Continuing along…
HUNTER HEARST HELMSLEY (with Chyna) vs. JESSE JAMES
April 14, 1997
WWE Preview: Before the Road Dogg was a part of Degeneration-X, Jesse James took on DX’s eventual leader Triple H in a RAW match in 1997.
This show is live from South Africa, and features JIM ROSS and HONKY TONK MAN on commentary. Honky’s pissed because 2 weeks earlier, Road Dogg had destroyed his guitar. We get a video look of Chyna destroying Marlena from Wrestlemania, just to emphasize the strength that Hunter’s got going for him in his corner.
We’re off! Hunter works a side headlock, from which James tries to escape. They trade armwringers, as Chyna stares on from ringside. Hunter gets in a drop toe hold, and applies a front facelock on the mat. Road Dogg reverses into a hammerlock. Hunter escapes, but gets hiptossed. He comes back with a body slam, and they wind up squared off – having been evenly matched so far. James hiptosses Hunter again, and then blocks an attempted vertical suplex. Honky promises that his protégé will take out Road Dogg this coming Sunday. James gets in a series of hiptosses, as well as a drop kick, and applies an armbar. He gets to the ropes, forcing a break, but winds up getting hiptossed and dropkicked again. Hunter finally does something about the offense, and gives James a facebuster on the knee. He stomps a mudhole in the corner, and poses to a loud series of boos. And we take a commercial break!
Upon return, James takes a neckbreaker which gets 2 for Hunter. A vertical suplex hits the mark, as does a running kneedrop, and Hunter gets another 2. To the chinlock! The camera continues to see Chyna give the cold stare of death. God knows who did what to deserve THAT look, but my best guess would be Triple H left the toothpaste cap off, and when asked what he did wrong, she responded with “If you don’t know what you did…” I hate that look. Hunter his the running knee, and gets 2. Back to the chinlock. He even uses the ropes here for leverage, and surprisingly doesn’t even get caught. Road Dogg hammers his way out, and hulks up. No, I’m serious, he hulks up. He throws a series of rights to regain control, but blind charges the corner right into a big boot. Triple H heads up, but gets caught, so he jabs his thumb into Road Dogg’s eye. He dives…right into a clothesline from James! An atomic drop is hit, and James does his dancing jabs. The backdrop connects, as does a corner clothesline. James does the 10-punch count-a-long in the corner, and Honky can’t stay in the broadcast location anymore. He trips James, Hunter hits the Pedigree, and wins at 11:07. 3/4* Dear GOD that was long and dull!
HUNTER HEARST HELMSLEY (with Chyna) vs. BRET HART (with Canadian flag) (in a non-title match)
October 6, 1997
WWE Preview: While most of Bret Hart’s problems with DX in 1997 were with Shawn Michaels, he tangled with Triple H on this edition of RAW. Could The Game overcome the Excellence of Execution?
Chyna still has not yet transformed herself into the Breast Damn Woman in the world today. Triple H drives Bret back to the corner, but Bret spins it around and throws a series of punches. Vertical suplex is good, and so is the headbutt. The announcers have a surreal argument about why Kevin Nash and Scott Hall jumped ship to WCW, prompting Vince to try and stop that, but Lawler throws in that you can’t ignore their existence. Vince agrees, and says they’re around ONLY because of the WWF. Bret hits the Russian legsweep, and Hunter begs off in the corner. Bret drags him to the middle of the ring, and stomps on Hunter’s groin. Triple H gouges Bret’s eyes, and chokes him on the ropes. Hunter throws a series of rights in the corner, and steps on Bret’s throat. Bret comes back with a clothesline, and DDTs Hunter for 2. SHAWN MICHAELS heads down to ringside while Bret works a headlock. Shawn shoves the Canadian flag in his nose, and Hunter hits Bret with a high knee for 2. Michaels dances around with the flag in his nose, but here comes OWEN HART and JIM NEIDHART. We take a commercial…
We come back to Hunter dropping a knee on Bret’s face, followed by a vertical suplex for 2. THE BRITISH BULLDOG has also joined the rest of the Hart Foundation at ringside. Triple H throws punches in the corner, and applies a sleeper hold. Bret backdrops out of that, and hits an atomic drop. The clothesline levels Hunter, and is followed by the backbreaker. Bret heads up for the kneedrop, but Hunter puts a foot up to block. Helmsley gets 2 off a DDT! Someone manages to throw a huge paper airplane into the ring. Bret kicks Hunter in the face, and goes for the Sharpshooter. Chyna helps Hunter get to the ropes. Bret crotches Hunter on the ringpost outside, and Chyna attacks. RICK RUDE heads down as well. Bret grabs Chyna, but doesn’t see Shawn Michaels behind him, and gets nailed with Sweet Chin Music!!!! Bret is counted out at 7:52. ** DX carries Hunter to the back on their shoulders while the Harts check on Bret.
