40 Greatest Stories Wrestling Ever Told
15. Triple H Tries To Avenge Shawn Michaels (WWE, 2011-2012)
Think of this as an addendum to another tale that'll certainly crack into the top positions somewhere here. Triple H wanted to do what his good buddy Shawn Michaels couldn't; he wanted to end The Undertaker's winning streak at WrestleMania and thus avenge HBK's retirement from 2010. That's why, in 2011 and 2012, 'The Game' packed up his sledgehammer and went to work.
He did so knowing deep down that 'Taker was a supernatural force who just couldn't be beaten. Apparently, Brock Lesnar didn't get that memo in 2014 when he ended the streak, but still. The way Hunter went nose to nose (no jokes) with 'The Deadman' on episodes of TV heading into 'Mania XXVII gave everyone watching goosebumps.
A fabulous 'No Holds Barred' war ended with Undertaker winning and both men needing medical attention, but Trips came back for more by pitching an 'End Of An Era' Hell In A Cell encounter with 'Taker at 'Mania XXVIII. There was another kicker: Shawn would be the special guest referee for that one. Oh, the drama!
Undertaker won yet again, then all 3 embraced one another on the ramp as if to bring the curtain down on their 'Attitude Era'-inspired reprisal. The fanbase understood what they were seeing here. This was the true end of an era right enough. The less said about 'Taker vs. Trips at Super ShowDown in 2018, the better.
In 2011 and 2012, it was realistic to ponder Hunter ending the streak though. That added spice to an already intense storyline.