HBK will win. Here is why:
1) There has been little/no build up to Shawn retiring. From a booking perspective, perhaps having the odd comment being said about HBK getting a little "past his best" and other things would add another dimension. It was done so well with his match against Flair (Though granted, it was the main focal point of the match), you'd have thought they'd have incorporated the same again. Maybe have HBK announce the stipulation earlier on. Instead- it seems a bit thrown in at the end.
2) I've not read anything on the wrestling dirt sheets that indicate HBK is ready to retire. Just a few statements that both he and Taker will be spending time off after the match, like they did last year. Now I know to take what I read on the dirt sheets with a pinch of salt, but with a major event like HBK hanging up his boots, you'd have thought we'd have heard something.
3) The build up has all been HBK focused. This seems like HBK's story, not Taker's. HBK is the one with something to prove. HBK is desperate to get the rematch, etc... Taker has played a small part in the feud so far. He's been super kicked, and that’s really it.
4) Taker won the last match. -Now granted, in the wacky world of wrestling, anything can happen. But I'll bet my bottom dollar that because Taker won the last one, HBK will want Taker to do the job this time round. Plus I don’t think Shawn has the ability to handle loosing to Taker twice without getting anything out of it.
I think it'll still steal the show, mind. With a more solid face/heel dimention, the match has a chance on being better than the first. I think will see HBK pull everything out of his repertoire, only to see Taker kick out of it all. We'll see a ref bump, and HBK taking advantage with a steel chair / foreign object to finish the job.
/Gets ready to eat his words when Taker wins again.
