wrestling recap

Wrestling Recap: Dreamer vs. Raven (Wrestlepalooza ’97)

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The Date: 6 June 1997
The Venue:  ECW Arena; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
The Stakes: Loser Leaves Town Match

The Commentary: Joey Styles and “Ravishing” Rick Rude
The Referee: Billy Silverman
Cagematch Rating: 7.79

The Build-Up:
After wrestling guru Paul Heyman established a cult following in Philadelphia, Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) produced their first-ever pay-per-view on this day in 1997. One of ECW’s biggest stars, Raven embarked on a lengthy and memorable feud with beloved underdog Tommy Dreamer that saw them fight over Beulah McGillicutty and Raven constantly best Dreamer. With ECW colliding with the then-World Wrestling Federation (WWF) and Raven due to leave for World Championship Wrestling (WCW), the two were set to end their personal feud in a match that would banish the loser from ECW.

The Match:
Accompanied to the ring with Chastity and Lupus from his extremist “Nest” stable, Raven was showered with jeers of “You sold out!” from the ECW faithful, who historically had no love for the “Big Two” of professional wrestling. Despite this, Raven remained focused on his lifelong rival, who came to the ring with the gorgeous Beulah McGillicutty, whom Tommy Dreamer had wooed away from Raven’s clutches prior to the match. The two rivals briefly went nose-to-nose once the bell rang and then circled each other apprehensively before Lupus awkwardly took to the microphone and urged his “boss” to simply walk away as he had no reason to fight and nothing to prove. Although Raven took the advice and fled the ring, Dreamer shoved Lupus and pursued his archenemy through the raucous crowd, ramming him into a shutter door and smashing a steel chair across his spine amidst the braying masses. Dreamer bashed a fan’s juice bottle over Raven’s head, took a swig, and spat the red liquid into Raven’s face before they tumbled off the bleachers and through a merchandise table. Raven recovered first but failed to drive the bloodied Dreamer through a table as the hardware tipped over, spilling both to the concrete. Undeterred, Raven forced Dreamer onto a small stage on the bleachers and suplexed a table onto him before propping it against the wall and driving Dreamer through it. Raven then set a second table up and tried for a piledriver, only to bounce his tailbone off the wood when Dreamer countered with a back body drop. However, Dreamer crashed through the wood when Raven rolled off to avoid a running jogging body splash, leaving Dreamer favouring his elbow as “The Franchise” Shane Douglas and Franchise gleefully watched on.

The animosity between Dreamer and Raven saw them brawl and employ any advantage they could.

Although Raven capitalised by tossing Dreamer into a steel barricade, Raven ate the metal and landed crotch-first on the barricade when Dreamer reversed a second attempt. Finally back at ringside, Dreamer planted Raven to the concrete with a running bulldog, splitting his forehead open, before tossing him into the crowd to whack a steel chair over Raven’s head. Fighting near the Philadelphia Eagles’ private box, Dreamer tried to haul Raven up a small ladder and ended up being dropped onto a vending machine and taking a few shots to the back from a steel chair. Once they returned to the ring, Raven tripped the dazed Dreamer into the chair with a drop-toe hold and dropped a fist to Dreamer’s balls. Raven then muscled Dreamer to the top rope and teased a superplex onto the chair. Although Dreamer fought back with a low blow, Tommy still took the bump when Raven tossed him from the top and into the chair with a Rocket Launcher, though Dreamer kicked out at two. Dreamer then countered a hip toss with a DDT and grabbed a fan’s sign, resulting in a tug of war that saw the referee get knocked down. Nevertheless, Dreamer bashed Raven with the sign and planted him with a piledriver onto it, only for Lupis to break up the cover and launch an ineffectual assault on Dreamer that Beulah ended with a DDT. Distracted by his woman, Dreamer got hit with a low blow and barely kicked out of a roll-up, only to return the favour and almost score the victory. Chasity then blasted Dreamer with hair spray for another near fall, leading to a cat fight between her and Beulah.

Sadly, Dreamer’s hard-fought victory over his rival was overshadowed by the WWF invasion angle.

When Raven pulled Beulah off and tried to reconcile with her, he took another shot to the balls and ate a DDT from Dreamer, though he still kicked out before the three. When Dreamer signalled for a second DDT, Raven muscled him into the corner, taking the referee out again so there was no one to count the pin when Dreamer hit the DDT. Dreamer’s other rival, Louie Spicolli, then attacked Dreamer with a DDT, only for Dreamer to kick out of Raven’s follow-up pin. Although Dreamer countered Spicolli’s Death Valley Driver, he got drilled with Raven’s beautiful Evenflow DDT…for a two count! When Raven tried for a second, Dreamer landed a Death Valley Driver and triumphantly stood over his exhausted rival before hitting a DDT to finally get the better of Raven. Tommy Dreamer’s hard-fought victory was short-lived, however, as “Mr. Monday Night” Rob Van Dam suddenly attacked, egged on by his ever-annoying manager, Bill Alfonso, and aided by “The Homicidal, Suicidal, Genocidal, Death–Defying Maniac” Sabu, who threw a chair in Dreamer’s face and joined the “Whole Dam Show” in stomping Dreamer as Raven wandered from the ring. When Dreamer fought back with a double DDT, Jerry “The King” Lawler arrived and had his cronies assault Dreamer and the ECW roster with boots and steel chairs as part of the WWF/ECW invasion angle. After finally getting the mic to work, Lawler mocked the crowd and ECW, before eventually being chased off by the “Human Suplex Machine” Taz. Sadly, this all completely distracted from what was supposed to be a massive win for Dreamer, though it was honestly more memorable than most of the match, which was mainly a messy brawl through the crowd more than a brutal and personal war between these two hated enemies.

