3. Randy Orton Vs. Shawn Michaels – WWE Championship (2007)
Survivor Series 2007 was an underrated event with two incredible world title matches. The WWE Championship match between Randy Orton and Shawn Michaels was a masterclass in storytelling and in-ring psychology. Orton would lose the championship if he got himself disqualified – a tactic The Legend Killer had used to retain the gold at Cyber Sunday. On the other hand, HBK would be disqualified if he hit Sweet Chin Music.
What followed was a chess game between arguably the two best storytellers in WWE at the time. The in-ring action was superb, but it was the dramatic story that made it stand out. Shawn Michaels had to dig down deep into his arsenal, pulling out several submission holds such as an ankle lock and a crossface. In the end, Michaels went for Sweet Chin Music out of instinct. HBK stopped just in time to avoid disqualification, but that split second of hesitation opened the door for Orton to strike with a quick RKO to retain the title.
- Match Rating: 8/10
