The Top Ten 1.30.07: Triple H Matches

First up is my main man G.K. who thinks I’m off by a year when talking about the greatest rumble ever:

Oh yes. Can you dig it? I’m back with feedback my dude. Word son, must admit that I’m in agreement with you on this list. First, I thought you were just gonna rate the actual Royal Rumble matches… but it is your list and your rules, so i’ll let that one slide.

But as much as I agree with the 1992 Rumble being there, and I enjoy Chris Benoit winning in 2004, these are my main gripes here. I see what you’re saying with 2004 because it built up so many storylines at once… but none of those storylines were that great except Benoit winning, (and unlike Mysterio in 2006, Benoit winning the title later @ Wrestlemania was the more memorable moment of the two), but for the same reasons you like 2004’s Rumble, I contend that the 2005 Rumble is better for the same reasons. It was well booked and very entertaining with the Smackdown vs. Raw storyline underlying the whole event. But everything with Eddie being super over and Benoit being numbers 1 and 2, showdowns between both brands, both brands teaming up only to eliminate Muhammad Hassan, our first glimpse of Angle vs. Michaels, and the final showdown with Cena vs. Batista. It was the most suspense for 2 wrestlers in a Rumble since 1990’s Hogan vs. Warrior showdown (which probably should have been considered as well). The 2005 Rumble was so well-booked before and during the match that by the end of the night not even Vince could STAND it (oh snap! And sadly I know you get that joke, that’s what makes us true fans and what makes me not join the IWC with my own column). But we’ll see what happens on Sunday… I’m picking Orton since Smackdown doesn’t seem to need a main event rub this year. One Love.

G.K. makes a very good point here as the 2005 Rumble was damn good and I must admit that I marked out like a little bitch when Batista and Cena came out, anticipating them facing off to end the match. As good as the 2005 Rumble was, I still feel the 2004 one was better because the whole thing was just so perfectly booked. I will admit to G.K. though that the 2005 Rumble did have the better commercials (Come on, the West Side Story theme was GENIUS) and had one of the best Rumble spots I’ve ever seen (Snitsky eliminating Paul London with a clothesline on the apron that turned London inside out onto the floor). I love how G.K. picked Orton here but while we were watching the match, he changed his pick to The Undertaker. Stick with your pick man! I picked The Miz and I stuck with him until the end. All 2 seconds of it.

Tanner mentions a Royal Rumble match that he felt deserves recognition as one of the best ever:

Hey Julian,

Thanks Julian and keep the columns coming

I must admit that the match was damn good, but it left a sour taste in my mouth because it ended with a double knockout and I absolutely HATE the double knockout ending in a last man standing match. So I probably left it out due to my own prejudice so I apologize for that. I’m going to classes to work on my discrimination issues, it may take some time.

Nest up is Nick who talks about why the ’92 Rumble holds a special place in his heart:

Good list. The ’92 rumble would have to be my sentimental favorite. Not only because of Flair’s performance, but it seemed like a nice historical celebration of Flair’s career, since he fought past NWA foes like Jimmy Snuka, Greg Valentine, Roddy Piper and Kerry Von Erich. Having grown up on the NWA and not caring much for McMahon’s Walt Disney-like company, it was nice to see that type of respect for the greatest ever.

Oh yeah – and the sheep finally started to boo the Huckster.

I know a lot of people who agree with Nick that the ’92 rumble was the best ever and it is quite hard to dispute that as it was a fantastic rumble with a wide variety of legends. I still prefer the 2004 version, but it all comes down to preference as both rumbles were absolutely classic. And I must admit that it was quite cool to see people actually booing Hulk (even though the ‘E were a bunch of pussies for never turning Hulk heel).

And finally we have Brandon who actually agrees with me. Who woulda thunk that?:

I just got done reading your Top Ten Royal Rumble Matches column, and I
have
to say that it is absolutely perfect. I always enjoy reading columns
about
top 10 best chair shots or top 10 Cena matches or whatever, but that
one was
just perfect. I was especially happy you included the Rock/Jericho
match.
That is the match that really proves that Jericho was the right choice
to be
the first Undisputed Champion. His matches with the Rock were always
great.
Also, the Royal Rumble 2004 being so high on your list meant a lot to
me
as well. That is without a doubt my favorite Royal Rumble match. Like
you
said, everything just clicked, not to mention Benoit won in probably
one of
the most memorable ways. I was SO happy he won, because I had wanted
him to
get his shot at the top for so long. And I admit, when it came to the
top
two, the Benoit/Angle match is without question, my favorite WWE match
of
all time. That is just an technical classic, but I cannot blame you at
all
for name the Cactus/HHH match as #1, as it is a classic as well, and is
probably more remembered than the Benoit/Angle match, which is sad but
true.
Anyways, I’m doing this while I’m in a class so I need to rap this
up.
Great job! Can’t wait for the next column.

I’m glad that someone agrees with me about The Rock/Jericho match as I feel that is a vastly underrated match that deserves to get some recognition. I think the choice between HHH/Cactus and Benoit/Angle comes down to whether one prefers technical wrestlers or a hardcore brawl and I personally prefer hardcore brawls. Don’t get me wrong, I love a great technical match and I could watch Flair/Steamboat or Benoit/Angle all day long, but I love seeing a dude get smacked in the head with a steel chair or get thrown through a table. Sorry, I like violence. Why do you think all those chains and whips are in my girlfriend’s closet?

That’s all for the feedback this week folks. Thanks to all you guys that wrote in, I always appreciate it. Be sure to send in your thoughts and your lists about this or any other previous Top Ten. Don’t be scared, I don’t bite. I can’t vouch for my shih tzu, though. He’s a killer.

So the Royal Rumble was on Sunday night, so I figured I’d give some thoughts on the show:

The Hardys def. MNM
Why exactly are The Hardy Boyz only called The Hardys now? And why is it now an “s” at the end instead of a “z”? These are the questions that infiltrate my dreams. Anyhow, this was a damn good match and a great way to kick off the Rumble to get the crowd into it. I don’t understand why The Hardys went over clean AGAIN, but if this is indeed the end of this feud, then I guess you had to give the duke to the Hardys. Now the question is if these two teams are done feuding with each other, what’s next for them?
Match Rating: ***1/2

Bobby Lashley def. Test
What the fuck was this? Seriously, who’s booking ECW? A monkey? No, let me apologize to all monkeys everywhere because a monkey could do a better booking job than this. So they have a CLEAN finish on Free TV, but on a PPV where people fork over money to see definite results, they end with a countout? I’m really starting to hate this new ECW and I was one of the most positive people about the new ECW when it first started. Please for the love of God, hire some writers who can actually make a compelling storyline and not this kindergarten dribble.
Match Rating: *

Batista def. Mr. Kennedy
How about those Kennedy chants, huh? I think the WWE has stumbled onto their next big star as Kennedy absolutely carried this match and made it damn entertaining. I legitimately thought that Batista injured his leg when he got thrown into the steps, but when I realized it was part of the match, I loved the way that Kennedy attacked it. To Batista’s credit, he sold the leg injury very well and it seemed during a couple points in the match that Kennedy might pull it off. This was a very good match that showcased just how talented Kennedy truly is.
Match Rating: ***

John Cena def. Umaga
What a brutal war this was. I was expecting a good match based on the above average encounter they had at New Year’s Revolution, but this exceeded my expectations as well as the expectations of just about everybody I think. I will never forget Umaga running the tables and doing that crazy dive onto the announce table or Cena choking out Umaga with the ring ropes with this look of desperation and craziness on his face. Umaga has turned me into a believer as I now greatly respect his abilities in the ring. And can all the Cena hate official end now? The man is money whether you want to admit it or not.
Match Rating: ****1/2

Undertaker wins the Royal Rumble
If you didn’t get hyped up after HBK eliminated Edge and Orton, leaving only him and ‘Taker in the ring, I don’t think you can call yourself a wrestling fan. That was one of the best Rumble moments that I can remember and will be the reason why this Rumble will be remembered for years to come. The majority of this rumble was pretty basic, but once the entries got in the late 20’s, it got very interesting. A great end to the rumble and something I’ll remember for quite a while.
Match Rating: ***1/2

