Chapter 17: The Heartbreak Kid vs. The Charismatic Enigma
Jessie Lauren sat near the gorilla position on one of the many road cases that littered the backstage area, kicking her legs out playfully whilst talking to Sheree, waiting for Jeff Hardy and her mentor Shawn Michaels to arrive for the main event.
Sheree had just come back from her segment with Beth and Lisa, and now had a real chance to relax before heading off to work the house shows outside of America. Mr. McMahon deciding to film both episodes of RAW on the same night had left her feeling slightly exhausted and overwhelmed. At least she had next week Monday to look forward to. She's still gonna be super busy, but any chance to visit Japan was a win in her book.
Jessie wore the exact same outfit she wore on the previous episode of Monday Night Raw, except now she wore a stitched, dark blue denim jeans cropped jacket. Her shoulder length brunette hair had been styled differently from normal, having been styled into loose wavy curls and had most of her hair swept to one side, resting on her right shoulder.
"This rivalry between you, Beth and Lisa is starting to get really interesting," Jessie commented with a smirk.
"Thanks!" Sheree replied, still a little out of breath from all the brawling. The young woman took a sip of her water and smiled widely at the twelve year veteran. "I can't wait for No Way Out! I'm so excited!"
Jessie laughed. "I can tell!"
"So, how is Venus?" Sheree asked curiously.
"Joey told me she's doing fine, but acts up sometimes," Jessie answered, smiling softly as she thought of her two year old daughter.
Sheree chuckled as she took another sip of her water. "She must be starting to miss you then."
"Yeah... I miss her too to be honest," the fellow brunette said, frowning.
"I'm sure you'll get to see her soon," Sheree said with an easy-going smile, playfully nudging the twelve year veteran in an attempt to cheer her up.
Jessie smiled and rolled her eyes playfully at the woman's excited smile. Seeing Jeff and Shawn turning a corner and walking towards the duo, Jessie hopped off the road case. "Looks like it's time. I look forward to seeing what you have to offer Sheree."
"Thanks! You won't be disappointed. I aim to impress," Sheree replied with a smirk, which widened mischievously. "Maybe someday we'll meet in the ring."
Jessie simply laughed as she fell into step with Jeff and Shawn, both men listening to their exchange in amusement as the three walked up the steps.
"I don't think you can handle me hun. One Sweet Chin Music and it's lights out for you!"
Sheree simply nodded with a grin. "We'll see about that old-timer."
Jessie twirled around, staring at Sheree with her mouth agape. "O-Old-timer?!"
Both Shawn and Jeff chuckled, though quickly stifled their giggles when Jessie glared at them. The brunette veteran turned back to narrow her eyes at Sheree, who was now chuckling at the older woman's reaction. A small, almost heelish looking smirk appeared on Jessie's face.
"I'll get you back for that one."
"I'll be waiting," Sheree retorted with a mischievous smirk of her own.
Jessie huffed, making Sheree chuckle, before the older woman eventually walked into the gorilla position, pulling Jeff and Shawn along with her whilst ignoring their amused expressions.
. . . .
The Frank Erwin Center erupted into a loud reaction as the beginning beats of "Sexy Boy" blasted through the arena sound system.
"It is main event time on Monday Night Raw!" JR exclaimed in excitement as Shawn Michaels and Jessie Lauren made their presence known to a great ovation. Shawn twirled on the spot with his arms held out, while Jessie sauntered into view behind him with a slight skip in her step and a smile on her face. "And what a main event we are privileged to see here tonight! A great ovation for the Showstopper!"
Shawn dropped to his knees on the ramp, with Jessie standing behind him, pointing outwards towards the crowd, before pointing to themselves and then holding their arms out whilst looking up at the ceiling. A barrage of pyro sounded off behind them, lighting up the stage and covering it in a thin layer of smoke.
"Wow!" King commented in response to the dazzling and loud firework display. Shawn hopped up onto his feet, looking back at Jessie in amusement when she plucked the hat from his head and placed it on hers.
The female veteran giggled. "What? It ain't like you're gonna wear it during the match."
Shawn rolled his eyes, but smirked at her. The duo walked down the ramp, tagging hands with the fans as they walked past, with Jessie even hugging a little girl.
"This match is scheduled for one-fall! Approaching the ring, accompanied by Jessie Lauren, from San Antonio, Texas, The Heartbreak Kid, Shawn Michaels!" Lilian Garcia announced as Shawn and Jessie hopped up onto the ring apron, with Shawn holding the second ropes down for Jessie, allowing her to enter the ring first, before entering the ring after her.
Jessie stepped up onto the turnbuckles opposite the time keepers area, surveying the scenery as Shawn hyped up the fans, before performing his patent muscle-flexing pose in the middle of the ring, whilst Jessie theatrically pointed at him from where she was perched on the second ropes.
"Shawn Michaels will be one of six men in the Elimination Chamber, this Sunday in Las Vegas! The winner meets the WWE Champion at WrestleMania!" JR reminded everyone as Jessie jumped off the ropes, removing Shawn's hat from her head and passing it over to the stage-hand while Shawn pulled off his open cut shirt, throwing it into the crowd.
"And speaking of No Way Out, it's gonna be presented by Frontlines: Fuel of War," King announced as Shawn and Jessie climbed up onto the second ropes in the corner on opposite sides of the ring, hyping up the excited crowd with Jessie dancing to the beat of Shawn's iconic theme on the ropes. "No Way Out is this Sunday, live from Las Vegas, exclusively on Pay-Per-View."
"As we have seen, as we have heard, as we know, it will be every man for himself inside the Elimination Chamber!" JR said as both Shawn and Jessie jumped off the second ropes, Shawn clapping as he surveyed the audience. "There will be no friends. There will be no allies. The stakes are just too high!"
"You know I've gotta wonder..." Jenna commented as Shawn's music faded into the background. Both he and Jessie awaited the arrival of Jeff Hardy, with Jessie leaning against the ropes, her arms resting on the top ropes as she let a snarky smile stretch across her face. "Will Jeff play it safe tonight? Or will he throw caution to the wind like he always does? No Way Out is just six days away. His high risk nature might cost him if he ain't careful here tonight."
"Knowing Jeff Hardy, the looming threat of the Elimination Chamber won't stop him from doing something reckless," King replied in amusement as "Loaded" played throughout the arena to an excited reaction.
Jeff Hardy ran onto the stage with his Intercontinental Championship wrapped securely around his waist, thumping and thrusting to the beats of his theme.
"And from Camron, North Carolina, weighing in at 225 pounds, he is the Intercontinental Champion, Jeff Hardy!"
Fireworks exploded off the stage on either side of the Charismatic Enigma as the crowd continued to cheer for their high-flying Intercontinental Champion. Jeff skipped partway down the ramp, slowing down to tag the fans as he made his way to the ring.
"What an ovation for the Intercontinental Champion. What a main event this is gonna be as we get ready for No Way Out on Sunday but folks, next Monday night, Monday Night Raw live in Anaheim and headlined by that Steel Cage match up, father versus son, Mr. McMahon against lil Hornswoggle inside a cage," JR said as Hardy finished interacting with the fans before finally climbing up the steel steps and stepping inside the ring.
"Oh brother..." Jenna sighed, rolling her eyes and shaking her head at the diabolical antics of Mr. McMahon.
"Well that's next Monday, but right now we're about to see a prelude of what's to come this Sunday at No Way Out," King commented as Jeff ran across the ring, jumping up onto the second ropes in the corner at an angle, with his arms spread out wide like he was surfing. The young man from North Carolina surveyed the crowd as they reacted positively towards him, nodding his head at the WrestleMania sign that loomed over the arena, before jumping off the turnbuckle. "Did you two ever think you'd see Shawn Michaels about to square off with Jeff Hardy?!"
"Absolutely not," Jenna replied with an amused excited smirk as Jeff jumped up onto the turnbuckle opposite where Shawn Michaels stood, performing his trademark Hardy taunt to a pleasant reaction from the fans.
"These two men have great respect for each other. There is no doubt about that," JR commented as Hardy clapped whilst surveying the crowd, nodding in appreciation at the fans' support, before jumping off the turnbuckle.
He threw the white piece of cloth that was tucked inside his back pocket out into the crowd, before turning his attention to the Showstopper, making sure to keep his distance before the bell rang. "But what's at stake at No Way Out, is the opportunity to be in the Main Event of WrestleMania and compete for the WWE Title. Jeff Hardy says his journey to become WWE Champion is just gettin' underway."