The Aftermath:
As per the match stipulation, Tommy Dreamer’s victory saw Raven kicked out of ECW. He made his dramatic return to WCW later that same month, watching matches from ringside to scout recruits for his newest band of misfits, the Flock, who eventually secured him the WCW United States Heavyweight Championship in 1998. Dreamer was unsuccessful at getting payback on RVD and Sabu at the following month’s Orgy of Violence event as he and the Sandman were defeated by Lawler’s flunkies thanks to a surprise appearance by Jim Cornette. To make matters worse, Dreamer ended up in hospital getting his testicles drained after an errant low blow with a Singapore cane! This wasn’t the last time Dreamer and Raven crossed paths, however, as Raven was back in ECW by 1999 and unexpectedly won the World Tag Team Championship with his nemesis. When ECW folded in 2001, Raven and Dreamer ended up in the WWF prior to and during the ill-fated “Invasion” story. While they only had one match, it did result in Raven’s banishment to Heat being lifted…though Raven was released shortly after. Raven and Dreamer also fought with and against each other in Total Nonstop Action (TNA) and Pro Wrestling Superstars (PWS), but never recaptured the magic of their memorable and personal feud in ECW.

My Rating:

Rating: 2 out of 5.

Could Be Better

Did you enjoy this Loser Leaves Town match between Tommy Dreamer and Raven? Do you agree that their rivalry was a high point of ECW? Were you disappointed that so much of the match was basic brawling? What are some of your matches and moments of these two competitors? Whatever your thoughts on Dreamer, Raven, and ECW, leave them below and donate to my Ko-Fi to suggest other ECW matches for the site.

Wrestling Recap: Bret vs. HBK (WrestleMania XII)

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The Date: 31 March 1996
The Venue: Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim; Anaheim, California
The Stakes: 60-minute Iron Man match for the WWF Championship

The Commentary: Vince McMahon and Jerry “The King” Lawler
The Referee: Earl Hebner
Dave Meltzer’s Rating: 4.25

The Build-Up:
Thanks to his backstage power and lengthy run in the then-World Wrestling Federation’s (WWF), “The Heartbreak Kid” Shawn Michaels amassed a long list of rivals but none were more personal than Bret “Hitman” Hart. Their personal and professional antagonism was legendary even before this polarising match, which Shawn earned by winning the 1996 Royal Rumble after a troubled 1995. Much of the build focused on the two engaging in the first-ever 60-minute Iron Man match, which ultimately became the first spark that ignited a decades-long blood feud between the two.

The Match:
You might be confused at the start of this match when Shawn’s newly acquired manager, José Lothario, comes to the ring when “Sexy Boy” first plays. However, José quickly directed everyone’s attention to the far top of the arena, where Shawn dramatically rappelled down in a death-defying stunt that earned him the nickname “Mr. WrestleMania”. Once WWF Champion Bret Hart came out, Earl Hebner ran down the rules (the winner would be whoever scored the most pin falls, submissions, count outs, or disqualifications). Bret handed his shades to his son before he and Shawn tested each other’s mettle by grappling in the corner and exchanging takedowns and fundamentals, with Shawn surprisingly outwrestling Bret in the early going. When Shawn worked over his left arm, Bret countered into a headlock, keeping it locked in even as Shawn tried to shove him off. HBK quickly got his shoulders up when caught in a pinning predicament but repeatedly ended up back in the hold after desperately trying to weasel his way out of with hip tosses and wrist locks. Eventually, Shawn tossed Bret with a couple of arm drags and slapped on an arm lock, targeting the limb with leg and knee drops as the crowd faintly chanted “Boring!” Shawn scrambled out of Bret’s headlock counter with a hammerlock and modified butterfly stretch as the two continued to pace themselves, before they went at it in the corners with a flurry of punches and shoulder blocks that ended with Bret being flung outside off a headscissor.

Rest holds and submission moves dominated the early going as both men wore each other down.

Shawn returned to the arm bar back in the ring, so Bret tried to throw Shawn outside, only for HBK to flip back into the ring and surprise Bret with another takedown. Bret answered back with a knee to the gut off a whip into the ropes and then slapped on a chinlock. Shawn countered with a jawbreaker and another armbar takedown, with Bret surprisingly nipping up, slamming Shawn with a spinebuster, and almost slapping on the Sharpshooter. When Shawn frantically grabbed the ropes, a frustrated Bret clotheslined him outside only to get run into a ring post (though he avoided a super kick, unlike the unfortunate timekeeper!) Bret returned to the chinlock, they exchanged energetic clotheslines; the chinlock returned, so Shawn threw some punches to the gut, hit a dropkick, and locked on the armbar again. This time, Shawn drove his knee into Bret’s ribs and tugged on the arm for added pressure, though Bret continued to keep his shoulder up to avoid a pin fall. Bret fought to his feet and elbowed Shawn in the face in the corner to break the hold, landing some uppercuts for good measure, only to take a knee to the gut and being rammed shoulder first into the corner. Shawn doubled down by ramming Bret’s arm off the post before hitting a shoulder breaker. A double axehandle off the second rope and hammerlock slam followed before HBK rammed Bret’s injured shoulder into the corners, wrenching on the arm when Bret fought back in frustration. Shawn applied a grapevine arm lock for extra pressure, only for Bret to scramble up and stomp his way free. Too injured to capitalise, Bret found himself pounded in the corner and returned to the mat, forcing him to dump Shawn’s throat across the ropes for a reprieve. Bret catapulted Shawn into the corner to extend his recovery time but only scored a two count, though he nimbly dodged Shawn’s corner splash and punished HBK as he was tangled on the top rope to earn another near fall.

The two were evenly matched in their fundamentals despite brief bursts of energy and drama.

