Steve Austin vs. Triple H

[9.0] "A very fun violent match between two wrestlers that gave it their all, accompanied by an amazing crow and very well executed drama build up that ended in a very creative finish."

[10.0] "I love the 3 stages of hell concept. The first third was a very good brawling match, and the catching stunner looked slick. The 2nd third is a street fight and it was suitablly voilent and had some great spots and was kept back and forth enough with another good ending with the slegehammer being used. The final stage with the steel cage upped the voilence more and also had a great ending. The whole match felt like a war between enemies which i believe it what they were going for, and the Blood that was used was used well and not overdone. Even the commentary is amazing! The post-match was stupid and shouldn't have happened."

[10.0] "What a carnage between Austin and Hunter before the peak of the Attitude Era of the match in WrestleMania, a match that had of everything and the build up first amazing, and then the build up to the climax with Triple H turning it, the Singles match for Steve Austin and then the momentum after the Street Fight and Steel Cage for Hunter with drama, blood and a great first taste of a 3 stages of hell Match. 10/10 [*****]"

[7.0] "Starts off a little awkward where both men are not on the same page which makes the first fall pretty weak. Second fall is much better, third slows things down. Good match, but I'm not in love with it like most people."

[10.0] "I've just discovered another great match from the career of the legendary Stone Cold Steve Austin, and it's against Triple H at No Way Out 2001, shortly before his classic match against The Rock at WrestleMania. This match is very interesting because it's a best-of-three falls matches. Each part is quite different, contrasting with an interesting escalation of power and violence. It starts with a traditional first round, where Stone Cold Steve Austin quickly gains the upper hand over HHH; it's already quite violent. Next up is a falls count anywhere match, which is won quite logically by HHH, tying the series at one apiece. Finally, it ends with a steel cage match, won, to my great surprise, by The Game himself. This match was excellent, for its violence, its build-up, its storytelling, and its overall structure. A great discovery for me, and another banger from Stone Cold Steve Austin to add to my list of watched matches."

[10.0] "Genuinely a mind-blowing match! These guys gave one of the greatest performances of their careers in an all-out, violent, and bloody war that left me speechless at the end."

[10.0] "One of the greatest Attitude Era matches ever. A blood feud that had lasted approximately two years, the most hate-filled feud in WWE history: attempted murder, harming loved ones, uncontrollable hatred and rage. The match's three-layered structure truly resembled hell. The first fall, as a straight wrestling match, successfully balances psychology and brawling. The second fall escalates in brutality, especially after the 2x4 barbed wire bat, as they leave each other covered in blood and display their hatred and anger. The third fall is rich in surprise transitions, critical attacks, and moments where even the slightest advantage becomes decisive. Storytelling that lays the foundation for Austin's later character deterioration, culminative violence, excellent brawling, selling, and a dramatic ending -- a bloody, hateful, grueling battle. One of the greatest matches in WWE history. ****3/4"

"Triple h vs stone affiche de malade j'ai trop aimé le match avec beaucoup de violence je pensais qu'austin allait gagner vu qu'il allait a wrestlemania affronter le champion mais bravo quand même"

[10.0] "The only real nit pick was the finish as it didn't make much sense for Austin to lose both this match and feud with Triple H on the road WWF WrestleMania 17 (2001), but this was still an absolutely phenomenal match between both men with phenomenal action, spots and psychology between each other throughout, they made spectacular use of all three stipulations, and this was a perfect way to start off one of WWF/E's more well protected match stipulations in Three Stages Of Hell."