Jessie patted Shawn's shoulder in silent reassurance before exiting the ring. Hardy moved away from Shawn's side of the ring, handing the referee his title so he could hand it over to Lilian.
"Boy, No Way Out is gonna be something and look, you know what Triple H is gonna do!" King stated as Jeff tested the ropes flexibility while Shawn watched him with an emotionless gaze.
Hardy's music faded into silence, and the atmosphere grew restless as the fans excitedly waited for the match to start. "You know how badly Triple H wants the title! He'll beat the holy hell outta Shawn Michaels! And Jeff Hardy! And everybody else in that Elimination Chamber!"
"Well they don't call him the Cerebral Assassin for nothing King," Jenna replied as the referee checked to see if both men were ready.
Jeff looked out at the crowd for a moment as a chant of 'Hardy! Hardy! Hardy!' whispered throughout the Frank Erwin Center. Shawn seemed nonplussed, never taking his eyes off the younger man, whilst Jessie leaned against the apron, watching intently.
"We saw what happened earlier tonight between Umaga and Bradshaw, who allegedly, we found out a week ago, or thought, they had a deal," JR said as Shawn and Jeff calmly stepped up to one another, staring each other down in the middle of the ring. "There is no deals in the Elimination Chamber..."
Weary, the referee watched as neither Shawn nor Jeff took their eyes off one another until Shawn calmly looked at him and gestured for the bell to be rung. The referee eyed the two men for a moment longer, before signalling for the bell to be rung.
'Ding! Ding! Ding!'
The bell rang and Jessie clapped for her teacher, shouting words of encouragement. "You can win this Shawn! He's good but he ain't HBK Shawn Michaels!"
Shawn smirked slightly whilst Jeff completely ignored Jessie, staring down the legendary Showstopper. Jessie raised an eyebrow when Shawn extended his fist out to Jeff. Jeff contemplated Shawn's motives for a quick second, before bumping fists with the legendary icon.
"... Triple H will be as dangerous as any human being could possibly BE!" JR exclaimed as Shawn quickly retaliated with a chop to the chest without a second thought. Ric Flair's iconic "Woo!" sounded throughout the arena in response to the impact.
"Whoa!" Jenna cried out in surprise as Jeff crashed to the mat, stunned.
"Oh man!" King added as Jessie smiled and shook her head in amusement at how easy it was for Shawn to trick Jeff.
"And a knife edge chop!" JR said as Shawn rushed into the cover but only got a one count before Jeff kicked out.
"Wow! Shawn Michaels trying to put an end to this early," King commented as both men quickly made it back to their feet.
Jeff ducked a wild swing and trapped Shawn in a backslide, bringing his shoulders down to the mat.
"And now the backslide by Jeff Hardy, taking down Shawn Michaels," JR noted as Shawn quickly escaped the pinning predicament after a count of one, rocking Hardy with another stinging chop, getting loud woos from the crowd in response.
"Oh! Oh god, those chops are vicious!" Jenna exclaimed with a grimace as Shawn cracked Jeff in the chest with another chop, nearly sending him against the ropes.
"There's a lot of things to be established," JR said as Shawn gripped Jeff's wrist and pulled him away from the ropes, giving the Charismatic Enigma another hard chop that sent him reeling against the opposite ropes. "Some territories to be marked. Some messages to be sent in this match."
Shawn yanked Hardy off the ropes, whipping him in the opposite direction. Hardy rebounded off the ropes and kicked Shawn in the face when he bent over for a backdrop attempt.
"Oh!" King and Jenna cried out as the kick had the Heartbreak Kid standing up right straight away, stumbling back with a hand favouring his jaw.
"Michaels lowered his head a lil early..." JR noted. Jessie watched on in worry as Jeff ran the ropes, rebounding off them and barreling towards Michaels.
"Look out!" King exclaimed as Jeff clotheslined Shawn over the ropes, sending him tumbling out of the ring.
"... And pays for it in kind! But keep your eye on Jeff Hardy!" JR finished his comment as Jeff raised an arm to a collection of applause.
"It's rare to see Shawn make a mistake like that!" Jenna voiced her surprise as Jessie walked around the ring with a worried look on her face, watching as Shawn struggled to make it back onto his feet, leaning against the side of the ring.
Jessie eyed Jeff worriedly when he calmly stalked over to where Shawn was, looking down at him from inside the ring. Her eyes widened fearfully when Jeff gripped the ropes with a blazing look in his eyes. "Uh-oh! Shawn might wanna get outta dodge!"
"SHAWN! MOVE NOW!" Jessie yelled to get the man's attention.
"INCOMING!" King cried out as Hardy launched himself over the ropes, aiming to squash Michaels.
"Whoa!" Shawn exclaimed, quickly scrambling out of the way.
"Michaels avoids danger, but Hardy lands on his feet!" JR noted as both men avoided near disaster.
Jessie breathed a sigh of relief, hanging her head, though she quickly looked back up in shock at the resounding smack that reverberated throughout the arena, as Shawn slapped the taste out of Jeff's mouth.
"Oh gosh!" JR exclaimed as Shawn scowled at Jeff, the fans wooing at the sound.
Jessie's jaw promptly dropped as Hardy retaliated with a slap of his own in response.
"Oh! My word!" Jenna exclaimed as the fans reacted to the sight in shock and excitement.
"Hardy retaliates!" JR added as Hardy swiftly rolled back into the ring, whilst Shawn favoured the side of his face, glaring daggers at the younger man.
The referee demanded that Shawn get back in the ring, whilst Jeff took a moment to rest, encouraging a loud 'Hardy!' chant, both Shawn and Jessie glaring at him.
"Are you okay?" Jessie asked from where she stood, watching as Shawn continued to rub his sore cheek.
The man nodded wordlessly, glaring at Jeff Hardy.
"Michaels, the Showstopper would love nothing more than to be in the main event at WrestleMania," JR said as Shawn quickly slid back into the ring. "Michaels knows he's one huge victory away from that."
The two men locked up in the center of the ring, but Jeff quickly got the advantage, trapping Michaels in a side headlock and taking him down to the mat, squeezing his arms around Shawn's neck.
"Come on Shawn!" Jessie yelled, banging her hands on the mat as she watched Shawn struggle to get out of the hold.
"Shawn Michaels has headlined WrestleManias. Jeff Hardy's never done that," King said as Shawn somehow worked his way up onto one knee, pushing his hands and biceps against Hardy in an attempt to get him to release the headlock. "He can't wait for his opportunity. And his opportunity is gonna be handed to him this Sunday."
"We all know Hardy will rise to the occasion and risk everything to win," Jenna said as Shawn somehow managed to get the better of Hardy, rising to his feet and towering over Jeff, pushing down on his head and neck in an attempt to escape the hold, but Hardy kept a firm grip. "But that's if he can survive the Elimination Chamber. There's five other guys that will hand Hardy his head if given the opportunity."
Hardy rose to his feet, still holding onto the headlock. Shawn backed Hardy into the ropes and slingshot him across the ring. Hardy rebounded off the opposite ropes and took Shawn down with a shoulder block.
"Nice shoulder block by Jeff Hardy," JR noted as Jeff ran the ropes, rebounding off them and leaping over Shawn when he flipped onto his stomach in an attempt to trip Hardy. "The youngest of the two Hardy Brothers. From the State of North Carolina."
Jeff bounced off the opposite ropes and ran right into a sleeper.
"Uh-oh! Sleeper!" King noted as Shawn attempted to squeeze the oxygen out of Jeff, but Hardy wiggled and twisted, bringing his arm around to lift Michaels off his feet.
"Lookin' for the sleeper, counter, into a back suplex!" JR commentated as Hardy dropped Shawn Michaels on his back, the fans groaning loudly at the impact.
"That's one way to get out of it," Jenna said as Hardy quickly crawled into the cover, hooking Shawn's leg.
"Hardy covers, and gets a near-fall," JR commented as Shawn kicked out after a count of one.
Both men quickly scrambled onto their feet, but Hardy had the faster reaction time, taking down Shawn in yet another side headlock takedown.
"What great chain wrestling," JR praised as Jeff squeezed his biceps around Shawn's neck while Jessie watched on silently. "Side headlock takeover again by Jeff Hardy."
"This is smart wrestling by Jeff," Jenna praised. "By staying on the ground, he's neutralizing most of Shawn's offense. Shawn is at his best when he has space and is free to move around."