After a bulldog, Bret performed a weird top-rope hair pull…thing…that briefly knocked the referee down, so Shawn answered back with a powerslam for a near fall before taking a nasty piledriver for another two count that really should’ve been a three! Shawn tossed Bret off the top rope and landed a hurricanrana takedown followed by a backbreaker, though Bret wisely fled outside to avoid Sweet Chin Music. HBK immediately followed up with some crossbodies, which Bret reversed for another near fall that should’ve been a three count. The two fought over a backslide, with Shawn surprising Bret with a small package that should’ve been a fall in his favour, before executing a Perfect Plex that would’ve also made for a great three count. HBK applied a sleeper hold before being absolutely launched outside off a corner splash! Incredibly, Bret rammed Shawn into a ring post rather than take a count out, tossing Shawn into the ring to continue targeting the spine with a big back suplex off the top rope. When this still wasn’t enough for a three count, Bret applied a Camel Clutch and hit a Russian Leg Sweep after countering Shawn’s desperate top rope axehandle. Shawn took another bad tumble to the outside after being whipped into a corner, knocking down José in the process (and when Bret launched HBK at the ring steps), before Bret scored a two count off a belly-to-belly slam. Bret shut down a brief flurry from Shawn and kicked out when Shawn surprised him with another roll-up, diving on Shawn when HBK got kicked to the outside but failing to gain a count out victory. When Bret’s beautiful German Suplex resulted in a near fall, he pummelled a helpless Shawn (who goaded him from his knees) and returned to the Camel Clutch.

Following a frustrating tie ending, HBK toppled Bret for his first WWF Championship.

When Shawn fought up, both men got knocked down from a double clothesline and exchanged blows after recovering. Bret took control and landed a huge superplex but was too exhausted to make a cover and insisted on applying the Sharpshooter, which Shawn frantically fought out of, so the Hitman tried for a Figure Four Leglock and settled for a one-legged Boston Crab. Luckily, Shawn grabbed the ropes to break the hold, so Bret hit a backbreaker, only to get kicked in the face when he went for a second-rope elbow. After hitting a dropkick, Shawn hit a forearm and whipped Bret chest-first into the far corner before throwing Bret around with a flurry of moves. With Bret down off a suplex, Shawn landed his patented diving elbow drop that also failed to earn him a fall before hitting a gutwrench powerbomb and a moonsault that also didn’t result in a three count! A janky-looking diving hurricanrana also wasn’t enough, so Shawn tried for a top-rope dropkick, only to get tied up in the Sharpshooter. However, Shawn outlasted the clock for a ridiculous 0:0 tie! Fictional WWF President Gorilla Monsoon ordered sudden death overtime to determine a winner, forcing Bret to target Shawn’s injured lower back. After deftly avoiding a corner charge, Shawn glanced Bret with a desperation Sweet Chin Music before landing a fully loaded superkick from the corner to finally realise his “boyhood dream” of becoming WWF Champion, to rapturous applause and leaving a frustrated Bret to stalk to the back as HBK celebrated. While this is undoubtably a wrestling clinic and a masterpiece of storytelling, this match is a gruelling and largely tedious watch full of endless rest holds, submission holds, and stalling. The tie ending really annoys me as there were plenty of chances to give each man a victory and they could’ve achieved the same ending by finishing at three falls apiece before going into overtime, meaning it’s hard to stay invested as they just seem to be going through the motions rather than trying to win.

The Aftermath:
Following his loss, Bret Hart briefly considered jumping to World Championship Wrestling (WCW) before re-signing with the WWF and starting a career-making rivalry with “Stone Cold” Steve Austin that saw Bret slowly become an angry “heel” embittered by the downward spiral of professional wrestling. Renouncing America and forming a new incarnation of the Hart Foundation, Bret recaptured the WWF Championship from the Undertaker and continued to butt heads with Shawn Michaels. Presumably as punishment for the controversial “Curtain Call” incident, Shawn lost the WWF Championship later in 1996 but recaptured it about two months later, only to vacate the title after “[losing] his smile”. After overcoming a worrisome knee injury, Shawn’s backstage and on-air feud with Bret continued to escalate, leading to Shawn’s D-Generation X stable clashing with the Hart Foundation and HBK’s reprehensible actions turning Bret “babyface” again. Their feud led to the now-infamous 1997 Survivor Series, where they again battled for the WWF Championship, only for Vince McMahon to screw Bret out of the title after the Hitman decided to jump to WCW. Betrayed by the company and those around him, Bret punched Vince backstage and started a new, ultimately doomed chapter in WCW, harbouring an understandable grudge against McMahon, Shawn, and the WWF for decades before finally burying the hatchet with HBK in 2010.

My Rating:

Rating: 2 out of 5.

Could Be Better

Are you a fan of this long-winded classic between Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels? Do you like that both men go the distance with no falls or would you prefer to see them getting some victories? Were you surprised by Shawn’s wrestling fundamentals and to see Bret on the backfoot? Who was your pick to win at the time? Which of Bret and Shawn’s matches and moments was your favourite? What’s your favourite WrestleMania moment? Leave a like and tell me what you think in the comments and donate to my Ko-Fi to suggest more Bret and/or HBK matches for me to review.

Wrestling Recap: Razor vs. HBK (WrestleMania X)

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The Date: 20 March 1994
The Venue: Madison Square Garden; New York, New York
The Stakes: Ladder match for the Intercontinental Championship

The Commentary: Vince McMahon and Jerry “The King” Lawler
The Referee: Earl Hebner
Dave Meltzer’s Rating: 4.75

The Build-Up:
Few wrestlers has as much backstage power as “The Heartbreak Kid” Shawn Michaels back in the day. Alongside his buddies “The Kliq”, Shawn politicked his way to advantageous positions and ensured the spotlight was on him and his friends, such as “The Bad Guy” Razor Ramon. Razor and HBK feuded throughout 1993, with HBK famously being stripped of the Intercontinental Championship in September, only to declare himself the true champion after Razor won the belt in a battle royale. HBK stole Razor’s gold chains to escalate the rivalry, which culminated in the World Wrestling Federation’s (WWF) first-ever pay-per-view ladder match.