Overall, this was a damn good rumble event that was a nice recovery from the atrocity that was the 2006 Royal Rumble. A very fun event that I look forward to watching again when I get The Royal Rumble Anthology (which should be on EVERYBODY’s wish list).
Show Rating: 8 (out of 10)

Honorable Mention: HHH vs. Batista (Vengeance ‘05)
This was a Hell In A Cell match for Batista’s World Heavyweight Title and despite the fact that Trips had
lost cleanly to The Animal in their two previous encounters, many people felt as though HHH was just
waiting to reclaim the belt in this match since he was undefeated in HIAC matches up to that point (Well not including the 2000 Armageddon HIAC, but who counts that one anyway). HHH once again proved his detractors wrong by putting over Batista clean for the third straight time in a brutal, bloody affair. Both men beat the hell out each other and absorbed a sick amount of punishment especially Trips who took a
brutal shot to the face with a chair covered in barbed wire as well as a spinebuster on steel steps. This was
a great effort from both men and showed that despite a lot of criticism, HHH is willing to do what is best
for the company.

Honorable Mention: HHH vs. Mankind (Canadian Stampede ‘97)
This was the opening match to one of the best PPV’s that the WWE ever produced and it set the standard forall the other great matches that followed it. Mankind and HHH had been feuding through the majority of 1997 and this was a return match after their previous encounter at the King Of The Ring which included the
first ever Pedigree on an announce table. This was a great back and forth contest that featured the usual
insane bumping by Mick. The ending came when both men fought into the crowd and got counted out, but given the nature of the match, which was more of a brawl then a wrestling contest, it seemed like a suitable
ending.

Honorable Mention: HHH vs. Mankind (Summerslam ‘97)
This was to be the culmination of the HHH/Mankind feud from the summer of 97 and what better way to resolve their issues than in a 15 foot high (give or take) steel cage. This match was absolutely brutal and featured some sick spots including Trips suplexing Mick from the top of the cage to the mat and Chyna
slamming the steel door in Mankind’s face. Mankind eventually won the match by barely escaping the cage
before HHH after delivering an elbow from the top of the cage. A great match that remains one of the best
cage matches to this day.

Honorable Mention: HHH vs. The Rock (Summerslam ‘98)
This match is seen as the coming out party for both these guys as it was the first true indicator that
both were ready to be in the main event. This was a ladder match for the IC title and these two guys put
on a performance that had Madison Square Garden rocking. This was during the height of popularity for
DX and The Rock was in his awesome heel mode, but both men received the respect of the Garden as well as millions of fans around the world. And the People’s Elbow on the ladder is still one of my favorite Rock
moments ever.

Honorable Mention: HHH vs. The Undertaker (Wrestlemania 17)
This match is largely forgotten about due to being on a Wrestlemania card that included TLC 2, Rock/Austin, and Angle/Benoit meeting one on one for the first time ever. That’s a shame because if this match had been on just about any other PPV, it would have been the show stealer. The buildup to this match was simple, yet effective. HHH had just beaten Stone Cold at No Way Out and bragged about beating every superstar on the roster. This brought out Taker who pointed out that HHH had never beaten him. Needless to say, that pissed Trips off and the two of them began feuding which included HHH destroying Taker’s beloved motorcycle. These two had a wild brawl that went all around the arena and included HHH being chokeslammed off of a scaffold to the floor below (which was padded, but it was still a cool visual). After a back and forth brawl, Taker was able to pick up the win with a Last Ride. A great match that deserves to be mentioned when people talk about classic Wrestlemania matches.

Honorable Mention: HHH vs. John Cena vs. Edge (Backlash ‘06)
This was a triple threat match for Cena’s WWE title and these three men exceeded the expectations of just
about everybody by putting on this classic match. HHH bled like a champ and even took the pinfall, losing to Cena for the second time in two months. This was proof positive that Cena is the master of the triple threat match, Edge is main event material, and HHH can still put on a classic performance whenever he damn well pleases.

