Dark Match - Heatseekers v Corre: - Heatseekers win.
- Week 104
Big pyro for the supershow, and a new stage and set too. The arena looks a lot more basic, quite a minimalist theme. CM Punk is the first man out into the new look arena, heading down to the ring for a big number one contendership match. He's soon joined by Randy Orton, and then Rob Van Dam. Before they can lock up, Kurt Angle shows up to scout his potential challengers from ringside.
Match 1 - CM Punk v Randy Orton v RVD: IFW #1 Contendership - The guys do the usual triple threat thing of cycling in and out, taking turns to work singles matches for a while before someone is bumped to take a break. All three men get back into the ring for the finish sequence, which sees Punk throw Orton into a corner and hit his knee lift, but his bulldog is cut off by RVD's monkey flip. RVD is quickly back up and hits some shoulder thrusts to Orton, backflips and goes in for one more only to be sidestepped. RVD stumbles out into the RKO, but is able to push Orton away right into Punk's high roundhouse kick. Punk then lifts RVD up for the GTS, but RVD shuffles out and runs Punk into the ropes with a rear waist lock, pulling him back into a rolling cradle for a near fall. Punk scrambles to his feet and gets flattened by a spinning heel kick and then the rolling thunder. RVD looks around, and chooses a turnbuckle to hop up to, soaring off for the five star frogsplash. Punk rolls away just as Orton slides back into the ring to hit a mid-air RKO to RVD as he flies. Orton then finds himself being hoisted up and nailed with the GTS. Punk and Orton both collapse on impact, and fortunately for him Orton rolls out of the ring. Punk slowly crawls over to where RVD is laying, and struggles to roll him onto his back for one...two...kick out! Punk is shocked, but keeps his focus and applies the anaconda vice. RVD fights it, eventually managing to stack Punk up into an awkward pin cover, which forces him to break the hold. Both men scramble to their feet and Van Dam catches Punk's roundhouse kick, stepping over and hitting a heel kick of his own, setting up a second five star frogsplash. RVD connects but the impact affects both men. Punk manages to roll to the outside while RVD writhes in pain on the mat. Orton slithers back in, backing up into a corner and connecting with the punt to take RVD's head off. - Randy Orton wins to become number one contender to the IFW championship.
The match has taken its toll on all three men, Angle isn't happy that Orton has another shot at his title.
Backstage in the womens' dressing room, Gail is once again trying to rally the troops. There are fewer girls than ever. This time she's focused on Layla and Michelle McCool, the two divas who have been most reluctant to join in.
Gail: "We really need your help here." Michelle: "And we really don't care." Layla: "Yeah! You've seen what they do out there. Why would we let that happen to us?" Gail: "Because if we don't pull together, there isn't going to be a womens' division here for much longer. They already have the title, now they're taking us out one by one." Michelle: "Good. When you're gone, it'll be that much easier for us to win the womens' title." Gail: "And by then it'll be worthless. Look, you are the best womens' tag team in the business today, and we need you if we're going to beat the Nexettes. I'm not doing this to avenge Beth Phoenix anymore, I'm doing this for all of us." Bellas: "So are we." Roxxi: "Um...I...I'll do it." Gail: "We're all going out there tonight to take it to the Nexettes, knowing it might be the last time we ever compete. But if we don't do this, there won't be anything left to compete for."
Laycool consider it for a second, but the moment is ruined as Gail's phone rings. Laycool go back to their usual bitchiness and refuse to join in.
Gail: "Hello? Oh, hey! What's going on? You...you are? Tonight? Oh my God that's amazing. Ok, I'll come and find you. Cool."
Gail hangs up and quickly runs out of the room. Laycool are confused, Roxxi and the Bellas follow Gail.
Back to the arena now, where the Dudebusters are in the ring waiting for the hard-earned tag team title shot. They're soon joined by the champions, Charlie Haas and Shelton Benjamin. The teams bump fists as a show of respect before the bell rings.