The Match:
This is one of the rare WWF matches where the competitors are both claiming to be the champion, meaning the ladder match was set to determine the “undisputed” Intercontinental Champion. Shawn entered the match with all his usual arrogance and swagger and accompanied by his hulking bodyguard, Diesel, while Razor tempted fate by walking underneath the ladder set on the rampway during his entrance. Once the bell rang, the two competitors got into a tie-up and exchanged fundamentals before Razor gave Shawn a receipt for poking him in the eye by landing a falling chokeslam. Shawn ducked some clotheslines, took control with a running neckbreaker, and sent Razor outside after being knocked down by a shoulder tackle. When Diesel helped soften up the Bad Guy with a big clothesline, the referee ejected him, much to Shawn’s chagrin, and Razor again got his comeback by clotheslining Shawn outside. HBK quickly cut Razor off when he started removing the protective floor pads and soon tossed Razor to the exposed concrete after countering a Razor’s Edge attempt in the ring! With Razor stunned, Shawn shunted a ladder into Razor’s chest. Shawn followed up by driving the ladder into Razor’s gut in the ring and then repeatedly smashing it into his ribs and across his spine as he lay prone on the canvas. Finally, Shawn threw the ladder at Razor’s back and made his first try for the belts, only for Razor to yank Shawn’s tights down (earning him a diving elbow drop for his trouble).

Razor triumphed in this slower, more methodical but nonetheless engaging ladder match.

After fixing his tights, HBK set the ladder up near a corner and used it to land a diving splash. Razor got some payback by toppling the ladder with Shawn on it, sending HBK crashing to the ropes. While scuffling in the ring, the competitors collided and fell to the mat for a breather; though Shawn recovered first, he was sent flying into the ladder in the corner when Razor reversed an Irish whip. Razor followed Shawn outside and attacked with the ladder, targeting the back and catapulting Shawn into the apparatus from the rampway. A ladder shot to the face sent Shawn tumbling from the ring and allowed Razor to climb for the first time, but HBK cut him off with an awkward diving axehandle. Both struggled up the ladder from either side before battling up the top, an exchange Razor won after suplexing Shawn from the ladder. A dropkick from HBK sent Razor tumbling soon after, however, and Shawn doubled down by hitting Sweet Chin Music to KO Razor. Dissatisfied, Shawn hit a scary-looking piledriver and crushed Razor with a ladder-assisted splash from the corner. Shawn then positioned the ladder over Razor’s downed body and made his climb, only for Razor to recover and shove HBK crotch-first onto the ropes, leaving him dangling from his ankle. Thus, Shawn was helpless to stop Razor climbing the ladder and retrieving the belts to secure the victory in this impressive early ladder match. While tame by today’s standards, there’s something very effective about building a wrestling match around a ladder rather than peppering the bout with high spots. Neither man did anything too crazy, though those ladder shots looked pretty hard and Shawn definitely got a chance to show off with his use of it as a weapon. The match did wonders for Razor, who came out of it looking extra tough from all the punishment he endured.

The Aftermath:
Now regarded as one of the greatest ladder matches in WWF history, Shawn and Razor’s WrestleMania X bout set the blueprint for many subsequent ladder matches and is generally thought to be one of Scott Hall’s greatest moments. Sadly, Razor’s reign with the Intercontinental Championship would be short-lived as Shawn helped Diesel defeat the Bad Guy for the belt a few weeks later, kick-starting Diesel’s disastrous push towards the WWF Championship. Razor won the belt back at the 1994 SummerSlam, lost it to “Double J” Jeff Jarrett at the following WrestleMania, and then became the first man to win the belt three times by recapturing it from Jarrett in another ladder match. After losing the WWF Championship to Diesel at WrestleMania XI, HBK and Razor clashed in another ladder match for the Intercontinental Championship at the 1995 SummerSlam, with Shawn capturing the belt this time. Although Razor made history again by winning the belt a fourth time, drug issues saw him suspended for six weeks and Hall jumped ship to World Championship Wrestling (WCW) following this to begin one of the greatest stories in wrestling history…

My Rating:

Rating: 3 out of 5.

Pretty Good

Did you enjoy this historic ladder match between HBK and Razor Ramon or do you think it’s over-rated? Were you surprised to see Razor absorb so much punishment? Do you think the right man won? Did you like that the ladder was more of a prop than the focus of the match? What are some of your favourite matches from these two competitors? What’s your dream WrestleMania match? Like this review and leave your thoughts before, then donate to my Ko-Fi to suggest more Razor and/or HBK matches for me to review.

Wrestling Recap [3:16 Day]: Austin vs. Triple H (No Way Out ’01)

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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 on 23 June 1996, beer-swigging, finger-gesturing anti-hero “Stone Cold” Steve Austin became a mainstream icon!

The Date: 25 February 2001
The Venue: Thomas & Mack Center; Paradise, Nevada
The Stakes: “Three Stages of Hell” grudge match (singles match, street fight, cage match)

The Commentary: Jim “J.R.” Ross and Jerry “The King” Lawler
The Referee: Earl Hebner
Dave Meltzer’s Rating: 4.75

The Build-Up:
One of “Stone Cold” Steve Austin’s most persistent foes was “The Game” Triple H, and their feud became deeply personal in 2001, when Triple H revealed he orchestrated the hit-and-run attack that put Austin on the shelf for most of 2000. This seemingly came due to a lukewarm reception to the driver being revealed as Rikishi, leading to Austin attempting to kill both men as recompense. Austin and Triple H continued to screw with each other in the build, leading to this match being signed to settle their differences once and for all.