10) HHH vs. Chris Benoit (No Mercy 2000)
This is definitely a forgotten classic and that’s a damn shame because this match featured these two technical masters during the peak of their careers. Both men were still heels in this match, so HHH was the default face since the majority of the crowd was behind him. They put on a technical showcase that really displayed to the WWE fans just how versed Benoit was in mat wrestling. HHH more than held his own with the Wolverine, including a great reversal where he turned out of The Crippler Crossface and delivered a Death Valley Driver. HHH eventually picked up the W after Stephanie distracted the ref which allowed Trips to hit a low blow on Benoit and deliver the Pedigree. This was a fantastic match that is definitely worth seeking out if you’ve never seen it.

9) HHH vs. Shawn Michaels vs. Chris Benoit (Backlash ‘04)
This was the rematch to the 5 star classic at Wrestlemania XX and it was thisclose to being just as
classic as that encounter. The backdrop to this match had Benoit returning home to Canada with HHH feeling that Benoit’s win at WM20 was a fluke and HBK wanting one more chance at the gold. The crowd was 100% behind Benoit and being that the event was held in Montreal, the crowd absolutely despised Shawn Michaels (because Canadians cant let go of grudges). This match featured brilliant action and an intriguing moment as HBK had Benoit in The Sharpshooter with Earl Hebner refeering (after the original ref got knocked out) ala Montreal. Of course, Benoit got out of it and was eventually able to lock in The Sharpshooter to HBK which caused him to tap out and give the Canadian fans some sense of retribution (even though those damn Canadians will never be satisfied….I’m just kidding Canadian readers…..partially).

8) HHH vs. Chris Jericho (Fully Loaded 2000)
This was a match that came across due to Jericho being tired of the McMahon-Helmsley regime and making HHH and Stephanie’s life a living hell. As a result, HHH started to abuse Jericho, including a shot to Y2J’s ribs with The Game’s trusty sledgehammer. The resolution was this excellent Last Man Standing match which, for my money, is the best Last Man Standing match I’ve ever seen. This match included some intense action including some wicked chairshots, a bulldog to a steel chair, and Jericho locking in the Walls of Jericho to Stephanie. The match ended when HHH back suplexed Jericho through an announce table and was able to get up at the count of 9 before collapsing to the floor to pick up the win. This was the type of match where both competitors looked like a million bucks coming out of it.

7) HHH vs. Cactus Jack (No Way Out 2000)
This was the follow up to the classic Street Fight at the 2000 Royal Rumble and these two put on a match that matched their previous classic in sheer brutality. The match included ring steps being smacking Cactus’ skull, HHH getting planted with a double arm DDT on a steel chair, a chair assisted elbow drop off the second turnbuckle to a prone HHH, Cactus getting hit in the head with a 2×4 wrapped in barbed wire and falling off the cage through an announce table, HHH getting hit in the head with a 2×4 wrapped in barbed wire ON FIRE, and Cactus getting backdropped through the ceiling of the cell and crashing on the mat below. That’s just a few of the major spots as there was a lot more sick shit in the match that I didn’t even include here. This is definitely one of the best HIAC matches and was a fitting way for Mick Foley’s career to come to an end (well at least for a month).

6) HHH vs. Shawn Michaels (Raw, 12/29/03)
This was the main event on the last Raw of 2003 and boy oh boy, did these two give us a great way to remember the year 2003. These guys went out and gave a performance that was worthy of main eventing any PPV, including Wrestlemania. This was a match for HHH’s World Heavyweight Championship and HBK came out with guns ablazing to take that Championship off The Game. The match was so back and forth and included so many near falls that the crowd was on the edge of their seat for every moment. The match ended when HBK delivered Sweet Chin Music out of nowhere to pick up the win, but since his shoulders were also on the mat when he made the pin, Eric Bischoff reversed the decision and declared the match a draw. Despite the screwy ending, this was still an awesome match that was a great gift to WWE fans at the end of 2003.

