[SOUND]
>> [APPLAUSE]
>> Excuse me if I don't say much
during this contest, but I'm still a lifelong fan and I have a front row seat.
And I'm digging in and I'm getting ready to watch.
>> Well, Shawn Michaels wants a rematch at WrestleMania, the SLAMMY Award winning
Match of the Year from WrestleMania 25, The Undertaker versus Shawn Michaels.
The Undertaker said the only way you can do it is to win the Royal Rumble match.
>> [APPLAUSE] >> FS chop.
>> [APPLAUSE] >> I
thought if you think about it, obviously the odds are stacked against any one man.
To win the Royal Rumble, it takes a unique and exceptional superstar to do just that.
>> Michaels has been able to do it twice.
In fact, back-to-back win.
>> Listen.
It also takes a lot of luck, too.
>> Only the five men have drawn a number between one and three and gone on to win.
Rey Mysterio once drew number two and won.
Shawn Michaels once drew.
>> [APPLAUSE] >> Shawn Michaels Just
tossing Mysterio out of the ring and following it up.
This match could get very quick, very fast.
Both these athletes love to turn up the heat.
>> [APPLAUSE] >> Michael hung up.
>> [APPLAUSE] >> And
all of a sudden the showstopper want a minute to collect his thoughts?
>> Shawn Michaels appears to be a little frustrated, but Veteran of the ring,
Warrens, HPK, no doubt will have some type of counter for Rey Mysterio.
>> Matt, you talk about experiencing a Royal Rumble match,
no one has been in the Royal Rumble match longer than Shawn Michaels.
A combined two hours and 49 minutes over the years for HPK.
>> 11 Royal Rumble appearances at the of all the Royal Rumbles in history.
So if you're looking for experience, Shawn Michaels is your man.
Earlier tonight, Shawn Michaels' tag team partner one half of
the unified tag team champions Triple H, went one on one against CM Punk.
And when it was all said and done it.
It was almost a case of CM Punk wanting to convert Triple H into the straight edge
society.
>> [APPLAUSE] >> Both
of these superstars are extreme fan favorites among the WWE universe and
you can see the respect adoration that the universe has for these two competitors.
>> This match is all about respect.
Rey said earlier, listen I respect you Shawn Michaels, but
I don't think you respect me.
>> [APPLAUSE] >> Do you think that's possible?
Do you think Shawn Michaels does not respect Rey Mysterio?
>> I don't know if it's true presumptuous on the part of Shawn Michaels.
Listen the Undertaker is a once in a lifetime superstar.
Seventeen an hour at WrestleMania.
If Shawn believes that the undertaker is gonna retain the world's
Heavyweight Championship, then you have to at least invest in Shawn Michaels' wisdom
and knowledge of the craft.
>> [APPLAUSE] >> Never count out
Rey Mysterio the ultimate under dog.
>> Woh!
>> Michaels wanted a super kick there, instead of it Mysterio delivering a boot.
>> [APPLAUSE] >> It's up and over,
Michaels and Mysterio.
Who will win this huge main event?
Rey Mysterio versus Shawn Michaels continues after this.
>> [APPLAUSE] >> We're back
here on Friday night SmackDown.
This is our main event.
For the first time ever on SmackDown,
Rey Mysterio one on one against Shawn Michaels.
We're just 48 hours before the Royal Rumble.
>> What a treat here on Friday Night SmackDown.
Two of the greatest ever, not just this decade, not just in the last 20 years,
ever, are in the ring right now on Friday Night SmackDown.
>> Two surefire future Hall of Famers, Mysterio and Shawn Michaels.
Mysterio of course will face The Undertaker for
the World Heavyweight Championship at the Royal Rumble,
Shawn Michaels does not believe Mysterio will win.
>> Well again, each of these superstars are giving it their all.
It's the only thing these two gentlemen know how to do, but think about it.
Rey Mysterio 48 hours away from a World Heavyweight Championship opportunity.
Shawn Michaels 48 hours away from perhaps main event in WrestleMania.
Giving it their all could be detrimental.
>> Shawn Michaels known as the icon and Mr.
WrestleMania once The Undertaker one more time on the grandest stage of them all.
>> Listen, the point is that one of these two if not both of these two superstars
can have an injury right here in this match.
How does that affect strategy going into the Royal Rumble?
>> And imagine this Rey Mysterio let's say he beats The Undertaker at
the Royal Rumble.
Shawn Michaels wins the Royal Rumble match,
we could have this match again in Phoenix and the World Heavyweight title.
>> [APPLAUSE] >> So many possibilities,
that's what makes the Royal Rumble so unique.
Michaels with a Swinging Neck breaker, trying to turn the tide.
>> Shawn Michaels is favoring that left hamstring.
>> [APPLAUSE] >> Let's
remember what these gentlemen said to each other.
You might not make it to the Royal Rumble.
You never know what can happen inside that ring.
It only takes a nanosecond for
an injury to either derail your dreams or end your career.
>> [APPLAUSE] >> And Shawn Michaels absolutely hates to
lose, that's why he wants another crack at The Undertaker at WrestleMania.
And you know Shawn Michaels will be giving it all in this match as well.
As Mysterio sends Michaels face first into the turnbuckle.
>> And Mysterio is hung up.
>> The right foot and ankle completely compromised.
>> Looks like Mysterio's right knee twisted as well.
>> That's a surgically repaired knee.
Watch Shawn Michaels will slap the foot away right there.
The left foot was slapped, but
it's the right foot in that right knee was surgically repaired on Rey Mysterio.