The Match:
After years of battling for the Intercontinental and World Wrestling Federation (WWF) Championships in all kinds of matches, Steve Austin and Triple H sought to end their blood feud in this “Three Stages of Hell” match. Essentially a two out of three falls match, the contest was specifically set up to have a different stipulation for each round. First, the rivals fought in a regular one-on-one match; then, the rules were thrown out for a street fight; and finally, if necessary, they would battle in a steel cage. Given how heated the issues were between Austin and Triple H, the match naturally began with a slugfest as Austin unloaded on the Game, kicking the shit out of Hunter in a corner. Although Triple H reversed a whip into another corner, Austin immediately knocked him down with a clothesline and went for the mounted punches, awkwardly pouncing on Triple H after the Game dodged a Stone Cold Stunner. Though momentarily stunned from landing on the ropes, Austin countered a Pedigree attempt and followed Triple H to the outside, bashing his head off the steel steps and focusing on his left arm, repeatedly ramming it into a ring post. This meant Triple H couldn’t hook the Pedigree on the second attempt and Austin continued to wear down the arm with kicks and an uncharacteristic armlock, wrenching on the arm and finally landing the Lou Thesz Press and scoring the first two count. Austin followed up with a spinebuster but ate a boot when he went for his signature second rope elbow drop, which allowed Triple H to build a comeback with neckbreakers and repeated knees to the back of the Rattlesnake’s head.

After wearing each other down in the ring, the heated rivals brutally brawled at ringside.

After a few kicks to the gut in a corner, Triple H thumbed Austin in the eye and knocked him down with a chop block, switching his focus to Austin’s left leg and smashing it against a ring post. Although Austin rammed Triple H’s shoulder into the same post to relieve the pressure, Triple H returned to targeting Austin’s leg once back in the ring, slapping on the Figure Four Leglock and grabbing the ropes for extra leverage. However, Austin successfully countered the move to put pressure on Triple H, leaving himself hobbled and helpless to stop Triple H dropping some elbows to the damaged joint. After scrambling upright and bashing Triple H’s nose off a turnbuckle pad, Austin hit another Lou Thesz Press and his running elbow for another two count but settled for a clothesline when the Game countered another Stunner attempt. Triple H countered a third into another neckbreaker for a near fall before they countered roll up attempts. Despite kicking Austin in the balls, Triple H finally ate a Stone Cold Stunner when he went for a diving axehandle, losing the first fall and kicking off the street fight stipulation. Austin immediately capitalised by tossing Triple H outside and landing suplexes on the rampway, bashing Hunter with a miniature television monitor, and tossing a few steel chairs into the ring before pursuing Triple H through the crowd and dumping him back in the ring. Austin whacked a steel chair across Triple H’s spine and then battered him with it as he writhed on the canvas for a two count. After more brawling at ringside, Austin brought out Mick Foley’s barbed wire 2×4, only to take a shot to the face and get busted open. However, he still reversed a Pedigree to send Triple H crashing through the Spanish announce table.

Things escalated into a bloody brawl by the end, with Triple H barely snagging ultimate victory.

After hitting Triple H with a beer can, Austin chucked him back in the ring, only to just barely kick out after taking a shot from the ring bell and a neckbreaker onto a steel chair. Triple H then countered a sleeper hold with a back suplex onto a steel chair and still couldn’t put Austin away, so he tried to Pedigree Austin onto the chair and was tossed back outside. Austin then split Triple H’s head open with a chair shot and the steel steps and desperately fought back when Triple H tried to hit him with his trusty sledgehammer. Back in the ring, Triple H countered another Stunner with a sledgehammer shot and then finally hit the Pedigree to take the second fall. Thus, the steel cage lowered and Triple H instantly took advantage by launching Austin into the mesh walls. Triple H then thrust the barbed wire 2×4 into Austin’s face, earning himself a chair shot to the head, a trip into the cage wall, and that same razor wire weapon to his face. When Triple H kicked out at two, Austin choked him with the weapon and ate a DDT to a steel chair when Triple H fought back. After kicking out of the follow-up cover, Austin unloaded with a slugfest, causing Triple H to scramble up the cage. After fighting on the ropes and smashing each other’s heads off the steel supports, Austin landed crotch-first on the top rope but immediately answered back by tossing Triple H to the mat for a near fall. Things escalated further when both men hit their finishers, only to kick out before the three count, driving Austin to grab the barbed wire 2×4 and Triple H to grab his sledgehammer. Both bashed each other at the same time, but Triple H happened to collapse on top of Austin, scoring the win in this hellacious match (though Austin got the last laugh by landing a final Stunner as Triple H staggered up).

The Aftermath:
Interestingly enough, this was the last time Steve Austin and Triple H faced each other in a one-on-one match. As Austin had won the Royal Rumble the previous month, he switched his focus to his main event WWF Championship against the Rock, which saw him capture the belt but sell his soul in the process. Triple H, meanwhile, complained that his victory meant he should be in the main event of WrestleMania X-Seven and thus drew the ire of the Undertaker. Despite losing to the American Bad Ass at that event, Triple H bounced back by forming the most unlikely alliance of all time, joining forces with Steve Austin as the “Two Man Power Trip” and dominating the WWF thanks to the backing of WWF Chairman, Vince McMahon. Triple H captured the Intercontinental Championship and teamed with Austin against the Undertaker and his half-brother, Kane, defeating them for the Tag Team Championships. Unfortunately, Triple H’s 2001 ended abruptly after a horrendous quadricep tear, meaning he missed the ill-fated “Invasion” that saw a paranoid and erratic Steve Austin desperately cling to his beloved WWF Championship. Although Triple H returned in time for the 2002 Royal Rumble, he and Austin never faced each other in the ring again as Austin briefly parted ways with the WWF before retiring in 2003. Still, this match is widely regarded as one of the best matches the two ever had.

