Royal Rumble 1997 - Shawn Michaels vs. Sid
In 1995, Shawn Michaels and Sid were the best of friends, and Sid served as Shawn’s bodyguard. However, things broke down between the two, and Sid used the assistance of a video camera to win the WWE Championship from Michaels at the 1996 Survivor Series. Two months later, in his hometown of San Antonio, Texas, HBK got his rematch.
The two slugged it out to start the match, and Shawn was able to use his speed advantage to send Sid to the floor to regroup. HBK maintained control until Sid was able to hit a nasty powerslam, and the bigger champion began to work over the challenger.
After sending Shawn to the floor, Sid rammed his back into the steel ringpost, establishing a weakness. Back inside the ring Sid worked the back, using a variety of submission maneuvers, including a lengthy bearhug. Shawn would not quit, and nailed a flying forearm to escape Sid’s grasp. He then hit a flying elbow and went for Sweet Chin Music, but Sid blocked it and sent Shawn to the floor, where he delivered a vicious powerbomb to the challenger.
Back inside the ring, the referee inadvertently got knocked out, and there was no one to count the pinfall after Sid chokeslammed HBK. A second referee finally came out, but after Sid only got a two count, he assaulted the substitute official. At that point, Shawn used a bit of Sid’s own medicine, nailing the champion with a video camera. Shawn then hit the champion with Sweet Chin Music, and that was enough to give HBK the pinfall and the WWE Championship once again.