#FiftyMatches: Reinventing The Iron Man Match

Triple H v. The Rock

WWF Championship

Iron Man Match

Judgement Day 2000
May 21, 2000

"The intimidating hour."

- Jim Ross

Just like The Rock throwing punches with his right hand, the World Wrestling Federation was sticking with what worked during the months following WrestleMania 2000. The company really had no choice. Mick Foley was now retired. "Stone Cold" Steve Austin's return to in-ring action following neck surgery was months away. The Undertaker, as it would turn out, was close to returning from his own injury, but he was not back yet.

The WWF responded to this shortage of main event talent by hitching its wagon to its two hottest young stars. This was the third pay per view main event in a row featuring The Rock and Triple H, and in many ways it's the climax of their in-ring rivalry.


There were some observers who thought this match should never have been attempted. Perhaps, that’s because their only exposure to an Iron Man Match up to this point was more than four years earlier - Bret Hart vs. Shawn Michaels, the main event at WrestleMania 12. Hart vs. Michaels produced a single pinfall in more than an hour of match time. To this day, it's hailed by many as a technical classic between two of the most gifted performers of their generation.

If Hart vs. Michaels is the "Oscar bait" independent movie, The Rock vs. Triple H is the summer blockbuster. How could the latter meet the high standards set in the WWF's first Iron Man Match? The answer was simple. Don’t even try. The Rock vs. Triple H is a reimagining of what the Iron Man Match should be - a chaotic hour stuffed with nearly a dozen decisions, clever psychology and the debut of a new incarnation of one of the WWF’s most timeless stars.

The Undertaker's return is a big moment. He arrived as a completely new invention, shedding the "Deadman" character for the more modern "American Badass". It was an instant hit, and would serve The Undertaker well during the final years of the Attitude Era, before he reverted back to his classic persona.

The special guest referee for this match is Shawn Michaels, and he's critical to its success, especially at the end. It's clear that the timing of The Undertaker's arrival as time ticks down is not what it was meant to be, but Michaels makes it work and gets the desired result. He never sees the interference by X-Pac and Road Dogg, only The Undertaker's choke slam on Triple H that results in a disqualification and costs The Rock the WWF championship.

I've said it before and I'll say it again here. Shawn Michaels is the greatest special guest referee in the history of professional wrestling. There is no debate. That reputation was sealed for all time at WrestleMania 28, but this performance is special for me. It's thanks in large part to one key moment toward the end, as The Rock is delivering The People's Elbow. Michaels takes two steps toward The Rock as he's on final approach - a subtle and brilliant fake of Sweet Chin Music. What makes it such a genius move at the time is the fact that Michaels had actually followed through and hit the super kick from almost the exact same position less than a year earlier, during a championship match between Triple H and The Rock on Smackdown! in August 1999. 

You lose that context watching this match today, but at the time, it faked out a lot of fans who were waiting for Shawn Michaels to screw The Rock yet again. The rivalry between The Rock and Triple H did not end here. Their paths would continue to cross throughout 2000, but this match is special. It's the last time The Rock and Triple H met in a one-on-one match on pay per view.

In the end, the WWF shed the old model for the Iron Man Match in favor of something more modern. You can argue whether one is greater than the other. This match is far from flawless, but the end result must have been to the WWF's liking, because the company has stuck with this vision ever since. This night redefined the Iron Man Match for the Attitude Era and beyond.