SHAWN MICHAELS (C) VS. TRIPLE H

 Shawn Michaels made his return at SummerSlam 2002. What was supposed to be one last match turned into another World Championship reign as he won the first Elimination Chamber back at Survivor Series. The last time they used this stipulation, it was the final television match between Triple H and “Stone Cold” Steve Austin.

The first fall is a Street Fight, the second fall is a Steel Cage match and if the third fall is needed, it will be a Ladder match. Triple H makes his way out with Ric Flair and he just looks strange without the belt in this era. Howard Finkel goes over the 3 stipulations. JR says not only does Triple H want to win the title tonight, he wants to end Michaels’ career. It seems a bit sledgehammer for a walnut but I guess that’s on brand. Shawn Michaels makes his way out so the match can begin.

Jim Ross and Jerry “The King” Lawler are on commentary for this match.

SHAWN MICHAELS © VS. TRIPLE H

Three Stages of Hell (World Heavyweight Championship)

WWE Armageddon 2002 (15^th December 2002)

First Fall: Street Fight  

Earl Hebner is of course the referee for this match. He immediately ejects Flair, shoving him down to assist him out of the ring. Shawn Michaels takes advantage, knocking Triple H back into the ropes with right hands.

  Triple H grabs a headlock but is sent off the ropes. He goes over a prone Shawn Michaels, barely gets under the leapfrog and decides to sends Shawn over the top rope. Shawn Michaels skins the cat back inside, he’s knocked into the ropes by Triple H but connects with right hands before a clothesline sends the challenger over to the floor. Triple H grabs a trash can from under the ring but a baseball slide stops him from using it. Triple H is able to stand it upside down and Shawn Michaels hits a Plancha straight onto it. Triple H takes some weight off his taped-up quadriceps before knocking Michaels down with a clothesline. Michaels is dropped onto the security wall, Triple H brings him over to the entranceway and sends him into the security wall there, choking Michaels with his boot. Triple H rolls Michaels onto the apron and drops a chop across Michaels throat, then grabs the trash can. Shawn Michaels kicks Triple H before he can use the weapon, Shawn Michaels springs back from the middle turnbuckle into the trash can and Triple H. Triple H is knocked down as Michaels goes to find a table and sets it up at ringside. Triple H blocks a suplex that would put him through the table and knocks Michaels down but gets sent into the ring steps.

  Shawn Michaels rolls Triple H in the ring and takes the trash can to the middle rope, but Triple H gets his boot up. Shawn Michaels is sent into the corner as we see a replay, he hits a crossbody from the top rope, but Triple H rolls through and Shawn Michaels kicks out at 2 but gets flattened with a clothesline. Triple H sets another table up next to the first one and climbs on the apron. Shawn Michaels fights off the suplex and lifts Triple H back in the ring with one of his own. He covers and gets a nearfall. Triple H reverses an irish whip and knocks Michaels down with a high knee, but it’s his injured leg. He hobbles to find a chair and brings it into the ring. He notices Michaels getting to his feet and clubs at Michaels’ back, making that his new target. Another shot to the kidneys forces Michaels into the corner, Triple H sends his shoulder into Michaels’ lower back and stands the chair in the ring. Triple H sends Michaels off the ropes but Shawn Michaels uses the momentum to escape Triple H’s shoulder and hits the backbreaker across the seat of the chair!

  Triple H is sent into the turnbuckles, so he escapes to the floor, but Michaels jumps from the apron with an ax handle and drives Triple H’s back into the side of the ring. Shawn Michaels brings a trash can lid into the ring and strikes it across Triple H’s back. He sets up the Sweet Chin Music, but Triple H catches it and sends Michaels to the mat. Triple H slams Michaels’ knee into the canvas, then positions the wrecked trash can and uses that as a landing pad for Shawn’s knee. Triple H cuts Michaels down with a chop block  and uses the bottom rope to get more height for an elbow drop to the knee. Triple H puts Michaels in the Figure Four leglock! Michaels tries to drag Triple H across the ring, his shoulders drop but he gets one back up at 2. Shawn Michaels sits in it for a while, his shoulders drop for 2 counts, Michaels tries to roll over and reverse the pressure and does, forcing Triple H to release it. Shawn Michaels uses the ropes to get to his feet and Triple H knocks him down with the trash can lid. Lawler says everyone thought Triple H would attack the knee again which left Michaels open.