[10.0] "This match was amazing. I don't go to five stars (out of five) very often, but I think it's deserved in this case. It was a vicious fight from the moment the bell rang as you would expect. I liked the Three Stages of Hell stipulation as well because it went from an intense regular match to a violent Street Fight and then even more violent inside the Steel Cage. Austin and Hunter each did blade jobs to tell the story that they were going to visibly show us how violent the match was. The way they brawled around ringside in the second fall really took the match to that next level and once they used more weapons, that helped a lot too. It's amazing how they went nearly 40 minutes, yet they really didn't slow down that much other than when they were selling. The pace of these big Austin matches was always fast and Hunter showed he was more than capable of hanging with Austin in a big match like that. The finish was brilliant in the sense that they battled for such a long time, they kicked out of finishers and then Hunter got lucky by landing on top of Austin to win the match. Even though Austin won the Royal Rumble one month earlier, it was fine for him to lose here because Hunter winning here set up future matches between them. If Hunter didn't tear his quadriceps muscle in May 2001 then they likely would have had more matches in summer 2001 with Hunter as the face. If you've never seen this match, go watch it. If you've seen it, go watch it again. It's outstanding."

[10.0] "For many years, this was my favorite WWF match of all-time. The fact that these two men were teaming together a couple of months later is mind-blowing. Great, great stuff and still probably in my top 10 of all-time."

[10.0] "I was rewatching this as Cody takes on Drew this Sunday in a Three Stages of Hell match. I totally forgot how awesome this match one. One of the best matches of either men's careers. Steve Austin was a different beat. He could outwrestle anyone in any given day, in any style of matches. He truly is the goat of American pro wrestling."

[9.0] "Great stuff. Only real complaint is the final steel cage section goes on a little too long and kills the pace a bit (would it really be a Triple H match without flab) but those first two stages are phenomenal. Great technical limbwork before Austin fires up in the singles match, then a brilliant brutal street fight segment where both men get colour. And despite the pace issues the cage stage is still strong, with a great finish."

[9.0] "The fact that this match just happened on a No Way Out show is crazy. What a match, all three falls were executed pretty well. My only issue is the length of the match and it became a bit slow at times. I like the finish in the cage with both guys hitting their big moves with a kick-out. Triple H hits Austin with the barbed wire 2x4 and just falls back onto Austin for the win. Kind of fitting for the PPV as there really was "No Way Out"."

[9.0] "There was a very obvious, strong storyline going - overlooking the messing about with the initial Rikishi stuff - there was clear hatred between the two that justified the match. The entrances were short and to the point, the crowd was hot, the moves all meant something and were sold well. Plus this stipulation is very rare and therefore cooler. I think modern wrestling could learn a lot from this type of match, where you don't need to kick out of eight finishers at 2.99999 to get a reaction - I think those types of matches need to stop getting so much love, and this type of mean fight needs more."

[8.0] "Well that was good but not great or an all time by any means, I thought the match was longer than it should be at least for me and second thing the match is extremely overbooked it just felt unrealistic at most of the times which it took a lot from the match to me, the third fall well they clearly tried to make it the best but it didn't work, with that being said I liked some selling genuinely and some bumps in the first fall, well also the ending was ridiculous its not bad tho I can see why they goes with that, this one is just not for me. wrote on 31.03.2025. [4.0*] I was wrong. This match is way better after the rewatch, good stuff genuinely the story is also very interesting and every fall was different and important for the match, it needed all of that. One of the best triple h matches I've ever seen, and one of 2001 Austin's best."

[10.0] "What a great match Thank you Vince for giving us these amazing moments This was best one on one match in triple h career"

[9.0] "Really good and violent match, a brilliant conclusion to a very long and heated feud between Steve Austin and Triple H, that's certainly one of the nastiest matches ever when you think exclusively about WWF/E's history, and it just fits the rivalry, things were very intense between them, and nothing better to settle things up than a fierce match like this, with tons of blood and violent moments. This is a 'Three Stages of Hell' match, meaning that the bout has three different phases, like a 2/3 falls but with stipulations... the first fall was a normal match, the second a street fight, and the third one a steel cage match. First fall was meant to be a straight up wrestling match, to determine the better wrestler under regular conditions, a condition that would (theoretically) favor Triple H, and the next one was a street fight, and like the video package of the match shows, Steve Austin was the clear favorite, of course, for being the symbol of anarchy and craziness in the company, but the roles were reversed, and Austin won the first fall, while Triple H won the second. The normal match is really good, extremely well wrestled, and with a nice pace, and it transitions very well into the street fight, with a brawl on the stands, many weapons being used, and an insane table breaking spot. This has 36-minutes, but it's a very dynamic match with a great pacing. The steel cage part was much slower, obviously, considering how physical the first stages of the match were, but it was also nice and dramatic, it's my least favorite fall, but it's cool, they use the cage as a weapon, and also the weapons that stayed in the ring. I wasn't expecting a Triple H win here, but he won, after a double hit between both of them, HHH fell over Austin and stole it - {****1/4}"

