanied by Nature Boy Ric Flair,
04:15here is the challenger from Greenwich, Connecticut,
04:19weighing 272 pounds, Triple H!
04:25Triple H is the number one contender for the World Heavyweight Championship.
04:30The Cerebral Assassin is a calculating career killer.
04:35And tonight, the Game wants to win the World Title,
04:39and he'd love to end Shawn Michaels' career here tonight.
04:44Well, it's a brawl at Armageddon.
04:46You're right, we've heard it over and over.
04:48The end is near, and the Game may be the end of Shawn Michaels.
04:53Time to play the game.
05:00It's all about the game.
05:01And how you play it, it's all about control.
05:04And if you can't take it, it's all about you.
05:06This is such a personal matchup.
05:08Yes, it's for the richest prize in our business, as far as I'm concerned.
05:12The World Heavyweight Title from Shawn Michaels and Triple H
05:16at one time were best of friends.
05:18They were like brothers.
05:23But those days are long gone.
05:26They've come to an end.
05:28Uh-oh.
05:30I think I can.
05:32I know I'm sexy.
05:34I've got the look.
05:37They try to fool me while I've got the moves.
05:41They really move on me.
05:43I say, cheer up.
05:45I'm the down-and-out spy.
05:47I'm just a sexy boy.
05:49Well, let me just say this, JR.
05:51It looks like HBK.
05:54It looks like the show's diverged.
06:01But is it really?
06:03Or is it just Shawn Michaels?
06:06From San Antonio, Texas,
06:08weighing 225 pounds,
06:10the World Heavyweight Champion,
06:13HBK,
06:15Shawn Michaels!
06:19Last week with Shawn Michaels jumping up,
06:22that semi,
06:24driving his elbow into the black part of Triple H,
06:28who was in, approximately, in that dumpster.
06:31I think that answers our question.
06:34Is it going to be Shawn Michaels,
06:36or is it going to be HBK?
06:38And Senior Referee Earl Henson
06:40will be officiating this hugely important matchup.
06:45Well, I don't think it truly answers the question, JR.
06:48Seriously, that was HBK.
06:50That wasn't a showstopper jumping off the top of that semi.
06:53But if you ask me,
06:55that was Shawn Michaels who had to lay in weight
06:58and hit Triple H with a shovel
07:00to get Triple H into that position.
07:03What's going to happen when they face each other
07:05nose-to-nose tonight?
07:07Well, the way to find out is to sit back
07:09and watch this two-on-a-three-fall matchup.
07:12Shawn Michaels, a proud athlete,
07:14the soul of a warrior.
07:15I can't believe that Shawn Michaels
07:17has the audacity to talk Nate.
07:19You don't talk Ric Flair, get away with it.
07:21He's mocking him.
07:22Get it off!
07:23Hey, wait a minute!
07:25Oh, Referee Earl Henson just made the biggest combo match
07:30already.
07:31The bell hasn't sounded.
07:32Ric Flair been ejected?
07:34Where can God take a shower?
07:39Ric Flair is absolutely livid.
07:41That is unfair to Flair.
07:43Well, I don't know if it is or it isn't,
07:45but as the referees call,
07:46the referees call this final.
07:48Well, what did Triple H do to deserve that?
07:50What did Flair do to deserve that?
07:51I don't have any idea.
07:52It doesn't matter.
07:53The call was made.
07:55And this is a first flawless match.
07:57It's a street fight.
07:58There's no disqualifications.
08:00There's no count outs.
08:01The match will continue until one man either loses
08:04by pinfall or submission.
08:06Anything goes in a street fight.
08:10They aren't exactly wearing their street clothes.
08:13I did hear that HBK used to walk down the street
08:16dressed like that.
08:17And again, she's swept inside.
08:19Oh, boy, here we go.
08:20It's all legal.
08:21These two men can use anything.
08:24That's right.
08:26I wouldn't be surprised to see Shawn Michaels
08:27drive that semi in here.
08:29Up against the ring and try to jump off of it.
08:31Well, stay tuned.
08:33You never know.
08:34Triple H pulling that trash can from around the ring.
08:37Again, it's legal in this environment.
08:39Look at Shawn Michaels.
08:41Shawn Michaels nobody home.
08:43And Triple H able to, he stepped far out of the way.
08:47And Shawn Michaels, was Triple H just a step quicker
08:50than Shawn Michaels?
08:53Whether he was or he wasn't,
08:54it's certainly a very smart move
08:57from the Cerebral Assassin.
08:59It's just hard to put into words what this comeback
09:02for Shawn Michaels has meant for so many of us.
09:05Away from the ring for over four years, King,
09:09after severely injuring his back back in 1998.
09:13I realize all that.
09:15But was it a smart decision to make that comeback?
09:18I mean, could it cost him his health
09:20in his later years?
09:22I think you're, you know the answer.
09:24Yes, it could.
09:25And it may.
09:26But it's something Shawn Michaels had to do.
09:29Triple H choking away.
09:31Shawn Michaels, it's legal,
09:33but nothing a referee can do about it.
09:35Referee in this bar, only here to count the pinfall
09:38or ring the bell for submission.
09:41They can stay out of the ring
09:42and fight all over that building if you want, right?
09:44That's the way I see it.
09:45That's the way that they can go out in the street.
09:49Hence the street fight environment.
09:53I can't believe Shawn Michaels coming back
09:55over four years, not only just to be good,
09:58but to be great.
09:59Oh, Shawn Michaels,
10:00he's gonna become the world's heavyweight champion.
10:03And quite frankly, King,
10:04I don't know of another athlete in the world
10:06that could have done that.
10:07Four years hiatus,
10:08Shawn Michaels across the body,
10:11trying to connect with Triple H,
10:13but instead connected with a trash can.
10:15Got that right.
10:17That's a Shawn Michaels move against me.
