Throwback To Cactus Jack Vs Triple H Street Fight At Royal Rumble 2000

On January 23rd 2000 Triple H defended his WWE Championship in a Street Fight against Cactus Jack at the Royal Rumble, in what many still consider the best singles match in 'Rumble' history.

Triple H and Cactus Jack fought out one of the most brilliant title fights in the Attitude Era in front of a sold out Madison Square Garden 20 years ago today.

The feud built up brilliantly over a number of weeks with the sacking and rehiring of Mick Foley, still in his Mankind persona as things kicked off.

Perhaps the most iconic moment of the feud came on the January 13th edition of Smackdown when Foley changed from his Mankind persona to the Cactus Jack personality, with Triple H visibly changing his demeanour towards his opponent.

It was deeply personal between the two men, one signifying the authority and just having things handed to him and the other the underdog who had to work and fight for everything.

The Street Fight was brutal and bloody and saw Foley take numerous chair shots to the head from 'Trips.' At one point the champion even handcuffed the challenger so he couldn't protect himself.

To help get the downed former champ out of the cuffs the Rock appeared and struck the champion with a chair shot of his own, giving a police officer the chance to free Cactus.

Pallets, tables, the ring steps and a barbed wire wrapped 2x4 piece of wood were also used by each competitor as the fight got more violent.

The fight swung one way and then the other before Triple H hit two pedigrees on his opponent, the second into a pile of thumbtacks to win the match.

After the three count the champion was stretchered out but Cactus Jack attacked him and brought him back to the ring to continue to brutalise him.

20 years on the fight is still held in high regard by WWE fans:

The Rock would go on to win the Rumble match later in the night in controversial circumstances, with Big Show complaining the 'Great One's' feet touched the ground before his, and earn himself a title shot at Wrestlemania 16 later that year.

Show's complaints and Foley's rivalry with Triple H led to the main event at Mania to be four way elimination match in which the champion retained.