Mike: Well, Janelle, we've finally come to our main event tonight. Rhamm and Shawn have had some major clashes lately and it's all to see who's better suited to challenge Zarel next.
Janelle: Mike, we'll find out tonight. As I mentioned at the top of the show, it's a 30-minute iron man match. The rules are simple: whoever scores the most pinfalls or submissions in 30 minutes is the victor and will challenge Zarel at Showdown.
*a ram is heard bleating as his logo slams onto the symbol. Then, "Headstrong" by Trapt blares through the arena as Rhamm makes his way from backstage, wearing a cutoff of his classic "Lock 'Em Up" shirt and holding his "club." Christy follows shortly behind in a pink and black schoolgirl outift. He stops at the top of the ramp and holds both arm into the air as red and black pyro go off and Christy applauds*
"The following match is a 30-minute Iron Man match!! Introducing first from Boulder, Colorado. Weighing in at 279 pounds and accompanied to the ring by Christy Hemme, he is "The Animal," RHAMM!!!
*the two then make their way down to the ring, slapping some fans hands along the way. Rhamm jumps up onto the apron, climbing in between the top two ropes, as Christy walks up the stairs. Rhamm holds the bottom two ropes open for her as she gets into the ring. He gets onto the turnbuckle and again holds his arms up to the crowd as Christy motions to him. He then jumps down and sets his "club" under the turnbuckle before helping Christy out of the ring. He takes his shirt off, revealing his ripped yet scarred torso as he waits for his opponent*Sexy Boy hits as the lights flash and the fans erupt. Shawn Michaels steps out onto the stage and looks straight down at the ring.
"And introducing his opponent, from San Antonio, Texas, weighing in at 225 pounds, the Heartbreak Kid, Shawn Michaels!"
Shawn takes off his tshirt as he walks down the ramp. He doesn't stop to signal his pyros, but instead dashes down the ramp and into the ring. The music cuts out as Shawn gets to his feet and charges Rhamm as the bell rings.
Mike: Shawn Michaels looks fired up. He's going right at Rhamm.
Janelle: This isn't going to be the type of classic HBK had with Bret Hart. This is going to be an all out fight.
A brawl ensues as the two exchange punches. Shawn kicks Rhamm in the gut, then hits a chop across the chest that forces Rhamm a couple of steps back. Shawn attempts to whip Rhamm to the ropes but Rhamm reverses. Shawn hits the ropes and bounces back into a clothesline. Shawn hits the mat but scrambles to his feet. Rhamm whips him to the ropes again. This time Shawn ducks under Rhamm's clothesline, then hits a chopblock. Rhamm falls to his knees, making him an easy target for an Enziguri from HBK. Michaels quickly goes for a pin.
1....
2.
Rhamm is able to kick out and starts getting back up. HBK gets back up as well, knowing that he has to get at least somewhat of an early advantage on the Animal. He runs into the ropes as Rhamm finishes standing and hits him with the forearm before quickly kipping up as Rhamm rolls onto his side. Shawn goes to the corner and begins warming up his foot for the Music as Rhamm gets back to his feet. When Rhamm turns around, Michaels goes for it. Rhamm ducks, though. Shawn quickly turns around, only to be met by Rhamm's boot in his own gut. Rhamm then kicks HBK's legs out from under him, forcing him down to the mat before beginning to stomp on HBK's right knee.
Mike: Looks like Rhamm istaking a page out of Shawn Michaels' book.
Janelle: I think he just wants to make sure Shawn can't hit sweet chin music
Shawn slides back away from Rhamm and uses the ropes to get to his feet. Rhamm comes after him and whips him to the turnbuckle. Rhamm charges in, attempting a shoulder block. Shawn jumps up and Rhamm barely puts his arms up to prevent from hitting the ringpost, then Shawn catches him in a sunset flip.
1....
2.
Rhamm kicks out and both men stand up. HBK beats Rhamm up and tries to whip him into the ropes. Rhamm reverses it and takes HBK down with a clothesline. Rhamm takes a quick look at the clock: 26:53. He knows that he has to slow the pace down, so after hitting an elbow drop he locks HBK in a rear chinlock to try and wear the man down. HBK struggles to get out as he manages to get back to a sitting position. He reaches out to the ropes as Rhamm keeps the hold on. After about a minute, HBK is finally able to get back to his feet and sends a couple of elbows into Rhamm's gut. Rhamm finally releases the hold and HBK grabs his head and brings him towards the turnbuckle, slamming his head into the top one. Rhamm's a little dazed, so Shawn takes advantage and slams Rhamm's head again. Rhamm stumbles out to the center. HBK immediately prepares for the music and when Rhamm turns around he gets his bell rung by it. HBK immediately goes for the pin.