"He also can't hit the Sweet Chin Music while being grounded like this, so I agree," King added.
Shawn struggled against Hardy's biceps, making sure to keep his shoulders off the mat so the referee wouldn't count the pin-fall. He flailed his free arm around, pushing against Hardy's face, doing anything in an attempt to rid himself of this predicament.
"But that doesn't mean Hardy won't go to the air and take any chance imaginable," JR said as Shawn managed to pull himself up onto his feet, with Hardy still having a strong grip around his neck. "And speaking of that, can you imagine, ladies and gentlemen, what this young man Jeff Hardy, along with his five, I said five, adversaries will do to win the Elimination Chamber this Sunday in Vegas?"
Shawn winced as Jeff wrenched and tightened his arms around his neck, before taking a shot, elbowing Hardy in his exposed ribs twice, to sort of relieve the pressure, before sending Hardy into the ropes, rushing the Charismatic Enigma and knocking him down with a stiff back elbow to the face that had the crowd verbally wincing at the impact.
"Well there is four other adversaries right now that I'm sure are watching this match very closely, and I'm sure they're all hoping that these two men beat the ever-lovin' crap out of each other!" Jenna replied as Jeff, stunned, rolled towards the corner.
Shawn winced, favouring his head and back as he stalked towards Jeff with a grimace.
"That was a hard shot to the face by Shawn Michaels," JR said as Shawn forced Hardy to his feet, pinning him against the corner. "That reverse elbow."
"Well that was certainly the goal earlier, in that John Cena-Mark Henry match up..." the veteran commentator added to Jenna's point, pausing as Shawn struck Jeff's chest with another stinging knife-edge chop.
"Oh..." King winced as woos erupted throughout the arena.
"... To beat Cena up before No Way Out. That's what Randy Orton and Kerry wanted," JR reminded the viewers at home as the referee ordered Shawn to get Jeff out of the corner. Shawn ignored this, striking Jeff in the chest with another stinging chop that brought forth another army of woos.
Shawn grabbed Hardy by the arm, looking to whip him into the opposite corner, but Hardy reversed this, whipping Shawn into the corner instead.
Shawn hit the corner opposite the timekeepers area back-first, flipping up onto the top rope.
"Michaels upside DOWN!" JR exclaimed as Hardy came in from behind with a clubbing shot to the back, driving Shawn into the ring post!
"Oh no!" Jenna cried out as Jessie covered her mouth in horror at the sight.
"Oh man!" King added as the fans voiced their worry at the impact.
"And then Jeff turns Michaels inside-out, right around that steel ring post!" JR noted as Jeff climbed up after Shawn, ignoring the referee's warnings as he stood on the second rope.
"Things are getting dangerous here!" Jenna said nervously as Jeff brought Michaels arm around his neck.
"Michaels is in trouble! Big trouble!" JR added as Jessie watched on with a worried, wide eyed look on her face.
"Big trouble- OHHH!" King exclaimed as Jeff fell backwards for the back superplex, but Michaels switched position in the midst of being thrown, flattening Jeff into the mat with a crossbody!
"He countered it! Whoa!" Jenna gasped in surprise as the fans reacted to the impact with a loud 'Ohhh!'
"Michaels turned into the crossbody!" JR cried as Shawn quickly went for the cover. "He may have it!"
1...
2...
Hardy shoved Shawn off him before a count of three and quickly leaped on the veteran before he could collect himself, going for the cover, hooking both legs. "Michaels! Aw-Look at Hardy! The resilience of Hardy! Hooked both legs!"
1...
2...
Shawn managed to kick out before the count of three, scrambling to his feet, only to get himself trapped in another side headlock.
"What a match this is!" King praised with a smile.
"And we ain't even touched the surface! These guys have plenty of gas in the tank!" Jenna added in excitement as Jeff yet again rolled Shawn onto his back whilst keeping the headlock, grounding the Heartbreak Kid to the mat.
"And a physical side-headlock take over. Shoulders are down," JR noted as Shawn lifted his shoulder off the mat before the ref could start the count.
"Watch this reversal," King said as replays were shown of Hardy reversing Shawn's whip into the corner, whipping him into the corner instead, causing Shawn to flip up onto the top turnbuckle. "And then Jeff coming right in on Shawn from behind and ramming Shawn right into that steel ring post."
"Oh... Jeez..." Jenna winced at the sight of Jeff driving Shawn into the top edge of the steel ring post.
Jeff continued to apply pressure on Shawn's head and neck, tightening his arms around the veteran and making it hard for him to breathe.
"What do you say Michaels?" the referee asked. Shawn didn't reply, but did roll Jeff's body over his and onto his shoulders.
"Michaels looking for the pinning combination here!" JR commented.
1...
2..
Hardy powered out, rolling back into his original position, applying more pressure on the side headlock as Jessie walked around ringside to get a better look at Shawn.
"Come on Shawn! Don't give up!" she encouraged, banging her hands on the mat with a faint look of worry.
"Hardy has used that side-headlock takeover three times in this match," JR observed as Shawn grimaced, biting back a curse as Jeff continued to apply the headlock. "And not just an ordinary side-headlock takeover. No, one with a lot of power and a lot of torque on the neck."
Jessie banged her fists on the apron and got a loud 'HBK! HBK! HBK!' chant going as Shawn tried to find a way out of this predicament.
"Jeff Hardy indeed, and obviously it's an understatement, means business in this match up," JR observed as Shawn worked his way up onto his feet. "There's something to prove here for Jeff Hardy."
Shawn backed Hardy into the ropes yet again and slingshot him off the ropes. Hardy rebounded off the ropes and took down Shawn with a shoulder block when he rushed at him again.
Jeff glanced at Shawn, seeing him scramble back onto his feet. Jeff ran the ropes yet again, bouncing off the ropes and taking Shawn down with yet another shoulder block.
"I agree. Jeff Hardy wants to prove that he belongs in the Elimination Chamber, and I think he's proving that tonight," Jenna agreed with JR as Hardy ran the ropes, rebounding off it.
But this time the Showstopper was prepared and side-stepped Hardy, causing Jessie to back up as Hardy went flying over the ropes.
"Whoa, whoa!" King exclaimed as Jeff held on to the top ropes, his feet dangling a few inches off the ground. "Look at this!"
The fans cheered while Jessie glared at the blatant rip-off as Hardy used his legs and core strength to lift himself up and back over the top rope.
"Jeff Hardy skinning the cat as they say," JR noted as Jeff landed back in the ring, turning around right into a devastating clothesline, getting a small smirk from Jessie.
"Ohh!" Both King, Jenna and the fans voiced their reaction at the impact.
"And just got introduced to a clothesline!" JR exclaimed as both combatants laid motionless on the mat. "Good grief."
"Are you okay?" Jessie asked Shawn, who stared at her with glassy eyes before managing a small nod. "Good. Now beat his ass."
Shawn couldn't stop the small chuckle he released at that and turned his attention to the Charismatic Enigma, who seemed to be showing signs of colour on his face.
"Well we've seen Shawn Michaels skin the cat, and I'm sure that Shawn Michaels knew what was coming, and he certainly delivered it when Jeff was able to come back over that rope," King said as the referee checked on Hardy while Shawn slowly got back up onto his feet. "I think Jeff's tellin' the referee 'yeah, I'm still conscious here."
"Look at this," JR said as replays were shown of Jeff 'skinning the cat' before being blasted with a clothesline. "Hello, BOOM! Michaels got all of that clothesline and then a little bit more."
"There was no way Shawn was letting him get away with that," Jenna added in amusement as Shawn pulled Hardy back up onto his feet, grabbing him by the hair and dragging Hardy over to a corner of the ring, bashing his head on the turnbuckle.
"And now it's Shawn Michaels with the advantage," JR noted as Jeff leaned against the ropes, exhausted. Shawn ignored the ref as he demanded him to pull Jeff out of the corner and struck the Charismatic Enigma with another chop to woos from the crowd. "Lets see if the Showstopper can build on this advantage."
"Well you saw Jeff with that 'skinning the cat," King said as Shawn whipped Jeff towards the opposite corner of the ring. "I think... he may be tryna take a few pages outta Shawn Michaels book here tonight."
Jeff was sent barreling towards the opposite side of the ring, but stopped himself, looking to catapult over Shawn using the ropes, but the wily veteran had this scouted and kept his distance.