ROB VAN DAM vs. TRIPLE H (for the world heavyweight title)
September 22, 2002
WWE Preview: In this clash of two drastically different styles of wrestling, Rob Van Dam goes for Triple H’s World Championship.In this classic bout, the ref goes down. The Game grabs his trusty sledgehammer, but can RVD get out the way in time?
This was during the midst of Triple H’s absolutely unwatchable period, where it just seemed every month the main events were getting worse with great consistency. The announcers speculate that RVD has no passion, whereas Triple H does, so he’s dead in the water. They mat wrestle to start, and RVD wins the exchange. The fans are backing Hunter here oddly enough. They dick around a little bit, and RVD slaps Hunter across the face. You can imagine how much he loves that. Triple H takes him down with a shoulderblock, but gets caught in a side headlock takeover and RVD gets 2. Triple H slides to the outside for a breather, so RVD grabs a bottle of water and does a Hunter imitation. Triple H does his ANGRY RUSH, and walks right into a series of hiptosses and side headlock takeovers. RVD won’t release, so Hunter forces it by driving his knee into RVD’s midsection. RVD comes back with a rollup for 2. They fight over a backslide, but neither wins – and RVD takes Triple H down with a legsweep. Back to the headlock. Triple H powers out, but winds up taking a spin kick from Van Dam. RVD goes for the tope con hilo, but MISSES and crashes ass first to the ringside area! Yow!!! Triple H starts pounding him onto the ring apron before whipping him to the ring steps. Back in, Triple H gets a 2. They do a slingshot spot into the ropes neck first, and Triple H scores another 2. RVD sneaks in a rollup from nowhere for 2. Triple H comes right back with a neckbreaker for 2. RVD is dumped to the outside while Lawler starts talking about Hot Lesbian Action. RVD throws Hunter face first to the announce table a couple of times, but back in, Triple H immediately hits a high knee for 2. Hunter heads up, but RVD catches him and tosses him! Momentum doesn’t last, because RVD winds up caught in the sleeper. Lawler points out that no one’s used the move in years, and apparently that’s supposed to make us believe in it’s power just THAT much more! RVD escapes and hits a spinning heel kick. They start slugging it out, and RVD wins. A step over heel kick is followed with a drop kick. Rolling Thunder gets 2! Van Dam hits a monkey flip, and drives his shoulders into the midsection. Another Rolling Thunder splash gets 2! Triple H rolls to the outside for safety, and winds up taking a slingshot plancha! RVD heads up to finish, but Triple H stands and he has to use the single leg dropkick for 2. Triple H uses the knee, and on a second attempt he inadvertently knocks the referee out. RVD hits a spinning heel kick, and covers for about 20, but we’ve got no referee. Triple H tries the Pedigree, but it’s reversed into a catapult, sending Hunter to the buckle. RVD hits the Five Star, and again we count forever, but the referee is still dead. Van Dam tries to wake the official up, and gets lowblowed for his efforts. Triple H starts digging around under the ring and comes up with the sledgehammer. RVD counters with a spinning heel kick, sending the sledge to Hunter’s face! RIC FLAIR rushes the ring at this point, and grabs the sledge. Triple H begs off, and Ric makes his monthly heel turn, hitting RVD in the midsection. Hunter hits the Pedigree, and Flair rolls the referee into the ring, allowing Triple H to retain the belt at 18:19. **1/2 Flair tells Triple H he’s now the man, and gives him the World Title belt. Two and a half years later, they’re still lovebirds, and Triple H is still champion. Awww!
KANE vs. TRIPLE H vs. GOLDBERG (in a no disqualification match for the world heavyweight title)
December 14, 2003
WWE Preview: Goldberg seemed like an unstoppable force, but anything can happen in a Triple Threat Match. The night seemed to belong to Evolution, but was Triple H able to complete this happy ending?