1....
2....
3! Time: 24:19.
HBK, now with a small advantage, knows how devastating his move is and immediately follows with another pin attempt.
1....
2....
Rhamm is able to kick out this time as he slowly sits up.
Mike: Well, HBK strikes first. Now he just needs to keep the advantage.
Janelle: That won't be easy, Mike. There's a lot of time left for Rhamm to catch up.
Once Rhamm has sat up, HBK locks him in a sleeper hold, trying to knock him out again. Rhamm struggles and reaches for the ropes, but eventually he starts fading. The ref sees him almost out and lifts his arm up. It falls to the mat. He grabs it again; same result. The ref tells the timekeeper to get ready and grabs Rhamm's arm a third time. He lifts it up before releasing it. Rhamm is able to stop it this time and starts to get his strength back. HBK tries to hold him down, but Rhamm is able to get to a knee. Once there, Rhamm sends an elbow into Michaels' gut, weakening his grip a little bit. With the grip lessened, Rhamm is able to get back to his feet. He sends another elbow into Shawn's gut before managing to get his left arm behind HBK and lift him up into a back suplex. HBK arches his back as Rhamm struggles to get to his side.
Clock: 21:23.
Rhamm is finally able to stand up, still holding his jaw. Michaels is slow to stand, but is finally able to do so. Rhamm runs and knocks HBK down with a clothesline. HBK quickly gets back up, only to be leveled by another clothesline from The Animal. HBK is slow to get up a third time and Rhamm is right there. Rhamm grabs HBK's wrist and whips him into the ropes, knocking him down with a shoulder block on the rebound. Rhamm immediately falls for an elbow drop, feeling the momentum shift to his favor. He tries a pin after the elbow.
1....
2..
HBK is able to kick out. Rhamm gets up as quickly as he can. Shawn rolls onto his stomach and begins to get up. Rhamm cuts him off by stomping on his right hand. Shawn curls his hand up into his chest as Rhamm goes around behind HBK. He proceeds to grab HBK's left ankle and lifts it up. He kicks at his knee a couple of times as Shawn yells in some pain. Rhamm then steps over Shawn's leg, locking in a Half Boston Crab. Rhamm reaches back, trying to finish the Locked Horns. Shawn, however, has his arms in front of him as he tries to reach the ropes. Rhamm stops trying for the arm, knowing that he has HBK in the center of the ring. Rhamm takes a quick glance at the clock: 18:34. Rhamm wrenches on the knee of HBK, hearing him scream and realizing that if he can eliminate the plant leg of HBK's, he shouldn't be able to clock him again with the SCM. The ref continues to ask Michaels if he wants to give up, but Shawn continues to reach for the ropes. 30 more seconds pass and it seems like an eternity. 1 minute. Shawn is finally able to start crawling to the ropes.
Mike: I don't know how long Rhamm's had that crab locked in, but it's got to do some damage to Michaels!
Janelle: That's all good and well if Rhamm wants to injure Shawn, but it doesn't look like it's going to do much good to get a victory.
Rhamm feels Shawn crawl towards the ropes. Shawn is only a couple of inches away and Rhamm then to grab Shawn's right leg. Shawn grabs the ropes just as Rhamm grabs his leg. The ref tells Rhamm to break the hold, which he does at the count of 4. Rhamm stands in the center of the ring and waits for Shawn to pull himself up. Shawn finally does, keeping as much weight as possible off of his left leg. He turns back to Rhamm who plants him with the Rockcrusher! Rhamm immediately tries a pin.
1....
2....
HBK is BARELY able to kick out. Rhamm sits up and gets to his knees. HBK rolls onto his side. Rhamm stands up and picks HBK off the mat before hitting him with a 2nd Rockcrusher! He again tries a pin.
1....
2....
3! Time: 15:08.
Rhamm rolls off of HBK and waits for him to stand.
Mike: Well, we're halfway through this match, Janelle. Who do you think could win this now that both Rhamm and Michaels have a victory?
