The Monday Night Wars Come to ‘Mania & Triple H Wins Again
Pretty great video package to recap the beef between the Icon and the Game. Even more interesting intro’s for each. Sting has a Japanese band playing an intro for him before finally making his long-awaited entrance at Wrestlemania. I don’t care how old he is, seeing Sting walk to a WWE ring at Wrestle-freaking-mania gave me the chills.
(JBL with the obligatory shot at WCW during the intro, “This isn’t Starrcade, it’s Wrestlemania!”)
Triple H with an interesting intro of his own, showing shots of San Francisco before the words “I’ve been waiting for you.” show up on-screen and are read in Arnold Schwarzenegger’s voice. No seriously, a bunch of Terminators pop up through the ground. Out through the ground comes Triple H in a Terminator helmet/shoulder pad combo and I guess we’re doing movie promos now.
Triple H is raised on a podium off of the ground as the Terminator himself pops up on-screen.
“Wrestlemania… judgement day is near. It’s time to play the Game.”
Great intros for both men, but let’s hope this isn’t just a way of entertaining us before a dull match.
Side note – Trips has a NASTY bruise on his upper left leg, we;ll see if that limits him.
It’s finally time to go and the crowd is loving it. LOUD “THIS IS AWESOME!” chants break out as Sting and Triple H stare each other down. And the two men lock-up and this dream match is officially a reality.
It’s a battle of one-upmanship early as both men exchange shoulder blocks (and a WOO vs. Crotch Chop as well) before Sting hits a standing drop-kick and the crowd explodes with “YOU STILL GOT IT!” chants.
Triple H takes control and hits a running knee drop on Sting but the Stinger just stands there and starts pounding his chest and yelling at Triple H. The game heads out of the ring to reset and he has no clue what to do with the Stinger at this point.
Trips tries to take control again and Sting counters and tosses him out of the ring (great sell job by Trips on the move) before heading outside and missing on a splash, and now Triple H is in control. Trips throws Sting into the steps and the Cerebral Assassin is going to work. Trips hits an awesome standing suplex on Stinger for the near-fall and the COO is dominating.
Sting finally makes a push and is able to lock Triple H into the Scorpion Death Lock… AND SUDDENLY DX’S MUSIC KICKS IN AND OUT COME THE ROAD DOGG, BILLY GUNN AND X-PAC! WHAT IS GOING ON?!
Apparently this is a no-disqualifcation match according to Michael Cole which is the first time I’m hearing this, but Sting fights off all three DX members and then launches Triple H outside for good measure. Sting heads up top and hits a splash on all of D-X!
LOUD “THIS IS AWESOME!” chants from the crowd and this match is exceeding all expectations at this point. D-X again tries to get involved and the distraction allows Triple H to hit a Pedigree for the 1…2…STINGER KICKS OUT!
Triple H rolls out of the ring and it’s time for the trusty sledge hammer. OH MY GOD THE NWO’S MUSIC HITS AND OUT COME HALL, NASH AND HOGAN!!! I’M MARKING THE HELL OUT RIGHT NOW OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD! THIS IS INCREDIBLE!!!!! THE NWO AND D-X ARE THROWING DOWN RINGSIDE!!!!!
Sting grabs Triple H amid the distraction and hits a Scorpion Death Drop for the 1…2…NOW TRIPLE H KICKS OUT! Stings locks in the Scorpion Death Lock again and Trips starts crawling towards his sledgehammer but the Hulkster pulls it out of the ring! X-Pac runs from behind and throws Hogan into the post. Then Nash hits X-Pac with a clothesline and Gunn takes him out as Hall and Road Dogg take each other out ringside.
AND THE SCORPION DEATH LOCK IS STILL LOCKED IN!
Triple H finally makes it to the ropes and Sting breaks the hold. Sting goes to lock it in again AND SHAWN MICHAELS IS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE RING AND HITS STING WITH SWEET CHIN MUSIC AND A CROTCH CHOP!!! WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?!?!
Triple H goes for the cover and STING KICKS OUT AGAIN!!!
D-X regroups and gives Triple H the sledgehammer and this looks like the end for Sting. WAIT A SECOND, NWO GIVES STING THE BAT! It’s a stare down between the two legends with their weapons. NWO in Sting’s corner, D-X in Triple H’s corner. This is unbelievable.
Sting gets the advantage and BREAKS TRIPLE H’S SLEDGEHAMMER WITH HIS BAT! Big splash into the corner by Sting. He goes for another and Triple H takes him down with the head of the sledgehammer for the 1..2..3! Triple H and WWE win again! WOW.
Now D-X is in one corner celebrating with Triple H while the NWO is trying to help Sting to his feet. What a sight to see. Triple H starts to walk towards the NWO but D-X stops him and HHH tells them to step back. Sting and Trips stare each other down as Triple H extends his hand and Sting shakes it. Wow.
WHAT. A. FREAKING. MATCH.
