wrestlemania

Wrestling Recap [Undervember]: Undertaker vs. Triple H (WrestleMania XXVIII)

Dr. K3 Comments

To celebrate the Undertaker’s illustrious career, I’m looking back at his WrestleMania matches against “The Heartbreak Kid” Shawn Michaels and Triple H.

The Date: 1 April 2012
The Venue: Sun Life Stadium; Miami Gardens, Florida
The Commentary: Michael Cole, Jerry “The King” Lawler, and Jim “J.R.” Ross
The Referee: Shawn Michaels (guest referee)
The Stakes: “End of an Era” Hell in a Cell match

The Build-Up:
Alongside his legendary WrestleMania streak, the Undertaker amassed an impressive list of rivalries with some of wrestling’s most talented, and notorious, names. Over the years, the Undertaker crossed paths with “The Game” Triple H many times, clashing during the Ministry of Darkness days, opposing his attempt to dominate the main event scene, and supporting him as his backstage influence grew over time. After defeating Triple H in a hastily thrown together match at WrestleMania X-Seven, the Undertaker impressed with back-to-back WrestleMania bangers with Triple’s D-Generation X buddy, “The Heartbreak Kid” Shawn Michaels. Indeed, HBK’s doubts that his friend could succeed where he failed turned out to be true when Triple H lost a brutal, show-stealing match against the Undertaker at the otherwise lacklustre WrestleMania XVII that saw both competitors fined for an unprotected chair shot. When the Undertaker returned from a hiatus to demand a WrestleMania rematch, angered that he couldn’t leave the ring under his own power, Triple H initially disregarded HBK’s encouragement to take the match and refused, not wishing to tarnish the Undertaker’s legacy. However, when the Undertaker called Triple H a coward and accused him of living in Shawn’s shadow, the insulted Triple H was goaded into accepting, demanding to face the Undertaker in a Hell in a Cell match. Shawn Michaels. whom the Undertaker had sensationally retired, was later revealed to be the special guest referee for this dramatically billed “End of an Era” match.

The Build-Up:
Living up to his nickname as “Mister WrestleMania,” Shawn Michaels sauntered to the ring first, sadly not rocking his special guest referee ring shorts. Compared to the previous year, Triple H’s entrance was far more lowkey, with him simply passing through a giant, skull-themed archway, while the Undertaker opted to emerge from behind the LED screens surrounded by the usual fog and darkness (though he was rocking an uncharacteristic, shaved head). Like before, the Undertaker and Triple H stood eye-to-eye, extended their staredown to watching the infamous Hell in a Cell lower (to Metallica’s “The Memory Remains”, no less). Once the cell was in place, the two started with a slugfest again; this time, the Undertaker dominated, though Triple H soon fought back after avoiding a corner splash. The Undertaker shut down Triple H’s flurry and tossed him outside, bashing him off the steel steps and tossing him into the mesh cage. A few hard-hitting headbutts and more tosses into the cell kept the Undertaker in control, though a bit of simply choking and whips into the ring steps didn’t hurt either. Although Triple H tried to fight back in the ring, the Undertaker shrugged off his signature knee smash and landed his trademark rope walk strike this time around. Back outside, the Undertaker bashed Triple H “right between the eyes” with the hefty ring steps, shoving them into the ring and continuing the assault as the Game lay prone across the ring apron. A desperation DDT bought Triple H time to regroup and he bashed the Deadman’s face off the steel steps, a trickle of blood on both men’s foreheads, though the Undertaker tossed Triple H off as he tried for a Pedigree on the ring steps.

A far more brutal match than last year, full of emotion and explosive near falls!

After Triple H planted the Undertaker across the steps with a massive spinebuster, he got caught in the “Hell’s Gate” and, in desperation, muscled the Phenom into a powerbomb-like slam for the first near fall. Triple H then grabbed two steel chairs and immediately attacked, stunning the Deadman long enough to drive him into the ring steps set up in the corner. Triple H followed up with more chair strikes to the Undertaker’s spine and gut, attacking so relentlessly that HBK tried to intervene. Refusing to cover the Undertaker, Triple H demanded Shawn force a submission from the battered Undertaker, who refused to stop the match, enraging the Game. After another vile chair shot, Triple H grabbed his trusty sledgehammer, this time refusing to show compassion, and dropped the Phenom with a shot. When the Undertaker kicked out, Shawn took the sledgehammer from his friend to spare the Undertaker further harm but hesitated to “end it” by calling for the bell. To keep the match going, the Undertaker slapped the Hell’s Gate onto him, earning him another shot from the sledgehammer. When Triple H went for another shot, the Undertaker kicked him in the balls and applied Hell’s Gate again, repeating the end of their last match and causing Triple H to pass out. However, with Shawn still down and referee Charles Robinson struggling to enter the cell, the match continued, but the Game unexpectedly kicked out after being hit with a Chokeslam. Furious, the Undertaker took Robinson out with a Chokeslam and tried for the Tombstone Piledriver, only to be hit by HBK’s Sweet Chin Music, drilled with the Pedigree…and to kick out at two!! Like J.R, the King, and Michael Cole, the audience were at aghast and amazed at that, perhaps the greatest false finish in wrestling history, and Triple H tossed HBK from the ring in frustration.

The Undertaker’s brutal assault ended the match but all three left as peers.

Empowered by a sudden burst of energy, the Undertaker hit his patented Snake Eyes/Big Boot/Leg Drop combination and dropped Triple H with the Tombstone Piledriver. The crowd erupted once more when Triple H kicked out and even Shawn was an emotional wreck from the scintillating action. The Undertaker and Triple H exchanged blows as they struggled up, much to the delight of the captivated fans, though Triple H emerged victorious with a Pedigree…which the Undertaker again kicked out of! Exhausted, the Undertaker stumbled towards a steel chair as Triple H reclaimed his sledgehammer, smacking the chair into Triple H’s face and gut and across his spine. Ignoring HBK’s pleas, the Undertaker continued his assault, frustrated that Triple H continued to kick out, echoing Triple H last year by yelling at him to “Stay down!” Refusing to quit, Triple H taunted the Undertaker with a crotch chop and earned himself a shot to the face with his sledgehammer. Like HBK before him, the stubborn Triple H pulled himself up using the Undertaker’s tights only to be dropped and ultimately defeated with a horrendous Tombstone Pildedriver. Relieved to see the match end, Shawn Michaels helped the Undertaker up so he could celebrate his twentieth WrestleMania win. Out of respect for his tenacious foe, the Undertaker helped HBK get Triple H to his feet and the three embraced, basking in the adulation and respect of the crowd, as the “era” finally came to an end. Although the competitors didn’t use the Hell in a Cell as much as I’d like, this was a far better match than last year’s thanks to the added emotion offered by Shawn Michaels. I liked that many spots from their previous match were repeated with a twist, and Triple H’s increased ruthlessness really sold how desperate he was to win. That Sweet Chin Music/Pedigree combo may be one of wrestling’s greatest moments and, in hindsight, this might’ve been better served as the final match for both competitors. While it’s maybe a touch too long, I liked how much more action-packed and emotionally charged the narrative was and would definitely recommend this one over the WrestleMania VII match.

The Aftermath:
Largely seen as one of the greatest WrestleMania matches of all time, this match really was the “End of an Era” in many ways as both men went their separate ways after this. Triple H got into a heated and ultimately controversial feud with the returning Brock Lesnar while the Undertaker eventually returned to the ring for an emotionally charged WrestleMania showdown with the disrespectful CM Punk. Of course, this wouldn’t be the last time that the Undertaker shared the ring with Triple H as they tangled for the “Last Time Ever” at the 2018 Super Show-Down in a very poorly received match that saw the Game emerge victorious. As bad as that was, however, things got even worse when the Undertaker teamed with his psychotic brother, Kane, to fight Triple H and Shawn Michaels in a tag team match so infamous that even the Undertaker was embarrassed about it.

My Rating:

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Great Stuff

Do you think the third time was the charm for the Undertaker and Triple H? Were you also disappointed by how little the Hell in a Cell was used? Did you think the Streak was over after that Sweet Chin Music/Pedigree combination? In hindsight, do you think this should’ve been the end of all three men’s in-ring careers? How are you celebrating the Undertaker’s debut this month? What dream match would you have liked to see him compete in? Share your thoughts below, check out my other reviews Undertaker matches, and donate to my Ko-Fi to suggest others for me to cover.

Wrestling Recap [Undervember]: Undertaker vs. Triple H (WrestleMania XXVII)

Dr. K1 Comment

To celebrate the Undertaker’s illustrious career, I’m looking back at his WrestleMania matches against “The Heartbreak Kid” Shawn Michaels and Triple H.

The Date: 3 April 2011
The Venue: Georgia Dome; Atlanta, Georgia
The Commentary: Jim “J.R.” Ross and Jerry “The King” Lawler
The Referee: Scott Armstrong
The Stakes: No Holds Barred match

The Build-Up:
Over his legendary career, the Undertaker amassed an impressive list of rivalries with some of wrestling’s most talented and notorious names and earned the greatest winning streak in wrestling history with 21 WrestleMania wins between 1991 and 2013. After two highly celebrated back-to-back WrestleMania bouts with “The Heartbreak Kid” Shawn Michaels ended with HBK retiring, the Undertaker found himself tangling with Shawn’s D-Generation X running buddy, Triple H. Previously, the two were randomly thrown together for a decent match at WrestleMania X-Seven; this time, they issued a silent challenge after returning to the ring around the same time. Interestingly, Shawn Michaels questioned whether “The Game” could succeed where he had failed and, though he paid the price for trying to attack the Undertaker, HBK expressed doubts in his friend’s ability. A decorated veteran who had both dominated the main event scene and transitioned to a position of backstage power, Triple H firmly believed he was the best person to break the Undertaker’s celebrated winning streak. However, the two had little interaction prior to the match as it was sold on the spectacle of pitting them against each other more than anything.

The Match:
While the Undertaker is known for his overly long and dramatic WrestleMania entrances, Triple H is equally notorious for eating a lot of airtime with an elaborate entrance, though WrestleMania XXVII’s was a bit of an odd one. The Game was initially flanked by shield-bearers, draped in a regal cloak, garbed in his skull mask and helmet, and accompanied by Metallica’s “For Whom the Bell Tolls”. This was only an interlude, however, as Triple H switched to his ring gear after a brief blackout and stormed to the ring as normal, strangely ditching his “King of Kings” persona and any mind games the Metallica track might’ve played. Similarly, the Undertaker opted to simply rise from billowing smoke as simulated rain peppered the LED screens, though he was sporting a particularly fetching trenchcoat. The two went nose-to-nose prior to the bell and wasted no time getting into a slugfest once the bell rang, with Triple H briefly pummelling the Undertaker in the corner before being tossed over the top rope. Triple H continued to hammer the Undertaker on the outside until being sent into the ring steps, though the Game saved himself from being driven through the announce table by tackling the Deadman through Michael Cole’s special plexiglass cube. Having asserted his dominance, Triple H challenged the Undertaker to continue their fist fight, with the Undertaker knocking the Game down with a flying clothesline. After briefly softening Triple H’s arm, the Undertaker went for his signature rope walk only to be jerked off the top rope by his opponent. Triple H followed up by clotheslining the Undertaker back to the outside but got dumped to the floor when he tried to Pedigree the Phenom through the other announce table and then crushed when the Undertaker launched himself over the top rope and crashed into him from the ring!