Janelle: Well, Rhamm has certainly issued more punishment and may have taken out that leg of Shawn's. That'll certainly hamper his ability to use the Sweet Chin Music, but won't completely eliminate it.
HBK rolls onto his stomach and slowly begins to stand up. Rhamm goes over to him when he does and whips him into the corner. HBK hits the turnbuckle hard and then gets sandwiched by Rhamm's clothesline. Rhamm proceeds to punch HBK's temple a couple more times before lifting him up so that he's sitting on the top turnbuckle. Rhamm sends another right into the side of Shawn's head before climbing up onto the second turnbuckle himself. He sets Shawn up for a superplex and tries to lift him off. Shawn blocks the attempt before sending a couple of punches into Rhamm's gut. Shawn finally gets his head free and sends a few shots into Rhamm's temple, eventually forcing the Animal off the turnbuckle. Rhamm lies dazed on the mat as HBK finishes climbing to the top before taking flight, connecting with the elbow drop! HBK stays on for the pin.
1....
2...
Rhamm is able to kick out before rolling outside the ring. Rhamm falls to his knee outside as HBK slowly gets back up to standing, still favoring his injured leg. Christy comes over to check on Rhamm and see how he's doing. She helps Rhamm up as HBK comes over to the ropes, grabbing the top rope and vaulting over towards the duo! Rhamm sees HBK coming and pushes Christy out of the way, but is unable to get out of the way himself. Both men lay outside the ring as the ref begins a 10-count. At the count of 4 both men begin to stir. Shawn is able to get back to his feet first at the count of 7 and rolls back into the ring. Rhamm gets up at the count of 9 and rolls himself barely inside the ring.
HBK sees Rhamm's position and runs against the ropes. On the rebound, HBK hits a baseball slide dropkick to Rhamm's side, forcing the Animal back outside the ring. Christy wants to come over to help, but is afraid that Shawn may attack unexpectedly again. Rhamm makes his way back to the ring apron and uses it to pull himself up. HBK waits in the ring and takes a look at the clock: 11:34. Rhamm finally pulls himself back into the ring and uses the ropes to slowly pull himself up. HBK grabs Rhamm's hand when he stands and whips him into the opposite ropes. HBK then backs into the ropes himself and runs back at Rhamm, hitting a crossbody on the big man. HBK stays on him for a pin attempt.
1....
2...
Rhamm kicks out. HBK stays on the Animal, connecting with several punches to his skull. HBK gets up, grimacing a little as his leg is still hurting. Rhamm rolls onto his stomach as HBK waits. He gets ready to try the Music again as Rhamm begins to stand. Rhamm stands wobbily, but stands. He finally turns back to Michaels, who comes out of the corner. Unfortunately, his leg buckles and he can't finish the Music. Rhamm sees HBK drop and pounces. He goes over and grabs the injured leg of HBK, kicking it a few more times. Rhamm again steps over and puts HBK into the Half Boston Crab. This time, though, HBK's right hand was by his own thigh and Rhamm is able to reach back and grab it, completing the Locked Horns. HBK yells in pain as Rhamm looks at the time: 9:25. Rhamm gets his balance and manages to stand up with the Locked Horns in place, forcing HBK to yell out even more.
After a few seconds, Shawn has no choice but to tap out. Time: 9:08.
Rhamm releases the Locked Horns and stumbles forward to the ropes as Shawn lays on the mat holding his left knee. Rhamm turns around and sees Shawn hurting. He decides to try and break HBK's knee and goes back to it. He tries to put HBK into a Half Boston Crab again, but this time HBK has his senses back and kicks Rhamm off and into the corner. HBK slowly stands, still favoring his left leg, as Rhamm watches. When Shawn finally stands, Rhamm runs in and brings his knee into Shawn's gut, bending him over. Rhamm then sets HBK up for the Avalanche. Rhamm's able to lift HBK up but Shawn manages to shift his weight behind Rhamm, landing hard and leaning against the ropes. As Rhamm turns around, Shawn is able to muster up enough strength to clock the Animal with the Music again. Both men collapse to the mat afterwards: HBK on his stomach, Rhamm flat on his back. Neither man moves as the crowd erupts in cheers. The ref begins a 10-count.
1.....neither man moves.
2.....still nothing.
3.....nothing.
4.....HBK begins to stir.
5.....HBK tries to get up.
