25 Best WWE Raw Matches Ever
9. Triple H Vs Shawn Michaels (December 20th, 2003)
Guilty on more than one occasion of letting their egos elongate their matches together, Triple H and Shawn Michaels wore their shared desperation to have a straight wrestling 'classic' nearly every time they wrestled. Nearly.
After they couldn't replicate their incredible SummerSlam 2002 contest in a Three Stages Of Hell mess the following December, the two were largely kept apart in 2003 until an unvarnished Raw classic on the last broadcast of the year.
Going half an hour in front of Michaels' San Antonio faithful, the DXers assembled the best battle they'd ever have together. A carefully constructed contest paced to perfection, Shawn used his speed to stay on top of his former friend before Triple H damaged 'HBK's already-injured back with throw from the ring to the floor. Hunter zeroed in, launching him into the steps and applying perhaps the most heated abdominal stretch in industry history. Fans seethed as Flair lent the Champion an unfair assist from the outside.
Searching for a miracle, Shawn battled back, subduing Flair in a complex sequence that left the referee floored. 'The Game' resorted to cheap tricks and Eric Bischoff replaced the official, but Michaels refused to stay down. A Sweet Chin Music appeared to have the match and World Title won, but the slimy Raw GM noticed the Challenger's shoulders on the canvas too to call for a...heartbreaking draw.
Screwy as the finish may have been, it fed perfectly into Shawn's struggle, and show-closing return of authority figure Stone Cold Steve Austin.