"That's not a bad idea," JR replied as Shawn kicked Jeff in the gut as he turned around and pulled him into a suplex position. "Michaels going for a suplex here."
Shawn lifted Jeff off his feet for the suplex, but Jeff escaped, landing on his feet behind the Showstopper. "And a counter."
Shawn turned around and was lifted into the air. Jeff dropped to his back with his knees up as Shawn came down, the fans releasing a loud 'Ohh!' at the sight!
"Oh my goodness!" King exclaimed, wincing as Shawn stumbled franticly around the ring in pain after the atomic drop. "Oh... Goodness!"
"What the heck was that?!" Jenna exclaimed as Shawn awkwardly hobbled towards where Jessie was.
"Are you okay?!" the brunette haired woman asked in worry.
Shawn opened his mouth to respond, but only managed to release a pained groan, favouring his private area.
"Almost an inverted atomic drop..." JR noted, also perplexed by Jeff's unique offense. Jeff went to boot Shawn in the stomach, but the veteran caught Jeff's leg in between his left arm. Not to be deterred, the Enigma quickly changed direction, twisting in mid-air and catching Shawn Michaels underneath the chin with a mule kick, sending the Heartbreak Kid flying off his feet and rolling out of the ring at the feet of Jessie, the fans cheering at the fast-paced offense. "Michaels kicked out to the floor by Jeff Hardy. Keep an eye on Hardy!"
Jeff ran at Shawn as the veteran pulled himself back up onto his feet, knocking him off his feet with a sliding dropkick under the ropes to another excited reaction from the fans.
"Baseball slide!" Jeff walked away from a dazed Shawn Michaels, who was slowly making his way back up onto his feet. "Michaels not safe at home. Just got kicked by that low slide of Jeff Hardy!"
"Jeff Hardy absolutely really taking it to HBK now!" King added as Jessie looked between Jeff and the still dazed Showstopper, who was now on his feet, though was still struggling to keep his balance.
She did a double-take, eyes widening in terror and shock when Hardy jumped up onto the barricade.
"Oh boy! Hardy is really stepping it up!" Jenna exclaimed, the fans going wild with anticipation at the sight.
"Shawn! Get back in the ring!" Jessie warned her mentor hastily as Jeff began to walk across the barricade like a tightrope, heading straight towards HBK.
"Here he comes!" King exclaimed.
"Hardy walking the rai-" JR paused mid-sentence as Jeff leaped off the barricade, only Shawn caught him in mid-air and slammed him back-first into the cold hard ground with a powerslam! "Oh my gosh!"
"Oh! Oh god!" Jenna exclaimed, wincing along with the fans as Jeff laid on the floor in visible pain. Shawn laid near him, relieved that he managed to avoid being flattened as the referee started the ten count.
"Hardy ran the rail!" JR cried out as Jessie went to check on Shawn and encourage him to get back in the ring. "And Shawn Michaels countered with a powerslam! Bodies are down! Who will survive this one?!"
WWE came back from its break to reveal that both combatants were back in the ring. Shawn Michaels had a strong advantage, attacking Jeff Hardy with vicious clubbed shots to the back after he crumbled to the mat.
"And we're back ladies and gentlemen, what a main event. Shawn Michaels. Jeff Hardy. As heated, as intense, as any action we have seen in a long, long time here on Monday Night Raw," JR welcomed back the TV viewers as Shawn resorted to ruthless, pin-point elbows to the back of Jeff Hardy, making the man cry out in pain. "And Shawn Michaels continues to focus on that lower back of Jeff Hardy!"
Jessie Lauren watched from where she stood near the apron, with a very concentrated and serious look on her face as she watched her mentor continue to brutalize the Charismatic Enigma, ignoring the rising chants of 'Hardy! Hardy! Hardy!' until he finally relented.
"Let's take a look at what happened right as we went to a break," Jenna said as replays were shown of the last couple of minutes before the break. "First Hardy takes out Shawn with that baseball slide. And then Shawn returns the favour after catching Jeff as he jumped off the barricade and turned it into a wicked powerslam!"
"And that's why Jeff Hardy's back is in the shape and condition it is in," JR added as they went back to the action, Shawn pulling Jeff to his feet and forcing him against the corner opposite the announce table. "And Michaels has been focusing on that lower back since executing that powerslam on the floor, outside the ring."
Shawn whipped Jeff across the ring with excessive force, sending him back-first into the opposite corner. Hardy immediately collapsed to the mat with a cry of pain, favouring his lower back.
"Jeff Hardy showing the worse for wear on his face, as his lower back, again, is punished," JR noted as Shawn calmly crawled over Jeff for a pin attempt. "And there's a cover, far leg is hooked!"
1...
2...
Hardy used his remaining energy to power out, grimacing as his back ached. "And the Showstopper almost stopped the show here. Needed one more second to get it done."
"You can see the pain on Hardy's face. His back is in so much pain that even kicking out of a pin attempt hurts," Jenna observed as Shawn slowly stood up, pulling Jeff to his feet.
"Yeah... And this is certainly not gonna help! Oh!" King exclaimed as Shawn whipped Hardy into the corner opposite the announce table, making him crumble to the canvas with a cry of pain after colliding back-first with the turnbuckle padding.
"Oh jeez!" Jenna winced along with the fans as Jeff favoured his back, intense pain burning through him.
"We've talked about Jeff Hardy's resilience," JR said as Shawn stood over Jeff Hardy with a faint snarl. "That resilience is gonna be tested tonight. What an Irish whip!"
Shawn shoved Hardy onto his side, and drove down a couple of vicious knees to the back of Hardy, making him cry out in pain.
"It's been tested right now to the max. Shawn Michaels is zeroing in on that injured back of Jeff Hardy," King noted as Shawn drove one last hard-hitting knee into the back of Jeff Hardy, before grabbing his right leg and placing his hand underneath the chin of Jeff Hardy, bending the man back with his knee still pressed into Hardy's back.
"Uh-oh, Bow and Arrow," Jenna observed as Jeff cried out in pain.
"This could end things here. This could do it," King added as the fans cheered for Hardy, wanting him to survive and break out of the submission.
"Michaels showing that great veteran skill with that knee in the back," JR observed as a loud 'Hardy!' chant was heard throughout the arena. "Time and time again. No wasted motion from Shawn Michaels!"
"I don't think Jeff can reach the ropes! He may have to tap!" King said.
"Give up!" Jessie yelled, glaring at Jeff as she watched him scream out in pain. "Be smart boy! Quit!"
"Michaels with the Bow and Arrow! Michaels looking for the submission!" JR exclaimed as Shawn demanded Hardy to tap, applying even more pressure on Jeff's back. Hardy kicked out his free leg, trying to work out how to get out of this predicament. "Hardy's face etched in pain!"
"You can hear Jessie tellin' Jeff to quit. To be smart," Jenna noted in amusement as Jessie continued to watch as Hardy struggled to get out of the grip of the Bow and Arrow.
"She does have a point. If Hardy were to tap now he'd be preserving his health for the Elimination Chamber," King explained. "It would be in Jeff's best interest to tap out in that regard."
"We all know he's not gonna do that," JR replied. "Jeff will continue to fight. And whether healthy or not, Jeff will compete in the Elimination Chamber and he will fight until he can fight no more!"
Fighting through the pain, Jeff looked back at Shawn's scowling face before driving his free arm upward.
"Ohh, whoa!" King exclaimed as Jeff's elbow collided with Shawn's nose, stunning him while Jessie covered her mouth with a squeak, her eyes wide.
"Oh god!" Jenna cried out.
Michaels eyes burned, before another elbow caught him in the nose, sending him reeling back, finally releasing the submission on Jeff Hardy. "Good grief!"
"What a shot!" JR exclaimed as both men laid on the mat, Shawn favouring his nose while Jeff took a small moment of rest. "Hardy doing anything to get out of that submission with those hard-hitting elbows!"
"And that elbow, right into the nose of Shawn Michaels," King added.
"He may have gotten Shawn right between the eyes," Jenna said as Shawn shakily rose to his feet, favouring his nose and head. "Those elbows had some weight on them."
"Michaels looks a bit out of it!" JR noted.
"You okay?" Jessie asked. "You alright?"
Shawn nodded as he grabbed a hold of Hardy's shoulder-length locks, pulling the man back up to his feet.
"Michaels checking his own head to check if he's bleeding," King added.