10:22Triple H, for so long,
10:25lived in his view anyway,
10:27in the shadow of Shawn Michaels,
10:29in the late 90s.
10:30I find it interesting that before Shawn Michaels
10:32hits injury, Triple H had two title reigns.
10:35But Shawn Michaels got hurt
10:37and had to sit down for four years.
10:39Triple H has had 10 different title reigns.
10:43Well, I think that, what you just said,
10:45proves Triple H's point.
10:48Once Shawn Michaels was out of the way,
10:51Triple H, truly in his heart,
10:53in his heart of hearts,
10:54wanted to become the man.
10:57In any event,
10:58Shawn Michaels is setting his table up.
11:00Triple H had a black heart.
11:03If that's the case,
11:04he don't care how he becomes a champion,
11:06as long as he's a champion.
11:07Good point.
11:10Wait a minute.
11:11Face locked by Shawn Michaels,
11:12with that table set up.
11:13The first fall of this two-out,
11:15three-fall match.
11:16A street fight.
11:17Triple H, the bigger and stronger of the two,
11:20is the number one contender.
11:22His size and strength came into play there.
11:24That's why I say,
11:25totally street fight wins
11:27favor Triple H in this contest.
11:29I'll tell you something else, King,
11:30because as anything goes in this first fall,
11:33in my view,
11:34the first fall of this potential three-fall match
11:37is the most important fall
11:39of this entire contest.
11:42Do you think in your mind
11:43whoever's coming up next
11:45Do you think in your mind
11:46whoever scores this first fall
11:49is going to win this entire match?
11:51I think because of a street fight.
11:53Because you've got to believe
11:54that whoever prevails in a first fall
11:56is going to punish and pulverize their opponent
12:01to where that opponent
12:02may not be able to recuperate.
12:04No matter how resilient both these men are.
12:07He's got a good point.
12:08But believe me.
12:10Oh, man.
12:11The cerebral assassin.
12:13He's big and strong.
12:14And he's smart.
12:15He got his foot up.
12:16Saw it coming.
12:17And shoved that trash can
12:18right back in the face
12:19of the world's heavyweight champion.
12:21You've got to hand it to the game.
12:22So far, every one of these big high-risk,
12:24well, these patented HBK maneuvers
12:27has been thwarted.
12:29Thwarted by the game.
12:30Almost every single one of them.
12:32He's got his feet up in the face of the game.
12:35He's coming across the body.
12:36He's trying to roll through.
12:38Another!
12:39No, he got him near the fall.
12:41That is that power-strength advantage.
12:43And the Triple H functioning
12:45on a bad wheel there, apparently.
12:48That quadricep ball taped up.
12:51Obviously in a lot of pain.
12:53Giving him a lot of problem.
12:54But that's not gonna stop Triple H.
12:56Believe me.
12:57His mentor and advisor, Ric Flair,
12:59has been ejected from this contest.
13:01Unfairly.
13:02Probably cut Triple H's right leg off at the knee
13:05and he'd still compete here tonight.
13:07Well, we've seen him come back
13:09through great injury.
13:11Now what?
13:12Poor quadricep.
13:14The trachea injury.
13:15He sustained it at Survivor Series.
13:18Oh!
13:19Hard right hand.
13:21Knocked Shawn Michaels down.
13:23I can tell right now the game
13:24has something devious in mind.
13:27Oh, here it is!
13:28Wait a second here.
13:31Two tables set up on the outside.
13:34Shawn Michaels.
13:37He's trying to counter the game.
13:39He did!
13:40He does!
13:41That took a lot out of the champion.
13:42But he folks over.
13:44It got a near fall out of it
13:46in this first of all street fight.
13:50Remember back at SummerSlam,
13:52Shawn Michaels' first match in over four years
13:54was a street fight.
13:55It was against the game.
13:57That Hardy raced like high knee
13:59and Triple H lost the match
14:01in a non-sanctioned match at SummerSlam
14:04against Shawn Michaels
14:05in the same basic environment.
14:07I realize that.
14:08Also look at this.
14:10Where's Triple H going now?
14:11But Triple H has got to be smarter than
14:13just that last move I saw from him.
14:16He's going to have to avoid doing things
14:18that can further injure that right leg of his.
14:21Now what?
14:23You've got to wonder if Triple H is able
14:25to separate his will to be
14:27the World's Heavyweight Champion
14:29from his personal animosity
14:31toward a man he considered
14:33his best friend.
14:34And that's a shot right to that lower back.
14:36And you've got to wonder, King,
14:38how vulnerable is Shawn Michaels' lower back?
14:41And will Shawn Michaels' back
14:43become a crucial factor
14:45in the outcome of this match?
14:47Well, it looks like it's becoming a target,
14:49that's for sure.
14:50Nobody knows better than Triple H
14:52the damage that that HBK
14:54or Shawn Michaels' back has suffered
14:56through the years.
14:57Much of it at the hands of Triple H.
14:59Remember the sledgehammer attack
15:01that Shawn Michaels beat Triple H at SummerSlam.
15:04Remember what we've seen Triple H do to Shawn Michaels
15:06using just one of these metal chairs.
15:08And it's all legal.
15:09And it's all legal in a street fight.
15:11And look at Shawn Michaels.
15:12Shawn Michaels countering in mid-air.
15:14Oh, look at him!
15:15Takes the gang, and the gang now
15:17will find out just how it feels
15:19to have that lower back
15:21punished as never before.
15:24Well, that looked like the showstopper to me.
15:27Shawn Michaels, we know he can be as controversial.
15:30He can break as many rules
15:31inside the ring as anybody.
15:33And a hard-eyed reflip
15:34right after that backbreaker on the chair
15:36and Triple H's lower back,
15:38that huge, muscular back.
15:40See, he has some spasms
15:41and another hard shot.
15:43And Michaels giving everything he's got
15:45just in the game
15:46for that very uncomfortable ride
15:49with an even worse landing.
