ICONIC THROWBACK SERIES: WWE Hell in a Cell at WrestleMania 28
The time that two of WWE’s most intimidating wrestlers went head-to-head
Where were you when The Undertaker and Triple H fought it out at Mania 28? I remember exactly where I was, and even what I was eating (crumpets and honey, for your information). It’s one of those matches that holds a soft spot in your heart, and is completely unforgettable. Join me for this first instalment of my Iconic Throwback Series, where I share the stories of some of wrestling’s greatest moments.
This incredible match took place in 2012 in Miami, Florida, during Taker’s incredible Mania win streak. It was dubbed ‘the end of an era’ because Taker and HHH were beginning to slow down their careers in the ring, and as a main rivalry of the Attitude era, this was sort of a way of them saying goodbye to this remarkable chapter of WWE’s history. With Shawn Michaels as referee, it is a match that was absolutely packed with star power, and definitely goes down in history as an absolute classic.
Image courtesy of WWE
Image courtesy of WWE
First and foremost, no-one has a presence or entrance quite like The Undertaker. Once you hear that bell sound, you have no choice but to stop and pay your respects. Any competitor that goes up against him is a brave soul, and Triple H was especially brave trying to break his streak. Both wrestlers gave this match their all.
Could you imagine being in that stadium that night too? Because I remember being on the edge of my seat on the other side of the world.
Hell in a Cell is a brutal type of match by nature, and there was no shortage of props used to deliver maximum pain, like stairs, chairs, and a sledgehammer. There were some signature moves on display too, like HHH’s Spinebuster, Taker’s The Last Ride, and even Michaels got in with his classic Sweet Chin Music. These are moves that remain iconic and are what make up some of the WWE history books. What a time it was to be a wrestling fan!
Image courtesy of WWE
Image courtesy of WWE
Part of the thrill of the match was that we just did not know how things would end. Would Taker’s streak be broken? It was touch and go with every attempted submission and pinfall. You could cut the tension with a knife, and by the end, the two wrestlers (well, three if you include Michaels) were absolutely exhausted and covered in blood. After an absolute marathon, the match ended with Taker pinning HHH to assure his 20th Mania triumph in a row.
This was one of those matches that will forever go down as a benchmark for WrestleMania quality as long as it lives. I think fans (especially long-time fans like myself) will forever be chasing the high that came from this match. History-making stuff, genuinely.
Image courtesy of WWE
Image courtesy of WWE
I gave this Iconic Throwback Series match 5 out of 5 stars then, and I still do now:
