These two faced at Cyber Sunday and Randy Orton got himself disqualified, losing the match but retaining his championship. They faced each other on the episodes of Raw leading up to this event and stipulations were added to the match. If Randy Orton gets disqualified, he loses the championship, but Shawn Michaels is banned from using the Sweet Chin Music.
Earlier in the night
each guy got some interview time, Orton was first, saying he can sense the
excitement in the air, but history won’t be made tonight, he’ll beat Shawn Michaels.
The Superkick was Shawn’s only hope in the match and Orton’s one-man dynasty
will carry on. Shawn Michaels is next, he says Orton took the last 6 months
from him (Randy Orton punted Shawn out back in February, leading to his return in
October.)
Jim Ross and Jerry “The King” Lawler are on
commentary for this match. Lillian Garcia is our ring announcer.
Shawn Michaels is out first and JR isn’t happy that General
Manager William Regal took the Sweet Chin Music away from Michaels in
this match. The first sign I notice mentions driving 30 hours from Montreal. Of
course. Lawler claims Michaels can’t make Orton suffer without the Sweet Chin Music.
I get the point he wanted to make but it seemed backwards. Randy Orton makes
his way out to “Burning in my Light” which is a theme I still loved even if his
first reign was a flop as he changed to it. Referee Mike Chioda checks both men
for weapons as JR mentions the pressure he has tonight. It’s down to his
judgement if Michaels is attempting a Sweet Chin Music or if Orton is trying to
get disqualified.
RANDY ORTON © VS.
SHAWN MICHAELS
(WWE
Championship)
WWE Survivor Series 2007 (18th November 2007)
They lock up, Shawn Michaels grabs a headlock, into a hammerlock then a standing neck crank as the fans start an early “HBK” chant. He brings Orton down to his knees and forces the champion’s shoulders to the mat but Orton gets a shoulder up at 2.
Randy Orton works to his feet in the neck crank, momentarily. No, back to his feet so Michaels takes him over with a snapmare and gets another nearfall. Randy Orton is able to get back to his feet and gets a shot in, but it’s no good. JR mentions 2 of Michaels 4 WWE Championships have been won at Survivor Series (and to add, in 5-year intervals – 1997 and 2002) Randy Orton gets back to his feet again, he pulls Michaels’ hair to try and release some of the pressure. Orton connects with body shots and tries to slam Michaels but can’t break the hold. Randy Orton takes Michaels over to the corner, forcing a break and he unloads with right hands, playing off the DQ result early. Orton is backed away before the count of 5 and goes back to the corner, slapping Michaels. Shawn Michaels threatens a Sweet Chin Music, but chops Orton instead. Michaels spears Orton down and gets some shots in as Orton tries to cover up. Michaels gets a headlock and is sent off the ropes. He knocks Orton down with a shoulder tackle, Randy Orton stays prone as Michaels runs the ropes and leaves his back open to a reverse chinlock. Michaels puts on a bodyscissors too, rolling Orton away from the ropes and forcing Orton to carry his weight. Randy Orton tries to get to his feet so Michaels moves into a front facelock and strikes Orton with his knee. Randy Orton tries to get to his feet but isn’t able to lift Michaels off of him and ends up back on the mat. Michaels gets more knee strikes to Orton’s head. Randy Orton tries to power out of the move again, but Michaels keeps the front facelock applied so Orton scrambles out to the floor.
Shawn Michaels fakes Orton out on a Plancha and dropkicks Orton through the ropes. He vaults over the top rope to the apron and hits the Asai moonsault! Shawn Michaels sends Orton back into the ring and hits a crossbody from the top rope, but Orton rolls through for 2. Randy Orton knocks Michaels down with a European uppercut, then another as he tries to buy time. Shawn Michaels is sent off the ropes but he catches a kick and sweeps Orton’s leg before locking him in the sharpshooter. Now is a good time to mention the rumors at the time that Natalya, Harry Smith and Tyson Kidd would be debuting at this event, a decade after Montreal in the Event Calendar! Randy Orton tries to crawl to the ropes, he gets it as Michaels starts to wrench back. Randy Orton takes a break on the floor and pokes Michaels in the eye as he gets back on the apron. Michaels’ neck is snapped off the top rope by Orton.
Jerry Lawler rightly questions why the thumb to the eye wasn’t a DQ as Orton hits a knee drop and stomps on Michaels’ leg. Randy Orton hits another knee drop and a boot sends Michaels out to the apron. Shawn Michaels tries to get back in the ring, but Orton gets in more shots and hits the draping DDT! He covers 1, 2, no! Randy Orton puts Michaels in the chinlock/bodyscissors combination, keeping one shoulder off the mat. Shawn Michaels gets his second wind, fighting out of the bodyscissors and to his feet. Michaels breaks free with elbows to the gut and chops Orton across the chest. Orton connects with a right hand starting tit-for-tat until Michaels can get a couple of chops in, backing Orton into the ropes. Orton reverses an irish whip but eats the jumping forearm. Shawn Michaels kips up but he’s not fully balanced, he hits the inverted atomic drop and a right hand drops Orton. Randy Orton keeps standing up into right hands but he counters another inverted atomic drop before hitting a dropkick. He has to catch his breath before trying to pin Michaels, so he only gets 2.
Shawn Michaels is sent off the ropes but he holds on and Orton eats shit on the dropkick attempt. Shawn Michaels gets 2 with a jacknife cover and slams Orton. Randy Orton gets to his feet and Michaels looks genuinely confused but slams Orton again anyway before going to the top rope. Shawn Michaels hits the Elbow Drop and he sets up for the Sweet Chin Music. The one thing he can’t do. Michaels hesitates as the referee is stood next to him, not that he’s done his job in the match so far. He changes his mind and rolls Orton up for 2. Randy Orton reverses an irish whip, he’s caught in a crucifix but Michaels can’t roll him up as Orton sits down for a nearfall. Shawn Michaels catches the clothesline and brings Orton down into a Crossface, which was risky as hell during this time. Orton teases tapping but makes his way to the ropes, Michaels holds on for 3 just to add more pressure.
Shawn Michaels goes for another Crossface but Orton is able to roll out of it and knocks Michaels’ jaw into the third row with a clothesline! Randy Orton looks like he’s bleeding from his mouth for some reason as he covers for 2. Randy Orton ducks a haymaker attempt from Michaels, hitting his awesome Backbreaker. Randy Orton stalks Michaels for the RKO but changes his mind. Orton backs into the corner, but the Punt Kick is caught by Michaels, who counters into an ankle lock with help from Orton flopping down on the mat. Randy Orton tries to crawl to the ropes but Michaels crawls him back to the middle of the ring and grapevines the leg. Randy Orton rolls over and kicks his way free with his unvoiced leg. Randy Orton favors his leg as he gets to his feet, still beating HBK to a vertical base. Shawn Michaels catches a kick but the Figure Four is kicked off by Orton, sending Michaels into the turnbuckles.
Randy Orton tries the RKO but Michaels shoves him off. Michaels goes for the Sweet Chin Music but has to stop himself and Orton hits the RKO in the moment of confusion! Randy Orton covers to retain the title.
WINNER: RANDY ORTON (STILL WWE Champion)
The added stipulations did make this an interesting match, the finish brings it down for me a bit, personally, and the story of Shawn Michaels’ head being the focus of Orton’s attacks, with what we know now, can be uncomfortable viewing for some, but Shawn Michaels got to show a few new holds in the match that he wouldn’t normally. They started with a nice slow pace and built the match, but like I say I soured on Michaels almost costing himself the match in the end. [***¼] 5.5/10
After the match Randy Orton holds the belt up and looks to be
leaving, but he stops as he gets to the floor, coming back in the ring for a
second. He drags Shawn Michaels over to the corner and tells Michaels to say
that Orton’s the best, that he beat Michaels and that he’s the future. He goes to
retrieve his belt and Shawn Michaels decks him with a Sweet Chin Music! The
fans came alive for that so Michaels spends some time with them before making
it up the ramp. As we see the replays I’d like to mention that as stupid as the
finish was, Michaels’ selling was brilliant for the RKO.
Before Michael Cole can tell us about the main event tonight, another Save_Us Code video plays, hyping Chris Jericho's return tomorrow night.
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