My Rating:

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Great Stuff

Did you enjoy the Three Stages of Hell match between Steve Austin and Triple H at No Way Out 2001? Which fall or stipulation was your favourite and who did you want to win? Were you disappointed that all the limb targeting was forgotten by the end? Did you enjoy seeing the two resort to extreme weapons? Which of Austin and Triple H’s matches is your favourite and how are you celebrating 3:16 Day this year? 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: Royal Rumble 1995

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The Date: 22 January 1995
The Venue: USF Sun Dome; Tampa, Florida
The Commentary: Vince McMahon and Jerry “The King” Lawler
Dave Meltzer’s Rating: 3.5

The Stipulation: Thirty man over the top rope battle royale for a WrestleMania XI WWF Championship match
Notable Competitors: “The Heart Break Kid” Shawn Michaels (Winner/#1/Most Eliminations), Crush (#30), and Dick Murdoch (Surprise Return)

The Build-Up:
Debuting in 1988, Pat Patterson’s Royal Rumble concept became a staple of the then-World Wrestling Federation (WWF), though even this crucial event had an uphill battle in 1995, a notoriously troublesome year for the WWF. There were few major storylines heading into the Royal Rumble beyond Pamela Anderson promising to accompany the winner at WrestleMania XI, though HBK and the British Bulldog continued their rivalry in the match, a star-making performance for the unruly Shawn Michaels.

The Match:
In keeping with her promise to be present at WrestleMania XI, Baywatch (1989 to 1990; 1991 to 2001) star Pamela Anderson came out and sat at ringside of the 1995 Royal Rumble match, which saw HBK saunter out at number one and pander to the crowd. Unfortunately for the cocksure Michaels, the British Bulldog came out at number two and they immediately rekindled their rivalry from the past year. The British Bulldog showcased his power early, easily dominating HBK but opting to throw him around the ring and put a beating on Shawn rather than tossing him over the ropes with a military press. Elu Blu interrupted their brawl (to no fanfare), leading the rivals to unwittingly team up to attack the big man, though they struggled to heft Eli over the ropes. Duke “The Dumpster” Drose allowed HBK and the Bulldog to split off against their larger foes, with Drose squeezing HBK with a bearhug an Eli beating the Bulldog down in the far corner. “Gigolo” Jimmy Del Ray was out next and immediately targeted the Dumpster, causing Eli and Drose to batter him in the corner while HBK returned to attacking the Bulldog. When HBK randomly went for Del Ray, HBK almost got muscled out of the ring, only to come back with a diving double axe handle to the Bulldog. Sione was next in the ring, replacing the eliminated Jimmy Del Ray, and the competitors were left to wander about until Doctor Tom Prichard came out to avenge his partner, Jimmy Del Ray. This saw him hammer away on Eli as HBK slipped out of Sione’s press, the Dumpster struggled with the Bulldog in a corner, and Doink the Clown entered the fray. Doink immediately targeted Sione, leading Eli to join the Wild Samoan in beating down the clown as HBK choked Drose on the ropes.

A bunch of nobodies and man mountains plodded about the ring in this tedious match.

Kwang was next out as the competitors continued to race to the ring in record time, leading to more mindless brawling before Royal Rumble veteran Rick “The Model” Martel joined the action. Kwang almost got HBK a couple of times, and Owen Hart was attacked by his brother, Bret “The Hitman” Hart, on the outside on his way to the ring. Timothy Well sprinted past the downed Owen, only to be quickly tossed out by the Bulldog. HBK eliminated Drose and Prichard, Sione threw out Martel, Kwang blasted Doink off the ring apron with a martial arts kick, before Eli took himself and Kwang out of the match with a big clothesline. Bushwacker Luke was almost immediately tossed out by Shawn Michaels so he could get back into it with the British Bulldog, choking and stomping on Davey Boy Smith and taking a stalling suplex for his trouble. Eli’s brother, Jacob Blu, went after both men with some big shots but his exuberance cost him when HBK sent him tumbling out. The Bulldog tried to muscle HBK from the ring, but Shawn grabbed the ropes for dear life and gained a reprieve when King Kong Bundy plodded out to clumsily manhandle the Bulldog. HBK tried to help Bundy eject his rival but resorted to attacking the brute when his failed. Bundy then swiftly sent Mo flying over the top seconds after he entered the ring. With HBK and the Bulldog unable to lift Bundy’s bulk, Mabel came in to try his luck, eventually (and clumsily) muscling Bundy out with a bit of help from HBK, who then made short work of Bushwhacker Butch seconds later. Mabel immediately asserted himself by working with the Bulldog to try and eliminate HBK, only for Lex Luger to easily throw the big man from the ring. Despite tossing Shawn Michaels around with ease, Luger also struggled to get him out, even with the Bulldog’s assistance, as Mantaur lumbered into the match. Mantaur instantly decimated the Bulldog as HBK and Luger continued to battle, though Davey Boy got some help from Luger when HBK split off to get into it with Aldo Montoya.

Shawn and the Bulldog went the distance, with HBK winning the match in controversial fashion.