Shawn moved behind Jeff, lifting him up off the ground before dropping to a knee, spiking the back of Jeff Hardy off his knee, the fan releasing a loud groan as the Enigma writhed in pain.
"Ohh! Perfect backbreaker!" Jenna praised as Shawn quickly hooked Jeff's near leg, lying his back across Jeff's face.
"Michaels with the backbreaker, hook of the leg!" JR exclaimed as the ref began the three count.
1...
2...
"He's got three- No!" JR exclaimed as Hardy got his shoulders up before the three count. Shawn sat up, frustration starting to set in as Jeff writhed in pain behind him. "I thought Michaels had the three with the backbreaker. Perfectly executed into the sequencing of Michaels offense."
Shawn stood up, pulling Jeff back up onto his feet by his hair. "That backbreaker perfectly inserted. You couldn't have done a better offensive manoeuvre than Michaels did. But it just wasn't enough."
Hardy growled and drove his fist into Shawn's abdomen, catching the veteran off guard for a moment, before Shawn scowled and retaliated with a vicious chop to the chest.
"Oh wow!" King exclaimed as woos from the crowd was heard throughout the arena in response.
Hardy fired back with a swift right hand to the face of Shawn Michaels, rocking him. HBK responded with another stinging chop to the chest.
"Oh boy! This is starting to turn into a fight!" Jenna exclaimed, bursting with excitement as she watched Jeff and Shawn continue to go at it.
"Hardy won't give up!" JR added as Jeff caught Shawn Michaels in the gut with a hard kick, making him double over. "What speaks to the heart of Jeff Hardy!"
Jeff continued the attack, punching Shawn back with rights to the face before shoving him into the ropes and whipping him off them.
"Both of these men showing the effects of this battle. And that's exactly what it's been. A battle," King said as Shawn rebounded off the opposite ropes, stopping himself when Jeff went low for a backdrop. "Oh look out!"
"Oh my word!" Jenna exclaimed as Shawn promptly dropped Hardy with a swinging neckbreaker. "What a neckbreaker!"
"Hardy lowers his head! Pays the price!" JR cried out as Shawn looked out into the cheering crowd from where he sat, while Jeff laid motionless behind him, before calmly going for the cover. "Neckbreaker by Michaels! Can it be enough?!"
1...
"Outside leg hooked!"
2...
"And a- Oh man..." Hardy managed to power out just before the three count, making Jessie shake her head with her hands on her hips as Shawn gave the referee a frustrated look, while Hardy grabbed at his head in clear pain.
"I think Jeff Hardy was going for a backdrop, but he telegraphed just a fraction too soon. You can't do that with Shawn Michaels," King said as Shawn crawled towards Hardy, rising to his feet with a scowl and pulling Jeff back to his feet by his hair, ignoring the referee's warnings.
"Michaels was less than a count away from winning this one-on-one main event here tonight," JR said, a loud 'HBK!' chant resounding throughout the Frank Erwin Center as Shawn dragged Hardy into the corner opposite the timekeepers area. "Man what a match up. And what a week it's gonna be!"
"Listen!" King exclaimed as Shawn pulled his arm back and connected with a vicious chop to Jeff's chest.
"Oh!" Jenna winced as the crowd broke out into woos. "Another hard chop."
Shawn tore up Hardy's chest with another chop, getting more woos from the crowd in response, before pulling him out of the corner and scooping him up, slamming him back first into the canvas.
"This is a match I never thought I'd see but I gotta tell ya, I am really enjoying it!" King told his partners in crime.
"Hear, hear!" Jenna replied with a grin. "This has been one hell of a battle and I love it!"
"But it's far from over!" JR exclaimed as Shawn climbed up onto the second ropes of the turnbuckle, surveying the crowd for a moment as they cheered him. "Michaels, he won the very first Elimination Chamber! Gonna take a chance here!"
Shawn stood up on the ropes, holding his arm up as the fans cheered. He dropped down as Jeff lifted his legs up.
Jessie breathed a shaky sigh of relief as Shawn caught himself just in time, grabbing Jeff's leg and turning him over for the Boston Crab. "Oh! Michaels caught himself! Michaels got a sixth sense! A half Boston Crab!"
Shawn sat down in the crab, making Jeff scream out in intense pain as he squirmed and writhed, his back burning in agony as Shawn bent his right leg back towards Hardy's head, keeping it locked tightly under his arm. "That lower back again being punished! Hardy in a desperate state!"
"This may be it!" King cried out as Hardy rose up onto his hands, looking to crawl towards the ropes, but was too far away and collapsed back onto the mat, screaming in agony.
"He's in big trouble if he doesn't get outta that!" Jenna added, the fans chanting 'Hardy! Hardy! Hardy!' as Jeff looked around, trying to claw his way towards the ring ropes.
"The gamesmanship! The guts!" JR exclaimed as Hardy turned and moved, clawing and reaching out for the bottom ropes opposite the announce table as he screamed in pain, but was just too far. "The resiliency of Jeff Hardy being challenged supremely by the Showstopper!"
Jeff continued to cry out in agony as Shawn kept the half crab applied, turning his body to face Jessie and reaching out desperately towards the ropes while the ref asked him if he wanted to give up.
"He might give up! He's thinkin' about it!" Jenna exclaimed as Jeff raised his hands.
"Tap! Quit!" Jessie shouted at the Charismatic Enigma while the fans called out to Jeff, imploring him not to quit. Instead of doing what Jessie said, Jeff slammed his head into the mat, trying to muffle his cries of agony.
"Jeff struggling," King noted. "Trying to reach the rope with everything he's got. I don't know if he can get there!"
Hardy reached back, desperately grabbing a hold of Shawn's long tied up hair, but the Showstopper shrugged him off, applying more pressure and making him cry out as the referee continued to ask Hardy if he wanted to submit.
"Tap! Tap dammit!" Jessie yelled in Hardy's face, starting to get frustrated by the man's resiliency.
WWE's resident risk-taker bit back a curse, before, with a surge of adrenaline, reaching out and grabbing the ropes to cheers of relief from the fans.
"He got there!" Jenna exclaimed.
"Jeff Hardy makes it to the ropes!" JR cried out as Jessie threw her arms up, placing her hand on her hips and shaking her head as she glared at the current Intercontinental Champion. "Referee's gotta break the hold."
Shawn released Jeff's leg at a count of three, rising to his feet and backing away from Jeff. He exchanged a look with Jessie as Hardy's hand slipped off the bottom ropes, panting in pain as he laid on his stomach with his short mop-like hair sprawled out over his face. "But obviously there's been significant damage done, again, to the lower back of Jeff Hardy."
"You're right. Jeff Hardy paid a huge price right there," King replied. "Don't think Shawn Michaels is not gonna capitalise on it."
"He was in that half crab for a significant amount of time. His back's gotta be screaming in pain right now," Jenna added as Shawn stalked towards his motionless opponent with a faint scowl of frustration, pulling Jeff up onto his feet by his hair.
Refusing to give in easily, Hardy drove his fist into Shawn's abdomen.
"Jeff Hardy fighting back," JR observed as Jeff continued to drive his fist into Shawn's stomach. "The will to compete by Jeff Hardy is absolutely amazing."
Hardy continued to fight back, driving his foot into Shawn's gut, making him double over in pain. Jeff went for another kick, but this time Shawn caught it.
"Uh-oh..." Jenna reacted as Hardy hopped on one leg, before leaping up, catching Shawn in the back of his skull with a kick. "Oh! Enziguri!"
Jessie gasped in shock as Shawn stumbled and crumbled to the mat, completely stunned off that kick, the fans reacting with an 'Ohhh!'
"What a kick! Hardy catching Michaels in the back of the head," JR commented as both men laid on the mat, absolutely spent, with Hardy lying spread-eagled.
Jessie quickly ran to Michaels side with a worried expression on her face.
"Come on! Get up!" Jessie implored as Michaels stirred. "You've got him where you want him! Get up Shawn!"
Shawn listened to the woman, pulling himself towards the corner opposite the timekeepers area and using the ropes to pull himself back up onto his feet.
"Just look at what we're seeing here," King said as Shawn pulled himself up to a vertical base using the ropes, panting in exhaustion as Jeff began to move, the referee starting the count as both men were slowly making it back to their feet. "You have to wonder, are these two men gonna leave everything they've got here in this match tonight?! Knowing what's at stake at No Way Out?!"
Hardy got up at a count of four and pressed on the attack, assaulting an exhausted Shawn Michaels with vicious kicks to the stomach.
