The context of the match is known to everyone: after four years off, Shawn Michaels is making a comeback to face someone who he called a friend but was assaulted by for reasons I forget. The important aspect of the match was seeing if Shawn Michaels still had it. And even if you don’t believe that Shawn Michaels was the greatest wrestler ever, which I don’t, it’s a good hook because he was still a headliner who had to retire and is making a comeback. A story that is universal in all sports.
The match begins with punches as Michaels is quick to hit HHH first and gain an advantage. A plancha to the floor transitions the match into a brawl around the ring where Michaels gets a trash can and a lid out. It’s easy to take it for granted that Shawn Michaels is able to move around as well as he does in the first five minutes. He had injuries but obviously that wasn’t the only reason he stayed away. But there isn’t much rust on show which is common and understandable. Michaels goes for the early finish, attempting the superkick but it’s cut off by two well executed backbreakers by Triple H. Also the first attempt at the injured back which is #psychology. More work on the back follows which Michaels sells well. He attempts to fight back but this is cut off. And blood is soon drawn as this is 2000s WWE. Triple H escalates things once more and uses a leather strap to both whip Michaels in the back area and use the metal belt buckle to open up the cut more. A great move from Triple H.
Triple H’s sadistic strategy escalated more when he got the sledgehammer out from beneath the ring, but it also undermined the opportune moment he had and Michaels was able to throw some punches. The hammer is thrown from his gasps but Triple H regains momentum via an abdominal stretch. This is the first flaw in the match that introduces itself - Earl Hebner and Triple H. Triple H while in the aforementioned abdominal stretch, grabs the ropes which in this contest and its rules is perfectly legal but Earl Hebner breaks it up which is where wrestling breaks its rules for “entertainment” and I’m a grump on stuff like this. Then they argue for what seems like an age. It’s a nuisance. And it seems to serve as a potential hope spot for Michaels but it’s cut off once more. Finally, Shawn Michaels gets some chance with a low blow and then a superkick into a chair. Triple H is now bleeding. Shawn Michaels is able to kip-up in a state of adrenaline which does work because Shawn continues to show that pain less than a minute later, keeping that consistency. It’s time for Shawn Michaels to get his own back. He nails Triple H with the trash bin lids and a steel chair as Triple H bleeds a gusher. The fans chant “we want tables” and get a ladder instead which gets a big pop. It gets used as a weapon and Michaels gets a nearfall.
The match flows into a more momentum heavy, back and forth sort of bout, with the momentum slightly edged in Shawn Michaels’ favour. The tables actually do come into play finally, but at the beat of the wrestlers, not the fans which is great. Fuck fans. Shawn Michaels hits a big splash on the outside floor to a big pop. And then he hits a flying elbow off the ladder which brings the arena alive. Triple H’s leg selling, which is almost missed as the coverage focuses on Michaels, is great too. Michaels is feeling the moment and goes for the superkick once more. Triple H reverses and goes for the Pedigree but he’s scooped from below and pinned in a surprise finishing sequence. I thought it was a very good finish that wasn’t nearly as over wrought as some of the bigger matches today. Highly effective. Shawn Michaels wins in his big momentum, what a tim-- Oh no, Triple H assaults him with the sledgehammer, targeting his back and neck. RIP Shawn. We hardly knew you again.
I think this really delivers in both a wider context and as a match insolation. Both bring enthused performances, with good selling and good penchant for basic storytelling. I think the Hebner side plot was a distraction but that’s the biggest ding in the match. I think they touched on the story of the return nicely, before then isolated it nicely through back work and then Shawn’s incorporation of weapons and his risk taking. All was done very well. I rarely feel an emotional connection with Shawn Michaels, but he resonated with me. I still think Triple H shined in the match in a more underlying way but Shawn was the star of the match as he was positioned to do so, and held up his end just as much. Great match. ****1/4
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