Match 2 - Dudebusters v World's Greatest Tag Team: IFW Tag Team Championship - Fast-paced match, the Dudebusters fly around the ring and don't let the champions get settled. Eventually they crash and burn though, and Haas takes the win making Croft tap with the Haas of pain. - World's Greatest Tag Team win to retain the IFW tag team championship.
As soon as the bell rings, the Heatseekers' music hits.
Hawkins: "Wow. Good job guys, that's was impressive stuff. I mean, not as impressive as if we were in there, but...it was fine." Archer: "Speaking of which, when do we get our shot?" Hawkins: "I've seen more than a dozen teams walk in here and take title matches, and yet we're passed over?"
Shelton has already had enough and has grabbed a mic of his own.
Benjamin: "We're issuing open challenges, moron. If you want to show you can beat us, why not come on down?"
Hawkins is pissed, and slaps Archer's back to signal they're going to bite. They sprint down the ramp and slide half way in, but Haas and Benjamin step forward and instantly the Heatseekers back off.
Hawkins: "Not until the tag titles are on the line. When we do this, it'll be when I say so."
The Heatseekers back off up the ramp while the champions look disgusted at the 'cowardly' move.
Backstage, Ezekiel Jackson is on his way to the ring. He's in his ring gear and looks focused and ready. He passes IFW newcomers Heath Slater and Justin Gabriel, who catch his attention.
Slater: "Hey Zeke." Jackson: "Hm." Slater: "It's just like old times, huh?" Jackson: "That was a long time ago." Gabriel: "It can be again. There's no Wade trying to make this all about him. We always said the Corre were equals, now we can be."
The Brian Kendrick runs over, looking panicked that these guys are trying to steal his bodyguard.
Kendrick: "Woah! Get the hell away from him! He has a huge match coming up, he doesn't need you two ruining his focus!" Gabriel: "Chill out Brian, we're not the enemy here. We want Jackson to win that silver tonight." Slater: "Yeah, good luck big guy."
Slater slaps Jackson's shoulder, Kendrick immediately slaps Slater's hand away.
Kendrick: "He doesn't like to be touched. You're lucky to still be standing. Come on Zeke, we have a match to win."
Jackson grunts and walks away. Kendrick follows but Jackson stops and puts his huge hand on Kendrick's chest to stop him following, then moves on alone. The Corre laugh at Kendrick's rejection.
Out in the arena, Paul London sprints down to the ring and slides under the bottom rope before posing with the belt. Ezekiel Jackson heads out after him, slowly coming down to the ring like a machine. He steps over the ropes and gets in London's face. London refuses to be intimidated, and surprisingly Jackson offers a handshake. London accepts.
Match 3 - Paul London v Ezekiel Jackson (w/ Brian Kendrick): Silver Championship - London uses his speed to avoid the big man early on, and manages to counter attack a few times. Jackson eventually gets his hands on the champion though, and methodically crushes him. The Brian Kendrick heads out to ringside. It looks like only a matter of time until Jackson wins, but London gets his feet up to block a corner splash and follows up with the mushroom stomp and the standing star press for two. Kendrick starts getting more and more involved in the match, until even Jackson wants him gone. Before too long, London's occasional tag partner Kofi Kingston heads out to even the score. London goes to the top for a shooting star but Jackson throws him off. They go back and forth, London counters the uranage slam into a waffle face attempt but can't lift Jackson. He hits a couple of dropsaults to set up the shooting star again. Kendrick slides in to stand in the way of the move, so Kingston gets in to get Kendrick out. They go back and forth while London waits on the top, giving Jackson time to recover. Kingston and London team up to throw Kendrick to the outside, then Jackson lays London out with a big boot. Kingston is caught in the uranage position and has to elbow his way free to avoid the move. The referee calls for the DQ. - Ezekiel Jackson wins by disqualification.