"It's personal between these two," JR replied as Jessie yelled at the referee, telling him to do his job and get Hardy out of the corner. "And I like it."
"A few years ago Michaels may have seen himself in Jeff Hardy," Jenna added as Jeff whipped Shawn out of the corner, only for the veteran to reverse this, whipping Jeff into the opposite corner instead. "And I bet he's seeing himself agai- Oh! Oh no!"
The fans let loose a loud 'Ohh!' at witnessing Shawn charge at Hardy, only for Jeff to move out of the way, causing Shawn to go barrelling shoulder first into the steel ring post.
"Michaels just got reintroduced to the steel ring post!" JR exclaimed as Shawn stayed hung on the second ropes, whilst Jeff panted in exhaustion, wrapping his arms around the top ropes to keep him from collapsing. "And that could be a difference maker."
Jeff pulled himself free of the ropes as Shawn slowly pulled himself out, attacking the Showstopper as he turned around, punching away at the veteran's face.
"Yeah but are these two guys making this match so personal that it's gonna cost them their chance to headline WrestleMania?!" King questioned.
"Honestly... I don't think they care right now," Jenna replied. "This is a matter of pride. They ain't thinking about Elimination Chamber or WrestleMania at this moment. They just wanna win."
"How far will these two go, just to make their mark tonight?!" JR questioned rhetorically as Hardy whipped Shawn out of the corner with enough force to nearly send him barrelling over the opposite corner. "Oh! Michaels sternum first into the top turnbuckle."
Jessie looked up at Shawn worriedly as he laid prone on the top turnbuckle. Hardy ran at the trapped HBK and kicked him straight in the abdomen, making Jessie cover her mouth with a gasp as Shawn was kicked so hard he ended up in a seated position on the turnbuckle. "And then punted right into the sternum, again, by Jeff hardy! It is anybody's ballgame here!"
Jeff rocked Shawn with a fist to the face, before stepping up onto the second ropes, getting Shawn into a superplex position as the fans cheered in anticipation.
"And I can't help but think that somewhere, Triple H is sitting watching this with a big smile on his face," King said as Hardy tried to superplex Michaels, but fortunately for the veteran he was holding onto the ropes, preventing the Charismatic Enigma from superplexing him.
"Oh trust me he is," Jenna replied as Shawn socked Hardy in his exposed ribs, trying to break free of the superplex attempt.
"Michaels trying to cause separation. Michaels needs to cause separation," JR said as Michaels punched Jeff Hardy in the ribs again and got his secure arm free, rocking Hardy in the face with a stiff forearm that had him falling off the second ropes and to the mat. "And he does! Hardy knocked off the second turnbuckle!"
"Uh-oh! Look at Michaels!" Jenna noted as Shawn slowly perched himself onto the top turnbuckle, causing the fans to rise to their feet and cheer as Jeff laid on the mat in a supine position. "Michaels might be looking for that signature Elbow Drop!"
"This could do it if Michaels hits this!" King said as Michaels steadied himself on the top ropes.
"HBK up top!" JR exclaimed as Jessie cheered along with the fans. Shawn took a chance, leaping off the ropes. "HBK- OHHH!"
"OH MY GOD!" Jenna cried out in horror as Jeff rolled out of the way, making Shawn completely miss the elbow drop, crashing and burning back-first into the canvas.
"HE MISSED HIM!" King added as Jessie stared at Shawn's motionless body in pure wide-eyed horror.
"Nobody there!" JR exclaimed as the crowd released a loud 'OHHH!' at the impact of Shawn's back and elbow hitting the hard canvas.
"Oh god!" Jenna groaned, wincing at the sheer agony on Shawn's face. "What a horrible landing!"
"Michaels missed the elbow right off the top!" JR said as Jeff rolled into the cover, hooking the leg. "Hardy's got a chance!"
1...
"Hardy's gonna do it here!"
"NO! KICK OUT SHAWN!" Jessie yelled.
2...
"HE'S GOT IT- NOO!" JR cried out as Shawn kicked out just as the referee was about to count the three, making the fans cry out in shock and relief.
"Whoa!" King exclaimed.
"Wow! My heart nearly leaped outta my throat!" Jenna cried out as Jessie held a hand to her heart, somehow ending up emotionally exhausted from simply watching these two men go at it.
"GAH-LEE!" JR exclaimed as Shawn rolled over, reaching out and weakly grabbing Jeff by his tank top, both men physically exhausted. "How close was that?!"
"As close as it can get," King replied.
"The referee's hand coming down for the fatal three count. Michaels got his shoulder up," JR said as both men slowly made it back onto their feet, with Jeff limping slightly, limping towards the nearest ropes for support, while Shawn favoured his lower back with a grimace. "Hardy barely able to stand. Michaels lower back has gotta be killing him as well."
Shawn grabbed Hardy by the wrist and pulled him off the ropes, but Hardy reversed this, twisting Shawn's arm into an arm wrench and pulling HBK into a powerful clothesline.
"Oh man, that may do it!" Jenna exclaimed as both men hit the mat in physical exhaustion.
"The lariat takedown by Jeff Hardy," JR added as Hardy laid on his front, while Shawn laid prone a few spaces away from him, slamming his feet on the mat in pain as Jessie tried to convince the veteran to get back up, the referee starting a ten count as both men had yet to make it back up onto their feet. "At least it will buy Hardy a little bit of time, but Hardy's got the advantage here."
"Watch this one more time," King said as replays were shown of the arm wrench clothesline from a different angle, showing the back of Shawn's head snapping off the mat. "Oh that had to hurt. The back of Shawn's head bouncing off the mat."
Both men slowly and tiredly rose back up onto their feet at a count of four, with Shawn making the first move, swinging at Jeff, only for Hardy to block the punch, catching Shawn in the face with a successful right-hand.
"Can Jeff Hardy capitalize on that?" JR questioned as Shawn swung again only to be blocked and punched in the face a second time, until Hardy went down stairs, kicking the Showstopper in the gut. "As Michaels comes back swinging. No surprise there. Hardy beat Michaels to the punch."
Jeff ran the ropes, rebounding off them and taking Michaels down to the mat with another clothesline. "And a clothesline again."
Shawn scrambled back up onto his feet only for Jeff to tackle him into the corner opposite the announce table.
"Look out!" King cried out as Shawn's back collided with the turnbuckle, making him fall to the mat as Jeff backed away.
"Oh man, what a spear back into the corner by Jeff Hardy," JR said as Shawn laid against the bottom turnbuckle, stunned and in pain.
Hardy ran at Shawn, jumping up and springing off the second ropes, kicking his legs out.
"Heads up!" Jenna exclaimed as Hardy's legs swung inwards, planting his feet into the chest of Shawn Michaels with the slingshot dropkick, the fans releasing a loud 'Ohhh!' at the sight. "Oooh! Ooh man! That's gonna knock the air outta your lungs!"
"God!" JR spat out as Jessie turned away just as Jeff's feet were about to connect with Shawn's chest, wincing at Shawn's loud groan of pain. "Man that's some impact! That is impact! Right to the sternum of Shawn Michaels!"
"That can do it! That can do it!" King cried out as Jeff grabbed onto Shawn's foot, trying to pull him out of the corner. "If he can drag Shawn out to the middle of the ring it could be over!"
Jeff rose to his feet and successfully pulled Shawn's motionless body out of the corner and away from the ring ropes. "This is it!"
"The cover!" JR exclaimed as Jeff hooked the leg.
1...
2...
"Hardy's got the cover and Michaels got the kick out!" JR cried out as Shawn kicked out just after the 2 count, looking around in a daze and holding an arm out towards Jessie who sighed in relief, the crowd reacting loudly to the close count. "Out of desperation! Out of instinct! Out of guts and determination!"
Both men slowly made it back to their feet with Shawn leaning against the turnbuckle. Hardy whipped Shawn towards the opposite corner of the ring, but The Heartbreak Kid reversed this, whipping Hardy into the opposite corner instead.
"Oh man, we've talked for years about the resiliency of Shawn Michaels and we're certainly seeing it demonstrated here toni- LOOK OUT!" King exclaimed as Hardy leaped up onto the top ropes and twisted off it, crashing into a caught off guard Shawn Michaels.
"Whoa! Whisper in the Wind!" Jenna exclaimed as both men crashed to the mat with a thud, the fans cheering loudly, while Jessie let out a loud scream of horror at the impact in which Jeff landed on her mentor and how Shawn hit the mat.