15:51For the moment, the showstopper has showed up
15:53and maybe he can stay for the party.
15:56The longer this first ball goes
15:59in this barbaric environment
16:01of a street fight,
16:02and no disqualification,
16:04and right back on the back
16:05goes Shawn Michaels.
16:06He won't waste any motion now.
16:08But the longer this ball goes,
16:10it's just gonna continue
16:12to shorten the career
16:13and take more and more
16:15out of both men.
16:16I'm surprised that Shawn Michaels
16:17doesn't go after that leg.
16:19I mean, that bandage on
16:21Triple H's right leg
16:23should be just like a big red bullseye.
16:25Yeah, but that back's gotta be
16:26the most vulnerable part of the anatomy
16:28for the game right now.
16:30Oh!
16:32And you can see it,
16:33you can feel it.
16:34Don't leave him!
16:35That garbage can,
16:36that'll leave the pin of a bullseye
16:37on Triple H's back.
16:39Again, right on that lower back,
16:40and Shawn Michaels,
16:41whose lower back caused him
16:43to retire, essentially,
16:46for over four years.
16:49And now the Game can see
16:51exactly how that whole thing...
16:53HBK switches him!
16:57Oh, right there.
16:59What a counter by the Game.
17:00Watch the sweet jam music,
17:02and then torquing that knee
17:03and twisting the knee,
17:05taking it down with that 265 pounds
17:07right on the knee joint.
17:09I used to never see that happen to HBK.
17:11You'd never see the showstopper
17:12get that big superkick block,
17:14would you, JR?
17:15Do you ever remember that?
17:16Look at this!
17:17Not very often,
17:18but is that a testament
17:19to he's a half a step slower,
17:21or just the Cerebral Assassin's
17:23ability to counter?
17:24Well, it's probably a little bit of both.
17:27And if HBK or the showstopper
17:29is half a step slower,
17:31believe me, the Cerebral Assassin
17:32is gonna take every advantage of it.
17:34Oh, my gosh.
17:36What do you say?
17:37The Game driving that knee
17:39right into the trash can,
17:40and he hasn't dismissed.
17:43He has to give up, JR.
17:44First fall would be over,
17:45and Triple H would win it.
17:46And do you know how long then
17:47Shawn Michaels would last
17:48inside that steel cage?
17:50About 30 seconds?
17:51I don't like his chances
17:52if that were to occur.
17:54And the Game,
17:55the well-named Cerebral Assassin,
17:59focusing on that left knee
18:01of John Michaels.
18:04Michaels, a typically
18:05in-sweep-chin loser.
18:06It was countered
18:07into a quick screw-like takedown
18:10by the Game,
18:11twisting and turning
18:12on the knee joint
18:14as he brought 265 on it.
18:16You know what you gotta realize?
18:18If there's anybody,
18:19anybody in this Game
18:20that knows the moves
18:21of Shawn Michaels,
18:22it is the Game.
18:23It's Triple H.
18:24Well, there's no doubt about that.
18:25They travel together.
18:26They train together.
18:27They strategize together.
18:29At one time,
18:30they were virtually inseparable.
18:31And a chop block by the Game
18:33to form DX together.
18:34Oh, no, no, no, no.
18:36Humphrey again asking
18:37Shawn Michaels if he wants
18:38to give it up,
18:39and you heard the reply.
18:41It was a no,
18:42emphatically.
18:44And again,
18:46Triple H focusing
18:47on that one body part.
18:50Well, I'll tell you what,
18:51Shawn Michaels has advantage.
18:53Shawn has his feet
18:54coming in here.
18:55It's a nullified one.
18:56It certainly will nullify it.
18:58It is a worthy, smart tactics
19:01by the number one contender.
19:04You know, Triple H seems to me
19:05that he needs to be
19:07the world's heavyweight champion
19:09to exist in the WWE.
19:11He needs it.
19:12We heard Shawn Michaels say that.
19:14Shawn Michaels certainly believes that.
19:15That's what this is all about.
19:18Hey, Jolly.
19:20Well, Nature Boy,
19:21he's enjoying this right now.
19:24I'm sure he's watching
19:25on the monitor.
19:26Figure four leg lock
19:27applied by the Game
19:28on Shawn Michaels.
19:30And, boy,
19:31Nature Boy,
19:32there's handiwork
19:33coming to the front here.
19:35There is toughness.
19:37Great maneuver from Triple H.
19:41Michaels, I'm sure,
19:42came in here wanting to
19:43protect his back,
19:44not thinking perhaps
19:45that his knee may be
19:46the focus now
19:47from Triple H.
19:48And you think back
19:49on the strategy
19:50with Michaels having
19:51all that speed and quickness.
19:53This is going to get
19:54to the cover.
19:57And the pain's got to be
19:58shooting through
19:59Shawn Michaels' body
20:00from the top of his head
20:02to the tip of his toes.
20:03Oh, you can't imagine, JR.
20:05I've had this applied to me
20:06many times.
20:07You can't imagine
20:08the pain that you feel
20:09from this.
20:10I mean, just seeing it
20:11does not do it justice.
20:13Especially when you consider
20:14what happened
20:15preceding this Figure 4.
20:17The Figure 4 alone
20:18is bad enough.
20:20The trash can,
20:21the leg takedown,
20:23and Shawn Michaels
20:24trying to crawl on his back,
20:26trying to get to those ropes,
20:28which would at least
20:29cause a break.
20:30Come on!
20:31Shawn, what do you say?
20:32Yes!
20:34Triple H
20:35is not referring to Shawn
20:37as HBK.
20:39He's not referring to him
20:40as showstopper.
20:41He's calling Shawn Michaels,
20:42Come on, Shawn!
20:43Tap!
20:44Triple H
20:45sliding back to the center
20:46of the ring.
