WWE WrestleMania 23 - Shawn Michaels vs John Cena (WWE Championship)
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00:00Even more, John Cena has been WWE Champion
00:04putting on the last 24 months.
00:08Shawn Michaels looking to regain the WWE title
00:11he has not held in nine years.
00:14And Michaels got back in the game
00:17by qualifying for this match
00:18in a Triple Threat Rule contest.
00:23I say it'll be Randy Orton
00:26squaring off against Edge and against Shawn Michaels.
00:31Who is going to go to WrestleMania?
00:33Who will face John Cena?
00:35Michaels, oh, the kick!
00:37The super kick!
00:38♪♪
00:41Michaels has done it!
00:44WrestleMania 23,
00:46John Cena versus The Showstopper!
00:51This is what our business is all about.
00:53♪♪
01:03♪♪
01:13♪♪
01:23♪♪
01:33♪♪
01:43♪♪
01:50The following contest is scheduled for one fall,
01:53and it is for the WWE Championship!
01:57♪♪
02:07No matter what the odds,
02:09the Heartbreak Kid, Shawn Michaels,
02:11The Showstopper, is back!
02:14Nobody has ever outperformed
02:16Shawn Michaels in a big-man situation!
02:20My name is John Cena,
02:23the WWE Champion,
02:26and I am right here!
02:29Tension is in the air!
02:31HBK, you have had opportunity after opportunity
02:36to kick Cena's head right off his shoulders,
02:40and you didn't do it.
02:42Nobody tells the Heartbreak Kid
02:45when to deliver sweet chin music.
02:48I do it when I want,
02:50and I do it when you least expect it.
02:54Oh, my God, Michaels just kicked Cena's head off!
02:58John Cena, hold on tight,
02:59because the Heartbreak Kid is gonna take you
03:01to the top of the mountain!
03:03One man will have his hand high!
03:06Ladies and gentlemen, get ready!
03:07One man will proudly say,
03:10Mr. WrestleMania, the champ has arrived!
03:13He is here!
03:15It don't get no bigger than this!
03:18This contest is scheduled for one fall,
03:21and it is for the WWE Championship!
03:27Are you ready?
03:29-♪ Do you think you can tell us what to do?
03:33Do you think you can tell us what to wear?
03:37Do you think that you're better?
03:41You better get ready,
03:43do you think that you're better?
03:47You better get ready.
03:51Bow to the magazine.
03:54Bring it down.
03:55♪♪
03:59Introducing the champion,
04:02the former WWE Champion,
04:05he is one time of the World Tag Team Championship,
04:10and D-Generation X member,
04:13the Heartbreak Kid,
04:16Shawn Michaels!
04:19-♪
04:21D-Generation!
04:24D-X is Shawn Michaels,
04:26with a golden opportunity
04:29to once again make history in the WWE.
04:34-♪ Well, you better get used to the way the world bound me
04:37I see what you got
04:39I've been around this business,
04:40I don't think I've ever seen a better Big Man wrestler
04:43than Shawn Michaels.
04:45♪♪
04:51Well, he's certainly super kicked his way
04:53right into this WWE Championship match tonight.
04:56-♪ Shake your big man
04:59-♪
05:00Shawn Michaels delivering sweet tin music
05:03to his tag team partner, John Cena.
05:06Let's not forget that.
05:08John Cena and Michaels are the World Tag Team Champions.
05:11-♪
05:13Well, Shawn Michaels told us,
05:16and he even told John Cena that
05:18you would never see it coming, and quite frankly,
05:22I didn't see it coming, nor did John Cena,
05:25but it came, that super kick from HBK.
05:28But tonight, John Cena may see it coming,
05:32because he knows it's coming.
05:33-♪ D-Generation!
05:37You can tell me what to do
05:39♪
05:42You know I'm ready to talk to you
05:45♪
05:47When you're bad as they come,
05:48turn away the world bound me
05:50I see what you got
05:51Adventures in outfit
05:53But that's a bridge, boy
05:55Yeah, that's a bridge, little man
05:57With 80,103,
06:00setting a new four-field record here in Detroit,
06:03surpassing Super Bowl 40,
06:06Shawn Michaels has the opportunity,
06:09as I mentioned, to make history.
06:11It has been nine years, King,
06:14since HBK was WWE champion.
06:18Here is a man that left the WWE
06:20due to a back injury for four years
06:23and returned to become the World Heavyweight Champion,
06:28the same title The Undertaker won here tonight.
06:31Well, it's indeed a history-making night.
06:34We saw The Undertaker win World Championship gold
06:38first time in 10 years,
06:39and now we see Mr. McMahon get his head shaved bald.