"Jeff Hardy!" JR cried out as Jeff went for the pin, lying his back over Shawn whilst hooking the far leg. "Whisper in the Wind! Got it!"
"That's it!" King yelled out.
1...
"Kick out Shawn! Kick out!" Jessie yelled.
"This should be it!" JR added.
2...
"It will- NO IT WILL NOT!" Shawn somehow managed to kick out at the last minute, making the fans cry out in both parts relief, both parts shock, and leaving Jessie near breathless out of relief, her heart thumping rapidly in her chest.
"Wow... That was close. That... was close," Jenna said with a shaky, nervous laugh. "Phew!"
"Good grief!" King exclaimed with a chuckle as Jeff looked up at the referee from where he lay next to a motionless Shawn Michaels, sighing in desperation when the referee confirmed that he only got a two count. "What is it gonna take!"
"This crowd on their feet," JR noted. "I wanna stand up myself! My god what a main event!"
Jeff pulled himself back up onto his feet as Michaels rolled onto his stomach, and slowly pulled himself up onto his hands and knees, Jessie watching worriedly as Hardy signaled for his patent Twist of Fate to screams of excitement from the crowd. "Michaels somehow, someway, just refusing to lose here tonight!"
"As is Jeff Hardy!" King added as Shawn Michaels slowly made it to his feet. "Can either one of these men be victorious!"
"That's what we're about to find out," Jenna said as Jeff kicked Shawn in the gut and raised his arm up with a yell. "Hardy's going for the Twist of Fate! This may end it!"
Hardy went for his signature, much to Jessie's extreme worry, only for Shawn to twist out of it, grabbing Jeff around the back of his head and dropping to his knees in a desperate move, cracking Jeff's jaw against his skull. "Oh!"
"Facebuster!" JR cried out as Jeff wobbled on his feet, stunned. "A desperate facebuster after the Twist of Fate counter."
Shawn rocked Hardy in the chin with a hard right hand, before sending him stumbling back into the ropes with a stinging chop, getting woos from the crowd in response. Shawn rocked Jeff with another chop, before whipping him towards the opposite ropes, only for Jeff to reverse this, whipping Shawn towards the opposite side of the ring instead.
Not done yet, Shawn rebounded off the ropes, taking down Jeff Hardy with a huge flying clothesline.
"Michaels right in the face of Jeff Hardy. Michaels exploding into the face of his AdverSARY!" JR exclaimed as Michaels nipped-up onto his feet to a rousing reaction and making Jessie smile. "And somehow! Someway! Michaels nips-up!"
"Shawn Michaels ladies and gentlemen! Amazing!" Jenna praised with a huge smile on her face as Shawn favoured his lower back with a grimace.
"Unbelievable... How does he do it?!" King questioned with a smile as Jeff stumbled back up onto his feet.
The Charismatic Enigma turned around right into an inverted atomic drop before being punched off his feet.
"And there's that inverted atomic drop that we've seen Michaels use so effectively," JR stated as Jeff quickly scrambled back up onto his feet, only to be scooped up by the Heartbreak Kid and slammed back-first into the mat. "The scoop slam and now Michaels... Oh no."
Shawn calmly stepped through the ropes and onto the ring apron. "What's Michaels thinking here?"
"I think he's going for his signature elbow drop. Second time's the charm, can he hit it?!" Jenna questioned as Shawn slowly climbed up onto the turnbuckle, staring down at Jeff Hardy who laid in a supine position horizontal to the turnbuckle Michaels was perched on, the fans and Jessie Lauren cheering loudly.
Shawn leaped off the top ropes, this time successfully driving his elbow into the heart of Jeff Hardy.
"He got him!" King exclaimed as the fans cheered with Jessie cheering along with them, jumping in excitement.
"This time the elbow finds its mark!" JR exclaimed as Shawn sprang to his feet, fired up as the fans cheered.
"That is it!" Jenna added. "Hardy's done for!"
Shawn walked towards the corner near the time keepers area, pointing at the WrestleMania sign hanging over the arena as the fans cheered passionately and excitedly.
"Michaels hits the elbow off the top!" JR exclaimed. "And are you ready now, for a lil bit of music?!"
Shawn stamped his feet in the corner, tuning up the band as the fans counted the stomps, with Jessie banging her hands on the mat in time with the stomps.
"ONE!"
Hardy stirred, coughing harshly from the effects of the elbow drop.
"TWO!"
"You gotta give all the credit in the world to Jeff Hardy..." King said.
"THREE!"
"But right now the band is being tuned up by HBK!"
"FOUR!"
Jeff rolled onto his hands and knees, oblivious to the incoming danger. "He wants to stop Jeff Hardy's show!"
"FIVE!"
"Here it comes!" Jenna exclaimed as Shawn pounced into action as soon as Jeff made it to his feet, his leg snapping out, locked and loaded. "Sweet Chin-No!"
Jeff ducked the one-hit-knockout superkick, and kicked Shawn in the gut to surprised cheers from the fans as he quickly signaled for the Twist of Fate with a yell.
"Hardy avoided contact!" JR exclaimed. Unfortunately for Hardy, Michaels took him down by the legs. "And Michaels counters."
"Look at this!" King exclaimed as Shawn stepped through, twisting Hardy's leg around his before sitting down on it, locking the submission in. " That modified Figure-Four Leglock! He's got it locked in!"
"Michaels with the submission fully applied on Jeff Hardy!" JR exclaimed as Hardy writhed and cried out in agony, his eyes wide in pain, the fans screaming and cheering. "Michaels with all the power that he can muster, in the center of the ring!"
"GAHHH! NOOOO! AHHHH!" Jeff yelled out in response to the referee asking if he wanted to quit, with Michaels torqueing and wrenching at Jeff's legs with all the remaining strength that he had. "Jeff Hardy being punished! The pain has gotta be excruciating!"
"Holy crap! Look at the torque on that!" Jenna cried out with wide eyes as Hardy's legs were wrapped painfully around Shawn's legs like an octopus' legs, both Shawn and Jessie yelling at Hardy to submit. "Jeff, he's gonna break your leg!"
"Jeff Hardy may have no option!" JR added as Jeff rested his head on the mat, trying to muffle his cries of agony as Shawn continued to apply more pressure on his legs.
"You gotta think about No Way Out!" King exclaimed.
"Michaels is not gonna let go!" JR exclaimed as Jeff wiggled and squirmed, trying desperately to get close to the ropes, reaching out for the ropes near Jessie. "Jessie yelling in Hardy's face! Telling him to quit!"
"QUIT!" Jessie snapped, getting extremely frustrated with Jeff's unshakable resolve, her hazel-green eyes darkening in anger, though deep inside was a part of her that wanted to see if Jeff could hold on for just a while longer. "FOR THE LOVE OF GOD JUST QUIT!"
"Look at Hardy tryna hold on! Look at Jeff Hardy! Tryna hold on!"
Jeff's fingertips brushed the bottom ropes, before with a strong effort, he reached out and grabbed the ropes, making the fans scream out in shock and amazement as Jessie hung her head on her arms whilst leaning against the ring.
"Ah! He made it to the ropes!" King exclaimed as the referee implored Michaels to release the hold, who reluctantly obeyed.
"Amazing!" Jenna exclaimed, eyes still wide in shock at the fact that Jeff managed to hold on.
"Hardy makes it. Referee breaks it," JR said as Hardy rested his head against the mat, panting heavily in agony as Shawn made it back to his feet. "But what's the status of Hardy's legs?"
"Oh I don't think he can even stand. He was in that modified Figure-Four for a very long time," Jenna responded.
Michaels surveyed the audience before turning his attention back to Hardy. Jessie looked back up to glare at Hardy's broken form, shaking her head with a scowl, before making eye contact with Shawn.
"End it!" she snarled. "Finish him! NOW!"
Shawn nodded, stalking towards Jeff with a scowl of his own.
"Michaels surveying the damage. Jessie Lauren, his protégé and longtime friend, telling him to end it," JR said as Shawn grabbed a hold of Hardy's left leg. "Can Jeff Hardy stand is the question."
Jeff shoved the veteran away with his feet, making Shawn crash to the mat. "But Hardy still got some competitive spirit! The fight!"
Shawn scrambled back to his feet, grabbing Hardy's legs again, only to be shoved away for a second time. "And still enough strength left in his leg- Look it he's up!"
