Shawn Michaels leads contract signing between Cody Rhodes and Kevin Owens

Shan Michaels is happy to be back home in San Antonio. Now, he’s been given one task for the night: come out with Cody Rhodes and Kevin Owens’ signatures on the contract for their WWE Royal Rumble 2025 Ladder Match . “The Heart Break Kid” is the one to do it, and he promises to accomplish his mission. Without further ado, HBK first introduces the “challenger,” Kevin Owens , who is wearing a “Cody S*cks Eggs” shirt, and finally, the champion makes his entrance.

Cody Rhodes and Kevin Owens stand face to face, refusing to heed Shawn Michaels’ instruction to take a seat and sign the contract. Michaels again reiterates the reason for his presence on WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event , and again asks for the contenders’ signature. Cody Rhodes signs the contract, but Kevin Owens stops to take the microphone. KO does not agree with taking “the easy way” most of the time, as Cody said last night on WWE SmackDown ( January 24, 2025 ), it is the opposite; the Canadian reminds Rhodes that when things got tough, he left the company. With a huge scream, Cody interrupts his rival, because no one came here to listen to him, so he better sign the contract.

Kevin Owens stops his signing again, this time to say that on Royal Rumble night, he’s going to shut everyone up and show everyone that he’s the real champion , and that way he’ll get all the attention Cody’s getting, taking all the attention away from him because that’s what he’s deserved for the past ten years. Shawn Michaels interrupts, telling KO that he sounds like he’s jealous… the Canadian challenges HBK to repeat what he said, and the Hall of Famer has no problem doing so. KO tells Michaels that maybe he agrees with Rhodes because he also left when things got tough, and makes it clear that he’s gotten more out of the title than HBK ever could. Owens finally signs the contract and roughly hands it to Michaels.

Shawn Michaels holds back to follow protocol, because next up, the contenders are stripped of their titles. A referee helps to put the WWE Undisputed Championship and the Winged Eagle Championship on a hook to suspend them in the air. “This Saturday, Lucas Oil Stadium, one man climbs the ladder, one man walks out as the Undisputed WWE Champion. Gentlemen, good luck,” Shawn Michaels says. HBK reaches out to the contenders, but KO decides to attack Cody. Michaels pushes Owens back, but almost gets a “Piledriver”; Rhodes pushes Owens to leave him at the mercy of a “Sweet Chin Music.” Everything is ready for WWE Royal Rumble 2025.