06:44What would cap off this historic night
06:46more than Shawn Michaels
06:49once again being the WWE champion?
06:55Michaels loves the spotlight, loves the main event,
06:58and we've got nothing but great main-event treatment
07:00here in Detroit this week,
07:01and folks here at Ford Field,
07:05and that's a Ford right there, by the way.
07:08Ford Mustang! Ford Mustang, JR!
07:10What the?
07:28What is this, JR? The Fast and the Furious?
07:31I'm not sure, King.
07:35We're in here, by the way.
07:38It's here, whatever, or whoever it is.
07:43My God.
07:45Hey, look out!
08:01Oh, my God.
08:06That poor Mustang right through the WrestleMania glass.
08:09♪♪
08:17♪♪
08:23The champ is here!
08:25What a drop!
08:27And the winner of this year's WWE Championship
08:30with a 240 pound,
08:33he is one half of the World Tag Team Champions,
08:37and the WWE Champion,
08:41John Cena!
08:44Yeah, that's what I call making it big and small.
08:47I'm gonna make it big and small.
08:49I'm gonna make it big and small.
08:51I'm gonna make it big and small.
08:53That's what I call making it big and an entrance.
08:57Remind me to not ride shotgun with John Cena.
09:01John Michaels, nonplussed by John Cena's arrival.
09:08And the steel-blue eyes of John Michaels
09:11has one thing on his mind,
09:13and that's to become a WWE Champion
09:15here in the magnificent Ford Field
09:17where the hospitality this week
09:19has been absolutely overwhelming.
09:23Well, I don't know if I can tell you good,
09:26but after that little driving experience by John Cena,
09:30the Detroit Police might issue him a season ticket.
09:35And that, ladies and gentlemen, is what it's all about.
09:38The WWE title that has been defended
09:4022 times at WrestleMania.
09:43It has changed hands 15 times at WrestleMania.
09:47If you do the math, you can compute the odds
09:50as John Cena, who has never lost at WrestleMania,
09:53appearing on his third straight WrestleMania main event.
09:57Does all that math stack up for a Cena win or a Cena loss?
10:04Well, when Cena's against the Showstopper,
10:07you can throw all the statistics out the window, JR,
10:10because Shawn Michaels is a man with tremendous passion,
10:14a man with tremendous heart,
10:16and he is capable of just about anything
10:18in big match situations.
10:20That's certainly not discounting John Cena's heart,
10:23his determination.
10:24Cena has dominated the WWE
10:26in the last couple of years specifically.
10:29Has Cena been the WWE Champion 20 of the last 24 months?
10:34That's what I call dominating.
10:39Michaels knows all about the WWE title.
10:42He's going for his fifth title reign
10:45in Michaels' sure-to-be Hall of Fame career.
10:48Both of these superstars, Shawn Michaels, John Cena,
10:53tremendous fan favorites,
10:55but tonight, these over 80,000 fans,
10:59they're gonna have to choose.
11:02I mean, I don't think many of these fans
11:04are gonna sit here and just be complacent,
11:07not really care who wins this match.
11:10Michaels has a great advantage in experience.
11:15And that in a big-match environment at an event,
11:19well, there's no event like WrestleMania.
11:21WrestleMania is the most unique sports entertainment extravaganza
11:25that has ever been created,
11:27and Michaels inviting Cena to step in,
11:30and Cena did step toward Michaels.
11:32That could backfire on John Cena,
11:34being so reactive to Michaels' invitation
11:37I can't tell if Shawn Michaels
11:39wanted to shake hands to start the...
11:41Uh-oh, no, there's gonna be no handshaking.
11:43And Michaels...
11:45striking first.
11:48Insulting Cena with a slap,
11:51avoiding the big bombs of Cena's right hand,
11:54and now DX...
11:56Rocked the chop there, King.
11:58Well, you're right.
11:59That's Shawn Michaels.
12:01He's got a lot of power.
12:03He's got a lot of power.
12:05Rocked the chop there, King.
12:06Well, you're right.
12:07That's Shawn Michaels' attitude, J.R.
12:09And John Cena, you can tell from the look on his face,
12:12that, well, I would imagine right now,
12:14he feels like he just got punked.
12:16Cena's got to regroup mentally.
12:18Obviously, physically, both these men are in magnificent shape.
12:21Both coming into this match, as far as I know,
12:24are at 100%.
12:25No physical ailments.
12:27It should be an amazing matchup.
12:29The main event here at WrestleMania,
12:31a nice chain-wrestling maneuver to the side headlock,
12:34both Shawn Michaels and John Cena
12:36wrestling in front of the largest group of fans,
12:39the biggest crowd that they have ever competed in,
12:41in front of.