[10.0] "There's very few WWE matches I can think of that was as violent or barbaric as this was. It lived up to and in my opinion surpassed all expectations where the way it was structured, it was more brutal to watch with every fall and they didn't exactly hold back in the first fall, which was a normal match where it was a huge brawl and it was only going to get worse when you start seeing weapons becoming legal. Triple H does show a technical side to his game where he was targeting Austin's legs to lock him into the figure four at one point and there was a fun ending where Triple H counters several stunner attempts before Austin finally gets him. The second fall and third fall was just insane which brought back some great call backs from Triple H's two brutal matches with Cactus Jack the last year when Austin finds the barbed wire stick and it backfires on him every time it comes in to play as he gets busted open badly with it. Triple H tries to take control with a Pedigree on the announce table, but gets backdropped onto the other one. Triple H brings a sledgehammer into play and ends up evening the score. The visual of a steel cage being lowered after these two had just beaten the crap out of each other for two matches straight with the ring still filled with dangerous weapons is honestly one of the most surreal visuals I've ever seen in a wrestling match and with them both being tired you'd expect the fall to go by very quickly, but it doesn't. They still beat the crap out of each other where the barbed wire is used frequently and it's an extremely brutal fall where it gets to the point where Triple H DDT's Austin on a steel chair and it's like the commentators are just desensitised to it at this point. The finish with them hitting each other with the sledgehammer and barbed wire simultaneously and Triple H was lucky enough to fall on top of Austin was a way to keep both guys strong at the end as neither guy ended up looking like they truly won at the end. Austin recovered first after the match was done and gives him another stunner, but then shows respect to him by doing the salute at the end. It's an amazing match that really was a fitting end to a long standing rivalry."

[10.0] "This match encapsulates the best of the best of the WWE style. They know how to get the crowd rolling and know how to build up to finishers. This match pacing was phenomenal after each match you can tell that they were becoming tired. Out of sheer will power at the end they kicked out until Stone Cold didn't. The wrestling itself wasn't a masterclass in technical wrestling. It was a masterclass of brawling. If you love brawling and wrestling beating the living crap out of each other than this match is the perfect match for you. For that reason I give it a 5 stars. It is the perfect brawling each others brains out until one loses."

[10.0] "When a DDT on a steel chair gets the same reaction as an Irish Whip usually does, you know you've put on an extreme show. The fact that this wasn't the main event, or even next to the main event, is mind-blowing. Austin and Triple H absolutely beat the hell out of each other for 30 minutes straight, using everything around them; ring posts, announce tables, barbed wire, Triple H's signature sledgehammer, Austin's signature beer, you name it. The "technical wrestling" part of the match wasn't exactly as-advertised, but who are we to complain about closed fists when we get ten minutes of absolute beatdown from both sides? The street fight is definitely the best part of this match, as both men still have energy in the tank and the great announce table backdrop happened; the cage match wasn't as high-energy as the other segments, but they both put everything they have into singular attacks meant to gain an instant pinfall. The finish was great as well, as it gave Triple H the win but put both men over in reality. I won't say that either of these guys are the best wrestlers ever, or that either of them are among the most "extreme" of all time, but this match proves that they knew damn good and well how to put on a classic."

[9.0] "It wasn't perfect for the entire duration but it was entertaining overall and had a good finish to the final match."

