2002 Boss Man vs. Shawn Michaels(' cousin)

Big Boss Man vs. Michael Shane WWF Metal 2/23/02

ER: Sometimes you just need to see Big Boss Man punch Michael Shane and his weird neon Scott Hall gear around the ring for 3-4 minutes. Boss Man was smart about how to construct a squash match, where Shane wasn't really getting any offense, but his very limited offense built to something within the match. Boss Man worked a similar match against Hurricane, building to one Hurricane bodyslam that got a big crowd reaction, and here he builds a reaction for Shane without actually needing to. Most of the match is Boss Man throwing great knee strikes, using a kneelift to cut off potential charges, and later using a knee to the side of the head while Shane was getting up. 

He interacts with the crowd and encourages the Boss Man Sucks chants with his gotten-to eyes, and encourages them more when he rubs it in their face every time he knocks Shane down. He even goes for a pin and just gets up after a 1 count, not even lifting Shane. Our first peek at Shane offense looks awesome, as he hits a dropkick that sends Boss Man reeling into the bottom and middle ropes, and Boss Man springs back and just sidesteps the next dropkick. 

I love all of Boss Man's strikes, but after watching a lot of later era Boss Man my favorite might be his straight palm strike to the forehead. It's so great to see him rear back and then just palm a guy right above the bridge of the nose. Shane's big moment is good, and it gets a reaction because of the heat Boss Man was getting throughout, with Boss Man missing a hard chest first corner charge and Shane coming off the ropes with a flying forearm. Boss Man goes down, crowd cheers, Michael Shane gets a moment. Plenty of guys in Boss Man's shoes would not have given that moment, and I love how Shane gets fired up enough to do that forearm again and gets caught immediately with a Boss Man Slam.