12:43Of course, our fans voting on the official wireless partner
12:46of the WWE, AT&T,
12:48picking Cena to win it.
12:50And Michaels, again, Cena can't connect,
12:53but Michaels does.
12:55Michaels beating Cena to the punch,
12:57literally and figuratively,
12:59in this one-fall match
13:01for the WWE Championship.
13:03And it's deja vu all over again
13:05for John Cena right there.
13:09And Michaels not only, uh,
13:12not only beating John Cena to the punch,
13:14but also laying a little,
13:16a little trash-talking on the champ.
13:18Shawn Michaels can talk smack with the best of them.
13:22Again, Michaels has,
13:24has rattled Cena's cage.
13:26There's no doubt about it.
13:28Cena's spending more time looking down at his shoes.
13:31Now, as Shawn said, your chest is a little red.
13:34No kidding.
13:36Those, uh, Ric Flair-like knife-edge chops
13:38are Shawn Michaels, John Cena
13:40with his pectoral region very red.
13:43And now Michaels again outwrestling Cena,
13:45getting the advantage here in the,
13:47in the exchange,
13:49and Michaels using his shoulder as a,
13:51as a block, and blocking that,
13:53the shoulder of John Cena.
13:55So Michaels affecting the, uh,
13:57shoulder joint of John Cena,
13:59Well, JR, when you're competing
14:01in the main event at WrestleMania,
14:03you gotta prepare for this match.
14:05You gotta, you gotta think this match
14:07out in your head probably a hundred,
14:09maybe a thousand times.
14:11I can assure you, the champ,
14:13this is not what he thought would be happening
14:15at this point in that match.
14:17Driving that big Ford Mustang through the streets
14:19of Detroit, prancing it through that glass wall,
14:21getting in the ring, and pretty much
14:23being embarrassed so far by HBK.
14:25Look at this.
14:27John Cena here in the early going,
14:29another nice takedown.
14:31Michaels in control, controlling the upper body
14:33of John Cena.
14:35Cena's strength lies in his upper body.
14:37Michaels attacking the strength
14:39of the reigning WWE champion,
14:41and got the shoulder on a canvas
14:43that referee Mike Kiyota got about a one count out of.
14:45Cena's arm, look at his arm,
14:47trapped by Shawn Michaels.
14:49Michaels using his body and leg strength
14:51to get Cena in a pinning predicament.
14:53And the more pinning predicaments
14:55force their opponent in, the more
14:57they're going to make a mistake.
14:59And the longer-
15:01It's pressure, King.
15:03And the longer Shawn Michaels
15:05maintains control of this match,
15:07the more that's going to play on the mind of Cena.
15:09Look at that!
15:11Cena missed twice, but not the third time.
15:13And that big arm of John Cena
15:15hammered Michaels
15:17with a clothesline.
15:19And listen, JR, listen to this big crowd react.
15:25Michaels certainly needs to be
15:27wary of being overconfident.
15:29As Cena now,
15:31I think, has refocused
15:33after not the most auspicious
15:35of starts
15:37with Michaels outwrestling John Cena.
15:39Look at our AT&T polls today.
15:4159% of our fans
15:43think that John Cena's
15:45going to win this, but I don't think
15:4759% of these fans in this huge stadium
15:49want John Cena to win this right now.
15:51And Michaels with a fast press.
15:53Look at this!
15:55Hammering away at John Cena.
15:59And Cena sidestepping Shawn Michaels.
16:05And Cena being hung up
16:07on the top rope by his challenger
16:09for the WWE title.
16:15Your referee might get it.
16:17Instructing Michaels to get Cena
16:19back in the ring.
16:21Cena was in the ring, but Shawn Michaels outside.
16:23I meant Shawn Michaels,
16:25and Michaels just hip-tossed John Cena
16:27right to the outside
16:29from the ring to the outside
16:31down the line right in front of us here
16:33in our announce position.
16:35We've already had enough action out here on our announce tables.
16:37Stinging!
16:39Knife-edge chop by Shawn Michaels
16:41on John Cena.
16:43And boom! The enziguri!
16:45Michaels tores with the enziguri
16:47on the WWE champion
16:49and I can see Cena's eyes
16:51and they're blurring.
16:53Wait a minute, what the hell is Michaels doing?
16:55It doesn't look good, JR. Get out of the way!
16:57Look out, Michaels!
16:59Oh, good Lord!
17:01Good God!
17:03Michaels with that springboard moonsault
17:05catching John Cena
17:07on our table.
17:09Oh my God.
17:11I'm not sure Michaels didn't
17:13hurt that knee, I'm not sure,
17:15but Cena took a blow.
