The Spectacle
The Undertaker vs. Triple H inside Hell In A Cell for the Streak with Shawn Michaels as Special Guest Referee
The Build:
It has been nearly a year since HHH and Undertaker fought at Wrestlemania and it's a hard match to forget. Why? Because Triple H beat Undertaker's ass bad. Real bad. In fact so bad that even though Taker had emerged the winner, he couldn't stand or show up every since. Now times have certainly changed from that moment. New champions have been crowned, stars have risen as well fallen, and there was a new order of power. Triple H had become that man of power. For a wrestler that motto is "just business", his job had became to preserve the business. Clearing up the wrongs and succeeding with the rights is all Triple H had cared about now. Whether it was taking care of high profile stars or cutting ties with those that were a danger to them, it was all about the game and how to take care of it. This was until Taker had returned from after a near year absence. In a rare moment, Undertaker challenged Triple H instead of the other way around but it only got shot down. Triple H didn't care anymore to compete and felt it wasn't his place to destroy something that was precious to WWE. Undertaker would not have it. Unlike Mania's previous to his encounter with Triple H, Undertaker was slaughtered. He was humbled and beaten nearly to death. Hunter had outed him in every possible way one could imagine. He out striked him, he survived the bomb throwing, and even though Taker had won, Triple H could walk away when the Deadman couldn't even make it to his feet. Mania matches were always competitive for the Phenom but that match had left a mark that would stain his career over the passage of time if he did not remedy the situation.
Undertake threw insult after insult at Triple H and Helmsley's best friend in Shawn Michaels even couldn't believe the Game wouldn't bite the bait. Then when all seemed faint and that the Deadman would never get his chance at redemption, he said the magic words that have forever burned a hole in Triple H's soul. "Shawn Michaels was always better than you". That combination of words turned business into personal for HHH. He has cut ties with friends over the thought of it. In 2002, Triple H attempted to destroy Shawn Michaels and bury his career before it had risen back up just because he THOUGHT it. The war had raged on between the two before Triple had ended it in 2004 in, oddly enough, the Hell In A Cell structure. Triple H had taken the role of a business man because there was nothing else for him to do. He had become one of the few Grandslam champions in the WWE, beaten every big name in the WWE(Including the Undertaker), was "The Man" for many years, and his name was affiliated with World Champion. Maybe it all was because of personal success or maybe because he wanted to prove a point. No one was better than him, no one will ever be better than him, and certainly was not the guy he carried for many years on his back that wasn't nearly as accomplished as him. Even if you had not worked for it, this was the straw that would break the Camel's back.
Triple had accepted but only under his condition, Hell In A Cell. A match that was famed by Shawn Michaels's and Undertaker rivalry. A match that The Undertaker's name would become synonymous.....a match that Triple H's name became feared with. Out of 24 Hell in a cell matches, Triple H had been involved him in eight of them. Out of those eight, Triple H had five single matches. Out of those five single matches, Triple H had only lost one. It was his match. The match where whatever remorse he had was left at the door of the Cell and the match where he had ended wars. While it was known as the Devil's playground, it was Triple H's Game. In a another shocking turn of events, Shawn Michaels was named the guest referee. Shawn Michaels has history with Triple H but he also had tales with The Phenom. Shawn Michaels was always the ultimate little man to Undertaker's big man. HBK had defeated Deadman on several occasions but when it was for everything Taker had worked for, Shawn couldn't obtain that legendary achievement that others before him had failed to do. It will always be remembered as some of Shawn's greatest career matches but also be remembered as the reason Shawn's career ended. To say The Showstopper hadn't forgotten it would be a understatement.
However, green was not only the DX color but may be what Michael's were to represent if Triple H had accomplished what HBK was unable to do. Would Michaels be fair? Would Triple H strike down the beast? Would Undertaker finally get the victory that should of been his last year?
