Cincinnati, Ohio

One Night Only – 2 weeks away

Vince McMahon stood in the ring, microphone in hand.

"I wouldn't be standing here tonight if it wasn't for one man," Vice said. "Or, in this case, boy. Last night Seth Hardy discussed about his on-screen persona before his match. Now, I have talked to Seth about breaking storyl…"

Smells like Teen Spirit hit and Seth came out with a bored expression on his face. He entered the ring and snatched Vince's microphone away from him.

"Ok," he said. "What am I going to be yelled at for this time?"

Anger flared on Vince's face. "I JUST TOLD EVERYONE WHY!" Vince forced the anger out of his voice. "So why don't you know?

"I wasn't really listening Vinnie." Seth ignored the look of annoyance on his bosses face. "It wasn't until I barely heard my last name that I decided to come out here. I was standing just behind there," he pointed up the ramp, "in case you wanted to know."

"I didn't," Vince said. "And what I was explaining to everyone was that you broke character last night. And you didn't follow the script… again."

"What character?" Seth asked. "If I remember correctly, last night I said I don't have an on-screen persona. What everyone watching sees is me. The real me. And for as long as I live you will all only see the genuine Seth Hardy. And for as long as I am in WWF, I will not bow down to demands by authority figures. I will stay as I am. No crappy gimmick, I WILL STAY THE WAY I WAS SINCE I WAS BORN! AND NO ONE, NOT EVEN YOU VINCE, WILL EVER CHANGE THAT!"

The crowd erupted in applause as a scowl formed on McMahon's face. "You have balls. But that doesn't matter. I have the power to make your life here very easy or very difficult. And judging from what you just said, you've chosen the difficult route. Well, if that's what you were hoping then wish granted. And since you're in appropriate ring attire you have a match. Right now, against…"

Seth didn't even blink.

"… Shawn Michaels!"

Vince threw the microphone away and exited the ring just as Sexy Boy began to play.

Shawn was greeted with boos. He didn't seem to care.

As Shawn entered the ring, Seth glanced at Vince who had been glaring at him for the past minute. Seth stuck his middle finger up at him before turning back to Shawn.

The bell rang and the two competitors circled each other. Seth managed to lock in an Arm Wrench. But Shawn had experience on his side and reversed the move and slam Seth's arm into a turnbuckle.

Seth, clutching his right arm, backed out of the corner only to get Dropkicked. Shawn went for a cover and Seth kicked before two. Shawn picked him up and hit several Backhand Chops, forcing Seth into the corner.

Shawn Irish-Whipped Seth into the opposing corner. Shawn ran towards him. But Seth countered with a Spinning Heel Kick.

A moment later Hunter Hearst Helmsley, Chyna and Rick Rude came out and made their way to ringside. When they made it, Hunter and Chyna walked in different directions while Rude remained still. Seth looked at all of them in turn.

But he had let his guard down. Shawn blasted him from behind and stomped on Seth's lower back. The same area Hunter and Chyna targeted last night. When Seth rolled onto his back, Shawn climbed to the top rope. He jumped and his elbow landed in the centre of Hardy's chest.

Instead of going for the cover, Michaels went to a corner. He stomped his foot. Seth heard it again, he knew what was coming.

Its time! Its time! Its Vader time!

Vader ran towards Rick and was intercepted by Hunter. But Helmsley's inference had little effect as he was thrown behind Vader. Rude retreated and Vader followed. The commotion had caught Shawn's attention and he climbed out of the ring.

Chyna went to strike Vader but got Belly to Bellied for her effort. As he turned around, Michaels went for Sweet Chin Music. But Vader caught his foot and grinned menacingly at Shawn.

But before he could give Michaels hell, Bret Hart struck him with a chair. Followed by fists from Owen and the Bulldog, Vader fell to one knee as Shawn entered the ring. Earlier, Vader had fought Bret in a No Holds Barred match. Bulldog got involved so the Patriot did as well. Then Owen ran out and regained control for the Harts. As Patriot was about to get Piledrivered, Stone Cold Steve Austin came out and chased the Harts away with a chair.

Seth had recovered from the Elbow and, noticing the fight outside, managed to kick Owen in the back of the head. The Bulldog and Bret were further away and Owen was already recovering.

Seth heard movement behind him. Acting on instinct he turned.

Before he could react, Seth had been hit by some Sweet Chin Music. Instead of falling to the canvas, Seth got caught in the ropes. After Shawn mocked the crowd and while the ref was trying to untangle Seth, he hit Seth with another one.

The ref told him if he did again before Seth was untied then he would be disqualified. Shawn backed away and left the referee.

The ref did manage to release Seth. As soon as he did Seth stumbled forward. Shawn almost laughed at how easy this was going to be. And then he hit Sweet Chin Music for the third time.

Shawn pinned Seth for the victory at the same time the Harts threw Vader into the steel steps.

"Here is your winner. The Heartbreak Kid. Shawn Michaels!"

Hunter, Rick and Chyna entered the ring and celebrated with Shawn. Helmsley picked Seth up and, out of revenge for last night, hit a Pedigree on him.

As Shawn and his friends went backstage, several doctors began checking up on Seth. Vader had climbed to his feet and joined the doctors. Vader became concerned when Seth didn't respond to a light being shone in his eye.