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Arrogance. Simon Dean. Two of which mixed together, produced failure. All week, Simon Dean had protested that Mick Foley were no match for the body of himself. That Mick Foleys glory days were well and truly over - but Simon Dean was sadly mistaken, and humiliated for it. The word of another arrogant, young superstar has been put to shame. Wasn't the first time and it won't be the last. This weeks Conflict will be recognized as "Night of Champions II" where the title says it all. Championships; ALL on the line, but for Mick Foley, a championship belt isn't at stake. Instead, the match of a lifetime with Shawn Michaels looms just over the hill as we crawl closer and closer to Conflict each and every day. The first time in which Night of Champions was held proved to be historical with the first two Hall Of Fame Inductees being Mick Foley and John Bradshaw Layfield. This time around, Foley won't be taking any grand prize. No great recognition. No championship belt. But the respected battle between Mick Foley and Shawn Michaels is eyecandy and should lead you to a standing ovation as two of the greatest this industry has ever laid eyes upon collide. Don't miss it. Conflict ... NIGHT OF CHAMPIONS II! [[ Fade up PWR logo. ]] [[ Our camera fades up on a still shot of Shawn Michaels; his arms crossed, an intensed expression plastered across his face. Glimpses of Shawn Michaels in his mind shattering prime flash up onto screen. The unique entrances to the ring; the dancing, the elbow off the top rope - It all flahses before our eyes, giving us that few short seconds to analyze each action. Suddenly, the footage stays focused on one particular moment. A particular manoeuvre which changed the face of World Wrestling Federation forever. The Sharpshooter - executed not by Bret Hart, but by his direct opponenet - Shawn Michaels. Immediately, Vince McMahon demands that the referee call for the bell despite the fact that Bret Hart never tapped. 1997. Survivor Series; although it's known across the nation as 'The Montreal Screwjob'. The footage fades to black and only a mere two seconds later we're greeted with the presence of Mick Foley. It appears as though Mick is rocking back and fourth on an old and creeky rocking chair, one with the stability you wouldn't trust. ]] Mick Foley: The boyhood dream. Did you live it, Shawn? Did you live your beautiful boyhood dream? Oh, they certainly say you did .. but deep down .. down deep, where it's dark .. you know - that it was all one big FAT lie. You had to CHEAT, Shawn .. you had to CHEAT your way to victory. Survivor Series, 1997. THE MONTREAL SCREWJOB! REMEMEBR IT, MICHAELS? [[ Saliva flys out of Micks mouth as his voice can clearly be heard intensifying by the second. ]] Mick Foley: Were you really "The Icon", after commiting such a true sin to the art of professional wrestling? Are you really the man we're supposed to look up upon as our hero? Because it was, you, Shawn Michaels .. it was YOU who played a major part in the role of SCREWING Bret Hart out of the World Wrestling Federation! Oh, don't say you never knew Shawn. You knew. You knew everything there was to know, and you sat there .. you sat there Shawn, and you TOOK that Championship and you walked out on the BIGGEST screwjob this industry has ever witnessed. You never stood against Mr. McMahons word, did you? Of course not. It was all about the Title, it was ALL about Shawn Michaels... and ... and I have to say, Shawn. I LOVED EVERY SINGLE DAMN SECOND OF IT!! [[ Mick conjures up an evil, sickening crackle as he stares deeply into the camera. ]] Mick Foley: I congratulate you Shawn because you did something Mrs. Foleys Baby Boy DIDN'T! You turned YOUR back on the fans before they turned THEIR backs on you. Oh, I loved it .. I loved it so dearly, so much - that even the very thought of it STILL sends a chill down my spine. I am a firm believer that to stand above all else, you must do anything, absolutely ANYTHING in your will power to achieve heights that have never been reached before. Shawn - you took advantage of an opportunity to capture the spotlight of the professional wrestling world. By playing a part in what's described as The Montreal Screwjob, you covered up for what was an intelligent move which nobody .. nobody .. saw. Allow me to explain, Shawn. [[ Silence. ]] Mick Foley: Yourself and Vince McMahon decided that Raw was in desperate need of ratings. The World Wrestling Federation needed a SPARK .. something SPECIAL .. something completely OUT of the question and OUTRAGEOUS .. to down WCW's Monday Night Nitro. Oh, I have to give you it Shawn .. you really did think beyond the square, Haha. Bret Hart was all set to pack up his bags and head out, but it didn't happen quite the way it was supposed to. Bret and Vince finalised an agreement to have Bret Hart drop the Title the FOLLOWING night, on Monday Night Raw, but being the egotistical son of a BITCH Vince McMahon is - he wanted NONE of it. So, as the Main Event of '97s Survivor Series rolled around there were two plans. The one which we were all lead to believe .... and of course; the secret plan. [[ Another brief moment of silence passes by. ]] Mick Foley: Everything was running according to plan up until that precise moment you locked in the Sharpshooter. Bret never tapped Shawn, but it didn't hold back McMahon from demanding the referee to call for the bell. Shock; it wasn't suppose to happen like that. Bret Hart was royally SCREWED out of the Championship, out of the entire COMPANY ... and as much as I loved every second of it, how much of a man does that really make you, Shawn? Bret Hart was SUPPOSED to reverse The Sharpshooter and Triple H was then to interfere, thus leading to a disqualification ... but no, that's not how the book was closed, was it Michaels? (Foley grins) Bret Hart made it perfectly clear to Vince McMahon on a number of occasions that he DIDN'T want to drop the Title at Survivor Series and that the following night on Monday Night Raw, he would - to you. Bret had creative control in the last 30 days of his contract, meaning he was well within his rights to refuse Vinces proposal but the fact is .. McMahon didn't want that. McMahon wanted things to be done in only a fashion HE decided on. As for you, Shawn? It didn't bother you. It didn't upset you. Hell, all it meant was that you captured the WWF Championship one night early. [[ Mick Foley pauses, though you can tell by the look in his distinct eyes that he's far from finished. ]] Mick Foley: But what the ENTIRE world didn't see, was the genius of Vince McMahon shine through. Think about it; Vince needs his ratings, what better way than to dispose of the legendary Bret hart in such fashion? What better way than to put himself in a position where he became the most HATED man in Sports Entertainment. Stupid? Not at all. Intelligent? Every bit of it. Meanwhile, that meant that the spotlight was also diverted to you. The World Wrestling Federation no longer revolved around Bret Hart or ANY other Superstar for that matter. All eyes .. were set on ONE person. ONE man. Shawn .. Michaels. You reaped the benefits from one of the most talked about stories in this industry, and although I credit you - to some extent, I frown upon your actions because it has lead me to truly believe that you're not HALF the man you pretend to be. It's no secret; you were at some stage, the best this company had to offer regardless of 1997's Survivor Series .. You were at one point in time, The Main Eventer. The Showstopper. You were ALL that and a bag of chips my dear friend, but you've NEVER had the heart of gold. NEVER. I don't have the looks, I don't have the moves, I don't have HALF of what you have .. but Shawn .. I beg you not to under-estimate me, for it is an unforgivable mistake that a veteran of your knowledge should never make. I know Shawn that you aren't one to lay down .. for anybody, as you've repeated time after time like a broken tape .. but mark my words; on Conflict, I'm not giving you any decision to make. I'm making that FOR YOU! So as I rock back and fourth before you .. I'm sure I've refreshed those fond memories stuck in the back of your head .. and I'm more than sure that you're now well aware of the concequences that are surrounding your actions. Heartbreak Kid you will be, for the final .. FINAL time. Shawn, do yourself a good deed .. and [[ His tone softens. ]] Mick Foley: For there is no hiding from the truth, that your days .. are well .. and TRULY numbered and it would only be right, if you made each and every last one of them .. a good one. [[ Mick stops rocking for the first time. The camera zooms right in on his face, capturing an intense moment. Foley awaits for the perfect time before gently whispering. ]] Mick Foley: .... bang .. bang .... [[ He flashes a sadistic smirk for the last time as the PWR Logo fades up, declaring the end .. for now. ]] [[ Fade to black. ]]
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