20 Best WWE Matches Since 2000
15. Cactus Jack Vs. Triple H (Royal Rumble 2000)
Triple H and Mick Foley's years-long feud is one of the most memorable in WWE history, and it legitimised The Game as a major player at the turn of the century. Foley dragged Triple H to harrowing new depths, and while the early assumptions were that Hunter would drown in Foley's hardcore world, he more than rose to the occasion.
The duo had a great Hell In A Cell match at No Way Out in February, but their Street Fight at the 2000 Royal Rumble is their real classic. This is a nasty, violent fight between two wrestlers with nothing but complete disdain for one another. They both put their body on the line with barbwire baseball bats, thumbtacks, and everything in between, and after spilling a tremendous amount of blood, Triple H bested Cactus Jack in his own environment.
Even through Triple H was already a three-time WWE Champion at the time, this was the contest that finally convinced fans to take him seriously. He absolutely thrived, and while he remains one of the most polarising figures in wrestling history, matches like this justify his place in the business. Cactus Jack dragged The Game to hell, but Hunter survived.