Triple H, The Undertaker, and Shawn Michaels have retired in the last two decades. Each veteran had an incredibly successful in-ring career, but there’s something that is common between them all. They all had horrible farewell matches. ‘The Heartbreak Kid’ retired in 2010 at WrestleMania XXVI, where he was part of the infamous Career vs. Streak match against The Undertaker.
Shawn Michaels’ match was far from being the worst, especially due to the buildup WWE did with the two icons of the sport. After all, fans witnessed the spectacle at WrestleMania XXV. However, the high stakes just blew away the fans, who were in tears, as they witnessed a farewell match that they could not forget. The Undertaker’s farewell match against AJ Styles was equally amusing to watch at WrestleMania 36.
For weeks, Styles targeted ‘The Deadman,’ where he went personal, involving his wife, Michelle McCool. Their rivalry intensified and brought a sense of realism, which made the fans excited about the two legends clashing. Hence, they fought in a Boneyard Match, where WWE took a cinematic approach, showcasing both men throwing hands at each other in a graveyard.
The match felt more like a war, as Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson tried to stop ‘The Hall of Famer,’ but failed. In the end, The Undertaker buried ‘The Phenomenal One’ alive and retired on his own terms. This left only Triple H having the worst farewell of his WWE career, which has left many people feeling disappointed with the wrestling promotion brand.
Why was Triple H’s Farewell Match The Worst in WWE’s History?
There’s no denying that Triple H is one of the biggest wrestlers of WWE and a 2-time Hall of Famer for his achievements. However, unlike The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels, he did not have his farewell match on a grand PPV but rather on a random episode of Monday Night RAW in 2021, during the pandemic.
In 2021, Randy Orton was having a feud with “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt, but he had also revived his ‘Legend Killer’ persona. This led to several WWE icons coming in his crosshairs, including Ric Flair. The attack rubbed Paul Levesque the wrong way, and he decided to confront ‘The Viper.’ On January 12, 2021, Hunter and Orton confronted each other, with the former stating how Orton was no legend (via YouTube).
‘The Apex Predator’ challenged the CCO to an unsanctioned match and asked if he had some fight left in him. However, after a quick insult involving his wife, Stephanie McMahon, it led to Levesque punching Orton and smiling, saying, “I guess that means yes.” Later in the night, during a backstage interview (via YouTube), Paul Levesque explained that he had come out to the squared circle “in a different capacity.”
He continued that he did not go there to “fight” and was taken aback by how Randy Orton had attacked legends of the business, who paved the way for WWE, and accepted his challenge. He said,
He wants to call me out. Let’s see if I still have what it takes inside, would I still be game, would I be the guy who drops that and match like he did? Address you directly, Randy Orton. The answer is yes. I will drop that match on you, every single time you wanna fight me. You want me, then, on behalf of every legend that has stepped into the ring before us. I accept.
The two engaged in an unsanctioned brawl, with no referee inside the ring. Both men went back and forth, reigniting their rivalry, and it could not be contained inside the squared circle, as they took the action outside. Hunter sent Orton crashing into the steel step, and he had the momentum in his favor. But after a poke to the eye, ‘The Viper’ tried to take control, but his rival’s unfiltered rage overpowered him.
Triple H then took out a sledgehammer from the bottom of the ring, but the lights went out, and his weapon was on fire. The match concluded with Alexa Bliss throwing a fireball at Orton’s face, leading to an abrupt ending. The rematch never took place, and later, the health complications of HHH forced him to retire. As a result, this makes Triple H receive the worst farewell from WWE.
Why Did Triple H Deserve a Better Final Match?
Triple H has been one of the greatest talents in WWE, and he clearly deserved a way better final match than in a random RAW segment. The CCO made his debut in 1995 and quickly climbed the ranks, having one of the most decorated legacies and becoming the face of the company.
He was one of the leading figures of the Attitude Era and has had some of the greatest matches in WWE, even creating some iconic moments that fans can’t forget. Check out the table below to learn about the titles he has won in his pro-wrestling career (via Cagematch):
| Championship Name | Times Won |
| WWE World Tag Team Championship | 1-time |
| WWE European Championship | 2-time |
| World Tag Team Championship | 2-time |
| World Heavyweight Championship | 5-time |
| WWE Intercontinental Championship | 5-time |
| Undisputed WWE Championship | 9-time |
However, his legacy goes further beyond being a great wrestler, as he was actively responsible for saving the life and career of Shawn Michaels. With him, he created D-Generation X, one of the most notorious tag teams of the Attitude Era and the Ruthless Aggression Era. However, he was not always all good, as he showcased what it means to be pure evil, as he tortured Vince McMahon and his family during a WWE segment.
He gradually transitioned from being a wrestler to a more corporate figure, where he once again climbed the corporate ladder and became the storyteller he was. In his new role, he has entertained the fans with mesmerizing storylines like The Bloodline Saga. But that was not all; he went out of his way, changing the standard of living of the locker room, pulling smart moves, and saving WWE from doom.
Triple H’s volume of accomplishments speaks for itself, and the way he received his farewell match has left fans feeling disappointed for him. Did you watch the final matches of the three WWE veterans? Who do you think had the worst of them all? Let us know in the comments below!
The farewell matches of Shawn Michaels, The Undertaker, and Triple H can be streamed on WWE’s YouTube channel.