  Shawn Michaels is dumped to the floor and Triple H beats Michaels over to the set. Michaels is sent into the sheet metal and Triple H has found a 2x4 wrapped in barbed wire, he stands over Shawn Michaels with it. He looks at the fire on the entrance stage and sets the 2x4 alight. Shawn Michaels kicks Triple H in the midsection and grabs the 2x4, he knocks it into Triple H’s face! They get a well-deserved “holy shit” chant as Triple H is shown busted open. Shawn Michaels sends Triple H into the security railing and unloads right hands before bringing it back into the ring. He knocks Triple H down with a trash can lid and stands the chair up. Triple H reverses an irish whip and the drop toehold sends Michaels into the seat. Triple H hits a DDT and the referee counts them both down. It’s a fucking street fight! What would happen if it was a draw and they each won a fall? Michaels on a technicality, after 40 minutes!? Anyway, Shawn Michaels counters a Pedigree as I take this too seriously. He countered it with a legal low blow because it’s a Street Fight by the way.

  Anyway really this time, Shawn Michaels knocks Triple H down with a forearm and kips up, but he’s favouring his leg from earlier. Triple H takes advantage with a chop block and hits the Pedigree to win the first fall.

Second Fall: Steel Cage Match

  Triple H brings a table and some chairs into the ring as The Fink goes over the rules for the cage match, escape or pinfall win the match.

  Triple H knocks Michaels down with a trash can and leans the table in the corner, taking his time to begin the match. They both tease hitting the table, but neither man makes contact. Shawn Michaels reverses an irish whip but Triple H catches the dropkick and sends Michaels into the cage. That’s enough to draw blood for Triple H and he focuses punches on the cut. Triple H hits Michaels with the trash can and grinds his face against the chicken wire. Shawn Michaels is sent into the cage, Triple H knocks him down with a right hand. King mentions that Michaels' back hasn’t played into the match as much as they thought it would and Michaels sends Triple H into the cage wall. Shawn Michaels hits the Lou Thesz press but Triple H overpowers him. Triple H starts climbing the cage, but Shawn Michaels brings him back into the ring. Triple H is hanging over the top as Shawn Michaels climbs to the top of the cage. Ric Flair is back to watch them exchange right hands and set up more tables, stacking them on the two at ringside.

  Shawn Michaels tries to move to the outside of the cage, but Triple H keeps him a the peak. Shawn Michaels brings it back in the ring as they stand on the top rope. Triple H’s head is sent into the top of the cage and he crotches himself on the top rope. Shawn Michaels hits an Elbow Drop from the top rope and sets up the Sweet Chin Music, but Ric Flair gets in the ring! He grabs the chair but doesn’t get a chance to use it as Michaels cuts him off. Shawn Michaels grabs Triple H, pulling him away from the door as Naitch has the chair again. Michaels kicks Flair in the midsection and knocks Triple H down with a chairshot. Chairshot for Flair! Ric Flair is bleeding in surprising news to nobody that’s seen a Ric Flair match. Shawn Michaels sends Flair into the cage and hits most of the 10 punches in the corner. Ric Flair tries to counter with an inverted atomic drop but is knocked down with the last shot from Michaels.

  Shawn Michaels walks into the Pedigree but counters it with a backdrop. Flair gets knocked down with a Superkick! Superkick for Triple H, too. Shawn Michaels sets up the table and sets Triple H up, he climbs to the top of the steel cage and splashes Triple H through the table for the win.

Third Fall: Ladder match

  A group of referees help Ric Flair out of the ring and we see a replay of Michaels’ dive from the cage. The World Heavyweight Championship is raised on its hook as Michaels brings a ladder into the ring.

  Shawn Michaels leans it in the corner and softens Triple H up with right hands before sending him into the ladder. Shawn Michaels runs the ladder into Triple H’s head and drops it across his back. Shawn Michaels hits a suplex on Triple H onto the ladder and sets it up, Shawn climbs the ladder, coming eye level with the title belt. He attempts another splash but eats shit, turning the tide in Triple H’s favour. Triple H hits the Pedigree and crawls to the ladder, placing it under the championship. Triple H climbs but Michaels is able to grab his feet. Shawn Michaels pulls Triple H to the mat and sends him through the ropes with a Superkick. Shawn Michaels slowly climbs the ladder and I’ve seen this moment hundreds of times in the “Don’t Try This at Home” video packages. Triple H sends the ladder over, with Shawn Michaels clearing the top rope and crashing through the tables at ringside! Triple H unhooks the championship belt to win the match.

WINNER: TRIPLE H (NEW WWE World Heavyweight Champion)

This was a very good match between the two, with Ric Flair adding something to the second fall without it seeming tiresome. Triple H sold the leg when he needed to, the Street Fight brought most of the intensity early and Triple H having the early advantage changed Michaels’ story to survival, he had to use his veteran skills over Triple H’s malicious calculation. They worked well and the run time seemed to speed by even with the selling and moderate pace as exhaustion wore in. [***¾] 7.5/10