#9
WrestleMania XXVI
Triple H def. Sheamus
This match is forgotten about – probably because Triple H went on to face the Undertaker two years in a row – but it was actually a pretty decent contest.
Within two months, Sheamus had come up from ECW to make his Monday Night Raw debut, and beaten John Cena to become WWE Champion in his first ever PPV singles match. That title reign didn't last long, as he dropped it two months later inside the Elimination Chamber, due in large part to Triple H. This led to two locking up at WrestleMania, with Sheamus stepping up to prove that his quick ascension to the top wasn't a fluke.
I actually like this match. It was very simple, was rarely flashy, but rather focused on the strengths both guys had in common. If you look at their basic kits, Triple H and Sheamus actually have a lot in common. The match was kept short, was quite physical and just saw two brawlers go out there and beat the heck out of each other. Was it the best match ever? No, it wasn't even the best match of that WrestleMania PPV – not even close. But it was decent, worth going back and giving a second or third look, and deserves a lower spot on this list. It would probably have the #10 spot, and more deservedly belongs there, but that four-way makes me so incredibly mad.
Behind the scenes, Triple H was one of the main figures responsible for bringing Sheamus into the WWE. As one of the Game's "pet projects", it was his job to make the up-and-comer looks great. Sheamus didn't win at WrestleMania – a decision a lot of people questioned – but he did go over in a great Street Fight the next month at Extreme Rules. Triple H then took time off, selling an attack by Sheamus, which definitely but the Celtic Warrior over in a big way.
