The One and Only Iron Man Match

Any wrestling fan worth his/her salt, has seen Bret vs. Shawn at Wrestlemania XII.  It gets all sorts of accolades, been voted the "greatest 'mania match ever" yada yada yada.

It's to the point now though, were there appears to be a backlash towards it, mainly seen  on the Internet. (Internet wrestling fans bashing something? NO WAY!?!)  The main argument is that it's boring, too many rest holds, and "a total snooze fest".  I can understand one of the typical "12 year old John Cena fans" thinking it was boring, but anyone who is a fan of professional wrestling/sports-entertainment should give this match it's just due.  To this day it's still probably my favorite match.  Too long?  When I watch it, it seems like the fastest hour of my life.  I love it, and am not bored for one second of it. 

I first saw the match in the year 2000, (ironically right before the Rock vs. HHH Iron Man match at Judgment Day that year) and was absolutely captivated by it.  I knew HBK won the match, everyone does.  The post-match celebration is on every WM highlight package ever produced, but what I didn't know was that it went into sudden death.  I was assuming it would be 3-2 or something like that.  I remember marking out big time when HBK kicked out of the piledriver, thinking "Man I figured that would have pinned him."  I was 14 at the time, and still in my wrestling fan infancy, but it left an indelible mark on me. 

Shawn always mentions this as one of his favorites, and Bret (who we all know is his own biggest fan, but still) calls the match "a masterpiece."  That's hella high praise, even if it is coming from yourself.  I realize this is a matter of opinion, but I really feel this match shouldn't be shit on.  Arguably the two greatest at the time, and of all-time, going at it for an hour.  Simply amazing, and probably the greatest wrestling clinic of them all.