[9.0] "Their best match together. Their chemistry was really shown here & they worked a brutal match. A great ending to their rivalry as couple of months later, they became the Two-Man Power Trip, which was due because of the respect they have to one another following this match. ****1/2"

[5.0] "This is the match that I remember the loudest spot calling I've heard from either man. JR even remarks towards the end of the first fall that both men have been talkin' to each other the whole match. The problem with this match is that it is just far too long with the spots laid out with too much space in between. HHH manages to sell the arm sporadically throughout the match whereas Austin just gives up with his leg after the first fall. The peak of brutality, spectacle, and crowd heat is far from what either man would produce with Foley, who had the knack for putting a match like this together. Don't think this even gets in Austin's top 5 for 2001."

[9.0] "Some of the best work of either man. Steve Austin & Triple H put on the working boots here. Triple H selling his left arm was an early highlight of the match. It stops him from doing potentially fall-ending things and slows his offense down. Stone Cold does a great job of working on it and making it look legitimately damaging. My only big gripe and negative here is that Stone Cold's left leg is worked on in the match but never really sold. It's nothing major and it's only worked on for a small section of that first fall. I really enjoy the first fall. It's about as close to a "brawl" as you can get without the match being a no-DQ. They're throwing strikes at one another and slamming eachother across the ring. It's not a "technical" marvel but it never once needed to be. The 2nd fall is no-DQ, and when I thought they couldn't surpass the aggressiveness and the brawling and the hatred in the first, they far exceed it. Stone Cold lays in two suplexes onto the steel ramp which are brutal looking bumps. They hit eachother with weapons, Triple H slams Stone Cold onto the chair like 4 separate times and everything I winced. Nothing in here feels like an obvious set up. It seems like a very spontaneous brawl and it's amazing. Triple H not being able to land the Pedigree ontop of the announce table because of the prior damage done to his arm was spectacular. The crowd brawling is fun, Triple H also kinda slips and falls down the stairs. The barbed wire & the ringbell are great touches. The sledgehammer is good too, but covering the top up with the hand after everything else in this match seemed a bit too fake. The blade jobs are great and man, both guys look exhausted. The 3rd fall's opening is a bit of a slog compared to what came before it, but it picks up fast. It's a short fall, but has some great work. It's got two great kickouts. And, on Steve Austin's final stunner, Triple H pushes him during the Stunner, but it still connects. So they go a bit farther through the ring. It's amazing. The ending some may say was a bit anticlimactic, but I enjoyed it. They both collapse after hitting eachother with weapons, but Triple H falls on him. Unsure if it was intentional, but if not for how Triple H landed, his shoulders would definitely be on the mat. They're elevated because of how he's leaned on Austin. He's not lifting his shoulders up at all. It is a very fast, and vibrant brawl, all the way through. I have some complaints, but all-in-all it was great. An all-timer performance by Triple H. Probably my favorite performance of his that I can remember. Great stuff. [****.25]"

[10.0] "First stage was just really good, but second and third was great. Very brutal match, great chemistry, great story, incredible athleticism and resilience. Well just the two, some of my favorite wrestlers, in the ring together put on such a show. Must-watch!"

[9.0] "Memorable match and for good reason, tackling a challenging stipulation with noticeable poise. They actually get off to a slightly shaky start, soon steadying the ship for a terrific first fall that uses arm, knee and neck selling to transition from its initial brawl. That leaves some room for the 2nd and 3rd fall, ramping up the violence and putting Austin's always immense intensity under the spotlight. They probably peak a little early but condering the length, this hangs in there admirably, still packing a punch by the finish. Surprisingly, the work itself is actually a little loose at times, but those slight miscues are consistently overpowered by the energy and feel of this thing. It has an aggression and ferocity that's undeniable, proving somehow sustainable across a match of substantial length and scale. ****1/2"

[10.0] "Hadn't seen this match since I was around 9 years old but as a kid, this was maybe THE most memorable match of the 2000s for me. Hadn't watched it in ages but I'll be damned, it 100% still holds up! Given how long Austin and HHH had been feuding, this was literally the perfect way to end their rivalry. And while I agree that the Cactus Jack feud was what really 'made' Triple H, I'd argue that this match did just as much for him. This was just as epic as I remember it being as a kid."