A fairly vocal group of fans are chanting for “GOLDBERG” during Hunter’s entrance, which I find quite funny for some reason. Triple H and Kane start by double teaming Goldberg. JR says if they keep this up, it’ll be the end of Goldberg, apparently knowing NOTHING about the character what-so-ever. Triple H and Kane start delivering the chops, but Goldberg no sells and takes Hunter down with a shoulderblock. Kane gets the same treatement seconds later. Kane walks right into a Goldberg press slam, and Triple H is dumped. Kane does the zombie situp, and starts going toe-to-toe with Goldberg. Kane actually WINS the exchange, and nails a corner clothesline. A short lariat in the middle of the ring gets 2. Triple H decides to get back in and gets tossed aside by Goldberg. Kane goes up, but is caught and slammed by Goldberg. Triple H is the recipient of a Goldberg press slam now, and he sets up the spear. He charges – but misses the fact that Kane’s got a big boot in the air, and gets clobbered in the face. Triple H then chokes Goldberg out, and pounds away. The heels hit a double suplex, and Triple H congratulates Kane for the great work. Running powerslam from Kane on Goldberg, and Triple H slides in to grab a 2. Kane isn’t impressed, and yanks Hunter to his feet. Triple H apologizes for the move. Seconds later, Kane goes for a clothesline on Goldberg, but misses and sends Triple H sprawling to the outside. Kane hotshots Goldberg, and JR calls the match “bowling shoe ugly”. Kane goes for a chokeslam, but Triple H is in with a chair. He swings at Goldberg, but hits Kane in the head by mistake, and he heads out. Triple H takes a powerslam from Goldberg, and he goes to Pillmanize Hunter’s leg. Kane stops the attack and dumps Goldberg to the outside. Kane sends Goldberg headfirst to the ring steps, and starts ripping apart the Spanish announce table. Goldberg recovers, and tries to Jackhammer Kane through the table, but Triple H hits him in the ribs. Seconds later, Kane chokeslams Goldberg through the table!!! Next, he’s set on the US announce table, and Triple H drops an elbow onto Goldberg, sending him through! Hunter grabs a chair, but Kane’s already had a run in with it, and doesn’t want another one. Triple H apologizes for the mistake earlier, and wants to make a deal. Kane leaves him alone, and winds up getting thrown headfirst to the steps. Hunter goes for a Pedigree on Kane, but Kane backdrops him and FLIPS. Triple H starts running away, but winds up taking a big boot back in the ring. Kane pounds away, then delivers a side slam. Kane heads up, hits a big clothesline, and calls for the chokeslam. Triple H drives a thumb to the eye, and hits a DDT. Kane sits up right away, but takes a neckbreaker. Kane sits up again, and starts laughing at Triple H’s punches. Kane decks Hunter, then clotheslines him to the outside once again. Kane follows Triple H up the ramp and CHOKESLAMS him onto the steel!!!! From there, Kane just scoops Triple H up and carries him back to the ring. Kane completely misses that Goldberg’s back in the ring, and takes a spear!!!! Goldberg goes for the cover, but somehow only gets 2! All three guys get up, and stagger like it’s the 15th round of a fight with Apollo Creed. Goldberg throws haymakers are everyone, and takes both guys down with a double shoulderblock! Kane takes another spear!!!! Triple H takes a spear!!! And the man is alive!!! RANDY ORTON and RIC FLAIR come rushing down, but Goldberg takes them out! Goldberg hits ANOTHER spear on Triple H, but gets 2 before Kane saves! Both Kane and Goldberg try to chokeslam one another, and Triple H helps by lowblowing Goldberg. Kane hits the chokeslam on Goldberg, and BATISTA shows up to pull Kane out of the ring!! That leaves Hunter with the fallen Goldberg, and he steals the pinfall at 19:31 to become a 7-time champion. *1/2 Evolution carries Hunter up the ramp, and all four guys pose together, all champions crowned on the same night.
TRIPLE H (with Ric Flair) vs. KANE (for the world heavyweight title and Kane’s mask)
June 23, 2003
WWE Preview: The only way Triple H would grant Kane a shot at the title was to have the monster put his mask on the line as well. Find out how Triple H was able to expose Kane’s face to WWE fans after years of keeping it hidden.
