No talk followed by all talk, the build to the spectacular clash between Triple H and The Undertaker hadn't shone the best light on a demoralised locker room just a week removed from a superb silent announcement.
After returning to Monday Night Raw on the same evening to stare holes through each other and the WrestleMania sign, they spent subsequent weeks noting how only they were big enough opponents for each other. Frustratingly, they then proved it.
Though given every opportunity to succeed and every shortcut to mask failure, the pair still assembled a classic worthy of following 'The Deadman's double with Shawn Michaels at the prior two events. So good, in fact, that it formed part of that story too - a four-year arc concluded next year when they somehow found a way to better Hunter's outstanding nearfall spot here.
The good old days weren't all gone, but the "End Of An Era" approached...
Michael is a writer, editor, podcaster and presenter for WhatCulture Wrestling, and has been with the organisation nearly 8 years. He primarily produces written, audio and video content on WWE and AEW, but also provides knowledge and insights on all aspects of the wrestling industry thanks to a passion for it dating back over 35 years. As one third of "The Dadley Boyz" Michael has contributed to the huge rise in popularity of the WhatCulture Wrestling Podcast and its accompanying YouTube channel, earning it top spot in the UK's wrestling podcast charts with well over 62,000,000 total downloads. He has been featured as a wrestling analyst for the Tampa Bay Times, GRAPPL, GCP, Poisonrana and Sports Guys Talking Wrestling, and has covered milestone events in New York, Dallas, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, London and Cardiff. Michael's background in media stretches beyond wrestling coverage, with a degree in Journalism from the University Of Sunderland (2:1) and a series of published articles in sports, music and culture magazines The Crack, A Love Supreme and Pilot. When not offering his voice up for daily wrestling podcasts, he can be found losing it singing far too loud watching his favourite bands play live. Follow him on X/Twitter - @MichaelHamflett