20:47Great position
20:48of Shawn Michaels.
20:49Shoulders are down.
20:50So much pain.
20:51You almost forget
20:52their shoulders are down.
20:53They're down again!
20:54And he got another
20:55near fall.
20:56Triple H,
20:57I don't think I can recall
20:58someone remaining
21:00in this Figure 4
21:01for this length
21:02of time, King.
21:03Well, let me tell you something.
21:05Well, there may be
21:06a reason for that.
21:07You know,
21:08this is personal.
21:09I don't think that Triple H
21:10just wants to beat Shawn
21:11I think he wants
21:12to drag this thing out.
21:13I don't think he wants
21:14to humiliate him
21:15in the process.
21:16Now, Shawn Michaels
21:17trying desperately
21:18to turn it.
21:19Reverse the pressure here.
21:20Shawn Michaels reverses
21:21the Figure 4
21:22and the Gang
21:23quickly
21:24gets himself
21:25unhooked
21:26before the pressure
21:27becomes so great
21:28on his knees.
21:29He'll be in the same position
21:30Shawn Michaels is in.
21:31Look at this.
21:32The damage, I believe,
21:33is done, JR.
21:34And now,
21:35here comes that
21:36trashcan lid again.
21:37Michaels has lost
21:38his speed-quickness
21:39advantage here.
21:40And now,
21:41Triple H
21:42is in the face
21:43with that weapon.
21:44Oh!
21:45Good God!
21:46Scrambled brains
21:47and eggs.
21:48Who is smarter
21:49than Triple H?
21:50Where did you think?
21:51Where did everybody
21:52think?
21:53This has got to be it here
21:54for Shawn Michaels.
21:55Well, I'll tell you what.
21:56Where did you think
21:57and where did everybody
21:58in this arena
21:59and where did
22:00Shawn Michaels think
22:01that Triple H
22:02was going to hit Shawn
22:03with that trashcan lid?
22:04In the knee, right?
22:05Yeah, I would have guessed that.
22:06But where did he blast him?
22:07He scrambled his brains
22:08just like you said.
22:09Listen to this.
22:11Wow!
22:12That scrambled brains
22:13and eggs, let me tell you.
22:14That shot right to the head
22:15and now they're
22:16on the outside.
22:17And again,
22:18in this first fall
22:19of the street fight,
22:20can't be disqualified,
22:21can't be counted out.
22:22Shawn Michaels
22:23currently able to stand
22:24in his bigger,
22:25stronger,
22:26more powerful adversary,
22:27the Game now,
22:28imposing his will
22:29on the world's
22:30heavyweight champion.
22:31Look at Triple H
22:32imposing a little bit of will
22:33on the referee as well.
22:34I don't know why
22:35the referee bothers
22:36to tell him to get back
22:37in the ring.
22:38He can go anywhere
22:39they want now.
22:40Shawn Michaels'
22:41exercise heart
22:42cannot be measured
22:43in inches and pounds,
22:44but he is still
22:45a human being.
22:46And when your body
22:47starts falling,
22:48when your pulse
22:49dismembered and dismantled
22:50as Triple H is doing here,
22:51he's still a human being
22:52and I can't see
22:53Shawn Michaels
22:54being able to survive
22:55in this street fight
22:56much longer.
22:57Oh, wait a minute.
22:58This is a street fight.
22:59You know,
23:00where are these guys
23:01about to go?
23:02Oh, man!
23:03You see where
23:04Shawn's going now.
23:05Oh, man!
23:06You see where
23:07Shawn's going.
23:08What are you doing?
23:09That sheet metal
23:10wall.
23:14Triple H is thinking
23:15about something here.
23:16I don't know.
23:17He's got an evil mind, JR.
23:18Oh, he's got
23:19a sick mind.
23:20If I were you, Shawn,
23:21I would stumble, stagger,
23:22do whatever, crawl
23:23if you have to
23:24and get away
23:25from that fire.
23:26Get back towards that.
23:27Uh-oh.
23:28That two-by-four
23:29has got
23:30a spark wire.
23:31Uh-oh.
23:33Triple H has got
23:34a two-by-four
23:35loaded with barbed wire,
23:37and he's going to hit
23:38Shawn Michaels
23:39right in the face
23:40with it.
23:41What the hell
23:42is he waiting on?
23:43I don't know.
23:44His second thoughts?
23:46Is he showing
23:47that he's got a heart?
23:49He does have a heart.
23:54Maybe he's just
23:55got a better idea.
24:00He looks
24:01mesmerized
24:02by that fire.
24:04Oh, my God.
24:05You've got to be...
24:06Oh, my God.
24:07The two-by-four
24:08is on fire.
24:09It's a round
24:10in barbed wire.
24:11And the cerebral
24:12assassin
24:13with a set cell
24:14to become
24:15the world's
24:16heavyweight champion.
24:17He did it
24:18in his own sick mind.
24:19Triple H had
24:20a better idea.
24:21Shawn Michaels
24:22scored the kick.
24:23It may have been long,
24:24but maybe not.
24:25In any event,
24:26Shawn Michaels
24:27had a better idea.
24:28I don't know.
24:29I don't know.
24:30I don't know.
24:31I don't know.
24:32I don't know.
24:34Wait a minute.
24:35Now, Shawn Michaels
24:36has got that...
24:39Oh, my God.
24:40My God.
24:41Shawn Michaels
24:42has hit the game
24:43right in the face
24:44with that barbed wire.
24:45The flaming barbed wire.
24:48The flaming barbed wire
24:50wrapped around
24:51that two-by-four.
24:53That was sick.
24:55It was damn sick.
24:57And Shawn Michaels
24:58not only did he want to
24:59rip Triple H's face off,
25:00he wanted to set him up.
25:01Look at him.
25:02Uh-oh.
25:03You see the buzz?
25:04Look at this.
25:05This is...
25:06Oh!