Kane’s hair looks really weird tonight, but we’ll find out why in short order. Kane chokes out Triple H to start, and pounds him down in the corner. They brawl to the floor where Kane sends Triple H into the ringsteps. They fight into the front row, where Kane continues his assault in front of the fans. Triple H grabs a chair while Flair chats it up with the referee, and smacks Kane in the face. We take a commercial break with Kane out cold in the front row…
Upon return, they’re in the ring and Triple H gives Kane a spinebuster. He does the zombie situp though, and Triple H makes faces. He gives him a DDT, but again Kane sits right back up. The neckbreaker connects, but he is NOT staying down tonight. Kane begs Triple H to punch him in the face, which Hunter does, and Kane completely no-sells. Kane hits running clotheslines from corner to corner, and gets 2 off a powerslam. Triple H gets a big boot in, but winds up stumbling into a side slam. Kane goes up and hits a clothesline off the top. The big boot misses Hunter, but hits the referee who’s in the way. Ric Flair hits the ring with the title belt, but Kane chases him off and grabs the title belt. Triple H is smashed in the face, and we count to about 10 before a second referee hits the ring and gives us 2. Kane flips out and throws the other referee out of the ring. Triple H hits a lowblow, hits the Pedigree, the original ref wakes up, and counts … 2!!! Triple H goes for another Pedigree immediately, but Kane backdrops out of it. Flair’s in, so Kane chokeslams him…but misses the fact Triple H is up. Hunter goes for the Pedigree, but Kane counters again and catapults him into Flair! Chokeslam is set, but RANDY ORTON comes running in, hits the RKO, Triple H follows with the Pedigree, and THAT does it at 8:27. **3/4 ERIC BISCHOFF walks out to the top of the ramp. “Kane, you know the stipulations and you gave your word. Now take that mask off!” Kane starts to, but Triple H clotheslines Kane from behind, and Evolution stomps a mudhole. They want to do the honors, but ROB VAN DAM is in, and with Kane’s help, they clear Evolution out of the ring, highlighted by a Five Star on Orton! Kane is excited…but then remembers what he has to do. He won’t do it initially, but Van Dam tries to convince him it’s no big deal and to do it. So Kane goes through…and we’re presented with a guy who looks like Larry from Three Stooges, with tons of burn marks. He immediately chokeslams RVD. It’s actually a shame they didn’t keep him looking like that, because it’s certainly freaky… Consider that pretty much the end of any type of chance Kane had at a main event push.
MANKIND vs. HUNTER HEARST HELMSLEY (with Chyna) (for the WWF king of the ring)
June 9, 1997
WWE Preview: Earlier in the night, Hunter Hearst Helmsley defeated Ahmed Johnson to advance to the finals of the King of the Ring. The Game locks up with the deranged Mankind once again in a battle for the crown.
We open with a promo from MANKIND, who lets us know that Triple H had better be ready to run him over with a truck, because he won’t lie down for anybody. TODD PETTINGILL makes faces.