Zeke is pissed that his title shot has been ruined, so he takes Kofi out from behind while Kofi argues with the referee. London leaps from the top with a hurricanrana that sends Jackson rolling to the outside, where he and Kingston hit dual suicide dives onto Jackson and Kendrick. Kingston Calling geat back into the ring to pose a bit.
We cut backstage for a moment, where EMTs and officials are milling around. The cameraman shoves his way through to find Cody Rhodes and Ted DiBiase laid out amongst the wreckage of two broken tables. But who did this?!
Back to the ring now, where the Nexettes are waiting for this week's victims. Gail Kim leads her IFW divas onto the stage and is soon joined by the Bella Twins and the nervous Roxxi Laveaux. Gail is happy to gesture to the curtain again, cueing the latest member of the IFW roster...Eve Torres! And she looks good.
Match 4 - Nexettes (w/ Maxine) v Gail Kim, Roxxi Laveaux, Bella Twins & Eve Torres: - The girls cycle in and out, each getting a little time to show off what they can do before tagging out to hide their weaknesses. The match breaks down about three minutes in, and the girls brawl in and outside the ring. Maxine gets involved to throw the numbers off, allowing Naomi and Kaitlyn to double powerbomb Eve to take her out of action. Now the numbers game just gets worse, as the Bellas and then Gail are also laid out. Roxxi is now surrounded by Nexettes, as scared as ever. Maxine yells for Naomi and Jamie to grab the ring steps, which they do while the remaining Nexettes beat Roxxi down before leaving the ring to allow AJ the pin. - Nexettes win.
As soon as the match is over, Maxine instructs Naomi and Jamie to crush Roxxi's knee the same way they've crushed so many others. Roxxi yells in agony while the Nexettes leave back up the ramp, AJ Lee holding her IFW womens championship high over her head.
A video package plays of a figure shrouded in darkness. He's clearly a big guy, with wide shoulders and thick arms. The camera swings around the figure, who has his head bowed with a baseball cap obscuring his face. He looks up as the camera zooms in, revealing the man is - of course - John Cena, with his trademark smirk.
Cena: "The champ...is here."
John Cena. Coming soon to IFW.
Back to the ring for the final time as we head into our main event. John Morrison is out first, looking serious even through his slow motion entrance. He reaches the ring and hops up to lie across the corner, just like a young Shawn Michaels. The old Shawn Michaels soon joins him, taking some extra time to pray on the ramp on his way down for his retirement match. When he reaches the ring, instead of yelling at Morrison to show some respect, he simply offers a handshake and waits. Morrison takes his time getting down from his perch, but eventually does and contemplates the show of respect. He decides in the end to slap Shawn's hand away, and smirks to himself. Morrison turns around to soak in his haters' reactions, which is when HBK strikes with a schoolboy roll up.