25:07That is heinous.
25:08That is heinous.
25:09And that's how high
25:10the stakes are.
25:11And the game
25:12has been busted open
25:13with the hands
25:14of the two-by-four,
25:15the burning two-by-four,
25:16and that barbed wire.
25:17And now I got to...
25:18I got to face a fact here.
25:20Shawn Michaels
25:21would never...
25:22would never pull
25:23a stunt like that.
25:24This is definitely HBK.
25:25This is definitely
25:26the showstopper
25:27now, JR.
25:28Shawn Michaels,
25:29he did it to the game
25:30before the game
25:31could do it
25:32to the champion.
25:33A straight right hand
25:34by Shawn Michaels.
25:36He's bad back.
25:37His knee has got to be
25:38killing him.
25:39And look at the game
25:40trying to create
25:41a little distance.
25:42The game said,
25:43I don't know about
25:44more than more of this.
25:46And that barbed wire
25:47rips off the forehead
25:48of Triple H
25:49and that goes straight
25:50into the sear
25:51of flesh on his face.
25:52Come on!
25:53Triple H's head
25:55bouncing off that
25:56steel ring post
25:57like a basketball.
25:59And the bloody
26:00number one contender now
26:02who had a distinct
26:03advantage.
26:04You can't tell.
26:05Can you see?
26:06We need to get a close-up.
26:07Has Triple H's face
26:08been burned?
26:09Burned?
26:10If his eyes
26:11or his face is burned,
26:12that could be worse
26:13than the blood.
26:17Shawn Michaels,
26:18that trash can lid
26:19again.
26:20I don't like to agree
26:21with you very often, JR,
26:22but now that I think
26:23about it, you're right.
26:24Whoever wins
26:25this first ball
26:26after this abuse
26:27they've both been put through
26:28is going to have
26:29an advantage.
26:30And I say that
26:31because of the
26:32street fight rules
26:33in this first ball.
26:34And you see what
26:35these two men
26:36are taking out of
26:37each other,
26:38out of themselves,
26:39out of their body
26:40and soul
26:41in this first ball
26:42alone.
26:43Trying to absolutely
26:44destroy each other.
26:45All that's on the world's
26:46agenda.
26:47Oh!
26:48Oh!
26:49Jesus!
26:50God almighty,
26:51that was a
26:52drop toehold
26:53in Michaels' face
26:54crashing into
26:55that steel chair.
26:56He's out.
26:57He doesn't have
26:58a chance.
26:59Michaels, DDT.
27:00The game
27:01with a thunderous
27:02DDT
27:03taking down
27:04the world's heavyweight
27:05champion
27:06in this street fight.
27:07This first ball
27:08of a potential
27:09three-fall match
27:10continues.
27:11But either one
27:12of these guys
27:13lands three falls.
27:14Come on!
27:15He's losing
27:16a lot of blood.
27:17One more look,
27:18JR,
27:19just
27:20shots hit
27:21at the top
27:22of the chair.
27:23Oh, he's out.
27:24He's out.
27:25He's out.
27:26He's out.
27:28A sickening
27:29thud
27:30of a man's skull
27:31against a steel
27:32folding chair.
27:33You can't,
27:34this doesn't
27:35sound any
27:36nastier than that.
27:37And here comes
27:38the pedigree.
27:39Oh!
27:40A legal low blow
27:41in a street fight.
27:42You're right.
27:43The game going
27:44for that pedigree.
27:45It's all legal.
27:46It's Tom Michaels
27:47and elevated
27:48himself right
27:49in the game's face.
27:50His bloody face
27:51and the world's
27:52champion,
27:53the number one
27:54contender,
27:55are both down.
27:56Tom Michaels is up.
27:57No, it'll be down.
27:58Tom Michaels is down.
27:59Tom Michaels nipped
28:00up in the game.
28:01Another chop block
28:02right on that bad knee.
28:03And now the game.
28:04Pedigree.
28:05Starting with a pedigree.
28:06The pedigree
28:07by the game.
28:08The hook
28:09of the leg.
28:10Triple H wins
28:11the first fall.
28:12The winner
28:13of the first
28:14fall,
28:15Triple H!
28:16How big
28:17is that, JR?
28:18How huge
28:19is that?
28:20It's very big.
28:21We've always
28:22talked about
28:23Tom Michaels
28:24as the
28:25greatest
28:26contender.
28:27Tom Michaels'
28:28toughness,
28:29his resilience.
28:30He's a fearless
28:31competitor.
28:32But now he's
28:33got a bad
28:34wheel.
28:35And now
28:36the second
28:37fall will be
28:38contested
28:39inside the
28:40steel cage.
28:41Oh my gosh.
28:42To win the
28:43fall,
28:44you must
28:45win it
28:46by either
28:47pinfall
28:48or escape
28:49through the
28:50door or
28:51over the top.
28:52In either
28:53case of escape,
28:54you must
28:55win it
28:56by either
28:57pinfall
28:58or escape.
28:59And
29:00the
29:01winner
29:02of the
29:03first
29:04fall
29:05is
29:06Triple
29:07H!
29:08Triple
29:09H!
29:10Triple
29:11H!
29:12Triple
29:13H!
29:14Triple
29:15H!
29:16Triple
29:17H!
29:18Triple
29:19H!
29:20Triple
29:21H!
29:22Triple
29:23H!
29:24Triple
29:25H!
29:26Triple
29:27H!
29:28Triple
29:29H!
29:30Triple
29:31H!
29:32Triple
29:33H!
29:34Triple
29:35H!
29:36Triple
29:37H!
29:38Triple
29:39H!
29:40Triple
29:41H!
29:42Triple
29:43H!
29:44Triple
29:45H!
29:46Triple
29:47H!
29:48Triple
29:49H!
29:50Triple
29:51H!
29:52Triple
29:53H!
29:54Triple
29:55H!