17:17Michaels saying, by every caution
17:19to the wind
17:21in his quest, his journey
17:23to be WWE champion
17:25Michaels is doing anything he can.
17:27Look at this again. Springboard.
17:29No, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait.
17:31Shawn.
17:35Cena's back.
17:37Michaels is worse for wear as well.
17:39Cena tossed in the ring
17:41and Shawn Michaels thinks he's gonna go for a cover quickly
17:43sooner than later.
17:46John Cena's eyes, King.
17:48You saw them as well as I did.
17:50Cena wasn't there for a moment or two.
17:52Michaels back in control
17:54with a WWE title
17:56on the line.
17:58Come on, get him out of the corner.
18:00Get him out.
18:02Michaels measuring
18:04and no clenched fist, forearm is legal.
18:06Michaels measured Cena
18:08and Cena is on wobbly legs.
18:10Cena's vertical base
18:12has been challenged
18:14as is Cena's
18:16WWE championship reign.
18:18Forget Cena's vertical base.
18:20Cena himself has been challenged.
18:22I mean, Cena has hit
18:24one, maybe two big moves in this match
18:26but other than that, it's been
18:28completely controlled and dominated by
18:30HBK. Look at that.
18:32Michaels blocks Cena
18:34and then right on that knee joint
18:36Michaels up with a clubbing blow
18:38of very base
18:40offense by Shawn Michaels
18:42yet extremely effective.
18:44Cena trying to create some distance.
18:46Michaels like a shark
18:48going right for that injured leg
18:50and Michaels now exploding
18:52the left knee of John Cena.
18:54Well, it's like Shawn Michaels knows
18:56exactly what Cena was
18:58planning to do and he's got a counter
19:00who's ready for everything that the champ
19:02is throwing at him.
19:04Remember these men are tag team partners.
19:06Wait a minute, not that way.
19:08Right in the patella of a kneecap.
19:10And that knee taken
19:12against the way it's supposed to bend
19:14the kneecap was the focal
19:16point. Michaels has
19:18isolated that body part.
19:20Well, you're right. Shawn Michaels
19:22trying to, look at that.
19:24This is how this entire week
19:26started with John Cena's leg and then
19:28ended with Michaels trying to
19:30hyperextend the knee of John Cena.
19:32If you don't have your legs, JR, you don't have any vertical base
19:34to talk about.
19:36And King, certainly no legs mean
19:38no F.U. for John Cena.
19:40And no championship.
19:42And Michaels, that chop block, again
19:44focusing on the left leg of John Cena.
19:46I guarantee you
19:48if you see Michaels get up
19:50to anywhere on the left leg as far as
19:52the rest of this match is concerned, it'll be a miracle.
20:04I think he just asked John Cena
20:06if Cena feels like he can continue.
20:10I couldn't make out what the referee was saying, but I can only assume
20:12that the referee was asking John Cena
20:14if he wanted to continue.
20:16And you know Cena's not gonna
20:18fold his tip for anybody.
20:20Love him or hate him, John Cena
20:22has got lots of guts. And we're seeing
20:24that display right now because
20:26Cena's essentially competing in this match
20:28on one leg.
20:30You know the old cliche.
20:32And Cena trying to
20:34trying to turn away, but can't.
20:36Michaels is relentless.
20:38And Michaels
20:40utilizing the ropes.
20:42Illegally, yes, but
20:44breaking before the count of five.
20:48I'm gonna tell you something here. I did not expect
20:50this type of match.
20:52Shawn Michaels basically
20:54just giving John Cena
20:56a wrestling
20:58lesson, if you will.
21:00Feeding him to every punch
21:02And
21:04Cena, he got no legs.
21:06Cena's got no legs. He couldn't strike.
21:08And Cena is a great striker.
21:10There's no doubt about that.
21:12Michaels has actually made John Cena look
21:14bad. Eye to eye. Eye to eye.
21:24I can't make out what he's saying. I do think
21:26I heard the word partner and that's all
21:28I can make out.
21:30I'm sure it was more
21:32mind games by Shawn Michaels
21:34or
21:36more verbiage to confuse
21:38perhaps John Cena.
21:40Cena
21:42again being punished in another knife edge.
21:44But Cena comes back with a hard right hand.
21:46A body shot that scores
21:48and bends Michael over. And the right hand of Michaels
21:50comes back with a knife edge.
21:52And Cena strikes again. The WWE
21:54champion using the rope to hold
21:56himself up. A lot of power
21:58behind those blows of John Cena
22:00when they do land. Oh, look at that.
22:04Now he's on unsteady legs himself.
22:06It's Shawn Michaels.
22:08Michaels backing Cena
22:10in the corner.