The Match:
What makes this match special is that everything comes off as a big deal. Triple H's entrance all the way to Taker's walk to the ring. What may be a hidden highlight or brushed off by some people is Triple H's reaction when the Undertaker reveals his shaved off head. Undertaker never once shown it previous to this match and acting in kayfabe, it would be quite astonishing to see Undertaker's head absent of hair considering his whole career his hair had been quite punctual. Had HHH's devastation of this man truly eat away at The Undertaker that much? The question was answered not verbally but visually. Both men stare each other down before acknowledging the stage that had help them define their career. The stage where Undertaker presented the Cell as no man's land......and the stage where Triple H had presented the cell as His land. The match starts off very similar to last year. No tie up, no getting inside your opponents head with mind games, or anything all that would crawl around the point. The match was a battle and it was going to start off as a battle. Both guys trading blows but unlike last year, Triple H doesn't get the advantage.
The Undertaker is a different Undertaker from last year. This Undertaker isn't here to prove it isn't his time yet....he's here to prove that he will always be the dog of this yard. The beginning of this match is mostly Undertaker showing that he can still be dominant and that he can still be the man. How does he prove that? By beating Triple H's ass around the cell for about 5 minutes I believe. Triple H's tries to come back with his knee face crusher but that immediately gets eaten up by The Undertaker and gives him a clothesline for his troubles. Triple H, at this point, hasn't even gotten the chance to dictate his own offense or workout his plans. After tasting the steel steps, Triple H finally gets a chance to catch a breather and think of his next move. Triple H's next move turns out to be Pedigreeing Undertaker onto those steel steps the Deadman had been planning to use. A little extreme but understandable. Unfortunately for Triple H, Taker has still has enough juice to fight off the Pedigree and give a ode to last year by back body dropping him off of something that elevates them both. The Phenom then decides that HHH hasn't had enough of that fist salad and proceeds to continue to punch Triple H until he gets that lovely thing we like to refer in wrestling as being "Busted open the hardway". How does Triple H repay him? By giving the Undertaker a Spinebuster onto the steel steps!
At this point, that is as good as HHH can get as far as getting his foot back in the door. Taker busts out that desperation move that helped him achieve victory last year in the Hells Gate and he gets it locked in tight on HHH. However, Triple H has the best fucking counter for it(As well as the most ballsy) by powerbombing the fuck out of Undertaker. It gets him a two count but this is when the match gets great. Remember when The Game tried to pedigree The Deadman onto the steel steps and that was AFTER his first real offensive move in the match? You do? Well here is what it preluded to or should I say, what it was suppose to tell you was this: Triple H isn't fucking around. After Triple H's extremely nice way of telling the Undertaker to go fuck himself for using the Hells Gate on him, he goes outside with urgency and grabs two steel chairs. If this was a movie, Undertaker would be Tobi and the scene would be if Tobi thought it was a good idea to start calling himself Kunte Kinte again. If you don't get it, Triple H is about to make Undertaker relieve every moment of that ass whipping he received last year including a few extra new scenes JUST because he(Taker) loved it so much.
What makes this so great is that this is exactly what Triple H was talking about when he said he knew what he needed to do. Triple H has threw less at Taker and beat him at lesser stages but when he threw it all at him on a bigger stage, he lost. That is what caused him or causing him to realize that he has to bring it at a higher level than he has for anyone else and unfortunately for Taker that level is murderer. The Game smacks him with chairs, slams his head into the steel steps, and goes above the Austin limit of destroying people with chairs by trying to eradicate Undertaker with about 19 or 20 steel chair shots. Even the crowd finds themselves booing this near heelish actions. During this beatdown(If we can call it that. At this point it might as well be attempted murder by the way HHH is trying to turn Taker's spine to jelly.), we see Triple H's use of Shawn Michaels.