Triple H relentlessly attacked the Undertaker, even bashing him in the head with a steel chair!

Though both men were exhausted from this, Triple H frantically escaped a Tombstone Piledriver onto the steel steps. However, when the Undertaker charged at the Game, the Deadman was driven through the announce table courtesy of Triple H’s trademark spinebuster. Although he struggled to stay upright in the ring, the Undertaker scored the first near fall off a Chokeslam. After mounting a comeback with some corner punches, Triple H slipped out of a Last Ride attempt, ate the Snake Eyes, but countered the Undertaker’s follow-up big boot with another spinebuster to get his first near fall. To even the odds, the Undertaker repeatedly smashed a steel chair over Triple H’s back, earning him a Pedigree out of nowhere! When the Deadman kicked out right before the three count, Triple H tried for a superplex and got nailed with the Last Ride, desperately getting his shoulder up at the last second. Angered and frustrated, the Undertaker drilled Triple H with the Tombstone Piledriver…only to be incensed when the Game still kicked out! The Undertaker was so enraged that he teased hitting a Tombstone Piledriver onto the steel chair, only for Triple H to squirm free and plant the Deadman with a DDT to that same chair! Though they both struggled up, Triple H nailed another Pedigree, but his lackadaisical cover all-but ensured that the Undertaker kicked out at two. Triple H then exploded when the Undertaker kicked out of another Pedigree immediately after! Thus, the Game demolished the Deadman with the steel chair, repeatedly smashing it over his spine until the chair was a mangled mess. Enraged when the Undertaker continued to stir and ignored his orders to “Stay down!!”, Triple H floored the Phenom with a shot to the head but was consumed by a mixture of awe, despair, and anger when the Undertaker struggled up, seemingly torn between his desire to win and his respect for his opponent.

Despite repeated finishers and collapsing after the match, the Phenom was victorious.

Refusing to die, the Undertaker tried for a Chokeslam, only to be too weak to follow through. Punch drunk, barely standing, the Undertaker demanded the fight continue, only for Triple H to drill him with his own Tombstone Piledriver. However, Triple H recoiled in stunned disbelief when the Undertaker kicked out at the last second. In desperation, Triple H retrieved his trusty sledgehammer from under the ring, only to get caught in the “Hell’s Gate” submission. Trapped in the middle of the ring, with the useless ropes far out of reach, Triple H frantically reached for his sledgehammer, only to fade from the pain and reluctantly submit right as he passed out. Although the Undertaker was treated to a massive fireworks display for continuing his unprecedented winning streak, the Deadman lay prone and exhausted on the canvas in the aftermath as a limping, distraught Triple H looked on. Even J.R. and the King were in silence as the referee and medics checked on the Undertaker, who collapsed on the outside and needed to be carried out on a stretcher. This was a bit of a stretch (no pun intended) for me as I’ve seen the Undertaker endure worse beatings before, so the idea that a few Pedigrees and chair shots would be enough to leave him in such a state is a bit difficult to believe. The entire match was built around the idea that Triple H was a ruthless opponent the likes of which the Deadman had never fought, though even this was undercut by the Game’s reluctance to hurt him. I liked that they utilised the No Holds Barred rule to incorporate the steel chair and some hardcore brawling, but I still think there could’ve been more of this and that Triple H should’ve been utterly remorseless. This would’ve forced the Undertaker to fight defensively and out of desperation and sold Triple H as a relentless foe, one who only realised how far he’d gone when the Undertaker collapsed at the end. Overall, it was a decent match more about Triple H’s ego than anything and therefore failed to match HBK’s similar efforts from previous years.

The Aftermath:
Regarded as a brutal, show-stealer of a match at an otherwise lacklustre WrestleMania, this match saw both competitors fined for violating company policy with an unprotected chair shot. As was tradition at the time, the Undertaker took a long hiatus following his win, both to prepare for his next bout and to sell the idea that Triple H had taken him to (and past) his limit. While the Undertaker was gone, Triple H took over as Chief Operating Office (COO) and ended up fighting his old friend Kevin Nash in a bizarre storyline that derailed CM Punk’s championship run. After recovering from a fractured vertebrae and settling his issues with Kevin Nash in a ladder match, of all things, Triple H was confronted by the returning Undertaker, who demanded a WrestleMania rematch after he failed to leave the match under his own power. After Triple H refused as he didn’t want to tarnish the Undertaker’s legacy and HBK advised him to avoid another match with the Deadman, the Undertaker mocked Triple H, accusing him of being a coward who lives in Shawn’s shadow. This angered Triple H enough to not just accept the rematch but also demand they fight in a Hell in a Cell match. Shawn Michaels was then drafted as the special guest referee and the two fought in what Triple H claimed was one of his favourite matches, the theatrically named and highly regarded “End of an Era” match, at WrestleMania XXVIII.

My Rating:

Rating: 3 out of 5.

Pretty Good

Did you enjoy the Undertaker’s second WrestleMania match with Triple H? How do you think it compares to their previous WrestleMania match? Were you surprised to see a chair shot to the head included? Did you think that Triple H was going to win at the time? Do you agree that it was a bit of a stretch to pretend like the Undertaker was taken to his limit? How are you celebrating the Undertaker’s debut this year, what are some of your favourite matches of his? Whatever your thoughts, drop a comment below, go check out my reviews of other Undertaker matches, and donate to my Ko-Fi to suggest others!

Wrestling Recap [Undervember]: Undertaker vs. HBK (WrestleMania XXVI)

Dr. K3 Comments

To celebrate the Undertaker’s illustrious career, I’m looking back at his WrestleMania matches against “The Heartbreak Kid” Shawn Michaels and Triple H.

The Date: 28 March 2010
The Venue: University of Phoenix Stadium; Glendale, Arizona
The Commentary: Michael Cole, Jerry “The King” Lawler, and Matt Striker
The Referee: Charles Robinson
The Stakes: No Disqualification Streak vs. Career grudge match

The Build-Up:
The Undertaker earned his status as a bona fide wrestling legend by the amassing an unprecedented WrestleMania winning streak (21 wins between 1991 and 2013) and sharing the ring with a smorgasbord of wrestling’s biggest names. One of the Undertaker’s most notable foes was “The Heartbreak Kid” Shawn Michaels, formally a prima donna who (in cahoots with his “Kliq” buddies) greatly influenced World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) Chairman Vince McMahon back in the day. In the past, the Undertaker and HBK made history with the first-ever Hell in a Cell match and ’Taker was ready to beat Shawn if he didn’t do business. However, the two stole the show with their iconic WrestleMania 25 clash, which came some time after Shawn’s unexpected comeback and personal growth and was regarded by the Undertaker as his best match. However, when HBK challenged the Undertaker to a rematch at the 2009 Slammy Awards, the Deadman (then the World Heavyweight Champion) refused as he believed he had nothing to prove to either himself or Shawn Michaels. HBK became obsessed with getting another shot at the Streak and, after he failed to legitimately earn a shot at the Undertaker’s championship by winning the 2010 Royal Rumble match, the desperate HBK cost the Undertaker the World title at Elimination Chamber. Enraged, the Undertaker was goaded into accepting a rematch, however he demanded not only that it be a no disqualification bout but that HBK’s legendary career would also be at stake, which HBK happily agreed to out of sheer pride.

The Match:
Although Shawn Michaels was still rocking white-hued gear for this match, he ditched the angelic attire and entrance for his more traditional, rambunctious jaunt to the ring, presenting himself as a man so determined to defeat the Undertaker that he’ll retire if he fails. Similarly, while the Undertaker again rose from the stage and was bathed in darkness and strobe lights, the Deadman’s entrance was noticeably lowkey for a WrestleMania, with him simply stalking to the ring and glaring at HBK, who again showed no fear and not only stared right back but even mocked his signature throat cut taunt. Like last time, the match started with a slugfest, with HBK using his speed and knife edge chops to lay into the Undertaker. This time, the Undertaker shrugged off the attack and landed his Snake Eyes/Big Boot combo early, crashing into HBK with a corner splash and nailing his signature rope. However, not only did HBK slip out of a Chokeslam, but the Undertaker seemed to tweak his knee on the landing, giving HBK a target. The Phenom lashed out like a wounded animal and tried to end things early with a Tombstone Piledriver, only for the rabid HBK to desperately go for the Crippler Crossface and kick at the Undertaker’s damaged knee. Shawn worked the knee with stomps in the corner, constantly shutting down the Undertaker’s enraged punches by going low and ending up dumped to the outside as a result. When the Undertaker geared up for his suicide dive, HBK took him down with a shoulder tackle to the knee but again got sent outside when he tried for the Figure Four Leglock. The Undertaker followed, noticeably limping, ramming HBK spine-first into a ring post and dropping his patented leg drop across the ring apron.

The desperate HBK pulled out all the stops to cut the Deadman down and soften him up for the pin.

However, once back in the ring, the Undertaker got caught in a Figure Four, forced to endure the pain and avoid a pinning predicament, before eventually reversing the hold. After the two traded strikes again, HBK reeling from the Undertaker’s massive shots, Shawn landed his flying forearm but got planted with a massive Chokeslam after he kipped up for a near fall. HBK squirmed out of a Tombstone Piledriver and caught the Undertaker in the Ankle Lock before transitioning to a grapevine variant for a two count, the Undertaker frantically kicking HBK’s face to get free. Shawn then clotheslined the Undertaker over the ropes but got caught in mid-air off a moonsault and planted with a Tombstone Piledriver on the outside! However, the Undertaker got distracted attacking a concerned medic and was too slow tossing HBK in the ring for a cover, so he tried for the Last Ride…only for HBK to counter into a facebuster for a two count. Eager to capitalise, Shawn’s ribs got messed up when the Undertaker countered his signature diving elbow drop, though HBK impressively flipped through the “Hell’s Gate” to try for a pinfall. Shawn then followed up by hitting a surprise Sweet Chin Music for a near fall, leading a frustrated HBK to tune up a second shot from the corner. The Undertaker clumsily countered the superkick with the Last Ride for another super close two count, much to the Deadman’s frustration and awe. After being unceremoniously tossed to the outside, Shawn was helpless as the Undertaker stripped the announce table. However, he scurried out of a Last Ride attempt and left the Phenom prone across the table with Sweet Chin Music. HBK then clambered to the top rope and smashed the Undertaker through the table with moonsault that barely hit its target and left both men winded amidst the debris.

Despite his best efforts, HBK’s career ended at the hands of the hobbled Undertaker.

