Gimmick Some (Wrestlemania) Lovin': Triple Threat Done Right

The Match

In case the WWE Network hasn't given the match its own "Milestone Dot" on the TV version, cut to about 3:49 for the pre-match video package.

Shawn is in his classic 1995/1996 red tights, and Benoit enters with very little pageantry (save Howard Finkel's absolute delight in saying "Ben-WAAAHHHH"); Helmsley was a few years away from his multimillion-dollar Wrestlemania entrance productions, so it's a quick walk down the MSG ramp for The Game and his luscious 2004 locks.

It's unfathomable, in the modern stadium spectacle era, that the entrances for a main event, three entrances, no less, would take less than four minutes from the end of the pump-up video to all performers being in the ring.

New York City is firmly behind Chris Benoit as the match begins, and the Crippler and the Heartbreak Kid jockey for position over who gets to demolish Triple H first; that turns into a full-scale tussle, and Killer Kowalski's most famous student is knocked out of the ring while the Canadian and the Texan engage in a technical exhibition of suplexes and reversals.

A Helmsley-Michaels in-ring sequence leads to HHH and Benoit clashing at ringside, broken up by a spectacular Michaels moonsault from the top rope to the floor; from the neck down, Michaels is 27 years old in this contest but looks 47 from the neck up.

Shawn Michaels in late-March/early-April is always a sight to behold.

Benoit takes control briefly with a savage series of snap suplexes and "WOOOOO"-worthy chest chops, before Helmsley sets up one of the first really cool spots of the match by hanging Benoit in the Tree of Woe and Irish Whipping HBK into the Wolverine for two; Michaels would send Hunter toward a still-inverted Benoit for a kick to the head, and the toothless Albertan would escape to deliver his rolling German suplexes before Mr Wrestlemania slid in to break up a flying headbutt attempt.

Michaels would duck out for an extended Helmsley-Benoit sequence, returning to break up a Crippler Crossface attempt, then try to apply the trifecta of Deutschesuplexen to Benoit; Benoit would reverse for three of his own, then ascend to the top turnbuckle to nail the headbutt for a pair of two counts. The crowd is eating this up, and for good reason.

The former founders of D-Generation X squared off next, and Michaels would hit his signature flying elbow, followed by a Sweet Chin Music for a near fall broken up by Benoit; MSG applauds politely for the pin attempt, but it's clear that Benoit is one hundred percent their guy.

Even the bleeding needs to be bigger at the Showcase of the Immortals.

Michaels fights off a Benoit Sharpshooter attempt in the center of the ring, so Benoit adjusts, and a signature Shawn Michaels spot (debuted in October of 1997 against The Undertaker in the original Hell in a Cell contest) ensues: Benoit slingshots Michaels to the ringpost and Michaels, on his way up off the mat, employs a gruesome (and productive) bladejob.

He would then do what Mick Foley would refer to as the "Cactus Jack watusi" to show off his crimson mask to the New York crowd before Benoit would apply the Crippler Crossface; in yet another amazing visual from this contest, Michaels would try desperately to tap out, but Helmsley holds on to The Sexy Boy's wrist, allowing it to spasm in midair without ending the contest.

The fight would spill to the announce tables, and another German suplex to Helmsley is countered with a Pedigree attempt, which is countered to a vertical suplex setup; with the aid of a bloodied Michaels, Benoit sails in a double suplex through one of the foreign language tables while the Garden crowd proclaims the presence of sanctified fecal matter.

The gore is cranked up to eleven in this contest, but never feels gratuitous.

Looking like Sissy Spacek at the end of Carrie, Michaels goads Helmsley into the ring, then trashes The Game all over ringside; the future COO uses a headshot to the ring steps to get some colour of his own before taking over with a Pedigree in the ring. Dribbling blood all over his chest, The Game crawls for a cover, which gets roughly a 2.9999999-count before Benoit emerges from offscreen to a massive pop.

Michaels rolls out of the ring, and another chopfest ensues; Benoit counters the Pedigree into a Sharpshooter, and New York reacts like Bret Hart himself has walked back into the WWE (which, in 2004, was about as likely as 2018 WWE advertising this match). Michaels breaks up the hold with a superkick for two, then goes for the full-stomp-setup Sweet Chin Music, but gets backdropped to ringside.

Try as I might, I couldn't help but be completely caught up in the emotion of this moment.

Helmsley uses the distraction to set up a Pedigree, but Benoit grapevines into a Crossface as The Garden nearly needs to buy a new roof from the massive pop nearly bursting their existing one. Helmsley goes for the ropes, but Benoit rolls back to the centre as New York doubles down on their pop, and Benoit wrenches further back to force a bloodied and beaten Hunter Hearst Helmsley to tap out as MSG, and Jim Ross, scream themselves hoarse.

Eddie Guerrero comes down to celebrate with his longtime travelling buddy and best friend, and now co-carrier of the WWE banner, as confetti falls and this writer reaches for a handkerchief.