WWE: After the Undertaker, Is Shawn Michaels Next on Triple H's Hit List?

While Undertaker finally got under Triple H's skin long enough to get the Cerebral Assassin to commit to WrestleMania 28, not lost on me when I watched the confrontation (thank God for Tivo) was how Undertaker used the ill-fated chances Shawn Michaels had to beat the Dead Man in the past and how Mr. WrestleMania could not get the job done.

It was a great tactic to call out Triple H, putting emphasis on the fact that the one thing the two best friends are is ultra-competitive with each other. Triple H even went as far as to say he could do what his best friend could not, that being he could beat the Dead Man and end the streak.

"Words are very unnecessary. They can only do harm."

Oh, how prophetic!

When the dust settles and it is Triple H standing at the top of the mountain (win or lose, this has to be the last match for Undertaker), will it be the last match for the COO, or do we see Michaels, the one man who knows him better than anyone, ask for one more match?

Michaels has been committed about staying retired, standing on the sidelines and enjoying the show as a spectator, but with his best friend basically saying he was not as good as him, would it be enough to set off Michaels' ego a bit to set things straight?

Remember, this is not a Kevin Nash situation. This is not a Ric Flair situation. This is not a Hulk Hogan situation. This is not about guys like Terry Funk and Roddy Piper who wrestled well beyond their primes because they knew no better. This is truly about who is the best of all time.

Yes, it is the end of a dying breed of sorts and the end of my generation of wrestling. The brand that means armbars, drop kicks and mat wrestling before anything else.

In the past, Triple H has not had an issue teasing that he is better than Shawn. He did that last year in a vignette with Michaels and Undertaker in the ring. At some point, attitude and ego boils over. At this point, you don't anger a possible sleeping giant.

Two weeks ago, Michaels asked Triple H why he wouldn't challenge Undertaker and go to WrestleMania. He replied he did not want to end the era. He had some truth in his statement. But if he does win and then is left standing alone, maybe someone like Michaels comes back to redefine the era.

One where the King and the Showstopper reign supreme on equal footing.