The feud between "Stone Cold" Steve Austin and Triple H leading into No Way Out 2001 had intensified to the point that the only way to convincingly conclude it was to introduce a match type unlike any ever seen before. Using the Best 2-Out-of-3 Falls format as its foundation, WWE Creative booked a Three Stages of Hell match, giving each fall a gimmick bout of sorts. The hated rivals produced a five-star classic, full of stories. Austin out-wrestled Triple H, one-upping the Cerebral Assassin from the get-go. The Game would respond beating Austin in the Street Fight round. With each Superstar having bested the other in a fall designed specifically for their opponent, all eyes turned to the steel cage that engulfed the ring. Inside the punishing structure, The Game blasted Austin with a sledgehammer and scored the unexpected pinfall victory. It was the best match of the night and, arguably, all of 2001.