100 Greatest WWE Matches Of All Time (Ranked)
5. Triple H vs. Cactus Jack (Royal Rumble 2000)
For all the hellish bumps he took in classic Hell In A Cell matches, Mick Foley should be remembered as a master psychologist first and foremost. He knew how to lace his bouts with sympathetic moments that'd rally fans behind him. Take this sizzling 'Street Fight' from the 2000 Royal Rumble, for example. It matched a cherished babyface against an easy-to-despise heel in Triple H.
Hunter was the corporate side of things, but Foley was a man of the people. He was just like you - he'd travelled to Madison Square Garden for shows as a fan, and now here he was vying to become WWF Champ in a true temple of wrestling. These guys had won before any punches were thrown, but that was never going to be enough for true students of the game like Mick or HHH.
They knocked both brains together to almost become single minded and produce an adventurous brawl sprinkled with some of Foley's wildest ideas. He took that knees first bump over the ring steps, landed on thumb tacks with a sickening thud, brought his trusty old 2x4 wrapped in barbed wire out to play, and fans there live for the Rumble adored every single second of the ride.
As usual, JR and Jerry Lawler laid down one heck of a soundtrack for what'd become known as one of the greatest title fights ever. They perfectly put over how sympathetic Mick was, and just how cruel Triple H was willing to be. A Cell encounter come No Way Out was fabulous, but the Rumble 'Street Fight' should be your first stop for Cactus Jack vs. Hunter anarchy.