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Posts Tagged ‘kids party invitations’

While I’m not thrilled with the match-up, Michaels has carried many a WWE superstar to great matches, so hopes are high for this one. Shawn Michaels comes out of the gate fighting hard and dominates about five or six minutes without allowing Orton even a minor breather.

This is the electrifying Shawn Michaels who thrilled crowds 20-25 years ago but who is harder and harder to find in-ring anymore these days because Michaels is simply too old to be believed anymore. He might not be quite Ric Flair old, but Michaels IS old. Still, five or six minutes like these remind us of just how great Michaels used to be.

Orton finally gouges an eye to turn the momentum around and start looking like a champ defending his title instead of a punching bag for a guy closing in on his 50s. Gotta keep that Legend Killer gimmick going, after all. Unlike John Cena, WWE will never feature Orton on kids party invitations – his character’s too much of an evil badass – but Orton is the champ and the face of RAW from now until probably WrestleMania at least.

They give Orton some time to dominate as well and then go into trading finishers and nearfalls, including a crossface hold that could bring to mind some sad memories for longtime WWE fans, and I think Ross had to choke himself back from calling it the Crippler Crossface.

The finishers get more and more convincing, the drama builds and just when you think Michaels has it locked up, Orton escapes, attempts an RKO that Michaels dodges to set up a superkick … but Orton dodges that and LANDS the RKO for the pin.

Like so many Michaels matches, he works just hard enough to make you wish he were still 10 years younger and worthy of a title change. But it didn’t happen tonight; however, hopefully Michaels’ work ethic rubs off on Orton, making him into a better champion.

WINNER: Randy Orton, to retain the WWE Title
RATING: 8.4