Frantic, determined to win, HBK desperately forced the hobbled Undertaker into the ring and scored with Sweet Chin Music once more…for a two count! When HBK went for it again, the Undertaker answered with a huge Chokeslam and a Tombstone Piledriver, only for Shawn to kick out right before the three count, much to the amazement of the crowd and the anger of the Undertaker. Barely standing, the Undertaker dropped his straps but, at the last second, pleaded with his opponent to stay down. Too stubborn or prideful to quit, Shawn clawed his way up using the Undertaker’s tights, mocked him with a taunt, and defiantly slapped him in the face. Incensed, the Undertaker abandoned his brief moment of pity and drilled HBK with a jumping Tombstone Piledriver to score the victory, bringing Shawn Michaels’ historic career to a close and the Undertaker to 18-0 at WrestleMania. After celebrating his win, the limping Undertaker helped Shawn to his feet to voice his respect. They shook hands and hugged and the Undertaker left the ring so an emotional HBK could bask in the overwhelming response from the raucous crowd. This match addressed a few issues I had with the last one, namely that the Undertaker’s weakened leg played a greater role in the narrative, with him limping, stumbling, and falling about from HBK’s attack. A lot of the match beats were the same but sped up, and the two didn’t take advantage of the no disqualification rule to implement weapons, which was strange. The emotional hook of the match was palpable and there was a sense that HBK was desperate to win, but I would’ve liked to see him doing more to achieve victory, such as attacking the Undertaker with chairs or whatever. People always like to compare this to their WrestleMania 25 bout, and I do think that one has a slight edge, though there’s not much in it to alter my rating. Still, a fitting send-off for HBK, even if it didn’t live up to its full potential.

The Aftermath:
To celebrate the end of his illustrious career, Shawn Michaels came out to the ring the next night on Raw to deliver an impassioned speech. In it, he talked about his career and thanked those who had supported him throughout it, specifically the fans, Vince McMahon, Triple, and long-time rival Bret “The Hitman” Hart. The whole episode was a tribute to Shawn and the Undertaker even made an appearance at the end, silently tipping his hat to HBK as a sign of respect. Following this, HBK was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame and mostly stuck to his retirement, making the odd appearance on Raw, before finally returning to the ring as the special guest referee for the “End of an Era” match between Triple H and the Undertaker. Immediately following WrestleMania XXVII, the Undertaker took a hiatus. When he returned, he suffered a horrific injury and was said to be left in a “vegetative state” by an unknown attacker, soon revealed to be his twisted brother, Kane. After suffering decisive losses to his brother, the Undertaker made a dramatic return, silently agreeing to a WrestleMania rematch with Triple H, who made it his business to pick up where HBK left off. Though HBK tried to give Triple H the edge in the aforementioned “End of an Era” match, all three men embraced as equals by the finale and infamously shared the ring in a disastrous tag team match at the 2018 Crown Jewel. Following this universally mocked travesty, HBK settled into a backstage role as a trainer and producer for the NXT developmental brand, ironically placing the so-called “degenerate” as one of the WWE’s principal corporate figureheads.

My Rating:

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Fantastic

What did you think to the Undertaker’s rematch with Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania XXVI? How do you think it compares against their previous WrestleMania match? Did you like the focus on the Undertaker’s injured leg? Were you also disappointment by the lack of weapons and ringside brawling? Do you think this was a fitting final match for HBK? How are you celebrating the Undertaker this month, what are some of your favourite matches and moments of his? Whatever you thought about this match, leave a comment below, check out my other Undertaker content, and donate to my Ko-Fi to suggest an Undertaker match for me to review in the future.

Wrestling Recap [Undervember]: Undertaker vs. HBK (WrestleMania 25)

Dr. K3 Comments

To celebrate the Undertaker’s illustrious career, I’m looking back at his WrestleMania matches against “The Heartbreak Kid” Shawn Michaels and Triple H.

The Date: 5 April 2009
The Venue: Reliant Stadium; Houston, Texas
The Commentary: Michael Cole, Jerry “The King” Lawler, and Jim “J.R.” Ross
The Referee: Marty Elias
The Stakes: Singles match with the Undertaker’s WrestleMania winning streak on the line

The Build-Up:
Over his decorated career in World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), the Undertaker amassed the greatest winning streak in wrestling history – 21 WrestleMania wins between 1991 and 2013 – and battled a who’s-who of the biggest names in wrestling. One of his most notable adversaries was “The Heartbreak Kid” Shawn Michaels, once one of the biggest prima donnas in the industry who (alongside his “Kliq” buddies) held a great deal of sway over WWE Chairman Vince McMahon. The Undertaker and HBK battled on and off throughout the 1990s, making history in the first-ever Hell in a Cell match. Some time after his dramatic comeback and notable character change, HBK was embroiled in a bizarre feud with John “Bradshaw” Layfield/JBL after finding himself low on cash, which was the background to Shawn challenging the Undertaker’s WrestleMania winning streak. After defeating both JBL and Vladimir Kozlov, Shawn earned the right to battle the Undertaker at what was billed as WrestleMania’s 25th anniversary, with HBK attacking the Deadman after they teamed up on Raw. The two engaged in a war of words, with HBK expressing his respect but lack of fear towards the Undertaker and backing this up by never flinching when the Undertaker employed his signature spooky gimmicks. HBK even donned white attire that mirrored the Undertaker’s and cast himself, as a born again Christian, as the natural contrast to the Phenom’s darkness, establishing both men as uncompromising forces of nature heading into the match.

The Match:
This contrast of light and dark continued at WrestleMania 25, with Shawn Michaels descending from the heavens in his white attire while the Undertaker ascended from the stage, surrounded by lightning and flames. The visual of the two legends in the ring was enough to elicit a near-deafening buzz from the crowd, who watched with anticipation as the two danced around each other and exchanged strikes in the early going, with HBK using his speed to dodge the Undertaker’s reach and landing chops and forearm shots. The Undertaker quickly asserted himself, catching HBK’s fist and launching him into (and over) the corner, only for Shawn to pounce upon the Deadman after feigning a knee injury. Annoyed, the Undertaker overpowered Shawn and unleashed a flurry in the corner, finally dropping HBK and taking control of the match. Shawn weathered the assault and continued to fire back with knife-edge chops, only to be turned upside down off an Irish whip into the far corner and a back body drop. The Undertaker showcased his incredible strength with a military press slam and scored a one count off a running elbow before focusing on Shawn’s left arm, wearing him down for his signature rope walk. Wily as ever, HBK dodged at the last second when the Undertaker went for a running big boot, leaving the Deadman hung up in the corner, then targeted the Phenom’s left knee to chop the big man down. The crowd erupted as HBK applied the Figure Four Leglock to further punish the Undertaker’s leg, scoring a quick one count but eventually releasing the hold when the Undertaker punched him in the face.

The back-and-forth action almost ended in disaster when the Undertaker went for a suicide dive!

While HBK continued to target the knee, the Undertaker fell back on pure power, muscling Shawn into the corner for another beat down but noticeably hobbling as he landed a couple of body splashes and his signature Snake Eyes/Big Boot combination. The follow-up leg drop scored the first two count of the match and, frustrated, the Deadman called for a Chokeslam. Shawn surprisingly countered with a Crippler Crossface, maintaining the hold even as the Undertaker desperately rolled into a pinning predicament and powered up. The Deadman bought a reprieve and earned a near fall off a side slam and the two went back to exchanging blows, with the Undertaker getting madder with each strike. HBK exploded off the ring ropes for his trademark forearm shot and leapt to his feet, landing two inverted atomic drops and dropping the Phenom with a running clothesline. Even when the Undertaker snatched him out of mid-air as he went for his patented top rope elbow drop, HBK countered with a low kick and tried for the Figure Four again, only to end up the Undertaker’s “Hell’s Gate” hold! After HBK scrambled to the ropes to break the hold, the competitors tumbled outside, where the Undertaker bashed HBK’s face off the ring steps, only to miss his apron leg drop, further damaging his leg. Shawn followed up with a baseball slide but crashed and burned off a moonsault to the outside, giving the Undertaker time to catch his breath. As Shawn struggled to his feet and refused to quit, the Undertaker flew over the ropes with a suicide dive and damn-near killed himself when the “cameraman” failed to catch him! Desperate to buy the Undertaker time to recover and win by any means necessary, HBK dragged the referee into the ring to begin a ten count, only for the Deadman to (eventually) roll back into the ring, much to Shawn’s utter dismay.

The two traded finishers near the end, but it was the Deadman who came out on top.

Enraged, HBK tried for Sweet Chin Music, only to get hit with a Chokeslam and barely kick out at two! However, after slipping out of a Tombstone Piledriver and shrugging off another Chokeslam attempt, Shawn finally hit his signature super kick, only to take too long making the cover and for the Undertaker to kick out. After a defiant kip up, Shawn almost got nailed with the Last Ride, only to squirm out of it and attempt a cover, which the Undertaker reversed to finally drill HBK with his massive powerbomb…for a two count! Incensed and amazed, the noticeably groggy Undertaker uncharacteristically climbed the top rope, only to eat the canvas when HBK dodged his diving elbow drop. After both struggled up, Shawn got dropped with a Tombstone Piledriver after attempting a headscissor from the ring ropes. Unbelievably, HBK kicked out just before three, much to the distraught Deadman’s chagrin. The Undertaker dropped the straps and did his signature throat cut taunt to signal a second Tombstone Piledriver, only for HBK to desperately counter with a DDT. Shawn followed up with his diving elbow drop and summoned all his strength for another Sweet Chin Music…and another heart-stopping two count! Both men clutched at each other and returned to throwing strikes, barely able to stand and being equally matched and stubborn. Though HBK fought out of another Tombstone attempt and countered a running corner splash, his luck ran out when he went for a Moonsault and got caught in mid-air and drilled with a Tombstone Piledriver, giving the Undertaker his seventeenth WrestleMania win. I really enjoyed the story being told here of the tenacity and pig-headedness of both men, who refused to quit or stay down and kept finding the will to continue. I also liked that it wasn’t just a finisher- or spot-fest and that they sold their biggest shots as potential match enders and grew increasingly frustrated and desperate when their opponent somehow kicked out. However, it’s a shame all that focus on wearing down the arm and leg didn’t factor into the end that much.

The Aftermath:
Widely regarded by many, including the Undertaker, as one of the best matches of either man, this bout was listed as WWE’s greatest WrestleMania match of all time, and it’s easy to see why (even with that botched dive). Following their gruelling contest, both men took four months off to recuperate. When Shawn Michaels returned later that year, he re-formed D-Generation X with his long-time friend Triple H and got into it with the upstart Legacy faction while the Undertaker distracted himself capturing CM Punk’s World Heavyweight Championship in a Hell in a Cell match. At the 2009 Slammy Awards, the WrestleMania 25 match won “Best Match of the Year”, prompting HBK to challenge the Undertaker to a rematch. When the Deadman turned down the challenge, believing he had proved himself the superior, HBK became obsessed with getting another shot at the Streak. After he failed to win the 2010 Royal Rumble match and legitimately earn a shot at the Undertaker’s championship, HBK cost the Deadman the World title at Elimination Chamber, finally goading the Undertaker into a rematch but with one caveat: HBK’s star-studded career would also be on the line!

My Rating:

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Fantastic

Did you enjoy the Undertaker’s captivating match with Shawn Michaels from WrestleMania 25? How would you rate it against the Undertaker’s other WrestleMania matches? Do you think the botched dive ruined the match? Did you think that HBK would break the Streak at the time? Which match between the two is your favourite and how do you think this compares to the follow-up bout? How are you celebrating the Undertaker’s debut this year, what are some of your favourite matches and moments of his? Whatever your thoughts, drop a comment below, go check out my other Undertaker match reviews, and donate to my Ko-Fi to suggest an Undertaker match you’d like me to cover.