This is still before any plastic surgery on the part of Chyna – and honestly, if not for being TOLD who she was, you probably wouldn’t recognize her as the same person. Triple H works a headlock to start, and pulls hair when he breaks. Vince and JR chuckle about how much fun Dude Love might be having here. Mankind hits an elbow, and stomps away at Triple H. He threatens the Mandible Claw, and Triple H bails. Mankind rocks back and forth in the ring while Triple H stalls. Back in, Hunter rakes the eyes of Mankind, and kicks at him until he tumbles to the floor. Mankind grabs hold of a foot and pulls Triple H to the floor with him. Hunter is sent face first to the guardrail, and Mankind re-enters the ring. Triple H tries, but gets decked on the apron, and knocked back to the floor. Hunter crawls back in, and gives Mankind snake eyes! Hunter kicks at the midsection of Mankind, and nails the swinging neckbreaker! Mankind gets choked out in the ropes, but the referee orders a break at 4. A clothesline nearly takes Mankind’s head off, and Triple H continues by pounding on him on the mat. The referee asks him to lay off a bit, and in the distraction, Chyna throws a big right. Mankind staggers to his feet, and boots Hunter in the groin. Mankind senses a chance to get some control, charges, but Triple H sidesteps and Mick falls into the ropes, catching himself in the noose! JR: “HE’S HUNG! MANKIND IS HUNG!” I imagine he learned that from the deep and personal interview that had been airing on RAW in segments leading up to this show? Too much info JR, too much info… Mankind escapes, and checks his ear on the floor to make sure it’s okay. He staggers, and walks into a baseball slide dropkick from Hunter. Triple H slides outside, and whips Mankind into the steps. Back in, Triple H drops several knees over Mankind’s head, and a “BORING” chant erupts. Beautiful! Triple H charges Mankind, but he’s caught with a flapjack, and hits the ropes HARD! Something gets bleeped out here, and Mankind gets a 2. Mankind hotshots Helmsley over the ropes a second time, and draws another 2. Triple H comes back with a botched DDT. Mankind starts pounding on Triple H in the corner, and hits his running knee. A whip to the corner ties Hunter up in the tree of woe, and Mankind drops an elbow. Triple H is dumped outside, and Mankind follows to BACKDROP HIM on the concrete ramp!!!! Then, for kicks, Mankind drops an elbow off the apron onto Hunter! Back in, Mankind hits a double arm DDT, but Chyna’s busy distracting the referee, and by the time he turns around, it’s only 2! The fans, and Mankind, are NOT impressed. In fact, Mick starts tearing out his hair, and walks into an attempted Pedigree! He winds up backdropping out of it, and applying a Mandible Claw!!!!! The fans are popping huge…but Chyna yanks Mankind by the hair and pulls him to the outside! As Mankind gets back up the apron, Triple H hits a NASTY neckbreaker across the ropes, and Mick falls limp to the floor. He slowly re-enters the ring, and Triple H pulls Mankind’s mask off. Hunter goes up…but Mankind catches him on the top rope with the Mandible Claw!!! Triple H shoves a thumb to the eye to break, but is hit with an atomic drop and clothesline for 2. A Cactus clothesline sends both men sprawling to the floor!!! Mankind tries to drop an elbow from the apron again, but Chyna pulls Hunter out of the way, and Mankind crashes into the guardrail head first!!!! Chyna is thrown out of the building by the referee, but the damage is done. Mankind goes head first to the steps, courtesy of Hunter. Triple H rips apart the announce table…AND PEDIGREES MICK THROUGH IT! Chyna’s back at ringside, and smashes the king’s scepter over Mankind’s head, and then Triple H knocks him off the apron, sending him head first into the concrete floor below! Now THAT’S a beating! Triple H rolls him in, tries a one handed pin…and gets 2!!!! The announcers are in shock, but Mick isn’t surviving twice, because a Pedigree finishes him off at 19:26. **3/4 This is two different matches. The first half is god-awful and boring, but the second half that sees Mankind getting his ass kicked is in the **** range. Funny how that works.
Post-match, TODD PETTINGILL is hurled into the ring by Chyna, and is forced to crown Triple H the winner. Hunter celebrates with his crown by beating Mankind over the head with it repeatedly. Vince groans at the idea of getting used to seeing King Helmsley.
HUNTER HEARST HELMSLEY vs. JOHN CRYSTAL
May 22, 1995
WWE Preview: Triple H has been a fixture on RAW for almost a decade, but this is when it all began. The Game made his RAW debut in a match against John Crystal. Did the Cerebral Assassin get his RAW career off on the right foot?
Crystal gets a bigger response than Hunter, oddly enough. The announcers are bickering about god knows what, while Triple H takes down Crystal with a side headlock. Crystal gets in a hammerlock, but Hunter gets to the ropes. He slaps the shit out of Crystal, and starts in with a series of European uppercuts. The spinning heel kick connects, and Hunter grinds his elbow into Crystal’s face. We get our first curtsy, followed by a snap suplex. Hunter throws a series of good looking crossfaces, and puts him down with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. The Diamond Cutter finishes at 3:11. 1/2* Nothing more than a squash.
KEVIN NASH vs. TRIPLE H (in a hell in a cell match for the world heavyweight title)
June 15, 2003
WWE Preview: These two former friends met in a Hell in a Cell matchup and Mick Foley was the referee. It turned out to be one of the most brutal and high-impact matches in Hell in a Cell history. Neither man would walk out of the ring the same, but could Triple H walk out with his title?
