The Undertaker comes out to the ring, followed by Triple H, who stares at him from the stage before coming down to the ring. He goes to do his water pose, but the gong sounds and the lights in the arena go out. The gong sounds again and the lights come up, and they have another stare down, until ‘Sexy Boy’ hits and Shawn Michaels is in the building! HBK makes his way out to the ring and poses on the ropes while Taker and HHH continues to stare at each other.
Shawn gets a mic and says he is sorry for interrupting, but there is no way he was going to miss this. He puts over the match this Sunday and talks about both guys’ accolades, then says they will never be the same again. He asks HHH what makes him think he can do what he couldn’t, and HHH looks surprised. He tells HBK the truth is he got soft, and he realized he doesn’t need to win to be the Showstopper, but HHH isn’t him and he needs to win. HHH says he came here 16 years ago and one guy stood out, because he wrestled no matter what, and he modeled his career after that guy. HHH tells him it was the Undertaker, and the only guy he respects more than him is Shawn.
He says he and Shawn made a pact to tell each other when to stop, and he came back after a year for one reason only. He came back to look Undertaker in the eyes and tell him it’s time, eventhough he and everyone else might not understand. HHH tells him he will always be the Phenom but he will be 18 and 1 after Sunday. He says he’ll be the one, whether he likes it or not, and tells Taker with all due respect his streak will rest in peace.
Taker says if anyone had to put him out, he’d want it to be HHH, because that’s the respect he has for him. He knows HHH will kill himself trying, but it’s not his time, and the streak will live on and so will the Undertaker. He tells him if he doesn’t believe him, ask Shawn, because he came that close, but didn’t get it done. He says when he looks at Shawn now, he doesn’t see the same guy, because now he sees a man that he humbled. He says he sees a guy going into the Hall of Fame with regrets, and a guy whose career he ended.
Shawn gets pissed off and tries hitting Taker with Sweet Chin Music but Taker catches his leg and tries to chokeslam him. HHH gets in the way and breaks them up, then HHH gets in Taker’s face and tells Shawn to tell him why HHH will beat him. Shawn looks worried, and leaves the ring and tells HHH he’s sorry, while Taker sarcastically tips his hat and leaves the ring.