Wrestling Recap: Hogan vs. Warrior (WrestleMania VI)

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The Date: 1 April 1990
The Venue: SkyDome; Toronto, Ontario, Canada
The Commentary: Gorilla Monsoon and Jesse “The Body” Ventura
The Referee: Earl Hebner
The Stakes: “The Ultimate Challenge” singles match for the WWF Championship and the Intercontinental Championship

The Build-Up:
On 31 March 1985, Vince McMahon took a massive gamble on WrestleMania, a wrestling extravaganza watched by over one million viewers that forever changed the wrestling landscape. Today, WrestleMania is a peerless premier wrestling event known for career-defining matches and iconic “WrestleMania Moments”, with easily one of the most memorable of these being this unprecedented contest between Intercontinental Champion the Ultimate Warrior and WWF Champion “The Immortal” Hulk Hogan. After years of Hogan being the undisputed face of the WWF and easily the most mainstream star in professional wrestling, McMahon wanted a passing of the torch to a new hero for the ages and so cooked up “The Ultimate Challenge” for the Hulkster. Born James Hellwig, the man who became known as the Ultimate Warrior (and, later, simply “Warrior”) started out as an amateur bodybuilder. After being spotted while training, Hellwig agreed to join a group of other bodybuilders (including Steve Borden) as a professional wrestling team. After touring the independent scene and teaming with Borden as the Blade Runners, the Ultimate Warrior initially made his name in the WWF by destroying competitors in quick matches. This culminated in a last-minute decision to have him crush reigning Intercontinental Champion the Honky Tonk Man in around thirty seconds, cementing his status as one of the WWF’s most popular competitors as much as his wild energy, chiselled physique, and colourful ring attire. With fans cheering the Ultimate Warrior just as loudly, if not more so, than Hulk Hogan, the stage was set for a showdown between the two after a confrontation at the 1990 Royal Rumble. Not only would this pit the WWF’s two top stars against each other, not only did both men stay as virtuous characters in the build-up, but this would also be the first time both the WWF and Intercontinental Championships would be on the line in a single match. The end result has gone down in history as one of the quintessential WrestleMania Moments as, despite the Ultimate Warrior failing to replace Hogan as the WWF’s top star, it represented a changing of the guard that would, eventually, change the landscape of the WWF’s main event picture.

The Match:
It’s funny to think about how fans gravitated to the Ultimate Warrior, favouring him almost as much if not more than Hulk Hogan, considering how similar their gimmicks and mannerisms were. Both men were larger-than-super superheroes decked out in colourful attire, both ploughed through opponents, and both had a never-miss finisher sequence with a ridiculous final move that never should’ve worked but, somehow, always did! Still, the Ultimate Warrior does stand out a lot more with his face paint and jacked-up physique; the guy was like a living action figure! Unfortunately, one aspect where they differed (as expertly observed by Ventura) was that the Ultimate Warrior would sprint to the ring, run the ropes, shake the ropes, and get all fired up and gassed before the match could even start! This was true here, on what would end up being the biggest night of Jim Hellwig’s entire career, though the crowd simply ate it up as they loved this guy…and it’s hard to blame them as he exudes superhero appeal. Of course, the crowd was at least 50/50 for both men as Hulk Hogan continued to get the same response as you’d expect, still every bit the living legend kids and adults gravitated towards, and the atmosphere of seeing both men in the ring was simply electric. Since both men were popular babyfaces, a rarity even nowadays, there wasn’t the same vitriol between the competitors as in a traditional face/heel dynamic, though the two still engaged in a tense stare down to start since they both wanted to be the undisputed top dog in the company. As the young up-and-comer, the Ultimate Warrior made the first move, shoving Hogan, initiating the first tie-up, and giving Hogan a taste of his own medicine by throwing him into the corner. Naturally, Hogan returned the favour during the second tie-up, with both men posing and playing to the crowd before going for the tired old “test of strength” spot. Again, the crowd loved seeing the two titans testing each other’s limits, which eventually saw the Ultimate Warrior overpower the Hulkster and drive him to his knees.

Despite the thrill of seeing these two titans clash, the gassed wrestlers spent more time in rest holds.

Of course, Hogan rallied and turned the tide, presenting both men as essentially evenly matched in terms of power and popularity. Though surprised to see the Ultimate Warrior power back to his feet, Hogan tripped his foe to the mat for a quick one-count and then the two titans ran the ropes looking for shoulder tackles and traded scoop slams, gassing themselves even more! The Ultimate Warrior then hit a stiff, clunky clothesline and sent Hogan tumbling to the outside, where he began favouring his left knee. Limping, clearly in pain, Hogan struggled to stay on his feet so the Ultimate Warrior immediately targeted the limb with sharp kicks, before the two traded eye rakes back in the ring. Referee Earl Hebner admonished both men as tensions rose, before Hogan forgot about his knee pain and unloaded on the Ultimate Warrior with big shots and the ten-punches and another scoop slam. Two elbow drops, a two-count, and a small package later and Hogan unloaded on the Ultimate Warrior with chops, a clothesline, and the odd rest hold just to catch his breath. Still, the Intercontinental Champion kept kicking out, even after a backbreaker, resulting in a frustrated Hulkster arguing with the referee and wearing his opponent down with a chin lock that just went on and on and on. Hogan then hit a few spiteful knee shots to the spine and a backdrop before returning to the hold, showing he’s not afraid to fight dirty, before the Ultimate Warrior caught a second wind. After the Ultimate warrior fought free, both men a double knock down gave them even more time to catch their breath, and both men struggled up at the same time. However, the Ultimate Warrior was in a frenzied state, shrugging off Hogan’s blows and sending him reeling with a headbutt and repeated clotheslines. His face paint all but gone and his adrenaline spiking, the Ultimate Warrior tossed Hogan into the corners and laid in some chops, driving Hogan to his knees once more before hitting a suplex and getting his first near fall. The Ultimate Warrior then continued to dominate the WWF Champion by grabbing him in a pretty weak-looking bearhug that was more of a cuddle than the devastating hold Ventura and Monsoon sold it as.

A missed Leg Drop and a Splash saw the Ultimate Warrior share the victory with Hogan.

Still, this allowed Hogan to do the time-tested “three arm” spot but, as you’d expect, Hogan’s arm refused to fall the third time and the Hulkster mounted a comeback with some rabbit-like punches. However, as the Ultimate Warrior ran the ropes, he collided with the referee, meaning there was no one there to make the count when Hogan tried to pin his rival after reversing a diving shoulder block. This allowed the Ultimate Warrior to hit a back suplex, but both he and Hogan had to settle for the visual pinfall and a slow two count as Earl Hebner was too out of it to make the final count. A back elbow saw the action spill to the outside for a slugfest, which ended when Hogan got rammed into the ring post. Once back in the ring, the Ultimate Warrior hit the Gorilla Press Slam (an impressive, if ungainly, achievement) and then hit his patented Running Splash! However, the Ultimate Warrior was too slow going for the pin, resulting in a rare finisher kickout and the Hulkster “Hulking Up” However, Hogan missed the Atomic Leg Drop (!) and the Ultimate Warrior splashed him again for the biggest win of his career! Hogan just had to power out at 3.1, though, and keep the spotlight equally trained on him by presenting the Ultimate Warrior with both belts and raising his arm in a passing of the torch. This was an okay match but, as ever, one bogged down by rest holds and plodding offense. Both men were so gassed at the start of the match that their blows and holds just came off as so weak and obvious stalling. The energy was there, however, and the crowd loved seeing the two share the ring and shrug off each other’s moves. I think this might’ve worked better with a big stare down, test of strength, unflinching clotheslines and trading scoop slams, and then a finisher-fest (with the Ultimate Warrior also kicking out of the Atomic Leg Drop), but it was okay for what it was: a spectacle between two titans of the company.

The Aftermath:
Despite the Ultimate Warrior’s win and the very specific requirement that the winner would become a dual champion, the Ultimate Warrior was forced to vacant the Intercontinental Championship, resulting in Mr. Perfect becoming the champion after a lengthy tournament. Surprisingly, Hogan didn’t immediately vie for a rematch and instead left to film the under-rated sci-fi comedy Suburban Commando (Kennedy, 1991). Though the Ultimate Warrior rekindled his rivalry with “Ravishing” Rick Rude and helped the Legion of Doom at the 1990 Survivor Series, none of these storylines benefitted him. His mega push fizzled out and saw him dropping the belt to turncoat Sergeant Slaughter at the 1991 Royal Rumble after interference by Sensational Sherri and the “Macho King” Randy Savage. This led to Hogan recapturing the belt and returning to the top of the mountain at WrestleMania VII, where the Ultimate Warrior “retired” Savage. Although the Ultimate Warrior fought with the Undertaker and was prepped to face Jake “The Snake” Roberts, Hellwig walked out of the WWF after demanding financial compensation. The Ultimate Warrior made brief (and infamous) comebacks in 1992 and 1996, but disagreements about money saw him follow Hogan to World Championship Wrestling (WCW). After a ludicrous tease regarding his presence, the Ultimate Warrior, more unhinged than ever, opposed “Hollywood” Hogan’s New World Order (nWo), leading to Davey Boy Smith being critically injured by a gimmicked trapdoor, a hilariously botched fireball incident, and one of the worst matches in WCW history as Hogan got his win back at the 1998 Halloween Havoc. After years of being estranged from and vilified by what’s now known as World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), the Ultimate Warrior was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, buried the hatchet with Hogan, and gave a stirring speech to his fans that became disturbingly prophetic after he was found dead the very next day.

My Rating:

Rating: 3 out of 5.

Pretty Good

What did you think to the “The Ultimate Challenge” at WrestleMania VI? Were you a fan of the Ultimate Warrior back in the day and excited to see his big win? Do you think the match should’ve been altered to play into Hellwig’s strengths? Were you surprised when Hogan kicked out of the Ultimate Warrior’s finisher? What did you think to the Ultimate Warrior’s title reign and how should it have been done differently? Were you happy to see the Ultimate Warrior honoured by the WWE after so many years of animosity? How are you celebrating WrestleMania’s anniversary this year and what’s your favourite WrestleMania moment? Let me know your thoughts and memories of this iconic clash, support me on Ko-Fi, and be sure to check out my other wrestling content across the site.