Henry O. Godwinn (who Vince laughably labelled a “favourite” to win) threw his name in the hat as the action slowed to a crawl once more with more mindless brawling and time wasting. Billy Gunn sprinted to the ring and went right for Mantaur but couldn’t get the big goof out and even his brother, Bart Gunn, couldn’t do much when he popped out next. Bob Backlund was also attacked by Bret Hart on the outside and was quickly dumped by Luger when he finally got in the ring. Steven Dunn entered as the competitors continued to mess about, fighting Godwinn before Dick Murdoch returned to the WWF and Adam Bomb popped in as Mantaur crushed Luger in a corner before Lex muscled him from the ring as Fatu and Billy Gunn busied themselves in a corner. Crush rounded out the entrants and immediately helped Murdoch dump the Smoking Gunns (who were randomly grappling near the ropes), Montoya tossed Wells soon after and, after what felt like an ice age of relentlessly pounding and choking in the various corners, Crush tossed Adam out. HBK finally got rid of Montoya and Crush got rid of Fatu after the Samoan spent some time working him over. Murdoch then impressed with a dropkick to Godwinn but ended up tumbling out when the hog farmer reversed his aeroplane spin, though Luger bested Godwinn soon after. Luger desperately fought against Crush and HBK, who formed a fragile alliance against the big man and the Bulldog, one that resulted in Luger taking a tumble (courtesy of Michaels) while hammering on Crush in the corner. HBK further convinced Crush to work over the British Bulldog, only for Crush to turn on Shawn and threaten to launch him out and the Bulldog to send Crush flying from the ring with a clothesline. Thus, HBK and the Bulldog continued from where they started, much to the delight of the raucous crowd. Although the exhausted Bulldog easily overpowered HBK and seemed to have it won following another clothesline over the ropes, Shawn held on (barely avoiding touching the floor with both feet) and blindsided Bulldog during his celebration, becoming the first man to win the Royal Rumble from number one.

The Aftermath:
This as easily one of the worst Royal Rumble matches I’ve ever seen. There were hardly any viable competitors in the match, with the entrants mostly being nobodies or disposable bodies to plod around the ring and drag things out. It didn’t help that the wrestlers were coming out every minute or so, causing the ring to fill up with bodies and leaving the competitors with little to do but stomp around and gingerly brawl near the ropes and in the corners. After his historic win, Shawn Michaels went on to face his former bodyguard, Diesel, at WrestleMania XI in a losing effort; Diesel even convinced Pamela Anderson to ditch Shawn at the event! Still, HBK spent most of 1995 as the Intercontinental Champion and repeated his Royal Rumble victory the following year, finally capturing his first WWF Championship at WrestleMania XII. WrestleMania XI also saw the British Bulldog and Lex Luger teamup to defeat the Blu Brothers and Bret Hart settle his differences with Bob Backlund. Owen Hart, the Smoking Gunns, and King Kong Bundy all made it onto WrestleMania XI as well, though the less said about Bundy’s match against the Undertaker, the better!

My Rating:

Rating: 1 out of 5.

Terrible

Did you enjoy the 1995 Royal Rumble match? If so…why? Who was your pick to win at the time? Which of the entrants do you think was most out of place? Were you surprised to see Dick Murdoch return or do you have no idea who he is? Were you impressed that Shawn (and the Bulldog) lasted the entire match? Which Royal Rumble match is your favourite and who’s your pick to win this year? Whatever you think of this awful Royal Rumble match, like the review and leave a comment and then donate to my Ko-Fi to suggest another Royal Rumble match for me to review.

Wrestling Recap: Team Raw vs. Team SmackDown! (Survivor Series ’05)

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The Date: 27 November 2005
The Venue:  Joe Louis Arena; Detroit, Michigan
The Commentary: Jerry “The King” Lawler, Joey Styles, and Jonathan Coachman (Raw); Michael Cole and Tazz (SmackDown!)
The Referees: Mike Chioda (Raw) and Nick Patrick (SmackDown!)
The Stakes: Traditional five-on-five Survivor Series match for brand supremacy
The Competitors: Team Raw (The Big Show, Carlito, “The Masterpiece” Chris Masters, Kane, and “The Heartbreak Kid” Shawn Michaels), Team SmackDown! (World Heavyweight Champion “The Animal” Batista, John “Bradshaw” Layfield/JBL, “The Legend Killer” Randy Orton, and Rey Mysterio)

The Build-Up:
After what was then known as the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) purchased World Championship Wrestling (WCW) following a steady decline, WWF Chairman Vince McMahon essentially made his company the only game in town. Seeking to keep the spirit of competition alive in what became World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), McMahon spearheaded the “Brand Split” and separated the WWE’s flagship show, Raw, and secondary broadcast SmackDown! into two distinct brands, with their own belts and pay-per-view events. While Raw and SmackDown! Superstars would interact at the “Big Four” events and have the occasional interpromotional matches, the idea of the two shows battling to decide which was the superior brand didn’t arise until this match. Unsurprisingly, Raw General Manager Eric Bischoff fired the first shot, leading his SmackDown! counterpart, Theodore Long, to invade Raw. Following an interpromotional tag team bout at Taboo Tuesday, both General Managers signed off on this match, leading to many brawls between the brands. World Heavyweight Champion Batista even suffered an injury after a Raw attack, while Randy Orton replaced Eddie Guerrero after the latter’s tragic and untimely passing.

