After the classic Ladder match at WrestleMania X, Shawn Michaels vs Razor Ramon literally climbed to the top of the WWF. A rematch was scheduled for August 27th, 1995, at the Igloo in Pittsburgh, PA., at SummerSlam. The two superstars put on a highly underrated match. This time Shawn Michaels was beloved by fans. He was the legitimate WWF Intercontinental Champion. Razor Ramon also had a huge following. This match wasn’t about jealousy over who was the rightful intercontinental champion; it was about these two giving everything they had to the WWF fans. On August 27th, 1995, Shawn Michaels & Razor Ramon faced each other in a return ladder match at SummerSlam 1995.
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Shawn Michaels just recently defeated JJ Jeff Jarett for the WWF Intercontinental title at In Your House 2. However, he was a marked man. Razor Ramon saved HBK from a beatdown by Psycho Sid. However, Michaels appeared to be getting ready to hit Sid with a superkick when Ramon shoved him out of the way to use the Razor’s Edge on Sid. As HBK was collecting himself, he grabbed the Intercontinental Championship at the same time as Ramon. It turned into a tug of war with the title. The ladder match at SummerSlam would decide who was intercontinental champion.
HBK and The Bad Guy Climb the Ladder in a Rematch at Summer Slam 1995
The main event for this PPV was WWF Champion Diesel vs. King Mabel, but it was the rematch of the century that stole the show. As the Intercontinental title was hoisted high above the ring, both superstars locked up like two bulls. Shawn had speed, but Ramon had power. As Razor attempted to grab the ladder, Michaels pounced on him like a cat. The two fought back to the ring, where Michaels attempted to suplex razor inside, but it was reversed, and he crashed to the arena floor instead. Down but not out, Michaels’s resiliency proved to be an asset as he regained control and climbed the ladder.
However, Ramon pulled Michaels off. As he was falling, HBK caught his ankle between the rungs. The Bad Guy knew what he needed to do. He used that ladder to break Shawn’s knee cap. Great strategy as Michaels depended on his ability to climb to get the win. Not only that, but it completely rendered him helpless when it was time to use sweet chin music. Ramon continued to inflict pain on the champion. As Razor attempted to shoot HBK into the ladder, Michaels’s own weight gave way. His knee was done. He could not stand on his own power.
It was just a matter of time for Razor Ramon to win the intercontinental title. He started to climb the ladder but didn’t notice Michaels pulling himself up to the top rope. Michaels flew across the ring with an axehandle. However, Shawn could barely stand. When Razor went for the razor’s edge, HBK pushed the bad guy into the ladder.
Shawn Michaels retains the WWE Intercontinental Title vs Razor Ramon
Shawn Michaels was getting desperate. As he limped around the ring, he noticed Razor had also been injured. Somehow he recovered and connected with a flying elbow. Razor was out cold. Michaels grabbed the ladder and moonsaulted onto his opponent. Just as he did almost a year ago at WrestleMania X, he climbed to the top of the ladder for a frog splash. Unfortunately for the Showstopper, Ramon moved out of the way at the last minute. With the ladder set up in the middle of the ring, both men crawled and scratched their way to the top. Both were only going on instinct.
At the top of the ladder, they traded fists until the momentum sent them crashing to the mat. Razor ended up on the floor, but Michaels crotched the ropes. Razor reached under the ring and pulled out a second ladder. Meanwhile, in the ring, HBK was setting up the other ladder, climbing to the top. Razor caught Michaels with the Razors Edge. The crowd was going crazy. Both superstars eventually made it to their feet and started climbing both ladders. It was a race to the top. Michaels caught Ramon with a kick. Razor fell to the canvas.
Shawn went to jump for the belt, but his previously injured knee gave way, and he, too, fell. As Razor went for another edge, he was too close to the ropes. The bad guy was back body dropped over the top rope. As Ramon lay on the floor out cold, HBK climbed the ladder. He went to grab the belt but slipped off at the last minute. HBK would not be denied and climbed back up again to take the Intercontinental title.
