Iron Man Match - Benoit vs. Triple H

[thegame]

If you saw RAW you know that Chris Benoit will take on Triple H for the World Heavyweight Championship next Monday on RAW in a 60 minute Iron Man match.

Now, there have been several Iron Man matches or matches of the same makeup over the years at House Shows and done by smaller companies, but the 3 on camera Iron Man Matches so far were:

Shawn Michaels vs. Bret Hart, 1996
Triple H vs. The Rock, 2000
Kurt Angle vs. Brock Lesnar, 2003

I rank Triple H vs. Rock as the best and Lesnar vs. Angle the worst of the three.

Question is: Where do you think this match will stack up with the other 3? Who will win? Who should win?

[Wing Eater]

Sorry, but the best was Michaels and Hart by a mile. The match contained everything you could want in a match. The other two were good, but not great. This one could be as good as the last two, but will probably end on some Eugene interference and will be the worst of the three.

[Mehser]

I agree with Wing Eater. Hart-Michaels was the best. The other two were good (I really liked Lesnar/Angle), but not at the sasme level. I would actually put HHH/Rock at #3, not that I thought it was bad, just not as good.

I agree that Eugene will get involved and help Benoit win (Can't have HHH lose a singles match cleanly). The SummerSlam match will then have a stip (HHH's hair, disband evolution, etc.) and be HHH's final opportunity. The match should still be very good for 55 + minutes until the interference.

I would rather see a 1 or 3 fall match and have Benoit win cleanly. I suppose the interference could be Eugene distracting HHH while he goes to win a fall in the last minute and the match ends in a draw or Benoit victory.

[shawn]

Clearly Shawn Michaels vs. Bret Hart was the best Iron Man match.

Unfortunately Eugene will get involved on Monday.

[dogginbox]

i would like to see a 60 min match end w/ one fall

[thegame]

You guys amaze me. Hart/Michaels had about half the intensity and action as Rock/HHH. But being the first match of its kind and a WM main event I can imagine why so many overhype it.

[Mehser]

The match was better. The crowd was dead.

I know you would never overhype HHH. :)

And perhaps the best Iron Man match was Flair-Hart from the Boston Garden. I have a copy on hand-held somewhere and it is great.

[thegame]

I like action and movement over laying around and posturing.

[Mehser]

Michaels and Hart did not lie around and posture. Using ring psychology and story telling (i.e. working over a body part) add to the suspense of match. Having a 11-fall match tends to leave those elements out.

[Mehser]

One more note: This match will start the show tomorrow night.

So be sure to have Raw on at 9 PM if you want to see it.

[gr8slayer]

Im not much for wrestling being that its fake and all but I might watch this match. Sounds interesting.

[shawn]

I like action and movement over laying around and posturing.

Then why are you a HHH fan?

[thegame]

Funny you should say that, since The Game was in the 2 most active and spot filled Iron Man matches of all time, and in 2 of the best 2 out of 3 fall matches in WWE history. He is much less flexible and slower than he used to be, but he still knows how to make matches great. His only problem over the last 2 years was a lack of solid opponents, he had fueds with Stiener, Goldberg, Kane and Nash that were forgettable. His RVD, HBK and Benoit matches have been great.

[shawn]

My issue is RVD, HBK and Benoit could make solid matches with Stiener, Goldberg, Kane and Nash.

[thegame]

Not true, especially with Goldy, Nash and Stiener at this stage.

[Hurls]

One more note: This match will start the show tomorrow night.

So be sure to have Raw on at 9 PM if you want to see it.
It was the ender, not the lead. Good thing I taped it. :D