10 Amazing Wrestling Callbacks You Totally Missed

3. Sledgehammer Subtle

MJF Samoa Joe
WWE

You'd be forgiven for missing this one, since, by the time Triple H and Batista entered the ring at WrestleMania 35, the show had already ran long by several months.

And then, when they started telling their story, it was so brutally long that few paid attention. Because it was a Triple H match at WrestleMania, it was of course the longest thing on the show.

It wasn't very good, at all, but it had potential. Elements of the match were fun. Triple H removing Batista's nose ring with pliers was a funny and shockingly well-shot spot, and that sort of thing should have been emphasised more. Elsewhere, it was far too ponderous and self-important for its own good. 10 punchy minutes of meme fodder were exactly what that show needed, but Triple H got in his own way with yet another attempt at an "epic".

In one spot, echoing the events of Vengeance 2005, Triple H attempted to strike Dave with a sledgehammer before eating a Batista bomb regardless.

Since the gap between Vengeance 2005 and WrestleMania 35 was almost as long as the match, it didn't resonate with the nostalgic warmth intended.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!