(9) TRIPLE H vs. BATISTA – No Holds Barred
Shawn Michaels came out on commentary. A black SUV drove onto the stage. Men in a black suits and sunglasses lined up on the stage and Batista popped out of the back and walked to the ring. He spit and turned around, showing off the tattoos on his back. He let out a couple yells and entered the ring, catching his leg on the middle rope as he entered on all fours like an animal. He recovered nicely. Batista walked over to the announce desk and mouthed off to Michaels. Michaels said this has nothing to do with him. The costar of Batista’s movie coming out this summer was standing in the front row behind the announcers wearing a shirt with a giant picture of Batista’s face on it. He re-entered the ring, gingerly this time, without a stumble. He smiled. He stood on the second rope and looked back at the stage. Michaels said there is nothing harder than coming back after a long time off because “the only way to do this stuff is repetition.”
Triple H’s ring entrance then took place, with an elaborate video that was a play on the “Mad Max” movies. Then he was driven out in a vehicle with skulls and torches and chains. His regular entrance theme then played once he got out of the vehicle at ringside. Cole talked about Batista beating Triple H in their three PPV matches. Michaels is one of the most intimidating men you’ll ever see, but Triple H is the biggest of big-time players. Graves said there is no shortcut that Triple H won’t use to beat The Animal tonight. Cole said Triple H hasn’t been in the ring since tearing his pec while Batista has been training for months for this match.
The bell rang and Batista charged at Hunter and drove him into the corner a few times. Batista threw Hunter into the announce table on the floor. Triple H dove off the table and tackled Batista into the side of the ring. Michaels gasped as Batista hit the side of the ring hard. Batista looked already blown up. Hunter nailed Batista with a toolbox from the time keeper’s area. Batista went down, wincing in pain. Hunter whipped Batista into the ringside steps next. Cole said Triple H wants to maim The Animal. Michaels said he’s known Hunter so long, he forgot how mean he is. Hunter grabbed channel locks (pliers) and then isolated his hand and signaled he was going to snap off his fingers. He put his fingers in it, twisted his arm back, and stomped on the fingers on the base of the steps.
Hunter then picked up a chair. He pulled out a needle-nose pliers. Then he bashed Batista across his back with a chair. Hunter set a chair over his throat and sat on the chair, then yanked out his nose ring. Michaels said this is a lesson to kids that they shouldn’t get piercings. Hunter held up a nose ring to show it off. Hunter then leaped off the steps with a fist wrapped in a chain, but Batista side-stepped him and then slammed him on the announce table.
They replayed the nose ring being yanked out and Cole said it was sick. Batista beat up Triple H at ringside, then scored a two count in the ring. Hunter avoided a charging Batista, so Batista went shoulder-first into the ringpost. Hunter then set up a Pedigree, but Batista powered out and slammed Hunter backwards for a two count. Batista put the top of the ringside steps on the Spanish announce table, then cleared the English table. He then lifted Hunter onto the steps. He set up the Batista Bomb, but Hunter backdropped out of it. Batista landed on the other table with a thud. Triple H then speared Batista off of one table and onto the German table. They rolled around on the floor to catch their breath for a long time. Hunter then pulled out a sledgehammer. He entered the ring, but was met by a Batista spear for a near fall.
Batista then picked up the spear, but Hunter kicked it out of his hands. As Hunter charged, Batista delivered a spinebuster. He gave Hunter a Batista Bomb next. Hunter kicked out. Batista brought the base of the ring steps into the ring. Batista then placed Hunter on the top rope. Hunter punched back, but Batista mounted him in the corner and got the better of their exchanges. Hunter slipped down, though, and then powerbombed Batista on the base of the steps. He stood right away and ate a Pedigree for a near fall. That’s a crazy kickout given the impact of the powerbomb and Hunter’s finisher. Hunter charged at Batista with the sledgehammer, but Batista avoided it and managed to DDT Hunter onto the steps. Hunter flipped over onto the mat on the other side of the steps. Graves said neither of these wrestlers will be the same after this. Ric Flair then came to ringside and handed Hunter another sledgehammer. Hunter then leaped off the steps with a sledgehammer and hit Batista in the head. Then he delivered a Pedigree for the win.
WINNER: Triple H in 25:00. (**3/4)
I was ready to dislike this as it went longer and it just dragged in the final third – and at times in the first two-thirds it moved at such a slow speed – but some of the bigger spots in the final stanza looked good and were dramatic and had the crowd gasping. The finish with Flair paying back Batista was a good full-circle justice finish. I wouldn’t blame someone for disliking this for being bloated and plodding and self-indulgent, but I could also see someone thinking I underrated it at just under three stars. I wasn’t a fan of the tools, but I think a lot of people will actually love that part of it. Michaels was good on commentary and added to the match.
(10) KURT ANGLE vs. BARON CORBIN – Angle’s retirement match
Angle got in some early offense. Cole talked with JBL about knowing when you can’t do it anymore and when it’s time to retire. JBL said Angle is at that point, and he talked with him about it earlier in the day. Angle applied an ankle lock. Corbin powered out. Corbin gave Angle a sudden Deep Six for a near fall. Angle came back with an Angle Slam for a near fall. Angle dropped his straps and applied an ankle lock. Corbin yelled out in pain. Fans made a tapping motion in the crowd. Cole said this would be so humiliating and embarrassing for Corbin after all the trash-talking he’s done. Corbin rolled out of it and sent Angle face-first into the corner turnbuckle. Corbin waved his hand in front of his face and said, “Kurt, you can’t see me!” Corbin said that’s because Corbin knows how many people wants Cena to be Angle’s final opponent. Angle gave back with a series of three unreleased German suplexes. Angle then climbed to the top rope and went for a moonsault. Fans stood and cheered. Corbin moved. Corbin then gave Angle his End of Days and scored the three count. Fans looked stunned.
WINNER: Corbin in 6:00. (*1/4)
Solid six minute match all things considered. Fans were stunned, but the way WWE gave Angle some feel-good wins on TV leading up to this, and given the curious positioning of Corbin in this match in the first place given how much of a fan Vince is of Corbin, this finish makes sense. Vince wants Corbin to have bragging rights for years to come that he retired Angle.