Match 5 - Shawn Michaels v John Morrison: - One, two, kickout. Morrison tells Michaels that it's on now. The match kicks off with a lot of intensity, fast paced action as the two men go back and forth as if they've been studying each other for years. At the end of each exchange, Morrison seems to have the upper hand and backs off the veteran a sif he's doing him a favour. Morrison clearly thinks he has this match won, but after two or three of these shows of disrespect, Michaels tells Morrison that it's time they actually started trying. Morrison suddenly doesn't look so confident. They lock up again and Michaels is instantly all over the younger man, using every trick he's learned over his 30 year career. Morrison rolls out of the ring to buy himself some time as he realises this old man still has it. Michaels sits on the ropes to allow Morrison back in, Morrison instead rolls in the other side. The two go face to face and instead of trading insults with JoMo, Michaels says something inaudible that seems to resonate with Morrison. The bickering and disrespect seem to vanish, and the two men trade a long chain of holds and counter holds that display the best that each man has. They wear each other out with all of their signature spots, and even trade one or two of each others. At the fifteen minute mark both men are down following a mid-air collision when Morrison counters Michaels' flying forearm with a flying forearm of his own, and neither man looks to be about to answer the ten count. At nine, both lifeless warriors nip up simultaneously and turn to face each other with a look or mutual admiration. They lock up again, rolling around the ropes jockeying for position. Michaels lays in a few knife edge chops, Morrison then throws Michaels in to deliver some of his own. Michaels throws Morrison back in, Morrison kicks Michaels away and lunges at him only to be met with sweet chin music. Morrison catches the foot, throws it down and nails the flying Chuck. Michaels hits the canvas hard, but kicks out at two. Morrison goes to the corner for starship pain, but Michaels shoves him into the turnbuckles to cut him off. Michaels takes Morrison off the top with a back superplex, but Morrison now kicks out at two. Both men have nothing left, but keep fighting anyway. Moonlight drive, counter into sweet chin music, counter into heel trip and jackknife roll up. Kick out. Flying forearm, inverted atomic drop, scoop slam, elbow drop missed, Morrison hits starship pain but Michaels has the knees up. Kick out. Inverted figure four countered into an inside cradle. Kick out. Finally it comes down to a battle of stamina, which is won by the younger Morrison. Michaels is on his knees and knows his time is over. He's just happy that he was able to relive his glory days by being taken to the limit one last time. He nods at Morrison and urges him to finish it. Morrison pauses, but lifts his foot to superkick Michaels, who hits the canvas and lifts his arm to schoolboy Morrison just like Flair did to him last week. Only Morrison had been watching, and has already spun around to face the corner and leaped high into starship pain, crashing onto the prone heart break kid to secure the historic victory. - John Morrison wins.
Morrison mimics Michaels' actions when he retired Flair, cradling the legend's head and whispering something before quickly leaving the ring. Michaels takes his time getting back to his feet, and when he does he takes a long look around the arena for what is likely the last ever time. He applauds the audience, thanks them, and leaves his boots in the ring when he leaves.
Dark Match - Heatseekers v Corre:
- Heatseekers win.
Big pyro for the supershow, and a new stage and set too. The arena looks a lot more basic, quite a minimalist theme. CM Punk is the first man out into the new look arena, heading down to the ring for a big number one contendership match. He's soon joined by Randy Orton, and then Rob Van Dam. Before they can lock up, Kurt Angle shows up to scout his potential challengers from ringside.
Match 1 - CM Punk v Randy Orton v RVD:
IFW #1 Contendership
- The guys do the usual triple threat thing of cycling in and out, taking turns to work singles matches for a while before someone is bumped to take a break. All three men get back into the ring for the finish sequence, which sees Punk throw Orton into a corner and hit his knee lift, but his bulldog is cut off by RVD's monkey flip. RVD is quickly back up and hits some shoulder thrusts to Orton, backflips and goes in for one more only to be sidestepped. RVD stumbles out into the RKO, but is able to push Orton away right into Punk's high roundhouse kick. Punk then lifts RVD up for the GTS, but RVD shuffles out and runs Punk into the ropes with a rear waist lock, pulling him back into a rolling cradle for a near fall. Punk scrambles to his feet and gets flattened by a spinning heel kick and then the rolling thunder. RVD looks around, and chooses a turnbuckle to hop up to, soaring off for the five star frogsplash. Punk rolls away just as Orton slides back into the ring to hit a mid-air RKO to RVD as he flies. Orton then finds himself being hoisted up and nailed with the GTS. Punk and Orton both collapse on impact, and fortunately for him Orton rolls out of the ring. Punk slowly crawls over to where RVD is laying, and struggles to roll him onto his back for one...two...kick out! Punk is shocked, but keeps his focus and applies the anaconda vice. RVD fights it, eventually managing to stack Punk up into an awkward pin cover, which forces him to break the hold. Both men scramble to their feet and Van Dam catches Punk's roundhouse kick, stepping over and hitting a heel kick of his own, setting up a second five star frogsplash. RVD connects but the impact affects both men. Punk manages to roll to the outside while RVD writhes in pain on the mat. Orton slithers back in, backing up into a corner and connecting with the punt to take RVD's head off.