[9.0] "such a incredible match. Great build up to the match in my opinion. Stone cold winning the first fall was a great call. My favorite fall is personally the 2nd fall. It was just a great street fight for the 2nd fall which was great the way it finished with HHH hitting his super finish with the sledgehammer shot. Idk how most people feel about the actual finish to the match in fall 3 but i think its great. Both been hitting the other in the end with objects and HHH as the heel being lucky enough to land across stone colds body. I think that was great after all the finishers beat falls thats the way to finish the match i think its great heat. i give this match 4.75 stars"

[4.0] "The promos and build up to this match were really good, but when it comes to the actual match it felt kind of long and drawn out at some points. The first match was decent, but the second match really slowed down. There was some cool spots, but it sort of felt really predictable and I was just waiting for HHH to pin Austin. The third match was an improvement, but at this point the match had gone on for too long for me to care about the match. This match really does represent the problem with 'epic' match length and especially towards matches that HHH is usually involved with."

[8.0] "These kinds of epic brawls were Triple H's specialty and Austin is no slouch either. This was a very personal rivalry and it needed a violent match. The three stages of hell were build very well with the first one being a regular match. By the second part both competitors were (selling) getting tired and they upped the violence by a lot. Both competitors were bleeding at this point. When the cage came down both were exhausted as they should be. With their last efforts they tried to hit big moves to end it. The ending with Triple H basically getting lucky was a very good heel win and Austin getting some retaliation afterwards was great as well. Despite all that I don't agree with this being one of the greatest matches of all time, neither is it in the top of either man. Triple H was going to get significantly better."

[8.0] "This match is exactly how to blow off a blood feud, but it just kind of went on and on and on for my tastes. Don't get me wrong, this match is fantastic and I love it, the brawling is weighted and very entertaining, the story was fantastic and the viciousness of the whole thing made this feel like a real battle to the death, but at times it got a bit too slow and kind of took the wind out of my sails. The first fall was definitely the best of the bunch and I think they got progressively worse as the match went on, but this is still a fun, engaging, brutal fight that ended this rivalry on a very high note."

[8.0] "Well talk about a war. It's really impressive to me to have a match that seems brutal and exhausting without actually spamming the finishers and moves that would have ended any other match. If they did some devestating move they didn't pin each other instantly as they were tired and it gave the opponent a way out to make the kick out believable. Also I loved that fact that the first fall was a pure wrestling match without any brawling and it showed that Austin could still go with normal rules. The Street Fight and Cage Match on the other hand felt like a brutal fight, while nowadays it would just be a spotfest."

[8.0] "Solid match that probably went a bit too long. Both guys did great despite it being a little clunky at the start. My personal favorite spot was the back drop reverse of The Pedigree through the announce table and I feel that Triple H's neck could have been brutally injured on that bump. A good blowoff for this feud that lasted for quite a while dating back to 1999. At least 3 stars."

[8.0] "There are parts of this that I loved, but there is enough small criticisms here to stop me from rating this any higher. I wouldn't go as far to say this was overindulgent, but they had clearly ran out of steam by the final fall. The final fall being a cage match definitely robbed this of some unpredictability as there was no way anyone was walking out of this with two straight falls as they aren't going to effort of putting the cage without them using it. They come out all guns blazing during the first fall, and this isn't much of a traditional wrestling match as advertised. I didn't mind that Austin's very brief limbwork being forgotten about, as it served its purpose of blocking Triple H from landing a Pedigree early. As soon as the first fall is in the books, Austin takes joy in that he doesn't have to worry about getting disqualified and immediately throws Triple H to the outside to begin the street fight portion of the match. We get all the standard weapon and announce table spots you can expect during this era, with juice from both men. It's nothing ground-breaking but both men are over as rover and it all works for the crowd. The final is where the audience cools off as they've clearly ran out of energy after going full force for the previous half hour. Maybe this would have been better overall if they had this be a shorter one fall street fight? I get why some people rate this highly whilst I can also understand the criticisms that other viewers have of this. Not all-time great match for me, but a MOTYC candidate that would get beaten out of the top 5 by other matches to take place in the company in 2001."