22:14A hard knife edge and then
22:16the big time right hand.
22:18The first huge right.
22:20And Cena has landed.
22:22Takes Michaels down but only for a moment
22:24as Michaels with that rush of adrenaline
22:26buries his shoulder in Cena
22:28who is still using the ropes
22:30in that corner to hold Cena upright.
22:32Well, Shawn Michaels so far
22:34in this match has made John Cena
22:36miss many times.
22:38But Shawn Michaels does not want to get
22:40in a slug fest with the champ. I can assure
22:42you of that. Michaels pugnacious
22:44and continuing to focus on
22:46the left leg of John Cena.
22:50And a one legged man cannot be
22:52WWE champion in my estimation.
22:54No offense to John Cena
22:56or any one legged man.
22:58It's just the way it is
23:00when you're in a ring with somebody like Shawn Michaels.
23:02You see
23:04John Cena trying to fight back
23:06here.
23:08You know John Cena King's not gonna
23:10lay down or roll over.
23:12Cena's not gonna make excuses either.
23:14I know he's not. Shawn Michaels
23:16is doing his best to
23:18lay John Cena down.
23:20Oh!
23:22Michaels head.
23:24I think
23:26Michaels head hit the ring post
23:28while Cena fell out of the way.
23:30Cena's leg gave away on him.
23:32Michaels going to deliver
23:34a shoulder and oh yes.
23:36Oh man.
23:38Michaels in a bad way.
23:40Bleeding
23:42after striking that ring post.
23:46Let's get another look here.
23:48Shawn Michaels charging
23:50at John Cena.
23:52Cena moving out of the way
23:54and Shawn Michaels.
23:56The second shot a much better angle
23:58and it was clear that Michaels head
24:00struck the ring post.
24:02Michaels very unsteady now
24:04and rightfully so.
24:06John Cena not too steady.
24:08Cena measured Michaels
24:10and Cena now mounting Michaels
24:12and smashing Michaels in the face
24:14with those mid right hands
24:16just like Michaels did Cena earlier
24:18but WWE Champion
24:20is retaliating.
24:22John Cena seizes the opportunity
24:24and he seizes it.
24:26The intensity
24:28of John Cena
24:30and now Cena with a shoulder block
24:32and Shawn Michaels face
24:34a crimson mask.
24:36Cena now starts to feel
24:38a noticeable
24:40advantage.
24:42Momentum has changed.
24:44Momentum has changed.
24:46That is an understatement.
24:48John Cena completely in control now.
24:50Shawn Michaels bleeding flat on his back.
25:00John Cena.
25:04You can't see me.
25:06I think we're about to witness
25:08a little five knuckle shuffle
25:10from the champ.
25:13Michaels receiving
25:15another big time right hand
25:17and John Cena now measuring
25:19his challenger
25:21and a bloody Shawn Michaels.
25:23Again Michaels and Cena are the world tag champions
25:25but they're not partners tonight.
25:27No they are not.
25:29And here comes that FU
25:31Wait a minute.
25:33Michaels able to free himself
25:35perhaps out of desperation
25:37from the FU
25:39and Michaels upside down
25:41the velocity of that Irish whip
25:43the strength of Cena
25:49Shawn Michaels super kick
25:51his sweet chin music
25:53was an errant one
25:55intended for Cena
25:57Cena ducked and Shawn Michaels
25:59looked like he took the head
26:01of the referee
26:03Check this out one more time
26:05Cena ducks that then
26:07and Cena ducks the super kick
26:09but it lands square in the face
26:11of the referee
26:21Michaels countered with a DDT
26:23Michaels countered
26:25the FU into a DDT
26:27both men are down
26:29champion and challenger
26:31John Cena's eyes rolled back in his head
26:33they're glazed over
26:35check out this counter move
26:37Oh man!
