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Backstage, the camera zoomed in on Randy Orton, who addressed Cody Rhodes, Manu, and Sim Snuka. He said he will not tolerate losers in this Legacy group. All three have singles matches tonight. If you win, you’re in. If you lose, you’re out. Orton told Cody he’s up first. Cody stared down Sim, then walked off. The arrangement of the group there certainly has Sim in a position of power.
Backstage, Kelly Kelly was talking to someone off camera. She was pouring her heart out to someone, then the camera swung around to reveal Randy Orton. He said Kelly is pathetic and he only used her for one night. Orton said the last thing he needs tonight is a distraction. He stormed off, leaving Kelly to consider her next step.
In-ring, Randy Orton came out first for the main event four-way match to determine the #1 contender to John Cena. He milked the entrance for a while, then Shawn Michaels came out second. Chris Jericho out third, followed by JBL in the white limo to rub shoulders with the unclean people near the entrance stage.
RANDY ORTON vs. JBL vs. SHAWN MICHAELS vs. CHRIS JERICHO — #1 Contender match to the World Hvt. Title — elimination match — Winner gets Cena at the Royal Rumble
Michaels and Jericho re-visited their history in the opening moments before cutting to a break.
Orton and Jericho were going after each other while JBL and HBK, Inc. watched from the ring apron. Jericho teased the Walls of Jericho in 5:00, but Orton slipped out, only to be dropkicked to the floor. Back in the ring, Orton surprised Jericho with a clothesline, then Michaels tagged in for Orton to work on Jericho. JBL then blind-tagged himself into the match and accepted a codebreaker from Jericho. Michaels broke up the pin to save his employer, though, and nailed Jericho with the superkick at 8:00 after tagging himself back in for JBL. Michaels covered Jericho for the first elimination.
Back from break, JBL had Orton locked in a sleeper hold. He continued to work on Orton as Michaels looked on from the ring apron stuck in a “Got a little captain in you” pose with one leg extended over the middle rope. JBL pummeled Orton, who received an “RKO” chant during spurts of silence.
At 15:00, JBL knocked over Orton with a clothesline as HBK continued to watch. Orton then made a comeback and started to “take a walk around the park” stomping on JBL. Fans popped as Orton set up JBL for the Punt, but JBL scrambled over to Michaels to make a tag to his employee. Orton suddenly snapped off the fallaway backbreaker and Michaels sold it like a pro. Orton then eyeballed JBL and went down into the crouch for the RKO on Michaels, who slowly made his way to his feet and avoided the finisher. Michaels then loaded up Sweet Chin Music and smashed Orton square in the jaw at 20:00 to score the pin on Orton.
JBL entered the ring and backed away when Michaels feigned the superkick. JBL then stared at Michaels, who surveyed the scene and stared back at JBL with pleading eyes. They shared a stare down from a distance, then JBL slowly walked over to Michaels and pointed to the mat for him to take a dive. Michaels closed his eyes and fought back tears while listening to the boos. Fans tried to rally with an “H-B-K” chant, then Michaels verbally pleaded with JBL. Michaels then hitched up his britches and slowly went down to one knee before getting back up. Fans ate this up with a giant spoon. He kept playing with their emotions before finally going down to the mat. He went flat on his back to take a nice long look at the ceiling, but then popped up to his feet.
HBK backed into the corner and said he couldn’t do this. Michaels pleaded with JBL one more time before shouting at JBL to do it. Just do it. Michaels closed his eyes then JBL creamed him with the Clothesline from Hell. Michaels fell flat on his back and JBL covered him for the pin and the win. JBL gets the title shot at the Rumble. Michaels gets a giant bruise. Raw gets a ten-minute over-run and five minutes of epic HBK. Afterward, JBL stood on stage and looked down into the ring where Michaels sat up and stared down with tears welling up beneath the surface.
WINNER: JBL in 25:00