29:56Triple
29:57H!
29:58Triple
29:59H!
30:00Triple
30:01H!
30:02Triple
30:03H!
30:04Triple
30:05H!
30:06Triple
30:07H!
30:08Triple
30:09H!
30:10Triple
30:11H!
30:12Triple
30:13H!
30:14Triple
30:15H!
30:16Triple
30:17H!
30:18Triple
30:19H!
30:20Triple
30:21H!
30:22Triple
30:23H!
30:24Triple
30:25H!
30:26Triple
30:27H!
30:28Triple
30:29H!
30:30Triple
30:31H!
30:32Triple
30:33H!
30:34Triple
30:35H!
30:36Triple
30:37H!
30:38Triple
30:39H!
30:40Triple
30:41H!
30:42Triple
30:43H!
30:44Triple
30:45H!
30:46Triple
30:47H!
30:48Triple
30:49H!
30:50Triple
30:51H!
30:52Triple
30:53H!
30:54Triple
30:55H!
30:56Triple
30:57H!
30:58Triple
30:59H!
31:00Triple
31:01H!
31:02Triple
31:03H!
31:04Triple
31:05H!
31:06Triple
31:07H!
31:08Triple
31:09H!
31:10Triple
31:11H!
31:12Triple
31:13H!
31:14Triple
31:15H!
31:16Triple
31:17H!
31:18Triple
31:19H!
31:20Triple
31:21H!
31:22Triple
31:23H!
31:24Triple
31:25H!
31:26Triple
31:27H!
31:28Triple
31:29H!
31:30Triple
31:31H!
31:32Triple
31:33H!
31:34Triple
31:35H!
31:36Triple
31:37H!
31:38Triple
31:39H!
31:40Triple
31:41H!
31:42Triple
31:43H!
31:44Triple
31:45H!
31:46Triple
31:47H!
31:48Triple
31:49H!
31:50Triple
31:51H!
31:52Triple
31:53H!
31:54Triple
31:55H!
31:56Triple
31:57H!
31:58Triple
31:59H!
32:00Triple
32:01H!
32:02Triple
32:03H!
32:04Triple
32:05H!
32:06Triple
32:07H!
32:08Triple
32:09H!
32:10Triple
32:11H!
32:12Triple
32:13H!
32:14Triple
32:15H!
32:16Triple
32:17H!
32:18Triple
32:19H!
32:20Triple
32:21H!
32:22Triple
32:23H!
32:24Triple
32:25H!
32:26Triple
32:27H!
32:28Triple
32:29H!
32:30Triple
32:31H!
32:32Triple
32:33H!
32:34Triple
32:35H!
32:36Triple
32:37H!
32:38Triple
32:39H!
32:40Triple
32:41H!
32:42Triple
32:43H!
32:44Triple
32:45H!
32:46Triple
32:47H!
32:48Triple
32:49H!
32:50Triple
32:51H!
32:52Triple
32:53H!
32:54Triple
32:55H!
32:56Triple
32:57H!
32:58Triple
32:59H!
33:00Triple
33:01H!
33:02Triple
33:03H!
33:04Triple
33:05H!
33:06Triple
33:07H!
33:08Triple
33:09H!
33:10Triple
33:11H!
33:12Triple
33:13H!
33:14Triple
33:15H!
33:16Triple
33:17H!
33:18Triple
33:19H!
33:20Triple
33:21H!
33:22Triple
33:23H!
33:24Triple
33:25H!
33:26Triple
33:27H!
33:28Triple
33:29H!
33:30Triple
33:31H!
33:32Triple
33:33H!
33:34Triple
33:35H!
33:36Triple
33:37H!
33:38Triple
33:39H!
33:40Triple
33:41H!
33:42Triple
33:43H!
33:44Triple
33:45H!
33:46Triple
33:47H!
33:48Triple
33:49H!
33:50Triple
33:51H!
33:52Triple
33:53H!
33:54Triple
33:55H!
33:56Triple
33:57H!
33:58Triple
33:59H!
34:00Triple
34:01H!
34:02Triple
34:03H!
34:04Triple
34:05H!
34:06Triple
34:07H!
34:08Triple
34:09H!
34:10Triple
34:11H!
34:12Triple
34:13H!
34:14Triple
34:15H!
34:16Triple
34:17H!
34:18Triple
34:19H!
34:20Triple
34:21H!
34:22Triple
34:23H!
34:24Triple
34:25H!
34:26Triple
34:27H!
34:28Triple
34:29H!
34:30Triple
34:31H!
34:32Triple
34:33H!
34:34Triple
34:35H!
34:36Triple
34:37H!
34:38Triple
34:39H!
34:40Triple
34:41H!
34:42Triple
34:43H!
34:44Triple
34:45H!
34:46Triple
34:47H!
34:48Triple
34:49H!
34:50Triple
34:51H!
34:52Triple
34:53H!
34:54Triple
34:55H!
34:56Triple
34:57H!
34:58Triple
34:59H!
35:00Triple
35:01H!
35:02Triple
35:03H!
35:04Triple
35:05H!
35:06Triple
35:07H!
35:08Triple
35:09H!
35:10Triple
35:11H!
35:12Triple
35:13H!
35:14Triple
35:15H!
35:16Triple
35:17H!
35:18Triple
35:19H!
35:20Triple
35:21H!
35:22Triple
35:23H!
35:24Triple
35:25H!
35:26Triple
35:27H!
35:28Triple
35:29H!
35:30Triple
35:31H!
35:32Triple
35:33H!
35:34Triple
35:35H!
35:36Triple
35:37H!
35:38Triple
35:39H!
35:40Triple
35:41H!
35:42Triple
35:43H!
35:44Triple
35:45H!
35:46Triple
35:47H!
35:48Triple
35:49H!
35:50Triple
35:51H!
35:52Triple
35:53H!
35:54Triple
35:55H!
