Following an epic encounter at Wrestlemania XXV, Shawn Michaels is no longer undefeated against The Undertaker, and The Undertaker remains undefeated at Wrestlemania.  The contrast in the individuals staring across the ring at each other could not have been more evident; in their entrances Shawn Michaels descended from above while The Undertaker rose from below.

Early on, Michaels was fast on his feet and kept The Undertaker at bay with quick dodges, slaps and jabs; eventually trapping The Undertaker in a figure-four leglock.  But as time wore on and as Michaels tired out, The Undertaker was able to keep pace with him and retaliated.

Amazingly, Michaels survived an onslaught of The Undertaker's best, including the Devil's Gate submission, a Last Ride and multiple Tombstones.  But then, The Undertaker also survived more than one performance of Sweet Chin Music.  In the end, Shawn Michaels succumbed to a Tombstone Piledriver, enabling The Undertaker to leave Houston with a 17-0 undefeated streak at Wrestlemania.

Shawn Michaels not only put his livelihood and well-being on the line at No Way Out, but his family's as well.  Backed into the corner by an incompetent employer, Shawn risked everything to give his family a shot at salvation.  What was originally a mere business agreement became downright personal as John "Bradshaw" Layfield gave Shawn Michaels very explicit terms that Shawn had no choice but to agree to: win, or be owned... for life... by JBL.

JBL's mind games began a month ago, taking advantage of the employer-employee relationship by publically demeaning and physically antagonizing Shawn Michaels, trying to obtain a psychological advantage in tonight's match-up.  It almost worked.  Shawn Michaels was down and out a number of times during the match; at one point he was nearly counted out of the ring after a series of blows by JBL.

Michaels found the inner strength to continue, drawing purely on desperation and his years of experience.  His wife, Rebecca, was in attendance by JBL's orders, and got involved when JBL got a little too close to her personal space, giving him a blow of her own.  This gave Shawn the opening he needed as he delivered a series of maneuvers culminating in Sweet Chin Music, picking up the win.

Congratulations to Shawn Michaels and family!  At long last, Shawn has his financial freedom and can once again be the HBK we all want to see every Monday night!

Last night on Raw, Shawn Michaels faced JBL on even-footing for what could be the very last time.  JBL decided that it was time for a Shawn Michaels performance review, and the review was poor.  Michaels defended himself, rightfully noting that every failure of his or of JBL's since their business relationship began was JBL's fault, but JBL would have none of it.

That's when JBL decided he wanted to up the stakes.  No longer content with being Shawn Michaels' employer, he wants to be Shawn Michaels' owner.  And we found out just how he plans to do it.  JBL challenged Shawn to a winner take all match at No Way Out, which Shawn readily accepted.  If Shawn wins, JBL will pay Shawn Michaels' promised salary for a year (which we were informed is how long Shawn's contract with JBL is for.)

But... if JBL wins, he owns Shawn Michaels for life.  Not just the man, but the name Shawn Michaels—the name HBK—the name Mr. Wrestlemania.  And that means JBL can force Michaels to do anything he wants him to do, from bussing tables to cleaning his house.  JBL would also receive 100% of the royalties from any Shawn Michaels' merchandise—t-shirts, DVDs, and so forth—with not a cent leftover for Shawn's family or heirs.

Another term of the contract is that Shawn Michaels is prohibited from any type of physical altercation with JBL prior to their match—if he violates these terms, the match will automatically be decided in JBL's favor.  Note that this does not apply to JBL as well.  JBL poked and prodded Michaels (literally) trying to get him to act, but Michaels shook it off and dejectedly left the ring to a chorus of boos from the crowd.

Speaking on a personal note, the behavior of the St. Louis crowd amazes and saddens me.  I'll be the first to admit that fans have their right to a mixed opinion of Shawn's actions as of late.  But if Shawn had done what the fans so greatly wanted to see, it would have meant THE END of Shawn's career as we know it.  Instead of booing him, we should be cheering on his inaction until No Way Out.  Because if he wins that match (and he MUST win), HBK (the REAL HBK) will be back.

Shawn needs the WWE Universe's support more than ever.  My recommendation would be for all of you who are reading this to visit Shawn's profile page and leave some words of encouragement in the comments section.  No Way Out is only two Sundays away.  If Shawn can hold out until then, there is no reason the rest of us can't as well.

