10 Times Wrestling Made You Lose Your Goddamn Mind

5. Ronda Rousey Blows Triple H Away

Wheeler Yuta
WWE

Once in a while, Triple H would show ass.

There's a rich irony to his in-ring reputation, for which "divisive" is the most accurate word. Triple H didn't like not going f*cking over, and he was a specialist at making selected opponents look dire. And yet, he was magnificent when he did decide to sell. His flat-back bump was as sudden as a light switch - his form was truly world-class - and few were quite as magnificent at selling the flailing panic of being caught in a submission hold.

At WrestleMania 34, WWE built an entire masterpiece around creating anticipation ahead of Ronda Rousey getting her hands on Stephanie McMahon. In an iconic twist that drew a monster of a reaction, this was literally the case when she worked a throughly unexpected and electrifying inter-gender sequence with her husband. This escalation of the story was genius; WWE delivered catharsis on top of catharsis in a true "WrestleMania Moment", and Trips sold what registered as an assault to perfection. Retreating into the corner while throwing his shoulders back in a lightning-quick shoelace pattern, he looked like Rambo was blowing him away with a sub machine gun.

This intense level of action and emotion was so much better than his dreary reaches for epic storytelling.

 
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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!