SummerSlam 2002 - Shawn Michaels vs. Triple H in a Street Fight
After WrestleMania XIV in 1998, Shawn Michaels was forced into retirement due to a severe back injury suffered at that year’s Royal Rumble. Four and a half years later, former ally Triple H would be the one to drag Michaels back into the ring for the first time. After throwing Michaels through a car windshield and attacking the injured Superstar on numerous occasions, Triple H challenged HBK to a match. He accepted, and a non-sanctioned Street Fight was set for SummerSlam 2002.
Early in the match, HBK took it to his former best friend, and tried to hit Sweet Chin Music early. Triple H avoided it, nailed HBK with a vicious backbreaker, and spent the majority of the match wisely targeting the back. Triple H used a series of backbreakers to wear down Michaels, and nailed him with a chairshot to the injured back for good measure. Another chairshot to the head busted Michaels open as well.
Triple H continued to utilize the chair to his advantage, and also brought out his sledgehammer to deliver some punishment as well. HBK kept fighting back, but with his back in bad shape, it only took a glancing blow from Triple H to put him back on the defensive.
As the match neared conclusion, Triple H went for the Pedigree, but HBK escaped. The Game stalked him with the chair, but Shawn was able to hit Sweet Chin Music, kicking the chair back in The Game’s face and busting him open. Shawn then brought out a ladder, which he used to brutalize the game outside the ring.
Back inside the ring, HBK set Triple H up on a table and hit a flying splash, sending both men through the table. HBK then tuned up the band for Sweet Chin Music, but Triple H avoided the kick. The Game then went for the Pedigree, but Michaels reversed it into a rollup for the surprising three count to win the match. Unhappy with the decision, Triple H attacked HBK after the bell, nailing him in the back with a sledgehammer in an attempt to put HBK out of commission for good. Shawn would leave the ring on a stretcher as a result.