100 Greatest WWE Matches Of All Time (Ranked)
91. Chris Jericho & Chris Benoit vs. Steve Austin & Triple H (Raw, 21 May 2001)
This match got famous real fast for one reason: Triple H somehow fought through agony to finish the bout even though he'd literally felt his quadricep muscle roll up one of his legs. Apologies to anybody who happens to be eating whilst reading this and vomited in their mouths picturing it. How Hunter managed to sustain a Walls Of Jericho from Chris Jericho on the announce desk despite that pain is unreal, but he did it.
Before that landmark injury blighted it, the match was red hot generally. Jericho and Chris Benoit had combined to make one hell of a team in mid-2001, and the 'Two Man Power Trip' gimmick Hunter and Steve Austin had been working was starting to pay dividends following a strange, almost awkward start. Any shortcomings Austin had from his own career-threatening injuries were mitigated by the tag option, at least.
In a twisted way, Triple H being struck down with a quad tear elevated this random episode of Raw in the eyes of fans. It was hard to forget his bravery, and footage of the Walls atop that announce desk has become stuff of legend in decades since. If only the injury hadn't happened; who knows what quality this foursome could've delivered in a rematch on TV or pay-per-view after the fact.
Revisiting the match isn't for everybody due to the grisly image of a burst Trips being helped up the ramp, but everything pre-injury is an essential watch for those who love tag-team wrestling spliced with WWF/WWE style drama.