Ignoring the jeers of the fans in attendance, Michaels took the microphone from Lillian Garcia, and began to speak his mind inside the ring.
"Everywhere I go," he began "I keep getting asked the same question. 'Why, HBK, why? What do you have against ECW? What did they ever do to you?'
"Well in case you people have forgotten, I'm a damn legend in this business. And if you don't believe that, let's take a moment and run down my list of accomplishments, shall we? I'm the guy that made the Ladder match famous. I was falling off Hell in a Cell almost a year before Mick Foley made it cool. I was the first one to survive the Elimination Chamber. I invented Degeneration X, and did things that nobody else had the guts to do. Not even your precious ECW."
The crowd was split by the last remark. Some audience members were now chanting for DX, others for Michaels in general. Still others in the arena, probably half, were chanting for ECW. Meanwhile, Jerry Lawler was confirming everything that Michaels had just stated as being the truth from his broadcast position.
"In short," Shawn continued "I've done a whole hell of a lot for this business in the past few years. You know what it got me?!
JACK SHIT!
"I spent four years of my career on the shelf! I broke my back for this company, literally, until I couldn't break it anymore! Whenever McMahon needed somebody to top whatever WCW was doing, he called on me to steal the show! Whenever he wanted to take whatever crazy match ECW came up with, and do it ten times better, he relied on Shawn Michaels to get it done! I busted my ass for years doing extreme stunts for a bunch of ungrateful fans like you, but what did I get for it?!"
Shawn was met with another chorus of boos.
"I'll tell you what I got. I got constant pain in my back. I got surgery which nearly ended my career. I got to sit at home for four years, watching guys like Rock and Austin making the big money that should have been mine! And then, when I finally did come back, you know what I got, again, from you people? That's right boys and girls, NOTHING! I did hardcore matches ten times harder and a hundred times better than anybody in that rinky-dink bingo hall, but do I get any praise for it? NO! Did Paul Heyman call me up and offer me my rightful place at the top of his new roster of superstars? NO! Do I hear 'H-B-K' chants from you crowds every time somebody goes through a table on this show? NO! So basically, that means that all of you, and especially those of you in ECW, want to piss on all my hard work! WELL THAT AIN'T GONNA HAPPEN, JACK! Because the fact of the matter is, Shawn Michaels, Kurt Angle, and Mick Foley are not gonna let any new brands start up around here. We're in charge, and we say no to ECW. An extreme wrestling group without 'The Heartbreak Kid' may as well not even exist. And you know what? It won't! Now how do you like that?!"
Paul Heyman didn't like that.
The newest general manager came out onto the Raw ramp with a microphone already in his hand. As the guitar strains of the ECW theme song died down, Paul E. began his rebuttal.
"Mister Michaels, if I may call you that. Mister Michaels, you actually have a point. I can't deny it. The fact is you are a very extreme wrestler. The fact is you are a legend in this industry. You're a lot of things, sir. And in hindsight, maybe I should have given you a chance to ply your trade in the most extreme wrestling promotion on the planet."
Michaels smiled from inside the ring. It was about time someone acknowledged his greatness. The announcers sat in stunned silence at this strange turn of events, wondering where Heyman was going with this.
"And actually, you're right about something else. So far, only the Dudley Boys have agreed to join up with my new ECW. You on the other hand, you have three whole guys willing to fight for our destruction, and we haven't even gotten off the ground yet. The fact is that we are outnumbered, just like before. We do have too many odds against us, just like before. And I guess that as long as things remain that way, ECW will remain buried in the ground."
The crowd booed once again. Shawn simply nodded his head, feeling Heyman had seen the light and admitted defeat early.
"It's a shame though. It's a shame. Because now that I think about it, there are a lot of great matches that you could be a part of, Shawn. I can picture it now. Why, I can even envision you taking on the ECW champion."
Shawn got back on his microphone to respond.
"Well as much of a dream match as that may be in your mind, I hate to tell pa Heyman, but whoever your champ is, or was, he wouldn't stand a snowball's chance in hell of beating me. I mean, let's face it, you said it yourself. I am a legend. I'm an icon. A main event, a show stopper, a-"
"Turn around." Heyman interrupted.
GORE! GORE! GORE!
Rhyno had snuck through the crowd during the back and forth microphone work between Heyman and Michaels. Once Shawn turned around, he was speared out of his cowboy boots by 'The Man-Beast.' Rhyno counted his own unofficial pin fall victory, and joined Heyman at the top of the ramp. As they hugged and laughed in celebration, it was clear that the last ECW champion was now back where he belonged. As they left together, Heyman made one last, very clear statement.
"Now THAT was extreme!"