WWE Super Show-Down 2018 was largely promoted around the last-ever encounter between Triple H and The Undertaker, but ultimately, it was more about setting up the in-ring return of Shawn Michaels.
Triple H defeated The Undertaker in Melbourne, Australia, marking the first time he ever defeated "The Deadman," but it was "The Heartbreak Kid" who gave the big assist to "The Game." Two Sweet Chin Music superkicks were all it took for Triple H to pick up the surprising victory and for WWE to set the stage for one of the most improbable matches in WWE history: The Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels one last time.
Michaels, of course, has famously resisted the temptation to come out of retirement for nearly a decade after he lost a retirement match against The Undertaker at WrestleMania 26 in 2010. Michaels even revealed last year that he turned down what would have been a big money match with AJ Styles at WrestleMania 33, one that would have pitted two of the greatest in-ring performers ever against each other for the first time. Wanting to stay true to his word, however, Michaels remained retired and has largely stayed away from WWE for the last eight years.
Judging by what went down at Super Show-Down, though, Michaels is indeed coming out of retirement for at least one more match and perhaps one final singles bout with The Undertaker.
The Wrestling Observer (h/t Ringside News) notes that Michaels is expected to wrestle on WWE's next Saudi Arabia show, Crown Jewel, on November 2, which is likely to be a huge moneymaker for WWE (much like the Greatest Royal Rumble was) and feature a number of part-time attractions. The report notes that Michaels is likely going to compete in a tag team match at the special event, where he'll team with Triple H to take on The Undertaker and Kane.
With WWE reportedly earning an estimated $40-50 million for the Greatest Royal Rumble in Saudi Arabia in April and expected to earn similar revenue for the Crown Jewel event, the belief is that WWE can essentially pay Michaels as much as it wants to come out of retirement for one more match. His first match back is expected to be that tag team encounter at Crown Jewel, but one report also suggests he'll have one more bout with "The Deadman," probably at Survivor Series.
Indeed, Michaels' coming-out-of-retirement match certainly appears to be that rumored bout at Crown Jewel, but the expectation is that it could ultimately lead to Michaels vs. Undertaker at WrestleMania one final time. WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross sees big money potential in Michaels vs. Taker at WrestleMania 35 while a report from Barburner's Fired Up podcast (h/t Ringside News) notes that WWE is considering up to five future matches for a returning Michaels, including a dream match with The Undertaker.
That would seem to indicate that WWE has long-term plans for Michaels that will extend well beyond Super Show-Down and the Saudi Arabian special event, possibly all the way through WrestleMania 35 next April. Likewise, virtually everything indicates that Michaels vs. The Undertaker is the planned direction for HBK, especially after what went down in Melbourne with Michaels helping Triple H pick up a victory over "The Deadman."
So, yes, as improbable as it once seemed, The Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels now appears to be inevitable. It's just a matter of when and where it happens.
Blake Oestriecher is an elementary school teacher by day and a sports writer by night. He’s a contributor to @ForbesSports, where he primarily covers WWE. You can follow him on Twitter @BOestriecher.
