Okay, what was the timeline of matches to this feud and how did it result? I know there was the Hell in the Cell '97 match and I believe a match preceeding that at Ground Zero, which ended in a DQ. Was the casket match after that? Did anyone resoundingly go over in this feud?
I'm really just looking for some background.
"My brother saw the Undertaker walking through an airport." - Rex "Was he no-selling?" - Me
"...release the dogs, or the bees, or the dogs with bees in their mouths, and when they bark, they shoot bees at you?" -- Homer Simpson
The casket match was at the Royal Rumble '98. And no, no one went decisively over, in part I think because of Michaels' back injury in the casket match.
The WWE (Caution: May Contain Wrestling-Like Substance)
It started at SummerSlam when Shawn cost Taker the title by mistake which signalled the start of Shawn's heel turn.
At Ground Zero, they went to a Double DQ with DX interfering and then Taker attacking referees.
At Badd Blood, Shawn won the Hell In A Cell when Kane debuted and laid out Undertaker.
At Royal Rumble, they had a Casket Match where Shawn got injured, landing on the edge of the casket. DX and other heels all beat down Undertaker during the match until Kane made the save. Kane cleaned house then attacked Undertaker. Shawn won then Kane lit the casket on fire.
my favorite part of the feud was the night after the Royal Rumble when Taker's music hit, and he descended from the ceiling and then the lights came up and it was Shawn Michaels instead. They proceeded to bbq hot dogs in the ring. DX Michaels-HHH had some great moments.
This fued was also one of the indirect factors in forming DX...Shawn and Hunter teamed up against Taker and Mankind (Hunter was fued with Mick at the time) in a tag match on RAW and started buddying up after that on screen.
Another note in that feud ... HBK played the heel who keeps overcoming the odds to retain the title role to perfection, and this is also the best example I can think of for the WWF extending a feud over several months in the Attitude Era (other than Hart-Austin). In fact, I wouldn't mind seeing this kind of angle reenacted with Brock and Angle, with Angle looking dead going into WM, but miraculously retaining through cheating. They can then go forward with a no-DQ match with Team Angle's inference, and then blow off the feud in the cell, or maybe an "I Quit" match. Borck/Angle is too good to end at WM, and this is the best way to extend. The only problem with HBK-Taker was the lack of a satisfying finish (i.e. Michaels finally getting pinned) which the WWE would have to rectify in the current scenario.
Originally posted by VanillaSkymy favorite part of the feud was the night after the Royal Rumble when Taker's music hit, and he descended from the ceiling and then the lights came up and it was Shawn Michaels instead. They proceeded to bbq hot dogs in the ring. DX Michaels-HHH had some great moments.
I was there for that, it was here in Fresno. That was also the night of the Stone Cold - Mike Tyson confrontation. I'd love to get the tape of that show.
The WWE (Caution: May Contain Wrestling-Like Substance)
Do you think the WWF would have eventually blown the feud off at Over the Edge or something had Shawn not blown out his back? A final big blow-off match would've been pretty huge, IMO.
I doubt it....by that time, the focus was onto Austin/Michaels as the set-up for WrestleMania, whereas Undertaker was focused on Kane.
Well Mr. Burns had done it. The power plant had won it. With Rogers Clemens clucking all the while. Mike Scioscia's tragic illness made us smile. While Wade Boggs lay unconscious on the barroom tile. We're talkin'... Softball. From Maine to San Diego. Talkin'... Softball. Mattingly and Canseco. Ken Griffey's grotesquely swollen jaw. Steve Sax and his run-in with the law. We're talkin' Homer... Ozzie and the Straw.
My favorite part of that feud was when Michaels had Taker in the casket, but decided to showboat instead of closing the casket. So after a big ol' X-style crotch chop over the casket, Taker reaches up and grabs him by the balls.
I don't think they could have put either guy over clean. Michaels needed to keep the belt for the big money match with Austin at Wrestlemania, and Taker had to keep his "invincible" persona going, as that was really what the whole feud with Kane was based on. Can you imagine the Undestructable Phenom finally meeting his match in his long-long brother, right after he got pinned clean by Shawn Michaels?
It seems that I am - in no particular order - Zack Morris, John Adams, a Siren, Janeane Garofalo, Cheer Bear, Aphrodite, a Chihuahua, Data, Cletus the Slack Jawed Yokel, Amy-Wynn Pastor, Hydrogen, Bjork, Spider-Man, Boston, and a Chaotic Good Elvin Bard-Mage.
I'm thinking that after the Inferno Match at Backlash, had Shawn not been hurt, they could've finally blown the feud off at Over the Edge. All UT did at Over the Edge was second Austin anyway. He still could've done that after the match.
I think the fued was officially ended at Royal Rumble 98, with Taker moving on to Kane and Shawn moving on to Austin. It would've happened whether Shawn was injured or not. The entire ideal behind the angle was to establish that Shawn was a pussy who couldn't win on his own, and Kane was a pain in Taker's ass that need to be dealt with.
That was their THIRD PPV match since October 1997, and I think a fourth within a years time would've been pushing it.
Of course, that's just my opinion, I could be wrong...
I can't believe I'm the first one to start this thread! So, here's my thoughts. The new GM for SmackDown! completely caught me off guard! Better than that, she changed her voice! And her HAIR! And, she's a FACE! WOOHOO! Cena changed his tights... again....