5) HHH vs. The Rock (Judgment Day 2000)
This was an Iron Man match for The Rock’s WWE Championship and the big question going into this match was whether these guys could match the classic Iron Man match between Shawn Michaels and Bret Hart at Wrestlemania 12. I believe the answer was a resounding, “HELL FUCKING YEA” as these guys put on an unbelievable match. What made this match so great is that it was completely different from the first one in that there were numerous falls instead of one and HHH earned his moniker as The Cerebral Assassin by busting out a bunch of ingenious moves. After he delivered a Pedigree and got a three count on The Rock, he pinned him again to pick up another fall since The Rock was still out of it. He also cracked The Rock in the head with a steel chair which caused him a fall due to a DQ, but gained him three falls since Rocky was still out of it due to the vicious chairshot. This match also featured the return of The Undertaker under his biker gimmick and I must say that was one of coolest moments I’ve ever seen as the crowd went insane for The Deadman’s return. This match had thrilling action and some inventive moves which really sets it apart from any other Iron Man match that I’ve seen.

4) HHH vs. Shawn Michaels (Summerslam ‘02)
This was Shawn Michaels big return to in-ring action after a 4 year hiatus and the big question going in was whether The Showstopper could perform at the high level he did before he got injured. Within the first couple minutes of the match, that question was easily answered and these guys put on a performance that will not be forgotten for a long time. HHH played the asshole heel here by targeting Shawn Michaels back, which was definitely HBK’s Achilles Heel. Shawn Michaels was able to make a comeback and eventually win the match, musch to the delight of the fans. This match remains a favorite of mine, not only because it was Shawn Michaels comeback match, but because it was a return to form by HHH who had lost a step due to his quad surgery. HHH brought his 2000 form to this match and it made this match become an instant classic.

3) HHH vs. Steve Austin (No Way Out ‘01)
This was the culmination of the HHH/Austin feud and was actually the last time these two men would ever face each other, which made it even more momentous. HHH had been the mastermind behind Stone Cold being run over by a car and Stone Cold had gotten his revenge at the Survivor Series by crushing a car with HHH in it (which honestly should have killed just about anybody). This was a 2/3 falls match with the first being a regular match, the second being a Street Fight, and the third being a cage match. Austin won the first fall with a Stunner and in the second fall, the two men beat the holy hell out of each other. The second fall included Austin getting planted in the head with a 2×4 wrapped in barbed wire, Austin wailing on HHH’s legs with various chairshots, and HHH backdropping Austin through an announce table. HHH was able to win the second fall after a sledgehammer shot and a Pedigree. The third fall featured both men totally beaten down trying their best to pull out the victory. Both men kicked out of each other’s finisher and the end came after they both hit each other with a foreign object (HHH with a sledgehammer and Austin with a barbed wire wrapped 2×4) and Trips had the good fortune of landing on top of Austin for the victory. This was an epic match that was a fitting end to one of the best rivalries ever in the WWE.

2) HHH vs. Cactus Jack (Royal Rumble 2000)
This is easily one of my favorite matches ever and I know many others who have a similar love for this match and it’s not hard to see why. This match had EVERYTHING. A great storyline, a hot crowd, insane action and two of the best in-ring performers of this generation. Cactus came out of the gates firing on all cylinders, but HHH was able to hold his own and the result was one of the best hardcore brawls that I’ve ever seen. If the images of Cactus getting jacked in the head with a steel chair, HHH getting smacked in the face with a 2×4 wrapped in barbed wire, HHH receiving a piledriver on a table that did not break, or Cactus getting Pedigreed in thumbtacks aren’t enough to get your blood pumping, I don’t know how you can call yourself a wrestling fan. This was a fantastic match that cannot be forgotten by anybody who sees it.

1) HHH vs. Shawn Michaels vs. Chris Benoit (Wrestlemania XX)
This is the epitome of a triple threat match, everything about it was perfect. It was the main event at the biggest wrestling event of the year and it had a great backstory with Chris Benoit being the man that always seemed to have the World Title out of his grasp and finally had a shot to secure it. The match was just complete action for the entire duration and there was honestly never a dull moment. Whether it was HBK performing a diving moonsault onto Trips and Benoit or HHH and Michaels bleeding like animals or Benoit being put through an announce table or the glorious ending where HHH tapped out cleanly to Benoit in the middle of the ring to give the Wolverine his first World Heavyweight Championship(the WCW one doesn’t really count) and he finally achieved the recognition that he deserved all along. People love to criticize HHH, but he put over Benoit in a huge way in this match and put on a terrific performance to boot. Perfect match that I could NEVER get sick of watching.

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