- Randy Orton wins to become number one contender to the IFW championship.
The match has taken its toll on all three men, Angle isn't happy that Orton has another shot at his title.
Backstage in the womens' dressing room, Gail is once again trying to rally the troops. There are fewer girls than ever. This time she's focused on Layla and Michelle McCool, the two divas who have been most reluctant to join in.
Gail: "We really need your help here."
Michelle: "And we really don't care."
Layla: "Yeah! You've seen what they do out there. Why would we let that happen to us?"
Gail: "Because if we don't pull together, there isn't going to be a womens' division here for much longer. They already have the title, now they're taking us out one by one."
Michelle: "Good. When you're gone, it'll be that much easier for us to win the womens' title."
Gail: "And by then it'll be worthless. Look, you are the best womens' tag team in the business today, and we need you if we're going to beat the Nexettes. I'm not doing this to avenge Beth Phoenix anymore, I'm doing this for all of us."
Bellas: "So are we."
Roxxi: "Um...I...I'll do it."
Gail: "We're all going out there tonight to take it to the Nexettes, knowing it might be the last time we ever compete. But if we don't do this, there won't be anything left to compete for."
Laycool consider it for a second, but the moment is ruined as Gail's phone rings. Laycool go back to their usual bitchiness and refuse to join in.
Gail: "Hello? Oh, hey! What's going on? You...you are? Tonight? Oh my God that's amazing. Ok, I'll come and find you. Cool."
Gail hangs up and quickly runs out of the room. Laycool are confused, Roxxi and the Bellas follow Gail.
Back to the arena now, where the Dudebusters are in the ring waiting for the hard-earned tag team title shot. They're soon joined by the champions, Charlie Haas and Shelton Benjamin. The teams bump fists as a show of respect before the bell rings.
Match 2 - Dudebusters v World's Greatest Tag Team:
IFW Tag Team Championship
- Fast-paced match, the Dudebusters fly around the ring and don't let the champions get settled. Eventually they crash and burn though, and Haas takes the win making Croft tap with the Haas of pain.
- World's Greatest Tag Team win to retain the IFW tag team championship.
As soon as the bell rings, the Heatseekers' music hits.
Hawkins: "Wow. Good job guys, that's was impressive stuff. I mean, not as impressive as if we were in there, but...it was fine."
Archer: "Speaking of which, when do we get our shot?"
Hawkins: "I've seen more than a dozen teams walk in here and take title matches, and yet we're passed over?"
Shelton has already had enough and has grabbed a mic of his own.
Benjamin: "We're issuing open challenges, moron. If you want to show you can beat us, why not come on down?"
Hawkins is pissed, and slaps Archer's back to signal they're going to bite. They sprint down the ramp and slide half way in, but Haas and Benjamin step forward and instantly the Heatseekers back off.
Hawkins: "Not until the tag titles are on the line. When we do this, it'll be when I say so."
The Heatseekers back off up the ramp while the champions look disgusted at the 'cowardly' move.
Backstage, Ezekiel Jackson is on his way to the ring. He's in his ring gear and looks focused and ready. He passes IFW newcomers Heath Slater and Justin Gabriel, who catch his attention.
Slater: "Hey Zeke."
Jackson: "Hm."
Slater: "It's just like old times, huh?"
Jackson: "That was a long time ago."
Gabriel: "It can be again. There's no Wade trying to make this all about him. We always said the Corre were equals, now we can be."
The Brian Kendrick runs over, looking panicked that these guys are trying to steal his bodyguard.
Kendrick: "Woah! Get the hell away from him! He has a huge match coming up, he doesn't need you two ruining his focus!"
Gabriel: "Chill out Brian, we're not the enemy here. We want Jackson to win that silver tonight."