On Raw this week, we learned that Shawn Michaels was still JBL's employee... as of Monday night. Needless to say, JBL was less than pleased with Shawn's "performance" at the Royal Rumble, and it was up to Shawn to plead his case to JBL. Luckily for the Showstopper, JBL accepted his explanation and made plans for the evening ahead.

Not long after, it was Shawn Michaels vs. John Cena with a spot for JBL in No Way Out's Raw Elimination Chamber match on the line. Michaels, as always, took Cena to the limit and had him on the canvas, when JBL grew impatient, demanding that Michaels set up for the Sweet Chin Music. Shawn, frustrated with JBL's backseat driving, insisted on doing it his way, and headed to the top rope to deliver his patented elbow drop.

Which is precisely where the plan went awry. JBL decided to get onto the ring apron to berate Michaels, stalling him and giving Cena time needed to recover. Cena did, and instinctively lurched towards JBL, knocking him into Shawn, which caused Shawn to fall off the top rope. From there, John Cena easily delivered the move-which-shall-not-be-named*, and pinned Shawn for a three-count, ending JBL's hopes to become World Champion before Wrestlemania.

JBL was visibly distraught at this result, however, we have yet to learn of his reaction. Clearly any independent review of the footage will show that JBL is at fault, yet with his championship hopes apparently vanquished, will JBL continue to keep Michaels in his employ? Looks like we'll be waiting until next Monday for answers...

*no, really, apparently no one in WWE has any idea what this move is called

It hasn't been an easy transition into the new year for Shawn Michaels, whose personal savings tumbled into the abyss as a result of the 2008 worldwide financial crisis. Unable to answer questions about his own future prosperity, Shawn turned to perhaps the unlikeliest source for possible redemption in John "Bradshaw" Layfield.

You all know the story—all JBL wanted was the World Heavyweight Championship, and in exchange, he was willing to promise Shawn enough money to be set for life. But this arrangement left Shawn bitter—at life, at himself—for having to stoop to such a level. It's safe to say that no one at the Joe Louis arena truly knew what was on Shawn Michaels' mind tonight, and that may even be true of Michaels himself.

JBL, shrewd as ever, wheeled and dealed the best he knew how to ensure Michaels would remain allied with him—promising him immediate payment in full following the victory, and guaranteeing him a spot in tonight's Royal Rumble match (in spite of his earlier decree.) Shawn didn't have long to think about this before he felt the presence of The Undertaker, who had these choice words for The Showstopper: "Sometimes, it's hell getting to heaven."

Fast-forward to match time—John Cena and JBL had an intense back-and-forth battle, slowed down as both men kept an eye on Shawn Michaels, who was sullenly pacing at ringside. From time to time, Michaels offered slight encouragement and assistance to JBL, but outright involvement was out of the question as the referee kept Shawn on a short leash.

All that changed when Cena dodged a big boot from JBL, which accidentally made contact with the referee. Without any law and order in the match, Michaels saw an opportunity to make his presence felt. As JBL and Cena were struggling to their feet, HBK tuned up the band and took aim squarely at Cena—but hit JBL instead! From the look on his face, anybody would have known that it was no accident. Cena was ecstatic—perhaps too much so, as he received the second measure of Sweet Chin Music only moments later.

Michaels stalled some more, taking a moment to think things through, before grimacing as he pulled a lifeless JBL on top of an equally lifeless John Cena, and leaving the ringside area. Within seconds, a second referee appeared from backstage to count the fall, but having had ample recovery time, Cena's shoulder came up at 2.

A short back-and-forth brawl ensued, but with both men nearing their limit, Cena managed to hoist JBL up onto his shoulders and slam him back down onto the canvas in a manner so predictable, so reliable, so virtually guaranteed to result in a victory that you would have to think there would be a more accurate, more concise, more descriptive way I could describe it—but I dunno... somehow there just isn't. Anyhoo, John Cena won and JBL lost.

Which, as far as HBK's personal crises are concerned, resolves nothing from our perspective. Shawn Michaels will not receive his guaranteed payday from JBL. Shawn Michaels did not get to compete in the Royal Rumble. And Shawn Michaels now has surely earned the wrath of his former employer, JBL—who wasn't exactly on friendly terms with Mr. Wrestlemania before this all began.

But if Shawn's eyes moments prior to his attack on John Cena were any indication, it seems as if Shawn was satisfied in atoning for his sins by putting both men into the same predicament, and letting God sort them out. It only remains to be seen how Shawn's fans and the WWE Universe react to Shawn's decision.