Wrestling Recap: Savage vs. Hogan (WrestleMania V)

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The Date: 2 April 1989
The Venue: Boardwalk Hall/Trump Plaza; Atlantic City, New Jersey
The Commentary: Gorilla Monsoon and Jesse “The Body” Ventura
The Referee: Dave Hebner
The Stakes: Singles match for the WWF Championship

The Build-Up:
Vince McMahon gambled it all with WrestleMania. The event aired on 31 March 1985 and was seen by an unprecedented one million+ viewers and ultimately altered the wrestling landscape by bringing in some of the biggest names in wrestling, music, sports, and television. Now regarded as the biggest wrestling event in the industry, WrestleMania has become synonymous with career-defining matches and iconic “WrestleMania Moments”, with easily one of the most dramatic of these being the implosion of the “Mega Powers”, a super-team comprised of “The Immortal” Hulk Hogan and the WWF Champion, “Macho Man” Randy Savage. After previously being fierce rivals, Hogan and Savage first joined forces in 1987 at Saturday Night’s Main Event XII after Savage’s wife, Miss Elizabeth, recruited Hogan to help Savage fend off the Honky Tonk Man and the Hart Foundation. Sealing their partnership with a dramatic handshake, the Mega Powers teamed from 1987 to 1989, clashing with Hogan’s long-time rival, the “Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase, and Hogan even helping his friend capture the WWF Championship at WrestleMania IV. However, cracks began to form in their partnership after Savage grew increasingly jealous and justifiably concerned about Hogan’s intentions towards Miss Elizabeth. After Hogan accidentally tossed Savage from the 1989 Royal Rumble match and then abandoned Savage during a tag team match at The Main Event II to get Miss Elizabeth to safety, Savage confronted his partner backstage. Despite Hogan and Miss Elizabeth’s best efforts, the furious Savage physically and verbally assaulted Hogan and Miss Elizabeth, dissolving the Mega Powers and leading to Hogan challenging Savage to this championship match to settle the score in what’s often touted as one of the best examples of long-term storytelling in wrestling.

The Match:
Even to this day, I find it baffling that the WWF decided to make Randy Savage the bad guy in this feud. Sure, the idea of Hulk Hogan turning heel was preposterous at the time, but Savage had every right to be suspicious of Hogan. Still, Savage’s turn into a neurotic, paranoid, jealous and obsessive character certainly fed into his already unhinged persona, though I think it was equally ridiculous not to change up his colourful ring attire and entrance music. Despite Savage being fully justified in attacking Hogan, the crowd were firmly against the champion, who notably came out alone since Miss Elizabeth chose to stand in a neutral corner during the match as she was loyal to both men. Ventura wasted no time in joining Savage in chastising Miss Elizabeth, branding her a “gold digger” who’ll favour whoever wins, a “smart” strategy according to Gorilla Monsoon considering the awkward position she’s found herself in. Hogan (labelled “Lust Hogan” by Ventura, who doesn’t hold back in criticising the Hulkster), still as popular as ever, marched to the ring and immediately riled Savage up with his posing and pageantry, to the point where Savage was ready to whack his friend-turned-foe with the championship belt! After handing the belt over to referee Dave Hebner, Savage whipped Hogan into a frenzy by slipping out of the ring and posing on the turnbuckles before the Mega Powers finally got into it. Overwhelmed by Hogan’s power, the champion retreated to the ring apron to keep some distance, again slipping to the outside after being floored by a shoulder block. When they tied up again, Savage gained an advantage with an eye rake and continued to psych Hogan out, leading to the challenger to chase the champion around the ring and Savage to use Miss Elizabeth as a human shield!

Savage riled Hogan up at every turn and and kept him grounded with dull rest holds.

With Ventura awkwardly advocating for spousal abuse and Savage inviting Hogan back into the ring, the challenger surprisingly kept Savage at bay with some wrestling fundamentals, favouring takedowns and headlocks, only to be planted with a back body drop. After avoiding a running elbow drop, Hogan resorted to throwing “illegal […] closed fists”, leading to another eye rake from Savage and a top-rope double axe handle for the first near fall of the match. Savage employed his own ground game with an arm bar, planting a knee into Hogan’s face and grabbing his hair to add insult to injury, only for Hogan to rally and send Savage flying through the ropes. After quickly tossing the champion back into the ring, Hogan rammed his face into the top turnbuckles and planted him with a clothesline, two elbow drops, and an eye rake of his own. However, Savage countered with a boot and brought Hogan down for another two count before slapping on a chin lock to the now-bloodied Hogan. Both men seemed extremely gassed and were sweating profusely despite the slow pace of the match as Savage maintained the hold, before the “Pukesters” encouraged Hogan back to his feet. This time, Hogan caught Savage’s kick, hit an atomic drop, but missed another running elbow. Savage quickly capitalised by shoving Hogan chest-first into a corner and trying to score a cheap victory off a roll up and a handful of tights, but the Hulkster still kicked out at two. Frustrated, the Macho Man redoubled his attack, throwing Hogan from corner to corner and targeting the cut above Hogan’s eye. Stomping on Hogan’s hand and delivering a disrespectful slap to his face, Savage basked in his glory and paid for it when Hogan rallied with a beatdown in the corner, only to suffer some kind of arm injury when clotheslining the champion. Regardless, Hogan easily lifted Savage and dumped him to the outside in an impressive show of strength. After aggressively waving off Miss Elizabeth’s help, Savage hit an eye poke and eventually shoved Hogan off a ring post after Miss Elizabeth caused Hogan to hesitate from hurting her man. After Savage couldn’t help but get in Miss Elizabeth’s face and chastise her, the referee sent her to the back to keep her from distracting from the match and Savage continued his methodical attack against his former partner.

Savage’s ground game and Diving Elbow naturally led to Hulk rallying and scoring the victory.

After landing a beautiful axe handle off the top rope and to the outside, Savage tossed Hogan back in the ring and began targeting his throat, using the ropes to his advantage and landing stiff elbow shots to his opponent. A quick scoop slam led to a standing splash and another two count before Savage took a page out of Ventura’s playbook to choke Hogan with his wrist tape. After choking Hogan to the canvas, the Macho Man went to the top rope and hit his gorgeous Diving Elbow…only for Hogan to power out and start “Hulking Up!” Despite Savage’s best shots, Hogan wouldn’t be deterred; he shrugged off every blow and dropped the champion with a big boot. The Atomic Leg Drop followed soon after and signalled the end of the match after Hogan pinned the champion for the three count. Naturally, the crowd erupted in cheers and applause as Hogan clumsily strapped the belt to his waist, Ventura just about had a coronary, and the Macho Man stormed from the ring in humiliation and rage, leaving Hogan to pose and play to his very vocal fans. This one was pretty decent, but still the same, tired Hogan formula. Hogan took quite a beating here and Savage looked pretty strong as he targeted Hogan’s wound and wore down the Hulkster with chin locks, takedowns, and repeatedly fleeing from the ring. Unfortunately, these elements dragged the match out way too much for me. I was expecting a bit more aggression and agility from the Macho Man, only to be frustrated by rest holds as the two obviously gassed competitors fought for breath. I was also disappointed that Miss Elizabeth didn’t factor into the match, or the ending, more, and that Hogan was dominated the entire time but won without any real issue in the end. I would’ve liked to see a bit more energy, some more moves being thrown, and to see Savage dodge the Atomic Leg Drop, miss a second Elbow Drop, and then take the fall…but I guess that didn’t work for Hogan, brother.

The Aftermath:
Despite his emphatic win, this wouldn’t be the end of the issues between the former Mega Powers. After Hulk Hogan starred in the much-maligned No Holds Barred (Wright, 1989), the Macho Man brought in Hogan’s co-star, Tom “Tiny” Lister, Jr., as his film character, Zeus, to battle Hogan and his friend, Brutus “The Barber” Beefcake at the 1989 SummerSlam and in a tag team steel cage match at the 19989 No Holds Barred: The Match/The Movie event. The Mega Powers collided for the WWF Championship once more at The Main Event III and, though Savage lost the match, he eventually aligned with Sensational Sherri, won the 1989 King of the Ring (transforming into the unhinged “Macho King” in the process) and eventually had an emotional reunion with Miss Elizabeth at WrestleMania VII, despite being forced to retire after losing to the Ultimate Warrior. However, disagreeing that his in-ring career was over, Savage followed Hogan’s example and jumped ship to World Championship Wrestling (WCW), eventually becoming WCW Champion and not only reforming the Mega Powers with Hogan but also fighting alongside him in the New World Order (nWo). However, the two eventually butted heads when “Hollywood” Hogan’s ego wouldn’t allow him to see anyone but him become WCW Champion, leading to Savage dropping the belt to his old rival and splintering off from the nWo with first the Wolfpac and then “Team Madness”. Their fates seemingly entwined, Hogan and Savage eventually found themselves on the same side with Vince Russo and Eric Bischoff rallied WCW’s young up-and-comers into a power-hungry group, though the company dissolved before he could really get involved. Although Randy Savage had a brief (and disastrous) appearance during Total Non Stop Action’s (TNA) early run under the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA), he wasn’t there when Hogan was present, though he and Hogan continued to be on-again, off-again friends and rivals over the years, with the Macho Man even recording an infamous rap track chastising the Hulkster! After tragically passing away from a heart attack in 2011, Savage was posthumously inducted into the WWF Hall of Fame (after a lengthy absence due to a strained relationship with Vince McMahon) and fondly remembered by many, including Hogan, as one of wrestling’s all-time greats.

My Rating:

Rating: 3 out of 5.

Pretty Good

What did you think to the dramatic showdown between the Mega Powers? Do you agree that Savage was justified in suspecting and attacking Hogan? Were you disappointed that the match was more mind games and rest holds? Would you have liked to see Miss Elizabeth play a bigger role in the finish? Which of Hogan and Savage’s many matches was your favourite? Can you name a match between former tag team partners that you enjoyed? How are you celebrating WrestleMania’s anniversary this year? Leave your comments about this classic WrestleMania match below, support me on Ko-Fi, and be sure to check out my other wrestling content across the site.

Wrestling Recap [3:16 Day]: Austin vs. Bret Hart (WrestleMania 13)

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“Talk about your psalms, talk about “John 3:16”…Austin 3:16 says I just whupped your ass!”

With those immortal words, spoken by the legendary pro wrestler “Stone Cold” Steve Austin after winning the King of the Ring tournament on 23 June 1996, a momentous wrestling career was about to unfold before our eyes that would see everyone’s favourite beer-swigging, finger-gesturing anti-hero become not just an industry icon but a mainstream icon as well. Here’s to yah, Steve!

The Date: 23 March 1997
The Venue: Rosemont Horizon; Rosemont, Illinois
The Commentary: Jim “J.R.” Ross, Jerry “The King” Lawler, and Vince McMahon
The Referee: “The World’s Most Dangerous Man” Ken Shamrock (guest)
The Stakes: No disqualification submission match

The Build-Up:
Contrary to popular relief, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin’s rise to the top of what was then known as the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) didn’t happen with his infamous “Austin 3:16” promo. After shedding his awful “Ringmaster” persona and winning the 1996 King of the Ring tournament, Austin made a name for himself as a no-nonsense badass during his controversial feud with former tag team partner “The Loose Cannon” Brian Pillman before punching his ticket to a WWF Championship match at WrestleMania 13 by winning the 1997 Royal Rumble. However, this victory was tainted as Austin had already been eliminated by Bret “The Hitman” Hart, leading to Austin’s first-ever main event match at In Your House 13: Final Four for the vacant championship. Since a knee injury saw Austin eliminated in the early-going, the Texas Rattlesnake bit back by costing Bret the WWF Championship, kick-started a prolonged feud between the two that would drastically alter their careers. The son of wrestling legend and hard-nosed trainer Stu Hart, Bret Hart first made his mark in the WWF as part of the Hart Foundation before graduating to notable singles success with his award-winning Intercontinental Championship run. Regarded as the “Excellence of Execution”, Bret eventually became WWF Champion following a shift in direction after a steroid scandal before clashing with brother Owen and pushing himself to the limit in a heated rivalry with the “Heartbreak Kid” Shawn Michaels. Following his WrestleMania XII loss, Bret took a hiatus and, upon declining a big payday from rival company World Championship Wrestling (WCW), returned to answer cocksure Austin’s challenge following his King of the Ring win. Frustrated at being overlooked and the fickle fans cheering such an uncouth anti-hero, Bret began one of the greatest turns towards the dark side in wrestling history and was set on a collision course with Austin, who was on the precipice of greatness.