6.....Shawn finally begins to roll towards Rhamm.
7.....Shawn stalls as he rolls.
8.....Shawn is finally able to cover the Animal.
1....
2....
Rhamm is BARELY able to kick out. The ref takes a look at the clock: 6:44. Both men take about 45 seconds to stand up. Rhamm leans against the ropes with a dazed look in his eyes as Shawn tries to keep a majority of his weight off of his injured leg. Shawn eventually goes over to Rhamm and tries to whip him into the ropes. Rhamm is able to reverse it and bends down to hit a backbody drop. HBK has it scouted and kicks Rhamm's chest with his bad leg. Rhamm is sent upright and back a little bit as HBK holds his leg. Shawn moves in again to kick Rhamm's gut, but Rhamm catches his leg. Rhamm immediately tries to trip Shawn so he's on his back, but HBK catches him with an Enziguri instead. Rhamm drops to his knees, then his stomach as HBK recuperates. Shawn finally goes over and turns Rhamm over before making a cover.
1....
2....
Rhamm still kicks out. Shawn, getting frusterated, looks at the clock: 3:57. Shawn quickly gets up and positions himself for a third SCM. Rhamm takes a long time getting to his feet. He crawls to the ropes first, then starts pulling himself up. Rhamm looks at the clock himself: 3:12. Only 3 minutes and 12 seconds to survive and he goes on to face Zarel at Showdown. He turns around, looking to finish Shawn off. Instead, he gets pelted by a THIRD chorus of Sweet Chin Music. This time, Shawn is able to make the cover.
1....
2....
3! Time: 3:01.
Shawn immediately gets up, knowing that in order to get a guaranteed shot at Zarel he needs one more win over the Animal. Rhamm rolls onto his stomach and begins to make his way back to his feet. Shawn waits and, as Rhamm begins to get vertical, runs against the ropes. Rhamm stands and is hit by a forearm from Shawn. HBK tries to kip up, but he's forced back to the mat by his injured leg. He holds it as Rhamm again rolls to his knees. Both men slowly get back to their feet as the crowd yells out "2 minutes!" The two trade blows until Rhamm is able to punch HBK back into the ropes. He tries to whip Shawn into the corner, but puts his head on the middle turnbuckle and rolls up before rolling back down. Rhamm sees him and, as Shawn turns around, Rhamm levels him with a clothesline. Rhamm stays on HBK for a pin attempt.
1....
2...
Shawn's able to kick out. Rhamm gets to his knee. He sees the clock: 1:08. He decides to try and end this the way he knows best: breaking Shawn. He goes over and grabs Shawns injured leg, kicking it a couple of times. He pulls Shawn into the center of the ring before turning HBK over into the Half Crab. HBK yells in pain as Rhamm sees the seconds tick away.
50....49....48....
Rhamm tries to reach back and finish the Horns again, but Shawn has his arms in front of him. Rhamm can only hold onto the leg of Shawn as hard as he can, wrenching on the knee. Shawn cries in pain but begins to make his way to the ropes.
37....36....35....
Mike: This is gonna be close Janelle! It looks like Shawn may tap at any moment!
Janelle: Don't be so sure, Mike. He's getting close to the ropes.
At the last second, HBK pushes with his hands and manages to get to the ropes. The ref tells Rhamm to break the hold. When Rhamm refuses, the ref begins his count. Rhamm breaks the hold at 4, throwing Shawn's leg to the mat.
18....17....16....
Rhamm sees the clock ticking down and pulls Shawn up. Shawn surprises Rhamm with an atomic drop before bouncing against the ropes and connecting with another forearm!
9....8....7....
Shawn goes for a quick cover.
1....
2...
Rhamm gets his shoulder up as both men lay on the mat as time runs out.
BUZZER!!!Mike: Okay, so now I'm confused. Both Rhamm and Shawn had two victories over each other. So, who goes on to face Zarel?
Janelle: Well, Mike. That's something that I'm going to have to think about during the next week.
Suddenly, Stricken by Disturbed plays through the arena as Zarel makes his way from backstage. He walks down to and into the ring, looking at the bodies of Michaels and Rhamm struggling to get back up. Rhamm is able to stand first and Zarel goes over to him, picking him up and spiking him with the Cradle Piledriver. Zarel then turns his attention to Michaels and slams him down with the D-Bomb. Zarel stands over both bodies with his arms raised up to the crowd