The Match:
I was really into WWE at this time, primarily because my family had finally gotten Sky so I could watch SmackDown! Thus, I was pretty biased towards the Blue Brand and rightfully so as they had the better competitors and in-ring action, but Raw was always treated as the bigger show. This sentiment is reflected in the boneheaded decision to have the entire commentary team working this match, leading to distracting arguments between the embittered SmackDown! commentators (who also dominated the commentary as they were the superior duo) and their Raw counterparts, who were outclassed by their impassioned colleagues. Although Batista was eager to start and lead by his example, his concerned teammates convinced him to wait on the apron due to his injured shoulder, leaving upstart Randy Orton to start against Shawn Michaels, who had both upset each other in the build. They shoved each other into opposite corners before the arrogant Orton slapped HBK, prompting Shawn to slap him right back and humble the youngster with a flurry of take downs. As Tazz laid into Styles and the Raw commentary team, Orton worked over HBK for a near fall but missed a knee drop, allowing HBK to tag in Chris Masters. Masters dominated Orton with his bulk, forcing JBL to break up a pin fall and leading Orton to tag in Bobby Lashley. The two big boys charged each other and proved equally unmovable and, though Lashley crashed into the corner off a splash, he fought off the Master Lock and planted Masters with a belly-to-belly suplex. Carlito begged off when Masters forcibly tagged him in, leading Lashley to drill him with a powerslam and send him scrambling to HBK for a tag.

Big men dominated the early portion of this heated clash between the WWE’s two brands.

Shawn showed fearlessly clambered to the top rope and got tossed off and around the ring, and Lashley even planting Carlito with a Dominator when he launched a sneak attack. However, Kane Chokeslammed Lashley as he tried to hit the Dominator on Shawn, allowing HBK to easily pin the big man. Rey Mysterio took over, targeting Shawn’s leg and utilising his speed, only for Kane to again interject himself and allow Masters to take over with a military press. Kane officially tagged in as Cole and Tazz continued to spit venom at their colleagues, finally shutting down Rey’s lightning fast moves with a big boot and a back breaker. When Mysterio kicked out of a cover, Kane applied a bearhug, forced Rey to slip free and tag in the injured Batista. Batista quickly took control with some shoulders to Kane’s ribs and a Spear, blasting the entire Raw team when they rushed the ring, allowing Mysterio to hit Kane with the 619 and get him eliminated off Batista’s patented spinebuster. Though the Big Show immediately retaliated with his massive Chokeslam, Batista kicked out so Kane and the Big Show landed a Double Chokeslam to eliminate the wounded champion. JBL frantically attacked the Big Show, only to be manhandled by the giant’s pure power. Orton and Mysterio distracted the Big Show long enough to leave him prone for the Clothesline from Hell, kicking off a finisher-fest as Rey hit the 619, Orton landed the RKO, JBL hit another Clothesline from Hell, and Rey finally put the big man away with a springboard senton. The match descended into a brawl in and outside the ring, JBL tossing HBK with a Fallaway Slam on the outside and Masters failing to pin Mysterio in the ring. Carlito took over, stomping and choking Rey and slapping on a chinlock when he kicked out of a pin attempt.

Orton captured the win but was confronted by a vengeful Undertaker in the aftermath…

JBL made short work of Carlito after being tagged in, giving SmackDown! the edge. Thanks to another assist from JBL, Mysterio eliminated Masters, leaving the rattled HBK as the last man standing for Raw. Once tossed into the ring, HBK also ate the 619 but spectacularly blasted Mysterio with Sweet Chin Music off a springboard jump and then immediately bested JBL after ducking the Clothesline from Hell and hitting another superkick to even the odds. Orton stalked the exhausted HBK, who dodged an RKO and dived on Orton on the outside. A diving forearm and Shawn’s signature kip up saw HBK go on a flurry that ended with his trademark diving elbow drop. Shawn was too fatigued to make the cover, however, so he tuned up for Sweet Chin Music. Shawn was forced to waste his kill shot on JBL, though, when the spiteful Bradshaw rushed in with a steel chair, allowing Orton to hit the RKO and take the win for SmackDown! and continue his Survivor Series winning streak. As the SmackDown! commentary celebrated and the Raw team ate crow, the SmackDown! Superstars rushed the ring, to congratulate Orton. This was an okay match with some fun spots, but nothing that hasn’t been seen numerous times in similar matches. Even when guys like Lashley and Mysterio got time to shine, the focus was more on the bickering commentary, which really took away from the in-ring action. The match was further overshadowed when an ominous gong echoed, the lights went out, mist filled the aisleway, and chanting druids walked out with a casket, which flew open following a burst of lightning to reveal the returning Undertaker! Looking for revenge after Orton and his father, “Cowboy” Bob Orton, sealed him in a casket and lit it on fire the previous month, the Undertaker attacked the SmackDown! roster and glared at Orton as he watched, terrified, after fleeing up the rampway.

The Aftermath:
Naturally, this dramatic ending led to another match between Randy Orton and the Undertaker, with the two fighting in a Hell in a Cell match that saw the Undertaker emerge victorious. Orton and Mysterio went on to battle for the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 22, with Mysterio winning a sadly short triple threat match to start his first, somewhat disastrous run with the big belt. The Big Show and Kane became the World Tag Team Champions and successfully defended the belts against Carlito and Chris Masters at that same event, which also saw JBL capture the United States Championship from Chris Benoit. Bobby Lashley did little of note in the months following this match, though he was in the Money in the Bank ladder match at WrestleMania 22, while Shawn Michaels became embroiled in a deeply personal feud with Vince McMahon that ended at that event. Although Raw and SmackDown! continued to compete and trade competitors, they wouldn’t meet in a traditional Survivor Series match again until 2008. The following year, the first Bragging Rights pay-per-view focused on interpromotional matches, though this only lasted two years before it was folded back into the Survivor Series and other cross-promotional pay-per-views.

My Rating:

Rating: 3 out of 5.

Pretty Good

Did you enjoy this first-ever Survivor Series clash between Raw and SmackDown!? Which show was your favourite at the time? Were you also distracted by the bickering commentary? Did you like that Orton was so successful in Survivor Series matches? Which traditional Survivor Series match is your favourite? Leave a like and tell me what you think in the comments and donate to my Ko-Fi to suggest more Survivor Series matches for me to review.

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.