26:39HBK tore one off
26:41that was a brilliant counter
26:43by the magnificent Shawn Michaels
26:45the challenger for the WWE title
26:47who made his
26:49Wrestlemania debut at Wrestlemania 5
26:51tonight
26:53at Wrestlemania 23
26:55and a bloody
26:57Michaels can sit
26:59in the spirit of competition
27:01the gamesmanship
27:03of Shawn Michaels
27:05Shawn Michaels
27:07that was
27:09we had a pretty fair fight
27:11going and Shawn Michaels
27:13navigating those steel steps around
27:15a war zone out here
27:17at ringside tonight
27:19the referee is down and it looks like
27:21Shawn Michaels is going to throw that spirit
27:23of competition to the winds they are
27:25I think you're right King
27:27Michaels positioning Cena River
27:29no referee here
27:31got super kicked inadvertently
27:33Shawn Michaels what's he going to do here
27:37oh wait a minute
27:39Piledriver
27:41on the steel steps
27:43Michaels
27:45a spike Piledriver
27:47Shawn Michaels spike Piledriving
27:49John Cena on the ring steps
27:51he may have broken the champ's neck
27:57oh man
27:59Michaels is debilitating
28:01the WWE Champion
28:05Cena's head
28:07smashing it to the steel
28:09steps
28:11Michaels knows full well
28:13he cannot become WWE Champion
28:15by winning by count out
28:17but the damage has been done
28:19the back of Cena's head
28:21has been gashed
28:23a serious
28:25serious injury
28:27there you see John Cena
28:29his head exposed driven into
28:31the steel steps by Michaels
28:33spike Piledriver
28:35and John Cena
28:37will soon be lying in a pool of his own
28:39blood in his quest
28:41to remain WWE Champion
28:43no referee Shawn
28:47and this is a
28:49this is a tense situation
28:51Cena bleeding
28:53Michaels in control obviously
28:55perhaps the understatement
28:57of the night
28:59Michaels is in complete control
29:01Michaels calls for another referee in here
29:03here comes another ref
29:05and the count
29:11new referee John Doan
29:13got the longest two count
29:15I can remember seeing
29:17and man I'd love to see that again
29:19how close was that to being three
29:21I cannot believe that John Cena
29:23was able to get his shoulder up
29:25what two and
29:27seven eighths
29:29like you said
29:31the fact that John Cena
29:33was able to kick out is a testament
29:35to Cena's guts and determination
29:37now what has Shawn Michaels
29:39got in store for his
29:41his tag team partner
29:43and wait a minute reversal
29:45Cena reversal
29:47and Michaels
29:49good as Shawn Michaels all the feeling here
29:51I wish you know where you are
29:53you're here at ringside with us
29:55this is the feeling you get
29:57look at the expression on John Michaels face
29:59this is a Wrestlemania moment
30:01as Michaels can sense his
30:03fifth WWE title reign
30:07I think I'm starting to sense it as well JR
30:09everything that John Cena
30:11tries to
30:13tries to come up with
30:15somehow HBK blocks
30:17or stops it
30:19Michaels contemplating but not for long
30:21Shawn Michaels
30:23with a bloody face
30:27that may not have been matched
30:29to the WWE history
30:31Shawn Michaels can sense
30:33he can feel he can taste
30:35the WWE championship
30:37here at Wrestlemania 23
30:39Shawn Michaels will do absolutely
30:41anything he can to win
30:43this title
30:45Michaels has pleaded
30:47Cena has pleaded
30:49he's knocked out
30:51a second referee in place
30:53and the band is tuning up
30:55well we first saw Shawn Michaels
30:57focus on Cena's knees
30:59his legs
31:01then the piledriver in the stairs
31:03and now Shawn wants to finish it off
31:05with this oh my god
31:07Cena out of nowhere
31:09and Michaels didn't see it coming
31:11have we heard that before
31:13Michaels did not see the
31:15clothesline coming
31:17103 on their feet
31:19oh man impact
31:21yeah like the smash man
31:23that was a
31:25hell of a slobber knocker of a clothesline
31:27that almost beheaded the challenger
31:29Shawn Michaels but Michaels is
31:31stirring and so is John Cena
31:33oh you gotta hand it to HBK
31:35how do you get up yeah
31:37that may have been a tooth that Shawn Michaels has spit out
31:39how do you get up after that
31:41clothesline
31:43Michaels back on top
31:45Cena with a right hand
31:47Cena with a big time right
31:49and now Michaels comes back with a right hand of his own
31:51the clinch fists are fine
31:55and if you ask me
31:57I'm just saying I don't think that this is a battle that Shawn Michaels can win
31:59I think you're right
32:01Cena's gonna win a ground war
32:03Cena's gonna win a fist fight
32:05and that's no disrespect to Shawn Michaels
32:07Cena's bigger and he's stronger
32:09Cena
32:11looking for the FU
32:13Michaels
32:15Michaels
32:17Michaels
32:19went out the back porch
32:21down the back of John Cena
32:23cradled Cena
32:25got a near fall
32:27so even when it seems like Cena's in control