MICK FOLEY is the special referee for this one. I remember when this was first airing that I was hoping and praying the week before the show they’d substitute Nash with Foley, so we could get them in the cell one more time, but it wasn’t meant to be. Granted, Mick is REALLY out of shape here, so it’s probably for the best I didn’t have my dream turned into a nightmare. Nash hits a big boot immediately, and dumps Triple H to the outside. He can’t throw Triple H to the cage though, so they head back in. Nash pounds away, but winds up taking a jawbreaker. Nash shoves Triple H aside, and he crashes into Foley. Nash starts working over his elbows in the corner, and clotheslines Triple H to the outside. Triple H is sent back first to the ring post, and is then whipped into the mesh three times. Nash backdrops Hunter on the mat, and rolls him back in. Big Kev hits a side slam, and gets the first 2 count of the match. A couple of elbowdrops get another 2. Nash grabs a chair, and drives it into Triple H’s midsection. A shot to the back causes him to roll to the “safety” of the outside. Nash is right behind him, and starts driving Triple H back first to the corner of the cell. Triple H is thrown to the steps, and then Nash picks them up and throws them at Hunter’s head. They miss, and Triple H gets an adrenaline rush. He hammers at the head of Nash, but Nash wants a Jackknife. It’s blocked by Triple H, who continues to throw punches at the head of Nash. Triple H reaches under the ring, and finds himself a toolbox. He chooses a hammer, and hits Nash in the quad. His second swing is for the head, and it connects. Foley steals the hammer, and shoves Triple H to the mat telling him to smarten up. Hunter wants NO part of Foley. Nash has been busted open with the hammer, and Triple H makes it worse by grating his head against the cell. Triple H grabs a screwdriver and tries to gouge Nash in the head, but Kevin blocks it. Triple H finds a new position, and drives it into Nash’s eye. Lawler: “Kevin Nash is screwed.” Cute. Triple H heads back under the ring, and comes up with the barbed wire two by four! Nash takes a shot to the midsection with it, but a second attempt is blocked, and Nash punches away. Now HE grabs the two by four, and slams Triple H over the head with it! Now he’s bleeding a gusher! Nash places the barbed wire over a turnbuckle, and punches away at Triple H. He sees what he wants, and delivers snake eyes onto the wad of barbed wire!!!! Nash slowly covers, and gets 2. To the outside once again, Nash grabs the ringsteps, and throws them inside. Triple H finds a crate under the ring, and smashes it over Nash’s head! With Big Kev down, Triple H crawls around the ring looking for something else. And that something else is his usual sledgehammer, but Foley is having none of it and pulls it away. Hunter shoves Mick to the mat, grabs the steps, but Nash gives him a drop toe hold face first to the stairs, and gets a 2 out of it. Triple H kicks Nash in the leg, then smacks him square in the face with the chair. Out of nowhere, he turns and smacks FOLEY! Foley starts bleeding up a storm, and he’s now PISSED! He whips out Mr. Socko, and shoves it down Triple H’s throat. Hunter goes low to stop it. Nash picks up the ringsteps once again, goes to attack, and winds up nailing both guys by mistake! He covers, but Foley’s talking to Socko because he’s so out of it. Nash tries to wake up him, but Triple H knocks Foley off the apron into the cell!!! He goes for the Pedigree on Nash, but it’s countered into a catapult into the barbed wire wad, and Nash hits the Jackknife!!!! Triple H kicks out at 2. I think Hunter’s determined to kill every finishing move in the WWE. Triple H grabs his sledge and knocks Nash in the leg. Pedigree follows, and after lying around for about 20 seconds, he covers and retains the title at 21:03. *** RIC FLAIR and RANDY ORTON head down to pull the champion to the back, and the show ends.
THE UNDERTAKER and MANKIND vs. SHAWN MICHAELS and TRIPLE H (with Chyna)
August 18, 1997
WWE Preview: Normally known for their classic bouts against each other, Undertaker and Mankind joined forces to take on The Game and HBK. Find out if the odd pairing was able to overcome the Showstopper and the Cerebral Assassin.