The Match:
The introductory package for this classic, career-making match is heavily focused on Bret Hart’s displeasure with the direction the WWF was taking at the time and the lack of respect he felt he deserved for his in-ring ability. While Bret was absolutely justified in questioning this treatment, and Steve Austin’s rude, foul-mouthed attitude, the crowd knew who they wanted to cheer and Bret was largely seen as a “cry-baby”, leading to Bret lashing out at everyone and anyone, including WWF Chairman Vince McMahon, to get his respect. This pivotal match in Austin’s career stood out not just for the storyline surrounding it and the memorable ending, or for introducing Ken Shamrock to WWF audiences, but also for Austin’s iconic glass breaking entrance, which perfectly summed up his no-nonsense persona. Indeed, while he was universally cheered at this time, Austin was no baby kissing, hand shaking babyface and instead treated them with the same disdain and hostility as he did special guest referee Ken Shamrock. This was in contrast to Bret, who still had his fans on this night and who still gifted his sunglasses to a kid in the front row, but I find it incredibly ironic that McMahon called out Bret’s abusive behaviour and volatile attitude when many of this mannerisms and aspects (especially Bret’s contempt for McMahon) would be so integral to Austin’s developing, anti-authoritarian character. As if getting in Shamrock’s face wasn’t enough, the Rattlesnake demonstrated that he had no fear and far less respect for Bret by pouncing on the Hitman and pummelling him with punches the moment he got into the ring. For his part, Bret answered back with shots of his own, leading to the two rolling around like crocodiles wrestling for territory and spilling to the outside to exchange blows. Although Bret sent Austin flying into a ring post, Austin answered back by dumping him crotch-first on the security railing and then clotheslining him into the crowd. The camera struggled to follow the brawl, which saw Bret drenched in beer, Austin back body dropped onto the steps following a piledriver attempt, and Bret land a flimsy-looking fist drop off a guard rail jump.

Some ringside brawling, chair shots, and innovative offense saw Austin on the backfoot at the start.

Once back at ringside, Austin whipped Bret knee-first into the ring steps, though Bret saved himself from further harm by kicking Austin’s knee out from under him. Once the two returned to the ring, Bret nailed a neckbreaker and an elbow drop from the second rope, before focusing his attack on Austin’s knee and leg in preparation for his patented Sharpshooter. With Austin grounded, Hart pounded, wrenched, and “dissected” Austin’s knee, causing the Rattlesnake to stumble and be spitefully kicked to the canvas whenever he fought to his feet. Even when Stone Cold hit a desperation Stone Cold Stunner to create some distance, it didn’t matter as Bret was right back up and soon had Austin’s legs tied around a ring post with a modified Figure Four Leglock! Despite the agony and the additional leverage afforded by the move, Austin refused to tap out to the hold, so the Hitman tossed his opponent into the ring and brought a steel chair and the ring bell into the match. Bret looped Austin’s bad leg into the chair and teased leaping off the top rope, looking to break Austin’s limb, only for Stone Cold to scramble to his feet and send Bret tumbling from the top rope with a chair shot to the head! Austin then continued the assault, whacking the chair over Bret’s spine and assaulting his foe with slams, whips, and suplexes, firmly targeting the Hitman’s back and landing a sneaky stomp to Bret’s balls to add insult to injury. Despite attacking Bret’s spine, Austin locked in a modified arm lock and seemingly forgot his leg, landing an elbow drop off the second rope and applying a Boston Crab. Despite the pressure, Bret hauled himself to the bottom rope to break the hold (something that shouldn’t have counted as this was a no disqualification match), so Austin tried to slap on the Sharpshooter. However, a thumb to the eye put a stop to that and, though Bret was soon launched to the outside, the Hitman continued his comeback by tossing Austin into the timekeeper’s table and busting him open with closed fists to the forehead.

Austin’s sheer tenacity saw fans turn on Bret and applaud and Stone Cold’s defiant attitude.

Bret maliciously targeted the wound, causing blood to gush from Austin’s forehead, while being sure to work over Austin’s whole body with a backbreaker, another second rope elbow drop, and repeated strikes to Austin’s injured knee with the steel chair. However, Austin frantically fought Bret off when he tried to apply the Sharpshooter and the match descended into a brawl in the corner once again, which ended with a swift kick to the Hitman’s balls! Groggy and suffering, Stone Cold whipped Bret sternum-first into the corner and then stomped a mudhole in the Hitman’s ass (and walked it dry!) in the opposite corner before hitting a top-rope suplex. His face the literal crimson mask, Austin choked Bret with an electrical cord and received a shot to the head with the ring bell in recompense! The Hitman wasted no time in applying the Sharpshooter right in the centre of the ring, locking it in tight and giving Austin nowhere to go. Shamrock dropped to the mat and frantically asked Austin if he wanted to submit, but the Rattlesnake stubbornly refused and desperately tried to ease the pressure, almost powering his way out of it to chants of “Austin! Austin!” and delivering one of the most iconic WrestleMania visuals ever: his screaming, bloody face. In the end, Austin patently refused to tap out or submit and, as a result, eventually blacked out to the pain, losing the match but leaving Bret visibly frustrated since he couldn’t secure the tap out. Bret then took his frustrations out on Austin’s leg, forcing Shamrock to take him down and solidifying perhaps the greatest double turn in the history of wrestling as the crowd unanimously booed Bret and applauded Austin’s resolve! I’m gonna be honest and say that, as much as I like Austin, a lot of his matches can be very formulaic as he primarily relied on brawling and ringside shenanigans. However, this really showcased how his more in-your-face style can nicely compliment a more technical mat wrestler. The story of Austin not knowing any submission holds meant it made perfect sense for him to rely on weapons and underhanded tactics, while Bret’s clinical targeting of his foe’s limbs showed just how methodical the Hitman was and how resilient the Rattlesnake was!

The Aftermath:
This wouldn’t be the end of the rivalry between Stone Cold and Bret Hart, but it did signal a change in their dynamic since Bret was now a dastardly, besmirched heel and Austin was a tenacious babyface. Bret brought in his friends and family to re-form the Hart Foundation to escalate the feud, resulting in another inconclusive finish when the British Bulldog attacked Austin with a steel chair at In Your House 14: Revenge of the ’Taker. However, Austin got the last laugh when he fought off the Hart Foundation and even locked Bret into the Sharpshooter, resulting in ten-man tag team match at In Your House 16: Canadian Stampede. Airing in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, the Hart Foundation were cheered as national heroes and ultimately defeated Steve Austin’s team and had the Rattlesnake arrested after he attacked them at the end of the match. The matches between Austin, his allies, and the Hart Foundation earned them the Wrestling Observer Newsletter’s “Feud of the Year” award and Bret Pro Wrestling Illustrated’s “Most Hated Wrestler of the Year” award, though it’s surprising to see that Austin was on the losing end of the feud. Austin and Bret’s issues fizzled out by the 1997 SummerSlam, which kick-started Bret’s long and troubled road back into the fan’s hearts, towards the WWF Championship and, ultimately out of the company. Austin pivoted into feuding with Bret’s brother, Owen Hart, for the Intercontinental Championship, resulting in a sickening injury that shaved years off his career. Thanks to this incident putting Austin on the shelf for some time, and the cataclysmic fallout of the “Montreal Screwjob”, Austin and Bret never wrestled each other again, though both men looked back on this match fondly and regarded it as one of the best matches of their respective careers.

My Rating:

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Great Stuff

What did you think to the Submission Match between Steve Austin and Bret Hart at WrestleMania 13? Which man were you rooting for at the time, and did your perception of one or both change after the match? What did you think to Austin’s crowd brawling and Bret’s more systematic attack? Can you name another double turn like this, or a similar bloody visual as Austin’s face? How are you celebrating 3:16 Day this year, what are some of your favourite matches and moments from Austin’s illustrious career? What dream match would you have liked to see him involved in? Let me know what you think about “Stone Cold” Steve Austin down in the comments, send me £3.16 on Ko-Fi, and go check out my other wrestling content across the site!

Wrestling Recap: Hogan vs. André (WrestleMania III)

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The Date: 29 March 1987
The Venue: Pontiac Silverdome; Pontiac, Michigan
The Commentary: Gorilla Monsoon and Jesse “The Body” Ventura
The Referee: Joey Marella
The Stakes: Singles match for the WWF Championship

The Build-Up:
On 31 March 1985, Vince McMahon gambled it all on WrestleMania, an event seen by over one million viewers that changed the face of the wrestling landscape forever by bringing together the biggest names in wrestling alongside numerous celebrity guests. Now regarded as the premier wrestling event, WrestleMania eventually became known for career-defining matches and iconic “WrestleMania Moments”, with perhaps the first and most memorable of these moments coming in this titanic clash between “The Eighth Wonder of the World” André the Giant and “The Immortal” Hulk Hogan. Born in Coulommiers, Seine-et-Marne and suffering from gigantism, the physically imposing yet kind hearted Andre became a larger than life attraction thanks to some clever booking and sensationalist claims. Just in the build up to this match alone, André was said to have been undefeated for fifteen years and to have never been slammed, to say nothing of the dramatic claims regarding WrestleMania III’s attendance figures! Still, with André’s health failing and his body deteriorating, the then-World Wrestling Federation (WWF) sowed the seeds of dissent between the giant and the Hulkster after Hogan was presented with an award for this three-year reign as WWF Champion. Unimpressed that his own trophy was much smaller and annoyed at Hogan stealing his spotlight, André shocked the world by aligning with Hogan’s long-time nemesis, Bobby “The Brain” Heenan, and challenging Hogan to a match for the belt, dramatically tearing the shirt and crucifix off the stunned Hogan in the process. The clash between the “Irresistible Force” and the “Immoveable Object” has since gone down as one of the most definitive and iconic WrestleMania matches of all time despite (or, perhaps, because of) Hogan’s wild claims regarding the contest.

The Match:
While a lot of this era of wrestling hasn’t aged too well, and the quality of the in-ring work doesn’t quite match a lot of the work horses who thrill us today, it can’t be denied that there was a certain energy about the business during this time. Hulkamania truly was running wild back then and Hulk Hogan was peerless at the top of the mountain for his iconic and celebrated status, which took wrestling into the mainstream and catapulted the WWF to greater heights back in the day. Also, while it’s symptomatic of André’s failing health, I really dig the old motorised carts that brought some of the larger Superstars to the ring during this time. But, getting back to the energy, you can practically feel the atmosphere oozing from the raucous crowd as Hogan and André stand toe-to-toe at the start of the match. Today, this stare down would garner a “This is awesome!” but, back then, the crowd simply ate up the anticipation of seeing these two larger-than-life titans squaring off in the middle of the ring. One thing I loved about this tense moment was that Hogan worked himself into a frenzy talking smack to André and shaking with rage at the big man’s actions, while André stayed completely stoic and simply swatted the Hulkster away like a gnat. This led to Hogan landing blow after blow to André’s massive head, which the giant no-sold, and to the Hulkster being crushed when he tried and failed to slam André. Though he squirmed out of the pin fall, much to André’s surprise, Hogan began favouring his lower back, which the giant immediately homed in on with plodding kicks and blows. André dictated the pace, easily toying with and manhandling Hogan and taunting him, humbling the champion and making him seem small. André flung Hogan from corner to corner, pounding his abdomen with his hips, but was stunned when Hogan dodged a headbutt and caused André to slam into the ring post.