>> [APPLAUSE] >> What a match?
This is been.
>> Only way these super stars know how to compete.
>> And look out, we saw Triple H, a plan figure four leglock earlier tonight.
Shawn Michaels is trying do the same thing now.
>> That is a modified figure for Indian death rock, not a traditional figure four.
The pressure is on the back of the knee as opposed to the top of the knee.
>> Either way, Jimmy just pinned Shawn to Rey Mysterio who just
saw just moments ago being caught above the top rope.
Is Mysterio gonna tapped out.
>> Either way, Rey Mysterio might not be 100% come this Sunday at the Royal Rumble.
>> There's no doubt about it.
Mysterio doing anything he can to have a hold released, that will do the trick.
>> But the damage may have already been done.
>> Michael is not in the best of shape either.
Both of these superstars, really doing some damage to the other.
>> End the gary here.
>> Shawn Michael who thought at the beginning of the night,
he'd be in a unified Tag Team Championship match has now found himself against
Ray Mysterio one on main events.
>> [APPLAUSE] >> And absorbing shots like that.
>> I know from experience when you're in these matches and
a maneuver like that is executed, it's almost like a reset button is pressed and
your opponent all of the sudden has a breath of life.
Here comes Rey Mysterio.
>> [APPLAUSE] >> Rey Mysterio, perhaps
just two days away from winning his second ever World Heavyweight Championship.
>> [APPLAUSE] >> With a lot to do between now and then.
>> [APPLAUSE] >> Both
these superstars are exhausted and down.
>> Comes HBK.
>> And you know what this means.
Wou!
>> What does it mean?
>> Well, usually this is where HBK thrives, but
Rey Mysterio unpredictable has changed all that.
>> Mysterio so resourceful, so intelligent inside the ring and
Michaels, one, two, and he's done it.
>> No.
>> And at what point do thoughts start to creep into the back of
Rey Mysterio's mind that hey, at some point I've got to call it quits.
I've got to start focusing on The Undertaker.
>> No no no.
Hang on a second.
>> So many people doubted that Rey Mysterio could overcome the animal Batista
inside a steel cage.
Never doubt Rey Mysterio, ever.
>> [APPLAUSE] >> Michaels now has the leg hooked.
>> [APPLAUSE] >> You
know when you find these superstars that come along once in a lifetime, you would
think that these type of matches would subtract or deteriorate their bodies.
No these type of superstars thrive off of this competition off adrenaline.
>> [APPLAUSE] >> I think even Ray Mysterio would agree,
to beat the Undertaker, he has to bring is a plus plus game, and be 100%.
Is that even possible after what's happening tonight?
>> But the same is true if you're gonna beat Shawn Michaels as well.
>> [APPLAUSE] >> On any given night in the WWE,
anything can happen.
>> [APPLAUSE] >> Both these superstars, so
passionate about what they do unwilling to compromise in any area.
>> [APPLAUSE] >> And
now Michael's injured leg or not, with the elbow drop.
>> [APPLAUSE] >> Ponding Shawn Michaels.
>> That is usually the precursor for the sounds of silence.
Sweet chain music.
>> [APPLAUSE]
One, two,
three, four.
>> What a counter!
Mysterio for 619.
[APPLAUSE] >> Does Rey have anything left?
>> [APPLAUSE] >> Rey Mysterio,
taking it deep in the chest.
>> [LAUGH] >> Thrown right into the sweet chin music
perfectly and timed perfectly executed by the master, Shawn Michaels.
>> How awesome was that?
[LAUGH] There are just some moves that are just so cool,
they can be hit from out of nowhere, and sweet chin music is one of them.
Watch Shawn Michaels right here.
The picture of perfection HBK.
>> [APPLAUSE] >> My god.
>> That's Batista.
>> [SOUND] >> Batista with a spear.
This match is over, at least officially but
Batista has just begun a spine buster on Mysterio.
>> [APPLAUSE] >> And now Michaels is up.
[MUSIC]
>> Here we go.
>> Here comes The Game and Triple H,
these two will be in the same ring Sunday night to the Royal Rumble match.
>> [APPLAUSE] >> Look at the intensity in Triple H.
We haven't seen anyone beating The Animal like this.
>> [APPLAUSE] >> And now, up and over goes
>> Up and over
>> Batista and Triple H.
>> Now if that was the Royal Rumble, both men would've been eliminated.
>> [APPLAUSE] >> The ruling is a disqualification,
although we haven't had an official announcement.
>> [APPLAUSE] >> Todd, we saw it all here tonight.
>> We saw 619, we saw sweet chin music but unfortunately we didn't see a winner.
>> [APPLAUSE] >> I disagree with you, Todd.
We did see something here.
We saw an incredible contest between two of the greatest and
now nothing stands between us and the Royal Rumble.
The road to WrestleMania begins in.
>> [SOUND]
>> [APPLAUSE]
>> [SOUND]
>> The world heavyweight champion,
The Undertaker.
>> [APPLAUSE] >> He's got Shawn Michaels.
He's got the number one contender.
>> [APPLAUSE]
>> Look at the intensity in the eyes of the World's Heavyweight Champion.
>> [APPLAUSE] >> Up and down!
Double jaw slam.
>> [APPLAUSE]
>> What condition will Rey Mysterio be in?
What condition will Shawn Michaels be in?
Is this Sunday night the Royal Rumble?
>> [APPLAUSE] >> And
I can assure you The Undertaker is ready to Rumble.
>> [APPLAUSE]