This match was part of August’s WWE Jukebox, so I’m gonna take a break and let that recap do the talking for me…
Here’s a match that’s almost NEVER talked about, but wound up being one of the most important ones in federation history due to everything that transpired as a result of it. Triple H was still playing the snob character, and Shawn was freshly back. Both were punished for their roles in the Mankind/Shawn Michaels match from a week earlier – forced to team up against Mankind and Undertaker. Neither was particularly thrilled, and Chyna wanted NOTHING to do with Shawn, but everyone played along due to Sergeant Slaughter’s ruling. Mankind and Hunter start. Mick hits a spinning clothesline, and backdrops Shawn who wound up in the ring. Mankind fires off a series of punches that takes out both guys and tags in Undertaker. Shawn wants NOTHING to do with Taker and heads to the outside. Hunter gets in some shots, and Shawn holds the leg of Taker. It backfires when Taker dumps Triple H and he falls right on Shawn. Shawn gets on the apron, hits Taker with a Sweet Chin Music – and NOW wants in. However, he gets thrown back first to the corner, and DIVES to the outside now knowing that Taker’s okay. RICK RUDE comes out, and we take a break…
Upon return, Mankind’s got Triple H in a Mandible Claw position, but Chyna trips him up. Shawn comes in and hits a crossboy before tagging back in Hunter. They hit a variation of Total Elimination, using a clothesline instead of a spinning heel kick which gets 2. Shawn knocks Mankind outside and Triple H throws Mick into the stairs. They head back in, and Shawn gets a tag. Michaels jumps on Mankind’s face, and follows with a back elbow. Triple H comes in and throws Mankind around a little before going back to Shawn. Snap suplex connects – and Michaels heads up! Michaels hits the flying elbow drop, and warms up the band. He tags in Helmsley, tries for the Sweet Chin Music – but it’s blocked and Mandible Claw is applied. Triple H breaks it up, but Mankind goes low and tags in the Undertaker! Michaels of course disappears while Hunter takes a beating. A legdrop gets 2 – and Taker dumps Triple H. Goozle for Shawn on the apron…and Taker launches him WAY back to the guardrail! Rick Rude gets involved with a chair, but runs away with just a glance from Taker. In the ring, Undertaker hits a chokeslam on Hunter before Shawn LEVELS Taker with a chair, getting a DQ at 8:31. *1/2 Undertaker is busted wide open, and both Shawn and Hunter realize what they’ve done. Taker does the zombie sit up, and both guys just RUN to the back as fast as they can. Welcome the birth of Degeneration X, where duo realized just how well they worked together, and opted to hang around with one another and annoy the world to no end, introducing WWF Attitude and changing the course of the federation in one quick swoop. Now THAT’S an important match!
TRIPLE H vs. D’LO BROWN (in a blindfold match)
October 7, 2002
WWE Preview: RAW General Manager Eric Bischoff introduced WWE fans to RAW Roulette from Las Vegas on this night. He spun the wheel and signed up Triple H for a Blindfold Match against D’Lo Brown. Although both competitors are supposed to remain blindfolded throughout, The Game finds a loophole.
Typical blindfold start, with both guys slowly walking around, doing a blind man routine. They take simultaneous swings, and miss. Triple H finally finds D’Lo, and drives him back to the corner. D’Lo slips away, but Hunter stands there talking shit to no one. He swings, and collapses on his ass. Meanwhile, D’Lo grabs the referee by mistake, and the commotion allows Triple H to deck him from behind. He goes for the Pedigree, but D’Lo backdrops his way out and pounds away. A cover gets 2. D’Lo gets in a Sky High out of nowhere, but Triple H smartly rolls to the ropes. Flair distracts the referee, and Triple H pulls up his mask. He sees D’Lo, hits the Pedigree, and wins 2:35. DUD Surprisingly entertaining, as was that whole episode of RAW until the Katie Vick ending. And that’ll do it for this month’s jukebox.
Whew! Thank the LORD that’s over. I’m probably not as strongly anti-Hunter as most of the Internet is, but if you’re gonna whip out the “Best Of” stuff, you’re best to avoid 2002 all together. It’s a shame they still don’t have the legal rights to air clean footage from the Attitude era, because this would have been so much easier to swallow if we’d grabbed pretty much everything since his feud with the Nation in 1998 through the quad injury in 2001. But such is life, and until the Panda people release their hold on the scratch logo, we’re stuck.
January 2005 brings us classic January footage, mostly stemming from various Royal Rumble events, and it should in turn be a bit easier to swallow. Coming soon!