[7.0] "A good match, but overrated for me. But I did't grow up watching WWE untill 2006ish, so I did't get the experince of watching it all unfold. They did't do anything wrong, just not really my style... Also I think it was way too long and way too overbooked."

[2.0] "On paper this stipulation sounded really interesting to me. In execution? Overlong self indulgent bore. First fall they're both clearly trying to conserve their energy and do fairly little of interest. All the limb work Triple H does during the first fall just ceases to exist after that section of the match ends. Second fall is some pretty poor brawling and hardcore spots. To be fair, neither guy is a particularly great in ring worker or hardcore wrestler, so this is to be expected. In the third fall, Stone Cold I guess got hit in the head so hard with the sledgehammer he forgot he was hit with it and stopped selling. Bizarre and stupid finish. Lawler is insufferable on commentary here."

[10.0] "A near perfect feud ending match. A very physical and grueling 3 stages of hell match easily the best in Wwe history. A feud that had started all the way back in November 1999 finally ended a year and a half later and this match is the perfect finish to their story. Loved the finish where Triple h just happens to get lucky and land on Austin after they both nail each other with weapons. Protects Austin and gives Hhh a huge win. Maybe the best final match of a feud ever. 4.5/5"

[10.0] "One of my favourite matches of all time a great build up for a very underrated rivalry , triple h tried to end Austins life at the 99 survivor series , Austin did the same back to triple h a year later at the 2000 survivor series from then they kept screwing each other out of the wwf championship it got so heated they could not touch each other till the macth and the macth itself had everything great wrestling, brutal brawling and street fighting they beat each other nearly to death had no problem with the ending it didnt hurt Austin or triple h then after maniax7 they surprisingly formed the two man power trip excellent stuff at the end of the attitude era"

[9.0] "In the first match, both wrestlers give everything they have to win it. It's quite raw and intense. Austin wins the first round by Pin after a Stunner. In Street Fight, wrestlers destroy each other. Triple H wins by Pin after a Pedigree. And in the Steel Cage, the wrestlers are totally exhausted. They continue the finishes and finally they knock each other out at the same time and Triple H falls on Austin for the final pin. It's very intense and raw throughout. Its also extremely well written. (4*3/4)"

[9.0] "This is one of the best two out of three falls ever right there with Cole vs Gargano. The only reason it doesn't get a ten is because the third fall didn't really need to happen and it went for way too long. But other than that this match was amazing. I don't think Stone Cold is capable of having a good match because he was amazing here and so was Triple H. Such a good match and this is an instant classic but as I said the third fall steel Cage match really hurts it more than helps it."

[8.0] "dont exactly buy the all timer match praise, but it is still very good. the 2nd fall in particular is fantastic and probably would be better if it was just that. 1st fall is ok, 3rd fall is good, all in all it just feels too long. fantastic performance by austin tho, he really was the best at these kind of matches. still motn cuz of that 2nd fall ****"

[6.0] "Most of the second fall is pretty great with them brawling all over the place, blood being spilt everywhere but the first fall is pretty dull and the third goes on a bit and doesn't add a whole lot new - ***"

[9.0] "Wait, why is this not the main event? And wait, why did Triple H beat the guy who was gonna main event and win the title at wrestlemania?"

[9.0] "Great match, with the story they had going I am surprised that this didn't make the Mania card, but clearly Vince wanted Rock vs Austin 2. Great, brutal 2 out of 3 falls match only hampered by a dumb ending(they both hit each other with weapons and Triple H just happens to fall on him for the 3 count."