Slater: "Yeah, good luck big guy."
Slater slaps Jackson's shoulder, Kendrick immediately slaps Slater's hand away.
Kendrick: "He doesn't like to be touched. You're lucky to still be standing. Come on Zeke, we have a match to win."
Jackson grunts and walks away. Kendrick follows but Jackson stops and puts his huge hand on Kendrick's chest to stop him following, then moves on alone. The Corre laugh at Kendrick's rejection.
Out in the arena, Paul London sprints down to the ring and slides under the bottom rope before posing with the belt. Ezekiel Jackson heads out after him, slowly coming down to the ring like a machine. He steps over the ropes and gets in London's face. London refuses to be intimidated, and surprisingly Jackson offers a handshake. London accepts.
Match 3 - Paul London v Ezekiel Jackson (w/ Brian Kendrick):
Silver Championship
- London uses his speed to avoid the big man early on, and manages to counter attack a few times. Jackson eventually gets his hands on the champion though, and methodically crushes him. The Brian Kendrick heads out to ringside. It looks like only a matter of time until Jackson wins, but London gets his feet up to block a corner splash and follows up with the mushroom stomp and the standing star press for two. Kendrick starts getting more and more involved in the match, until even Jackson wants him gone. Before too long, London's occasional tag partner Kofi Kingston heads out to even the score. London goes to the top for a shooting star but Jackson throws him off. They go back and forth, London counters the uranage slam into a waffle face attempt but can't lift Jackson. He hits a couple of dropsaults to set up the shooting star again. Kendrick slides in to stand in the way of the move, so Kingston gets in to get Kendrick out. They go back and forth while London waits on the top, giving Jackson time to recover. Kingston and London team up to throw Kendrick to the outside, then Jackson lays London out with a big boot. Kingston is caught in the uranage position and has to elbow his way free to avoid the move. The referee calls for the DQ.
- Ezekiel Jackson wins by disqualification.
Zeke is pissed that his title shot has been ruined, so he takes Kofi out from behind while Kofi argues with the referee. London leaps from the top with a hurricanrana that sends Jackson rolling to the outside, where he and Kingston hit dual suicide dives onto Jackson and Kendrick. Kingston Calling geat back into the ring to pose a bit.
We cut backstage for a moment, where EMTs and officials are milling around. The cameraman shoves his way through to find Cody Rhodes and Ted DiBiase laid out amongst the wreckage of two broken tables. But who did this?!
Back to the ring now, where the Nexettes are waiting for this week's victims. Gail Kim leads her IFW divas onto the stage and is soon joined by the Bella Twins and the nervous Roxxi Laveaux. Gail is happy to gesture to the curtain again, cueing the latest member of the IFW roster...Eve Torres! And she looks good.
Match 4 - Nexettes (w/ Maxine) v Gail Kim, Roxxi Laveaux, Bella Twins & Eve Torres:
- The girls cycle in and out, each getting a little time to show off what they can do before tagging out to hide their weaknesses. The match breaks down about three minutes in, and the girls brawl in and outside the ring. Maxine gets involved to throw the numbers off, allowing Naomi and Kaitlyn to double powerbomb Eve to take her out of action. Now the numbers game just gets worse, as the Bellas and then Gail are also laid out. Roxxi is now surrounded by Nexettes, as scared as ever. Maxine yells for Naomi and Jamie to grab the ring steps, which they do while the remaining Nexettes beat Roxxi down before leaving the ring to allow AJ the pin.
- Nexettes win.
As soon as the match is over, Maxine instructs Naomi and Jamie to crush Roxxi's knee the same way they've crushed so many others. Roxxi yells in agony while the Nexettes leave back up the ramp, AJ Lee holding her IFW womens championship high over her head.
A video package plays of a figure shrouded in darkness. He's clearly a big guy, with wide shoulders and thick arms. The camera swings around the figure, who has his head bowed with a baseball cap obscuring his face. He looks up as the camera zooms in, revealing the man is - of course - John Cena, with his trademark smirk.
