The Streak saw The Undertaker face several opponents over the decades but towards the end of it, there was a lot of return business. The Undertaker faced Shawn Michaels in back-to-back WrestleMania events and now HBK’s running partner Triple H was coming back for round two!
That’s right, we’re looking at Triple H vs. Taker from WrestleMania XXVII. Their first WM encounter at WM17 was a total banger. Both were younger and they both still had a motor on them. How would this one play out a decade later?
The Road to WrestleMania XXVII
By this point in Taker’s career, a WrestleMania match could’ve been announced a week before the event and we all would’ve known what time it was. His streak was a massive achievement for himself and it would be a major one for the guy who ended it. After all, there was only one streak and only one person could end it.
After returning from a four-month entrance, Taker was cut off by Triple H on a late February RAW. What a coincidence that Triple H was returning that night as well. Of course, there was a stare down then they looked at the WM sign. Now, when someone acknowledges that sign, they’re going to WrestleMania unless they get injured.
With just that, we didn’t even need the extra month of build. If anything, the returns could’ve been moved to late March. There was a great piece of build right before WM where HBK became involved and basically told his best buddy “You’re not gonna be The Undertaker. He’s gonna spank you at WrestleMania.”
I liked this storyline as it was snug and didn’t require weeks and weeks of build. It wrote itself as soon as both men returned. We all knew Taker was nearing the end of his career and Triple H had some juice left in the jug. Let’s get that rematch, already.
No Holds Barred: The Undertaker vs. Triple H II
First off, the entrances for both men: awesome. I’ve always enjoyed Triple H and Taker’s WM entrances. Also underrated with the entrances: Kane. Just figured I’d drop that in there.
Their first showdown at WM 17 was a fast-paced brawl that went into the audience. This one was a more well-paced brawl. Also, I like that it was advertised as “No Holds Barred” which always sounded better than “extreme rules”. It sounds like a somewhat more dangerous street fight. Also, I forget if the ban on Taker’s Hell’s Gate was lifted by this time.
It was mostly what you’d expect from a WM epic. It was lengthy, it had finisher overkill (which I dig), and a bunch of near-falls. There was even some finisher theft from Triple H. The best way I can describe this match for younger fans is to imagine having ten finishers pocketed in WWE 2K, the AI does as well, and the match is running long.
As for the ending to this one: loved it. The way the camera caught Triple H while he was trapped in the Hell’s Gate was great as was well. Two things really made that ending golden was Triple H’s slow-death selling it like a mouse snuck in a mousetrap that didn’t snap properly. Also, notice how the commentary wasn’t continuous. At times, the submission and the finish were allowed to create without constant shouting.
You knew Triple H was fading and that the sledgehammer wasn’t going to save him—and we just watched at the moment. The streak hits 19-0 and Taker returns to Parts Unknown.
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