The only thing that can cheer me up at 6.16am when I’m still working on this goddamn assignment.
When it comes down to it, there was four years of build up for that match and it payed off beautifully. I love that they incorporated Shawn this year because he deserves the applause and the congratulations just as much as the other two do.
I’ve said it 100 times already, but I thought that match was perfect. Absolutely no flaws for me. Granted, I’m still feeling the post-Wrestlemania high so I need to rewatch it and see how I feel, but really, when it comes down to it, wrestling is meant to be experienced in the here and now. It’s not designed to be analysed later on. I felt something at the time and that was their goal and they more than just achieved it, they sucked all the emotions out of me until there was nothing left.
I can’t imagine that there is a wrestling fan who didn’t enjoy that. It had everything there is to love about this business. There was drama, there was emotion, there was entertainment, there was wrestling. The Undertaker has perfected the art of kicking out at the last second. Nobody does it better. Like I said earlier, I go into every ‘Taker match at Wrestlemania expecting him to win. I don’t even question it anymore. But the second the match starts, all of that melts away and I’m left with the kind of pure excitement that was really only reserved for watching wrestling matches as a kid. It’s escapism at it’s finest.
The use of dialoge throughout the match was harrowing, and the ending was the ultimate catharsis. Shawn helping ‘Taker up, and then the two of them helping Hunter up. The ultimate display of respect, as called by JR (the only person who could have announced that match, by the way).
That hug between the three of them on the entrance ramp is going to be burnt in the mind of every fan watching tonight. It’s going to become one of those rare iconic wrestling images that makes you shiver when you see it because you remember exactly how you felt when you were watching. If that truly was the end of an era, I can only hope that the next generation of performers were taking notice. That is how you wrestle.
“So, that’s all it took? The worst thing that anybody could say to you is that I am better than you?”
“It has nothing to do with that, Shawn. I know you didn’t see this live, but I know you heard, I know you got my voicemail, but if you want me to do this in front of the whole world, I will. It’s got nothing to do if you’re better than me or if I’m better than you or anything like that. Shawn, I’m tired of it. I’m tired of listening to it. Do you understand me? I’m tired of listening to people like The Undertaker talk behind your back, saying you couldn’t get the job done. I’m tired of people talking behind your back saying you’re a failure. I am tired of people saying that on the way out you couldn’t do it because you were never as good as you thought you were in the first place. It eats me up, Shawn, because I’m your best friend and I’m also the guy that believes with every fibre of his being that you are the greatest in ring performer of all time. So it kills me, it pains me beyond measure to look at you as a loser. That’s why I’m gonna do it, Shawn. That’s why I’m gonna finish it. I’m going to end The Undertaker. I’m going to end the streak. I’m going to end an era. I am going to do what everyone runs their mouth saying you couldn’t do. I’m going to do it for me, and just as much, I’m going to do it for you.”
“Well, thanks for that. I mean, here I was, I thought we had a problem! But obviously we don’t, because as always, Triple H and his nice suit, he has everything under control! Silly me. You know, last year, it hurt me. It hurt me more than you could possibly imagine to look you in the eyes and tell you that you couldn’t get it done. And then I sat down at Wrestlemania and watched you completely dominate The Undertaker. I watched you go out there and show the world why you are The Game, why you are the Cerebral Assassin. I watched you go out there and beat him within an inch of his life. And then you lost. And I was right.
This year, at Wrestlemania’s Hell in a Cell, I know who is going to win. And I’ll be right again.
Sorry, the reason I know that, is because I‘ve been made the special guest referee.”
barrylad:
On paper is not a match I want to see again. I loved it the first time but dudes are ooooooooooooooooooooold.
But DAYUM, that whole thing last night was awesome. Like, the best thing on RAW since the last Triple H, Shawn Michaels, Undertaker segment which was almost a year ago.
It got better with every thing they said, I just got more and more interested.
Weird to think it was on the same show as so much nonsense.
Agreed.
As lame as it sounds on paper, I don’t actually have a problem with Hunter/Taker III happening. There isn’t much else they could have done that would have been any better, you know? Everyone else seems to be involved in their own feuds, and I can’t think of anyone who ‘Taker hasn’t already faced who could conceivably pose as a threat to the streak
It was different even a couple of years back when ‘Taker was working a busier schedule and could take the time to build up credible opponents, but now that he is only working the one time every year, it is much harder to create an interesting feud. Hunter is the easiest choice because they have a year’s worth (and more) of drama to build from. If they keep on this track, it’s set to be a great feud and hopefully a great ‘Mania match.
Favourite Moments of 2011 (#4): Triple H vs The Undertaker at WrestleMania
I know I said I wasn’t going to include matches in this list, but I had low expectations when Taker vs Hunter was first announced, and it ended up being, by far, the highlight of ‘Mania for me.
Even the build up for this bout had some really memorable and fantastic moments. Their initial encounter went down without a single word spoken which gave the entire thing an important, almost larger-than-life vibe, and Triple H cut one of his most relatable promos in years after finding out that HBK didn’t believe in him (“Somewhere along the way, you decided it was more important to be the ‘Show Stopper’ and ‘Mr. Wrestlemania’ - which you are - but you realised a long time ago, Shawn, that you don’t need to win every night to be either of those things… But I’m not Shawn Michaels. I’m not even close. I have to win.”)
The match itself was slow paced but dramatic. I personally don’t think it holds up to the HBK/’Taker matches that preceded it, but in all fairness, they are completely different in structure and honestly I think that’s what they were going for. Both men put their absolute all into this match. From ‘Taker’s brutal Suicide Swan dive, to Hunter’s attempt at a Tombstone, this was all about how badly they could break each other. It was wrestling storytelling at it’s finest, and it was both incredibly depressing and incredibly cathartic to watch both of them both falling apart as the match progressed.
But this hasn’t convinced you to give it another watch, just skip to 14:50 to see them break the Cole Mine!!!