Now during Triple H/Undertaker's build last year, Triple H straight up told HBK that he(Shawn) had gone full bitch and lacked the ability to not care about if his opponent is able to wake up the next day. You see, Shawn is the Yin while Triple H is the brutal Yang. Michaels is a christian who will not do to others what he wouldn't do to himself(Like kill his best friend) and at most, fights in the name of competition. Triple H isn't that. He will do onto others however the hell his feels like and fights to win.......whatever the means. There was a point that a guy he had mentored for 2 years and really created a strong bond with, he nearly got him hit by a car. Why? Only because there had been rumors of the man(His friend) contending for his champiionship. Triple H could give less of a fuck about his adversaries and even his friends have felt that wrath at some point. So Triple H being the Yang to Michaels's Yin nearly played a part in Undertaker's defeat.
See whether or not Shawn Michaels called the fight, Triple H was going to do this to the Undertaker. Due to the circumstances though, Michaels was a asset to Triple H tainting the streak. HBK has had many of injuries in his career and he knows first hand what kind of pain wrestlers go through. So to see what Triple H is doing to Undertaker is something that needs to stop. What HHH knows is that if Shawn does call it, that's a win for him. So while destroying the Undertaker, HHH can manipulate HBK's emotions to give him the victory and that is all achieved by what Triple H does best, put people as potential candidates for the ER. Brilliant and I mean Brilliant storytelling by all three guys.
So Triple H doesn't get the pin after beating Taker to near death with a chair so he smacks the Deadman(Soon to be literally) in the spine with one more chair shot for good measure before grabbing Mr. Hammer. The same Sledgehammer that didn't get to touch Undertaker's skull last year and became the "what if" scenario. Hunter tells the Sexy Boy one more time he better call the match or we are going to see Taker became a retard in the next couple seconds. Taker of course tells Michael no for the 15th time while sounding about as confident as a Drunk man denying himself the pleasure of fucking Kim Kardishan as she stands naked in front of him. Then WHAM! Triple H hits him with the Sledgehammer as the crowd buy it, the commentators seem to buy it, and as I buy it as well.
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2
Taker KICKS OUT! Triple H can't believe it and now I'm starting to forget this is Triple H's workover section. Hurst gets pissed and now he is on full murderer stage as a he attempts to Gallagher Undertaker. Luckily for Taker(And all the kids who don't watch Saw movies), HBK grabs that shit out of HHH's hand and throws it out of the ring. Helmsely tells him to end it and at this point, Shawn is in a pickle. He respects the Undertaker and understands his streak means everything to him but his best friend almost committed homicide on live PPV. Checks on Taker once.....twice....three times which is enough for Taker to realize at this point, HBK is a liability and takes him out himself Hell's Gate. Of course Triple H breaks this up in the most brutal way possible(With the Sledgehammer) and moves his friend out of way so he doesn't get any of Taker's guts on that nice referee shirt. To bad for him(Hunter) that this was enough time for The Phenom to realize kicking HHH in the dick wouldn't exactly be looked down upon at this point and proceeds to drive his foot into the King Of King's jewelry. Now he definitely won't be having any boys soon!
Locks HHH in the Hells Gate and doesn't get power bombed this time due to the tactical strike to the nut sack. Game goes to Sledgy to get him out of this predicament and like Last Year, he doesn't have the power to will it into one of Taker's organs. Well this moment would tell you it is a foregone conclusion.....or at least it would be had HBK not been sleeping on the canvas. They of course send the marathon runner, Charles Robinson, to call this match now and I don't know if they did this on purpose or not but Robinson being the replacement for Undertaker's referee's has to more than coincidence. Whatever. Undertaker catches Triple H in the chokeslam and gets a great fucking 2.99999 out of it. You want to know what makes that fall the shit and a totally believable nearfall even though Undertaker's chokeslam hasn't beaten a turd? The whole business beforehand with the Hell's Gate and a near unconscious man being hit with a high impact move as soon as he gets up. See? Putting your shit in the right place can make the crowd go bonkers no matter how legitimate or unlegitimate that move is. Same with that Sledgehammer spot from earlier.