32:29Michaels has the ability
32:31to think and make the counter
32:33you're right we've seen it not once but twice now
32:35twice the FU has been blocked
32:37by Shawn Michaels
32:39and then they have another counter left in him
32:41Michaels shoots Cena off
32:43not long in the headlock from Michaels
32:45Michaels trying to leapfrog John Cena
32:47FU again
32:49this time will
32:51the thunderous FU
32:53of Shawn Michaels
32:55Michaels' body was
32:57just
32:59cornered in pain
33:01you gotta cover him
33:03and now John Cena
33:06Cena's best opportunity of the night
33:08we know how bad Cena's hurting
33:10not able to capitalize on that FU
33:12but it may still be enough
33:14Cena got the cover
33:16and a three
33:18no
33:22John Cena's strength
33:24just for this
33:26right there
33:28Shawn was so resilient
33:30John Cena catching
33:32Shawn Michaels in midair
33:34turning it into that FU
33:36but that FU still not enough
33:38to keep HBK down
33:40Cena's strength
33:42and his guts
33:44his desire has brought Cena
33:46back into contention
33:48for his own WWE title
33:50in a match that started out
33:52all Shawn Michaels
33:54momentum has changed
33:56on numerous occasions
33:58in this confrontation
34:00this memorable confrontation
34:02if Shawn Michaels
34:04is able to make it back after that FU
34:06that we've seen beat so many superstars
34:08that FU that's so devastating
34:10what a testament that'll be to HBK
34:12oh no not an FU from up there
34:14John Cena's strength
34:16with the elbow
34:18he's got three elbows right to the jaw
34:20and I think that first one really rattled
34:22John Cena
34:24dislocate your jaw
34:26Michaels causes some separation
34:28to say the least
34:30Michaels first elbow really connected with Cena
34:32and then Michaels followed up with two more
34:34and now Shawn Michaels
34:36the showstopper
34:38the main event
34:40looking to win the main event
34:42here he comes
34:44oh my god
34:46the strength of John Cena
34:48going through
34:50and picking up Shawn Michaels
34:52you gotta be kidding me
34:56no look at Michaels
34:58and Cena
35:00according to Sweet Chin Music
35:04Cena looking for the STFU no doubt
35:06Shawn trying to bust
35:08the fight out of there
35:10look at that
35:12oh my god
35:14Cena's power
35:16came to
35:18the dance again
35:20Cena able to power out of a modified
35:22inside cradle
35:24another brilliant counter by the challenger
35:26Shawn Michaels
35:28but Cena refusing to stay down
35:30what a series of moves and counters
35:32and near misses that we saw there JR
35:34this match is
35:36emotionally draining
35:38as exciting as we have seen all night long
35:40Michaels misses with the enziguri
35:42and there yes the STFU
35:44Cena's got it locked in
35:46powerhouse John Cena
35:48torturing Shawn Michaels
35:50with the STFU
35:52Shawn Michaels
35:54only hope now is to somehow
35:56make it to the ropes there's no way to break this
35:58Cena's hands
36:00look at Cena's hands
36:02he's got the STFU locked
36:04Michaels trying to turn on his side
36:06and Cena trying to block that right arm
36:08of Shawn that's the only one that can
36:10probably reach the ropes
36:12if Michaels does not reach the ropes
36:14he is a big man of steel
36:16and this crowd loves it
36:18because this match will continue
36:20look at the referee manhandling
36:22John Cena to break that hold
36:24I thought I could appreciate it
36:26you're not going to do that too soon
36:28I'm going to knock it off
36:30you've got to learn to break the hold
36:32this is an AI one
36:34no!
36:36that's it
36:38that's it
36:40sweet tin music
36:42Cena focused on the referee
36:44Michaels saw the whole scene
36:46took advantage of Michaels
36:48and delivered sweet tin music
36:50there was no sympathy
36:52for Cena
36:54Shawn Michaels you've got to cover Cena
36:56this may be your only opportunity
36:58Michaels keeps putting out the hits
37:00with a bullet
37:02with sweet tin music
37:04will it be enough
37:06these men have given everything they've got here tonight
37:08the arm over will it be
37:10no no
37:12Cena will not die
37:14oh my god
37:16check this out one more time
37:18Cena turns right into
37:20the super kick
37:22from the show stopper
37:24unfortunately for Michaels
37:26he was not able to capitalize
37:28after the sweet tin music
37:30much like Cena earlier
37:32after he delivered the FU
37:34these men are spent
37:36they have given us every ounce
37:38of their being here tonight
37:40in this wonderful main event
37:42it looks like it took every ounce of strength
37:44of Shawn Michaels head
37:46just to crawl over and drape one arm
37:48across the chest of Cena but that didn't get the job done
37:50the referee up to a count of six
37:52this would be a crime
37:54for this match to end on a count out
37:56an absolute crime
37:58here live tonight at Wrestlemania 23
38:00he's up to eight
38:02no
