10 Must-See Shawn Michaels Royal Rumble Performances
6. 2008 - Royal Rumble Match
Ignoring the dramatic opening sequence of that year's Rumble match, Michaels deserves credit just for lasting as long as he did after breaking his nose courtesy of a Bob Holly boot early in the match.
Barely able to breathe and streaming blood throughout, the 'Heartbreak Kid' still managed to go half an hour in extremely uncomfortable circumstances, having worked much of the opening section of the match revisiting a famous Rumble rivalry with The Undertaker from the previous year's event.
The two began #1 & #2, and would flit between battling each other and clearing the ring with a flurry of eliminations, allowing their own conflict to continue.
Gaining a modicum of revenge for his elimination in 2007's legendary showdown between the two, Michaels would oust Taker with a superkick at the thirty-two minute mark, but only last a further six seconds himself thanks to a Mr Kennedy sneak attack in the aftermath.
Setting an example for the raft of younger talent that entered the match that year, Michaels and Undertaker reminded their peers exactly where the benchmark was, putting in equally gutsy performances that would foreshadow an incredible run of epic Wrestlemania moments together in subsequent years.