Undertaker decides Robinson sucks as a referee and chokeslams the shit out of him too. This match is getting to awesome now. Tombstone coming! SUPER KICK! PEDIGREE! HOLY SHIT COVER!
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2
THRE----AGH HAWK FUCKING DAMMIT! What the fuck is going on!? Michaels is in the corner with hands over face can't believing what he just did! What a logical reaction to Taker making him pass out earlier! Now Shawn is regretting it because now he is having a WWJD moment and knows that was wrong! Triple H goes and grabs his Sledgehammer so he can officially end this bitch but Shawn tries to redeem himself by trying to stop it! H ain't having it and tosses his punk ass out of the ring! Triple H turns around and Undertaker sits up! "OH SHIT!" Triple H's reaction is priceless! Undertaker starts doing his regular comeback and the crowd is going apeshit! I LOVE THIS! TOMBSTONE! MICHAELS IN!
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TWO
THNOOOOO! Triple H kicks out and Undertaker has the best facial reaction since his match at Mania 25! Shawn, at this point, is not even sure if he is making the right decisions anymore. Headbutt by Taker at Triple H's eyebrow wound so Triple H responds by jacking his jaw with his fist! Both men are just trading blows! Yays for Taker and Booes for The Game! Taker starts to win but Triple H starts to out strike him! Tombstone attempt! PEDIGREE! 1, 2 AND NO FUCKING THREE! You got to be kidding me! Both guys are out of it. Triple H crawls for his trusty sledgehammer....Taker for the chair. Taker grabs the chair and Triple H gets the sledgehammer but Taker steps on it. Amazing visual with Triple H staring up at Undertaker. End of the chair to the face! Chair shot! Chair shot! Taker is now taking Triple H down a path towards memory lane. Michaels pleads for a pinfall as Taker just tosses the now broken chair into the cell. He only gets two and Michaels and Taker are now giving him a taste of his own medicine with lectures. Triple H crawls towards his feet with Sledgehammer in hand as the other two men watch him painfully do so. Words cannot do justice of how Triple H is just realizing how fucked he truly is. It's like he told all the other survivors to run off as he fends off the zombie horde with a broken arm and three bullets. Taker tells him "Don't do it" as Triple H uses his last amount of power to try to smack him with that Sledgehammer.....maybe fool himself that he has enough to come back. Taker defends and shakes his head at HHH who pushes him to tell him(Taker) how pissed off he is. Triple H looks at both HBK and Taker as they look at him in dismay. HBK knows it is over and Undertaker does but Triple H refuses. He tells Taker to Suck His Dick before he eats a Sledgehammer! Straps off and you can see Michaels looking down in the corner remembering this exact same moment with him in Triple H's shoes. Undertaker looks Triple H in the eyes and gives him the sign of death. I can't illustrate how badass that is. Tombstone and Michaels counts the three.
Post match: Lot of selling going on here as Taker celebrates his victory and gives Michaels a hugs since this will be the last we will see of these two concerning for the foreseeable future and they send off the Attitude Era in the best way possible. They also pick up the corpse formerly known as Triple H and drag he carcass to the back but not before saying one final goodbye to the audience.
My thoughts:
The Match is what I like to call the Spectacle......because that is what it is. Everything is presented as a big deal. From the entrances all the way down to the climax of the match. They literally had the crowd in the palm of their hand and everything is immediately gotten. You get why this is happening and you understanding what is going on. Why this is a big deal and why that is a big deal. It's a tremendous storytelling match and I think it might be one of the last we see like this. They made the Undertaker's sit up make people go bonkers....that's saying allot when you don't need to do a move to get that kinda reaction out of people. Not saying that's a bad thing for other wrestlers as I'll talk about it when I review The War but it's something I feel we might not get enough of. Anyway, tremendous match and my only negative would be the beginning needed a little something to it. Oh and this is a three part series explaining my top matches and how they are completely different but great for whatever the audience.
****3/4