38:04the referee said continue
38:06the referee got to a nine count
38:08and there's a hunk of meat
38:10out of Cena's head
38:12Michaels has been busted open as well
38:14and both men are trying to get to their feet
38:16everything they can
38:18every bit of spirit
38:20and competition
38:22they're actually balancing against one another
38:24I think if either of them fell
38:26the other one would fall as well
38:28is there anything left
38:30that these two men
38:32have not left in the ring tonight
38:34and seen again
38:36no, Michaels counters, Cena counters
38:38he's got it
38:40Cena has TMU
38:42Michaels has lost the blood
38:44Michaels has done everything he can
38:46but Cena's got the STMU
38:48he's right in the middle of the ring
38:50this is bad for Shawn Michaels
38:52Michaels
38:54Michaels stopped
38:56Michaels tapped
38:58with a great Shawn Michaels
39:00who's been brilliant here tonight
39:02he's caught, he's caught
39:04and Cena wins
39:06this is almighty
39:08what a match
39:10what a wrestling match
39:12your winner by submission
39:14and still
39:16the WWE Champion
39:18John Cena
39:20John Michaels
39:22taps out
39:24at the hands of John Cena
39:26and John Cena
39:28is still the champ
39:32what an amazing
39:34amazing
39:36WrestleMania main event
39:38for the WWE Title
39:40and that man John Cena
39:42is still the
39:44WWE Champion
39:46battling through the brilliance
39:48of Shawn Michaels game plan here tonight
39:50you know that better than I
39:52Michaels had a great game plan
39:54well absolutely, Shawn Michaels
39:56well the first what
39:58three quarters of this match Shawn Michaels
40:00had it well in hand, I'm sure he was feeling good
40:02but somewhere that momentum turned
40:04and it turned in favor of the champ
40:06and the mark of a great champion
40:08is to take any challenger
40:10best shot, their best shot
40:12and John Cena
40:14took Shawn Michaels best shot
40:16here tonight
40:18I have the
40:20utmost respect for the
40:22WWE Champion
40:24and for Shawn Michaels
40:26this is the moment that we all work for
40:28this is a part of our
40:30life's journey in sports entertainment
40:32to be a part of a wrestling
40:34match like we just witnessed
40:36like a night
40:38we've just witnessed
40:40so many great athletes here
40:42tonight, put it all on the line
40:44what a night this has been, look at that
40:46John Cena, still the champ
40:52best representing
40:54board field crowd on their feet
41:00as we celebrate
41:02an epic
41:04Wrestlemania
41:10I think John Cena just said that
41:12this win was for his father
41:14John Cena
41:16Senior
41:18and an emotional moment
41:20for the WWE Champion
41:22and I'll tell you what
41:24if you'd have told me before the match
41:26that Shawn Michaels was going to wrestle
41:29Shawn Michaels was going to wrestle
41:31a near perfect match and lose
41:33I'd have tried to take some of your money
41:39I'm going to tell you
41:41absolutely amazing
41:43the moves, the counters, the back and forth
41:45momentum we saw tonight
41:47there was the
41:49one of the last FU's delivered by John Cena
41:51thought he had it
41:53but somehow
41:55somehow HBK kicked out of there
41:57the last time we saw a living human being
41:59kick out of the FU
42:01Michaels did it tonight
42:03but that wasn't enough
42:07Shawn Michaels thought
42:09that he had things well in hand
42:11and finally that
42:13voted super kick found its mark
42:15and to John Cena's credit
42:17Cena refusing to lose
42:19and when the last time we saw
42:21somebody kick out of Sweet Chin Music
42:23oh wait a minute
42:27Shawn Michaels and Cena
42:29are the World Tag Team Champions
42:34Cena I think is
42:36trying to do what he
42:38perceived to be the right thing
42:40but the competitive Shawn Michaels
42:42in an emotional state
42:46continues to distance himself
42:48from John Cena
42:50who has showed I would suggest
42:52ample respect for his adversary
42:54and co-holder
42:56and the World Tag Team Champions
42:58well I think that John Cena wanted to actually
43:00shake hands with Shawn Michaels
43:02come on JR you can understand
43:04how Shawn Michaels feels right now
43:06absolutely
43:08this was, well Shawn may have
43:10considered one of his last opportunities
43:12to climb that mountain
43:16and this is what it resulted in
43:18Frank counters
43:20Michaels counters
43:22Cena out wrestles Shawn Michaels
43:24on that exchange
43:26and on that exchange that's all Cena needed
43:28that one exchange
43:30and Cena forcing Shawn Michaels
43:32my god Michaels had no other
43:34opportunity but to count out
43:36the pageantry, the pain
43:38the desire, the determination
43:40the magnificent moments
43:42and the pride and the passion
43:44all combined tonight
43:46to make this Wrestlemania 23
43:48a night we'll never forget
43:50thank you for being with us
43:52and goodnight everybody