35:56Triple
35:57H!
35:58Triple
35:59H!
36:00Triple
36:01H!
36:02Triple
36:03H!
36:04Triple
36:05H!
36:06Triple
36:07H!
36:08Triple
36:09H!
36:10Triple
36:11H!
36:12Triple
36:13H!
36:14Triple
36:15H!
36:16Triple
36:17H!
36:18Triple
36:19H!
36:20Triple
36:21H!
36:22Triple
36:23H!
36:24Triple
36:25H!
36:26Triple
36:27H!
36:28Triple
36:29H!
36:30Triple
36:31H!
36:32Triple
36:33H!
36:34Triple
36:35H!
36:36Triple
36:37H!
36:38Triple
36:39H!
36:40Triple
36:41H!
36:42Triple
36:43H!
36:44Triple
36:45H!
36:46Triple
36:47H!
36:48Triple
36:49H!
36:50Triple
36:51H!
36:52Triple
36:53H!
36:54Triple
36:55H!
36:56Triple
36:57H!
36:58Muscle
36:59Buster
37:00is
37:01off
37:02McClure
37:03is
37:04halfway
37:05out
37:06The former 16-pound champion has gotten too close to the fire and he'll realize you better
37:15not hook Flair once you get killed.
37:18Oh, this is bad.
37:20Come on, referee.
37:21Do your job.
37:22You rejected him.
37:23Let's get Flair out of there.
37:24You're so good.
37:25Flair is a bloody mess, but he can't be disqualified in a cage match.
37:31And the game, he just got back to his feet.
37:35In the first moment of pedigree, Triple H...
37:38Shawn Michaels counters the pedigree in the back body drop.
37:42It's a sleep tan music on Flair.
37:44It's a handicap match.
37:45He got the shot in.
37:47A sleep tan music on Triple H.
37:50It's a handicap cage match.
37:51Oh, Shawn, you gotta cover him.
37:53You gotta cover Triple H.
37:54I think Shawn wants to...
37:56He wants to inflict some punishment.
37:57He wants to humiliate Triple H.
37:59This could be a huge mistake for Shawn Michaels in this cage match.
38:03There's no doubt he can pin Triple H right here.
38:08He got nine.
38:09What's Shawn Michaels gonna do here?
38:11Michaels down one fall to none in this potential three-fall match.
38:15We're in the second fall in this cage match.
38:18Uh-oh.
38:19Well, just as the game wanted to cripple Shawn Michaels,
38:24they put the showstopper back in the wheelchair.
38:27They're not smart.
38:28Why don't you just go ahead, climb out of the ring, win this fall,
38:31take your chances on the third, try to remain the champion.
38:34But no, HBK has to show up.
38:36The showstopper has to please the people.
38:39He's got to defy it all right here.
38:41This is...
38:45Right through the table.
38:46Right through the black heart.
38:48And Shawn Michaels evens it all up at one fall apiece.
38:51The winner of this fall, evening this bout at one fall apiece,
38:55Shawn Michaels.
38:58And now...
38:59And now it's a ladder match.
39:01We've said if necessary, it's just become necessary.
39:04And I said that the street fight favored Triple H,
39:08and I said the cage match.
39:09And now the third and deciding fall will be contested as a ladder match.
39:14Shut up, Howard Finkle, we know that.
39:17The second fall, the cage match I thought favored Triple H,
39:20but even I have to admit, the ladder match favors Shawn Michaels.
39:26Shawn Michaels had the first ladder match.
39:28My God, look at Flair.
39:29Oh, he's a wreck.
39:31Flair, his face is a crimson mask.
39:36Hospital time.
39:37Get his ass out of here.
39:39My God, this is amazing.
39:41This is scary.
39:43What kind of internal injuries could that move have on both men?
39:50On both men is right, but...
39:53Shawn Michaels able to immediately hook the leg of Triple H and get the pin.
39:57And the World's Heavyweight Championship.
39:59That's Ric Flair being escorted back to the locker room.
40:01He's going to need some medical attention.
40:03Shawn Michaels bringing that huge ladder in the ring.
40:08Michaels has been bloodied.
40:10So is the game.
40:11We are down to the final and deciding fall
40:14to determine who will be the World's Heavyweight Champion.
40:17And look there, the World Heavyweight Championship belt
40:21is being hoisted up in the air, high up in the air.
40:25Get that belt up there before Shawn gets it.
40:28He gets it now, it's over.
40:30Shawn Michaels stacking that ladder in the corner.
40:32Michaels in the game.
40:34It is a true gut check.
40:36Here deep, deep in the fourth quarter
40:38of this World Heavyweight Championship match.
40:41Fourth quarter, third fall, JR.
40:48And that ladder is, as we have said,
40:50that steel, the steps, the posts, the cages,
40:53the ladders, so unforgiving.
40:55The steel doesn't give a damn about an individual's anatomy.
40:59Well, believe me, Shawn Michaels doesn't give a damn
41:02about Triple H's anatomy and vice versa.
41:05These two men have proven their innate toughness.
41:09Look out!
41:10And Michaels ramming that ladder right to the head of the game.
41:15That's about like getting hit by a car, I would think.
41:17Oh, man.
41:19Much like getting a...
41:20Look out!
41:21Pulling that ladder out of the game,
41:23adding insult to injury.
41:25The game is still bleeding profusely.
41:27The number one contender, almost like a junkie,
41:30needing that World Heavyweight Championship
41:33to simply survive in his life.
41:36That's Shawn Michaels' assumption.
41:40Oh, look at this.
41:41That ladder down.
41:43This is gonna be ugly here.
41:45Oh!
41:47Triple H trying to...
41:48He's trying to twist his body away from that ladder,
41:51but to no avail.
41:52That probably made it worse.
41:54His side ladder right on the edge of that ladder.
41:57Ugh!