An iconic clash, to be sure, but a plodding match handicapped by André’s ill health.

Hogan mounted a comeback consisting of blows to the head and shots to the chest, repeatedly slamming André’s forehead off the top turnbuckle pad, before being taken down with a lumbering big boot. André gave Hogan a receipt for those chops and clamped down hard with a bearhug for what felt like an ice age. Eventually, Hogan seemingly succumbed to the agony but, just as his arm was being raised for the third time, Hogan rallied, feeding off the energy of the crowd, and forced André to release the hold with yet more fists to the face. Hogan’s attempts to shoulder tackle André down were akin to running into a brick wall and, again, Hogan was taken down with a big chop. A simple, clumsy kick to the gut sent Hogan to the outside, where André again ate the ring post thanks to Hogan’s wiles. Hogan then pulled up the protective mat at ringside and threatened to hit a piledriver, only to be awkwardly dumped to the concrete. André dumped the champion back into the ring, missed a kick, and finally fell to the canvas from a clothesline. Fuelled by this small victory, Hogan “Hulked Up”, the crowd on their feet and in an uproar, and finally delivered the body slam heard around the world! Hogan then flew off the ropes with the Atomic Leg Drop and scored the pinfall, securing the WWF Championship and drinking in the adulation of his fans as André and Heenan were sent scurrying to the back. I talked about “energy” and “atmosphere” at the start of this review and this match is perhaps the greatest example of style over substance as there really was nothing to it. It’s not André’s fault, the guy was clearly struggling, was basically immobile, and was clearing in a lot of pain, but I don’t think enough smoke and mirrors were used to cover for that. I enjoyed seeing him toy with and humiliate Hogan, putting a hurting on the champion and dominating him, but Hogan’s comeback barely dealt any damage, leaving the ending a bit flat for me. A shot with the ring bell, belt, or a chair or seeing André make a massive mistake might’ve helped with this. The only reason this match gets two stars is because of how iconic the body slam, the stare down, and the atmosphere were. Strip that away and it’s a dull, slow, repetitive match that I’d say barely qualifies as a contest.

The Aftermath:
Despite André the Giant’s clearly failing health, this match wasn’t the end of his in-ring career. André and Hulk Hogan squared off again almost one year later at The Main Event I in a match for the WWF Championship that saw André finally end Hogan’s incredible run with the belt thanks to the “Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase bribing crooked referee Earl Hebner. As part of this deal, André sold the belt to DiBiase, though faux WWF President Jack Tunney overruled this and declared the title to be vacant. This led to a fourteen-man tournament that culminated at WrestleMania IV, where Hogan and André faced each other once more. This time, weapons were involved in the match and resulted in both men being disqualified. However, when André accompanied DiBiase to the ring for the final match of the tournament, Hogan evened the odds, allowing his friend and tag team partner, “Macho Man” Randy Savage, to capture the WWF Championship. After Hogan defeated André once again in a steel cage match, he moved on to his Mega Powers super-team and subsequent feud with the Macho Man. André, meanwhile, fought the likes Jake “The Snake” Roberts, revealing he was deathly afraid of snakes and the Ultimate Warrior, formed an intimidating tag team with Haku, and finally turned back to the light side after having enough of Heenan’s foul treatment. From there, André made sporadic appearances in America and Japan, before finally passing away in 1993 and becoming the first-ever inductee in the WWF Hall of Fame. As for Hogan, he milked this contest for all its worth, revisiting it during his World Championship Wrestling (WCW) run in matches against the Giant (initially billed as André’s son) and elaborating upon the match more and more as the years went on.

My Rating:

Rating: 2 out of 5.

Could Be Better

What did you think to the iconic clash between André the Giant and Hulk Hogan? Do you think this is the best WrestleMania Moment? Did you enjoy seeing Hogan on the backfoot for most of the match? What did you think to the ending, and do you agree that the match lacked substance? Which of Hogan and André’s matches was your favourite? How are you celebrating WrestleMania’s anniversary this year and what’s your favourite WrestleMania match? Let me know what you think in the comments below, support me on Ko-Fi, and go check out my other wrestling content across the site.

Wrestling Recap: Hogan/Mr. T vs. Piper/Orndorff (WrestleMania)

Dr. K8 Comments

The Date: 31 March 1985
The Venue: Madison Square Garden; New York City
The Commentary: Gorilla Monsoon and Jesse “The Body” Ventura
The Referee: Muhammad Ali and Pat Patterson
The Stakes: Tag team grudge match

The Build-Up:
The origins of the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), now known worldwide as World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), can be traced back to the 1950s. Despite some uncertainty about which McMahon founded the company, Vince McMahon Sr. is the one most closely associated with its early success. Initially working alongside the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA), then then-World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF) established itself as as one of many wrestling territories. While McMahon Sr. resisted involving his son, the more well-known and controversial Vince McMahon, the younger McMahon forced himself into the business, eventually buying out his father and putting local territories out of business with an aggressive expansion plan. McMahon brought in Hulk Hogan and established a strong working relationship with hip, relevant celebrity stars to put the WWF in the public eye, but risked total ruin by planning the biggest pay-per-view event in wrestling history, WrestleMania. McMahon pulled out all the stops for the event, roping in celebrity appearances from the likes of Cyndi Lauper and A-Team (1983 to 1987) superstar Mr. T, who became embroiled in Hogan’s issues with “Rowdy” Roddy Piper after Hogan and Mr. T appeared in Rocky III (Stallone, 1982). After Piper grew increasingly aggressive and outspoken about the “Rock ‘n’ Wrestling” era, he inevitably crossed paths with Hogan, easily the biggest wrestling star in the world at that time, leading to Hogan teaming with Mr. T to face Piper and his bodyguard, “Cowboy” Bob Orton, in the main event of the first-ever WrestleMania. Seen by over one million viewers, WrestleMania was the largest wrestling event on closed-circuit television in the United States and changed the face of the industry, ultimately becoming the biggest event not just for the WWE, but the entire wrestling world.

The Match:
Vince McMahon certainly brought in all the stars of the day for the first-ever WrestleMania. It wasn’t enough to have Mr. T fighting by “The Immortal” Hulk Hogan’s side or to have boxing legend Muhammad Ali as one of the two special guest referees, but baseball legend Billy Martin acted as the special guest ring announcer, Liberace as the special guest time keeper (after having a boogie with the Rockettes), and Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka and Bob Orton (cast and all) walked to the ring alongside Hogan and Mr. T and the “Hot Rod” Roddy Piper and “Mr, Wonderful” Paul Orndorff, respectively. While all this pomp and circumstance and these celebrity appearances may seem egregious today, the crowd went absolutely nuts for Liberace and Muhammad Ali, to say nothing of the ovation Hulk Hogan and Mr. T got. Piper and Orndorff came to the ring with a marching band almost drowned out by a sea of boos, while Hogan and Mr. T soaked in the adulation of the braying crowd during the lengthy introductions. Undeterred by Orndorff’s antics with a Singapore cane, Hogan goaded Orndorff to face him but then encouraged him to tag in Piper at the start of the match. However, when Mr. T begged and pleaded to get in the ring and kick things off, Hogan happily obliged. Disgusted by Mr. T’s presence and the chanting from the crowd, Piper went nose to nose with the tough guy actor and finally got things started with a slap fest. When Mr. T kicked Piper in the gut, the Hot Rod took him to the mat with some fundamentals but was left frustrated and humiliated when Mr. T slipped out of the situation. Determined to humble Mr. T, Piper tried for a headlock, only to be hoisted into a fireman’s carry and pumped to the mat like “yesterday’s newspaper”!

Despite a good showing from Mr. T, this was a mediocre affair focused more on its guest stars.

This caused an all-out brawl as all the competitors and their ring men threw hands, with only Muhammad Ali able to maintain order, forcing the heel team to take a powder at the crowded ringside. After teasing a walk out, Piper and Orndorff returned to the ring to continue the brawl, with Hogan and Mr. T forcing their opponents to butt heads and Hogan single-handedly taking down both his foes. Despite an eye rake, Hogan tagged in Mr. T and the two continued to dominate Piper, who took a couple of nice slams from the actor before Hogan re-entered the ring. A big boot from Hogan sent Piper flying to the outside so Orndorff retaliated by sending Hogan out after him with a clothesline, allowing Piper to slam a steel chair across the Hulkster’s spine! With Patterson and Ali struggling to keep things under control, Piper maintained the advantage by choking Hogan on the ropes and allowing Orndorff to put the boots to the icon. Frustrated and eager to end the assault, Mr. T rushed the ring, ultimately causing more harm than good as Hogan took a double atomic drop, some spiteful boots from Piper, and a suplex. Orndorff continued the assault with some theatrical punches, though Hogan easily kicked out at “two-and-a-quarter” so Orndorff steadied him for a top-rope elbow from Piper. Although Orndorff scored with a backbreaker, Hogan avoided a top rope dive and brought in Mr. T, who targeted his foes’ eyes before receiving a beatdown. After an awkward exchange between Mr. T and Orndorff, Piper returned to the ring to keep Mr. T grounded with a front facelock. Still, Mr. T powered his way to the corner and brought in Hogan, then saved Hogan from a shot from Piper. Although Orndorff locked Hogan in a full nelson, the Hulkster swung his opponent into the path of Orton’s diving cast shot, which was enough to score him the three count.

The Aftermath:
Despite this abrupt end and the short length of the match, the crowd seemed very happy with what they watched. They were on their feet and making noise from the moment the celebrities arrived, to say nothing of seeing their hero, Hulk Hogan. Piper fled in disgrace, leaving the disorientated Orndorff to be ejected from the ring so Hogan could pose with his allies, to the delight of the crowd. Despite their energy, however, and a decent showing from Mr. T (who showcased some impressive power and ring skills, despite his limitations), this was a really weak match. More time was spent on the elaborate introductions and stalling than actually wrestling, potentially to account for Mr. T’s weaknesses, and the ending fell really flat for me. still. One million buys can’t be wrong, though, and the event did what it was supposed to do: it put the WWF on the map and kick-start an annual tradition that is now the biggest and most extravagant wrestling production of all time! Although Orndorff turned to the side of good following this match and Piper’s ill treatment of him, even teaming with Hogan a few times, Piper’s issues with the Hulkster and Mr. T resurfaced after the Hot Rod started training Orton as a boxer. This culminated in a match between Orton and Mr. T at Saturday Night’s Main Event V and, ultimately a poorly received boxing match between Mr. T and Piper at WrestleMania 2 that saw Piper get disqualified. The animosity between Hogan and Piper would last for decades, with the two meeting in contests in both the WWF and World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and Piper even making a surprise return at WrestleMania XIX to unsuccessfully try and screw over Hogan one more time. This wouldn’t be the last time we saw Mr. T in a wrestling ring, either. Not only did he compete and the next WrestleMania, as mentioned, but he also acted as a special guest referee/enforcer and guest competitor in the WWF and WCW, before being infamously inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2014.