"What the hell?!" Jenna exclaimed, both her and Jessie Lauren shocked by how fast Jeff sprang up onto his feet.
"Jeff Hardy is up!" King added, just as surprised as everyone else. Shawn scrambled back up onto his feet and went for a superkick, but Jeff blocked it, shoving away Shawn's leg and kicking him in the gut, signaling for the Twist of Fate, much to the fans excitement and Jessie's terror.
"OHHH!" JR exclaimed as Jeff planted Shawn Michaels face-first into the mat with the Twist of Fate, receiving a loud ruckus reaction from the fans in response.
"Twist of Fate!" King cried out as Jessie looked on with wide eyes, her mouth hanging open as Jeff, seeing Shawn motionless in a supine position after the Twist of Fate connected, scrambled back up onto his feet, rushing towards the corner opposite the announce table and quickly exited the ring.
"My god the Twist of Fate!" JR yelled over the screaming and cheering fans as Hardy shot up the turnbuckle like his life depended on it. "JEFF HARDY!"
"HOW IN THE HELL IS HE DOING THIS?!" Jenna questioned in complete shock as Jeff Hardy leaped off the top rope, soaring through the air as the fans broke out into a ruckus pop.
"JEFF HARDY!" JR exclaimed.
"LOOK OUT!" King added.
"OH MY LORD!" JR cried out as Jeff crashed down on Shawn Michaels with the Swanton Bomb, driving the air out of his lungs as Jeff landed back-first onto the veteran. "SWANTON BOMB!"
Hardy wasted no time in going for the cover, hooking the far leg.
1...
2...
"ARE YOU KIDDIN' ME!"
3!
"WHAT?!" King exclaimed.
"NO WAY!" Jenna cried out in equal shock as the fans cheered and celebrated in complete surprise and excitement.
'Ding! Ding! Ding!'
"Loaded" played throughout the arena to a ruckus response as Hardy gingerly rose to his feet, running his hands through his short straight hair as the referee went to raise his hand.
"HARDY BEATS MICHAELS! JEFF HARDY BEATS SHAWN MICHAELS!" JR exclaimed in shock as the referee raised Jeff's hand in victory, the Charismatic Enigma leaning against the ring ropes in exhaustion.
"Here's your winner, Jeff Hardy!"
Jessie simply stood frozen, her mouth agape and her eyes wide. "AND LOOK AT THE LOOK ON JESSIE LAUREN'S FACE! COMPLETE AND UTTER SHOCK!"
"She's frozen!" Jenna exclaimed, finding the look amusing, but admittedly just as shocked as Jessie was.
"WHAT A MATCH!" King exclaimed as Hardy jumped up onto the turnbuckle nearest to the timekeeper's area, holding his head in his arms as the fans popped for him. "WHAT A VICTORY FOR JEFF HARDY!"
"And what momentum going into No Way Out!" JR cried out as Hardy clapped whilst standing on the second ropes, before jumping off, wincing in pain as he came down on his legs. He leaned heavily against the ropes just to hold himself up, while the referee handed him his Intercontinental Championship. "How do you argue that Jeff Hardy isn't the hottest superstar right now, at this moment in the WWE!"
Jeff raised his arm in victory as the referee checked on a still motionless Shawn Michaels in the ring. Exhausted but relieved that he came out the victor, Hardy dropped his title on the mat and rested his head against the top turnbuckle, stepping up onto the second ropes and looking out into the crowd whilst clapping before yelling out in victory.
"You won't get any arguments from me! And you won't get any arguments from the thirteen thousand fans here tonight either!" King said as replays were shown.
"Check out this Whisper in the Wind!" A replay of Hardy's Whisper in the Wind was shown in slow motion. "Oh, right across the head and neck of Shawn Michaels and brother... that was the beginning of the end!"
"Michaels hit the elbow," JR said as a replay of Michaels second elbow drop attempt was played. "But it wasn't enough!"
"Hardy blocked the Sweet Chin Music, hit the Twist of Fate, which would lead to a thunderous Swanton Bomb!" Jenna exclaimed as replays were shown of Hardy blocking Shawn's superkick, striking back with the Twist of Fate, and eventually hitting the Swanton Bomb.
"Good grief look at the elevation! And the impact!" JR said as they showed the winning Swanton Bomb in slow-motion.
Jeff Hardy now stood on the stage, watching as Jessie Lauren checked on a beaten and in pain Shawn Michaels.
"What a match!" Jenna exclaimed. "And that's just the tip of the iceberg! I can't wait for Sunday!"
"You and me both!" King exclaimed.
Shawn managed to rise up a little bit so he was lying on his side, glaring at Jeff Hardy in what looked like disappointment with a pinch of shock.
"This Sunday at No Way Out, six men will pay the supreme price!" JR said as the show began to go off air, with Shawn Michaels glaring at a limping Jeff Hardy as he clapped in time with his music on the stage.
"It will be every man, by god, for himself with the chance to headline WrestleMania!"
. . . .
"Holy shit that was awesome!" Kerry exclaimed. She was wearing a dark crimson leather jacket, a plain black v-neck t-shirt and jeans, along with a pair of black Nike sneakers.
She was sat in the training room with Jeff Hardy, who was getting stitched up after getting a small cut just below his lip.
"You've said that five times already Kerry," Shane McMahon said in amusement as he stood in the trainers room.
"Shut up! Why are you in here anyway?!"
"Do I need your permission to check on Jeff now?"
"It's just a scratch Shane!"
"Hurting over here Kerry..."
"Don't be such a baby! You jumped off a 20 foot scaffolding! You have no right to complain!"
Both the doctor and Shane chuckled in amusement at that. "She's got you there buddy."
The door opened and Jessie peeked inside. She was wearing a pair of thigh-high boots, and wore a dark brown trench coat over her red sweater dress.
"You doing okay over there Jeff?" Jessie asked with a smirk.
"Just peachy."
Jessie smiled at Shane before looking over at Kerry. "Sheree said you were coming with us. That true?"
"Yep!" Kerry replied whilst rising to her feet and grabbing her luggage.
"Wait... you're leaving me?!" Jeff questioned incredulously.
"You can travel with Chris or something," was Kerry's nonchalant response as she left with a giggling Jessie Lauren.
"Such a caring person," Jeff muttered sarcastically, making both Shane and the doctor chuckle.
Jessie and Kerry found the Huxley twins in the parking lot, waiting near a spare rental car, with Sheree leaning against it with a pout.
"What's up with you?" Kerry asked.
"John took off with his Mustang," was the brunette haired women's response, making Jessie raise an amused eyebrow while Kerry rolled her eyes, being aware of Sheree's love for muscle cars.
"Ignore her," Jenna said as she opened up the trunk of the car so that Kerry and Jessie could put their luggage in the back.
"So, are you gonna tell us what Dray and Stephanie wanted to see you about?" Kerry asked as Jessie closed the trunk, allowing Jenna to lock it.
During the tell-end of the Main Event, Dray and Stephanie caught up with Sheree and had a small private meeting with the young woman. From the huge smile that was on Sheree's face after the meeting, it seemed like things went well.
Sheree smirked. "Sorry. My lips are sealed."
"Aw come on Sheree!" Jenna whined as they all got into the four-seater, with Kerry and Jessie sat in the back while the Huxley twins sat in the front. "You could at least give us a clue."
"Nope!" Sheree replied before giving Jenny a look as she put the key in the ignition and started the engine, which roared to life. "And I thought we agreed that I was driving."
"After what I heard about you this morning, I don't trust you behind the wheel at the moment," Jenna retorted, making Sheree roll her eyes.
"Wait, what are you talking about?" Kerry questioned.
Sheree's eyes widened at Jenna's devilish smirk.
"Don't you dare!"
"According to John, Sheree was a street racing lil daredevil back in the day."
"Sheree was a what?!" Kerry exclaimed in shock, her Brooklyn accent coming through a little bit.
"Oh Sheree!" Jessie laughed.
"Don't go telling everyone!" Sheree exclaimed as she stared at her sister with wide eyes, who simply chuckled at the look on her face. They drove out of the parking lot and out into the open dark night sky, where fans were waiting by the entrance.
They waved to them as they drove past and came out onto the open road, before going back to their conversation.
"You street race?!" Kerry questioned incredulously.
"I-I was going through a phase!" Sheree replied, flushing in embarrassment and causing all three women to laugh at the look on her face.
'Goodbye, and Goodnight'