[7.0] "By no means is this a bad or even mediocre match, but it is one that suffers from prime Triple H overexposure, pacing that leaves me just wanting to know who's going to win by the last five, and an ending that always makes my eyes roll. By any metric, a match involving the three stages and stipulations that it does, both guys already being stellar in ring workers, and everyone ending up busted open in the end is probably a quality match. However, by the time the bell rings and both are laying each other in a pile, you've been ready to see what's next for about ten minutes."

[9.0] "One of the best two or three falls in WWE history, during 2000-02 everything the company did seemed magical and to think that a WM ME-caliber match on a transition PPV, the use of the stipulations was very well executed with a clear emphasis on the part Street Fight, however dangerous and understandable the ban, the chair shot is one of the most brutal and impactful moves when well executed, in addition to the very assertive ending that does not devalue Austin aiming at his future ME of WM and both collapsing for having had an absurd match (****1/2)"

[10.0] "A legendary, brilliant match that showed just how good these two were, and the three falls with different stipulations was innovative at the time, and the first two going the opposite way to how it was expected made it even better, and gave a genuine feel that it might not get to the last one."

[10.0] "This is one of my favorite matches of all time it is just so good both men work fantastic together this is just a instant classic. *****"

[9.0] "First ever match of this kind in the WWF. First round is a wrestling match. Punch out and the crowd roars. Austin beats HHH down in the corner and hits a clothesline. HHH avoids a stuner attempt and counters a thesz press into a stun gun. Battle to the floor. Austin attacks the arm and back inside. Austin uses a low blow to stop the pedigree. Thesz Press and Austin elbow gets 2. Spine buster, but Austin eats shoe on a jump off the second rope. HHH neck breaker, and HHH works it. HHH goes to the knee and wraps it around the post. Chop block and HHH takes Austin to the mat. HHH figure four and he uses the ropes until Austin can turn it over to break it up. Stunner is blocked, but a clothesline hits. Stunner is again blocked with a HHH neck breaker. HHH goes up top, jumps off and gets kicked on the way down and this time the stunner lands for the 3. Round 1 goes to Austin. Next up we have a street fight. Austin vertical suplexes him on the ramp twice, the second one looked like it hurt. Over to the announcers table and HHH gets a tv in the face. Austin throws some chairs in the ring, and HHH flees the scene. Austin chases him down and drags him back in. Austin goes ballistic with a chair and hits HHH about 8 or 10 times all over his body. It gets 2. Austin finds Foley's barbwire 2x4 right next to JR's spot and Lawler yells at JR. Ross calls him a dumb ass, LOL! HHH grabs it and nails Austin, and he bleeds. HHH tries a pedigree on the table but Austin backdrops him off through the Spanish table. Back inside HHH hits Austin with the ring bell for 2. Neck breaker on a chair gets 2. Austin backdrops HHH outside. Austin grabs a chair and heads hots HHH. Stairs to the head. HHH manages to escape and finds his trusty sledgehammer right next to JR and Lawler questions it again. If it was WCW you could smell a JR turns on Austin for no good reason angle coming. Austin runs into a hammer shot and pedigree gives the second round to HHH. Now we go to a cage match. HHH tosses Austin into the cage, and he rakes the barbed wire into his face, and drags him around until Austin smacks him with a chair to break up the hold. HHH goes to the cage, and Austin hits him with the 2X4 for 2. DDT on a chair gets 2 for HHH . HHH climbs, and Austin follows, only to get crotched on the top rope. Austin slams HHH off for 2. HHH comes back with a Pedigree, but Austin kicks out at 2. Chair shot which is countered into a slingshot and a stunner for only 2! Both guys end up doing a jousting spot and they hit each other with the 2X4 and hammer simultaneously and HHH lucks out by collapsing on Austin for the final pin. Austin stuns HHH then leaves. This was a GREAT match! I would call it a lost gem because I haven't heard anyone talk about this one in years."