My Rating:

Rating: 2 out of 5.

Could Be Better

What did you think to the main event of the first-ever WrestleMania? Did you enjoy seeing the celebrities involved in the event? What did you think to Mr. T’s showing in the ring? Were you also disappointed that the match was more of a celebrity showcase than an engaging confrontation between the teams? Which of Hogan and Piper’s many matches was your favourite? How are you celebrating WrestleMania’s anniversary this year and what’s your favourite WrestleMania moment? Drop your thoughts below to let me know what you think about WrestleMania, support me on Ko-Fi, and be sure to check out my other wrestling content across the site.

Wrestling Recap: Sting vs. Triple H (WrestleMania ’15)

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The Date: 29 March 2015
The Venue: Levi’s Stadium; Santa Clara, California
The Commentary: Michael Cole, Jerry “The King” Lawler, and John “Bradshaw” Layfield/JBL
The Referee: Charles Robinson
The Stakes: No disqualification singles match

The Build-Up:
For an unprecedented eighty-four weeks, World Championship Wrestling (WCW) dominated the “Monday Night Wars” thanks to big-name star power, big-money contracts, and ground-breaking storylines involving the New World Order (nWo). During this time, Hulk Hogan, arguably wrestling’s greatest icon, experienced a career revival as the villainous “Hollywood” Hogan and his clash against WCW stalwart-turned-dark avenger Sting became the stuff of wrestling legend on this day in 1997. On 26 March 2001, the wrestling world changed forever when World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) bought WCW and claimed ultimate victory. However, while many WCW wrestlers jumped ship to the WWE for an ill-fated “Invasion” angle, Sting repeatedly turned down offers to join the WWE and instead spent nearly ten years signed with Total Nonstop Action (TNA). Over the years, WWE repeatedly tried to negotiate a contract and fans longed to see the Icon clash with the Undertaker in a dream match. However, it wouldn’t be until 2014, when Sting was shockingly announced to be included in WWE 2K15 (Yuke’s), that the WCW Icon finally decided to sign with the company. At the time, the WWE was in one of its worst ruts as weekly television was dominated by the Authority, a stable of wrestlers and corporate figureheads led by Triple H that routinely interrupted matches and quashed fan favourites. It was in the midst of a multi-man match against the Authority’s representatives that Sting finally made his presence felt. He debuted at the 2014 Survivor Series to help Dolph Ziggler fend off Triple H and pin Seth Rollins to remove the Authority from power. Although this only lasted for a few weeks, Triple H was incensed by Sting’s interference and challenged him to a face-to-face confrontation at Fastlane. Sting accepted and the two brawled, with the Icon besting Triple H’s signature sledgehammer. However, the simple story of Sting being a “vigilante” looking to oust Triple H from power was quickly muddled by the ridiculous decision to reframe the feud into a battle for the honour of the long-dead WCW.

The Match:
As a massive Sting fan, I was super pumped about him finally signing with WWE in 2014. Sure, he was getting on a bit but there were still so many opportunities for dream matches there, especially with a light schedule and a bit of smoke and mirrors. Sadly, things were kind of botched right from the start. After Sting helped remove the Authority from power, he really should have been placed as the replacement authority figure, one who favoured putting on interesting matches and seeing things go down in a fair and just way. Also, they never should have replaced his WCW music with that generic, awful quasi-goth metal track. I didn’t expect the WWE to pay for Metallica’s “Seek & Destroy” but they bought WCW, so they owned the rights to his original Crow music that is so iconic to the character, so they really should’ve used that. Finally, as much as I feel like Triple H vs. Sting was definitely a match to do while he was about, this is not the match people wanted to see. People wanted Sting vs. The Undertaker, even back in 2014, and I’ll never understand the decision to veto that in favour of this except to stroke the egos of a bitter Vince McMahon and the vindictive Triple H. Speaking of whom, the Game came to the ring following a pre-taped introduction by Arnold Schwarzenegger, flanked by T-800 endoskeletons, and decked out in Terminator-themed apparel that might’ve looked cool if the match hadn’t taken place in broad daylight! I get that this was a tie-in to the event’s sponsor, Terminator Genysis (Taylor, 2015), but it actually didn’t make much sense since the last time Schwarzenegger and Triple H interacted, the Austrian Oak slapped the shit out of the Game. Oh, and Triple H looked ridiculous in his cheap cosplay outfit, too. The bell hadn’t even rung before Michael Cole was repeating the ludicrous diatribe that Triple H’s goal was to destroy the last remnant of WCW. As if that wasn’t bad enough, JBL constantly kept ragging on Sting throughout the match, questioning his ability to hang in the WWE, and pretending like he’d been absent from the business for the last ten/fifteen years. Just absolutely pathetic stuff all around from the commentary team, really. WCW was dead and buried and Sting had a whole career after it, so all they succeeded at here was sending mixed messages about the legendary figure.

Sting dominated the early stages of the match until D-Generation X rushed the ring!

After milking a brief outburst of “This is awesome!” (which, to be fair, it kind of was because it was Sting at WrestleMania!), the two locked up. Sting knocked Triple H down with a shoulder block so the Game countered with another lock up to show some off his fundamentals and then hit a shoulder block of his own. Sting bounced back with a hip toss and a dropkick that sent Triple H scurrying into the corner as Sting pandered to the crowd to chants of “You still got it!” Though hesitant, Triple H engaged in another lockup, but this time he turned the match into a brawl. Sting shrugged off Triple H’s patented knee smash and sent him scrambling to the outside to avoid the Scorpion Death Lock. After clearing his head on the outside, Triple H returned to the ring to slug it out with Sting once more only to end up back outside after taking his little flip over the top rope off an Irish whip. This time, Sting followed but crashed and burned into the barricade when the Game dodged a Stinger Splash. Triple H chucked Sting shoulder-first into the ring steps and hefting him back into the ring with a suplex off the apron for a two count. Triple H maintained his dominance with some mounted punches, a whip into the corner, and relished in seeing Sting fall to his knees at his feet. After another near fall, Triple H slapped on a rest hold as, apparently, all this action was just two much for the competitors. When Sting tried to mount a comeback, the Game shut him down with his signature spinebuster for another two count before returning to his rest hold. This time, Sting fought out with the Scorpion Death Lock after countering a top rope attack. However, Triple H’s old D-Generation X buddies, “Bad Ass” Billy Gunn, “Road Dogg” Jesse James, and X-Pac, rushed the ring, forcing Sting to break the hold to fight them off. Sting even countered the Pedigree and launched Triple H from the ring, and then took all of D-X out with a top rope dive! Unfortunately, a momentary distraction from Billy Gunn was all the opportunity Triple H needed to plant Sting with the Pedigree but, incredibly, Sting got the shoulder up before the three count.

While faction warfare broke out at ringside, it was Triple H’s sledgehammer that made a chump of Sting.

Stunned, Triple H retrieved his sledgehammer from under the ring but he was interrupted by, of all people, “Hollywood” Hulk Hogan, Kevin Nash, and Scott Hall of the nWo! Yes, Sting’s long-time enemies, who he vehemently opposed during arguably the most memorable moments of his entire career, actually helped him! This led to an admittedly awesome moment as the nWo finally got into it with D-X, it just had no place being in this match as it made no sense for them to defend either him or the “honour” of the long-dead company. Regardless, in the chaos, Sting dropped Triple H with the Scorpion Death Drop for a two count. Sting then reapplied the Scorpion Death Lock and Hogan moved the sledgehammer out of Triple H’s reach, which really should’ve been the finish to the match. Instead, Triple H grabbed the ropes (which shouldn’t have counted as it was a no disqualification match…) and Sting was blasted by a Sweet Chin Music from the ”Heartbreak Kid” Shawn Michaels! Since Triple H was slow to cover, Sting kicked out, so D-X slid Triple H his sledgehammer and Sting’s hated enemy, Scott Hall, passed him his trusty baseball bat. Sting not only nailed Triple H with the bat, he also comically snapped his sledgehammer in two before unleashing a flurry of strikes in the corner. A Stinger Splash followed but, rather than hitting a second and bringing the match to a close in a feel-good moment, Triple H blasted Sting in the head with the tip of his sledgehammer and pinned him for the three count! To make matters worse, the two shook hands in a show of respect after a tense showdown between their factions! This match feels like it was put together by someone who had no idea about anything that happened in WCW and just wanted to see D-X and the nWo have a scuffle while putting the final nail in the coffin of the long-dead company. Sting looked pretty good but it was clear from the rest holds that he was getting a bit gassed by the middle and, honestly, this match should’ve made better use of the no disqualification stipulation to help with this. Instead, it was tonally all over the place, with Sting proving a daunting figure but being buried by JBL, him getting the better of Triple H but being beaten by a sledgehammer to the face, and then him shaking Triple H’s hand afterwards like he was beaten by the better man and not a brute who cheated to win.

The Aftermath:
Since Sting lost this match like a chump, Triple H and the Authority continued to dominate the WWE, especially as their golden boy, Seth Rollins, had captured the WWE World Heavyweight Championship in the main event of WrestleMania ’15. Thanks to having the Authority in his corner, Rollins successfully defended the WWE World Heavyweight Championship throughout the year and even toppled John Cena in the main event of that year’s SummerSlam. To honour him and his accomplishments, the Authority presented Rollins with a commemorative statue, but were stunned to find Sting in its place. Despite the fact that he lost his big match, Sting challenged Rollins for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at Night of Champions, a decision that would’ve made a lot more sense if Sting had won at WrestleMania ’15 and spent his time afterwards continuously opposing the remnants of the Authority. This also could’ve tied into Rollins’ later rivalry with Triple H as he could’ve claimed to beat the man who beat his mentor. Unfortunately, Night of Champions would spell the end of Sting’s in-ring WWE career as he suffered a debilitating neck injury from Rollin’s trademark Buckle Bomb. Although the remorseful Rollins got some flack for this (and, honestly, he really should’ve stopped using the move from that point), Sting maintained that it was a freak accident. Despite announcing his retirement during his induction to the WWE Hall of Fame, Sting jumped ship to All Elite Wrestling (AEW) in 2020, where he took on a mentor role to youngster Darby Allen and even returned to the ring for a handful of matches.

My Rating:

Rating: 3 out of 5.

Pretty Good

What did you think to Sting’s long-awaited WWE debut? Were you disappointed that he faced Triple H and not the Undertaker? What did you think to the involvement of D-X and the nWo and do you think it made sense for the nWo to help Sting? Were you annoyed by JBL’s commentary during the match and the anti-WCW narrative being told here? Did it annoy you that Sting lost and how do you feel about his time in the WWE? Whatever your thoughts on Sting, and this match in particular, feel free to voice them below and be sure to check out my other wrestling reviews!