Cena: "The champ...is here."
John Cena. Coming soon to IFW.
Back to the ring for the final time as we head into our main event. John Morrison is out first, looking serious even through his slow motion entrance. He reaches the ring and hops up to lie across the corner, just like a young Shawn Michaels. The old Shawn Michaels soon joins him, taking some extra time to pray on the ramp on his way down for his retirement match. When he reaches the ring, instead of yelling at Morrison to show some respect, he simply offers a handshake and waits. Morrison takes his time getting down from his perch, but eventually does and contemplates the show of respect. He decides in the end to slap Shawn's hand away, and smirks to himself. Morrison turns around to soak in his haters' reactions, which is when HBK strikes with a schoolboy roll up.
Match 5 - Shawn Michaels v John Morrison:
- One, two, kickout. Morrison tells Michaels that it's on now. The match kicks off with a lot of intensity, fast paced action as the two men go back and forth as if they've been studying each other for years. At the end of each exchange, Morrison seems to have the upper hand and backs off the veteran a sif he's doing him a favour. Morrison clearly thinks he has this match won, but after two or three of these shows of disrespect, Michaels tells Morrison that it's time they actually started trying. Morrison suddenly doesn't look so confident. They lock up again and Michaels is instantly all over the younger man, using every trick he's learned over his 30 year career. Morrison rolls out of the ring to buy himself some time as he realises this old man still has it.
Michaels sits on the ropes to allow Morrison back in, Morrison instead rolls in the other side. The two go face to face and instead of trading insults with JoMo, Michaels says something inaudible that seems to resonate with Morrison. The bickering and disrespect seem to vanish, and the two men trade a long chain of holds and counter holds that display the best that each man has. They wear each other out with all of their signature spots, and even trade one or two of each others. At the fifteen minute mark both men are down following a mid-air collision when Morrison counters Michaels' flying forearm with a flying forearm of his own, and neither man looks to be about to answer the ten count. At nine, both lifeless warriors nip up simultaneously and turn to face each other with a look or mutual admiration.
They lock up again, rolling around the ropes jockeying for position. Michaels lays in a few knife edge chops, Morrison then throws Michaels in to deliver some of his own. Michaels throws Morrison back in, Morrison kicks Michaels away and lunges at him only to be met with sweet chin music. Morrison catches the foot, throws it down and nails the flying Chuck. Michaels hits the canvas hard, but kicks out at two. Morrison goes to the corner for starship pain, but Michaels shoves him into the turnbuckles to cut him off. Michaels takes Morrison off the top with a back superplex, but Morrison now kicks out at two.
Both men have nothing left, but keep fighting anyway. Moonlight drive, counter into sweet chin music, counter into heel trip and jackknife roll up. Kick out. Flying forearm, inverted atomic drop, scoop slam, elbow drop missed, Morrison hits starship pain but Michaels has the knees up. Kick out. Inverted figure four countered into an inside cradle. Kick out.
Finally it comes down to a battle of stamina, which is won by the younger Morrison. Michaels is on his knees and knows his time is over. He's just happy that he was able to relive his glory days by being taken to the limit one last time. He nods at Morrison and urges him to finish it. Morrison pauses, but lifts his foot to superkick Michaels, who hits the canvas and lifts his arm to schoolboy Morrison just like Flair did to him last week. Only Morrison had been watching, and has already spun around to face the corner and leaped high into starship pain, crashing onto the prone heart break kid to secure the historic victory.
- John Morrison wins.
Morrison mimics Michaels' actions when he retired Flair, cradling the legend's head and whispering something before quickly leaving the ring. Michaels takes his time getting back to his feet, and when he does he takes a long look around the arena for what is likely the last ever time. He applauds the audience, thanks them, and leaves his boots in the ring when he leaves.