41:58Now Shawn Michaels has got a...
42:00He's got a one leg.
42:01He's done everything he could do physically and mentally
42:04to survive the first two falls of this slobberknocker
42:08of slobberknockers tonight here in Armageddon.
42:11What's he gonna do?
42:15Well, King, who do you think showed up here?
42:17Tell me, is it Shawn Michaels or is it the showstopper?
42:20All right, all right.
42:22Well, he arrived late, but showstopper's here now.
42:25You're damn right he's here.
42:26And his heart's beating stronger than ever.
42:29And Shawn Michaels, what is he doing?
42:31He can't reach that title belt from there.
42:34I'm telling you.
42:36Maybe he wants to...
42:37Get them both!
42:38Grab that belt and one belt, whoop and fall right up.
42:41No, look out!
42:43Oh!
42:44And the game able to barely, and I mean by inches,
42:48avoid most of the contact.
42:51And that may come back and haunt HBK.
42:55He had the chance.
42:57If he had only...
42:58Oh!
42:59Taken that same amount of time.
43:01Look at this one more time.
43:03Oh, that's like...
43:04Oh!
43:05That's a Wiley Coyote camera.
43:07Man, what an abrupt stop that Shawn Michaels...
43:10Looks like he just landed with a splat, JR.
43:12Shawn Michaels, carcass came.
43:14And now the game is looking for a pedigree
43:16and got his pedigree again.
43:18A bloody challenger for the world's heavyweight title.
43:21I told you it was Shawn Michaels that was here tonight.
43:24I told you all along.
43:25You didn't say that.
43:26You just...
43:27You changed your mind more than an old lady.
43:32Look at this now.
43:33This is what Shawn Michaels should have done
43:34just a few moments ago.
43:36If he'd taken that same amount of time
43:37and just set that ladder up
43:39instead of trying to do that huge splash on Triple H
43:41and grab that championship belt,
43:43he'd still be the world heavyweight champion.
43:47Triple H is not going to waste any time.
43:48He's going right after the prize.
43:50Triple H has got that ladder
43:51right under the world's heavyweight title belt.
43:53This is the third and deciding fall.
43:55We're all leaving that one fall apiece here at Armageddon.
43:58The number one contender now,
44:00slowly, on that bad leg.
44:02Well, what do you expect?
44:03You think he's just going to be able to
44:04climb up that ladder with ease?
44:05I'm surprised neither of these guys can stand up.
44:07I am too.
44:08I wasn't complaining.
44:09And Shawn Michaels now,
44:10trying to grab both feet of the game.
44:15Shawn Michaels holding on
44:17to what may be the last step
44:19before losing the world's heavyweight championship
44:22if he can't get the game off that ladder.
44:26He got the game off the ladder.
44:28Shawn Michaels jerking the number one contender down.
44:33What a shot!
44:34All right.
44:35This has got to be over now.
44:37Oh, man.
44:38Shawn Michaels sweeps in music,
44:40takes the game to the outside.
44:42Does he have enough left?
44:43Does HBK or The Showstopper have enough left
44:47to get up now that Triple H is incapacitated?
44:50We've talked for years about Shawn Michaels' resiliency,
44:53his will to win.
44:55And the supreme test is here and now
44:59with a bad will, losing blood,
45:02having a healthy doubt of him in that street fight.
45:05Shawn Michaels is just three or four steps away
45:10from getting to the top of the ladder.
45:13Shawn Michaels is going to do it.
45:14Can you believe this?
45:16The place is not even in sight.
45:17The comeback after four years was extraordinary.
45:20Three more steps.
45:23He's going to do it.
45:25Shawn Michaels is going to do it.
45:26He's got it.
45:27He's touching his top.
45:28Oh, wait.
45:29No!
45:30Oh!
45:31He's got him.
45:32Oh!
45:34Shawn Michaels takes off that ladder,
45:36going through three tables.
45:39The table set up by Triple H's advisor, Ric Flair.
45:43He's breathing.
45:45I don't think he's breathing.
45:47Shawn Michaels has crashed and burned
45:49thanks to the game in that 12-foot ladder.
45:52I don't think Shawn is breathing.
45:54He's ticking.
45:56Triple H doesn't give a damn if Shawn Michaels
45:58ever takes another breath,
46:00if he ever holds his child,
46:02if he ever sets foot in a wrestling ring
46:04as long as he lives.
46:06The game only cares about himself
46:08and being the world champion.
46:09This is all he wants to hold.
46:11And there he gets it.
46:13And the game is done.
46:15My God.
46:17Here is your winner
46:19and new world heavyweight champion,
46:23Triple H.
46:25It's a paramedic.
46:26It's a helper for Shawn Michaels.
46:29Both these men may never be the same.
46:31Help Triple H.
46:32He's bleeding profusely.
46:33Both these men may never be the same
46:35when they're in the game
46:36embracing the world's heavyweight title belt
46:39like it was a life-saving organ.
46:46My God, I'll tell you what, folks.
46:48You got your dollars worth here tonight
46:51out of this event.
46:53Unbelievable.
46:55This team has lost the blood.
46:57He may have taken months off his career, too.
47:00And we'll see this again.
47:01This is what changed the whole thing around.
47:03Shawn Michaels thought he had it.
47:04Now he's trying to hold on for dear life.
47:06But no!
47:08That looked even worse the second time.
47:10Off the top of that ladder.
47:12And here you are looking at it again.
47:13Look at Shawn's face.
47:16That may have ended Shawn Michaels' career.
47:19And it would have done at the hands of the Game King.
47:22But the hands of the Game
47:24were able to grab the biggest prize in the game.
47:27He's the world heavyweight champion, JR.
47:30And what an amazing performance by both men.
47:33But tonight, Triple H is the world's heavyweight champion once again.
47:38And tonight, ladies and gentlemen,
47:40at Armageddon, Triple H has done that damn good.