The Undertaker's 20 Best Matches Ever

19. Vs. Mankind (SummerSlam 1996)

Jim Ross once said on his podcast that he hired Mick Foley specifically because he needed fresh opponents for The Undertaker. As the twisted Mankind, Foley was in his element and ended up being elevated by association with 'Taker and his portly manager Paul Bearer. Much like the previous entry, SummerSlam 1996 offered up something different.

To their credit, it didn't come across that the majority of this 'Boiler Room Brawl' had been pre-taped before SummerSlam. There was also an intensity to Mankind that prior Undertaker rivals lacked, and the ominous surroundings of the boiler room itself meant the match was dripping in atmosphere.

After getting a feel for one another at King of the Ring in their first pay-per-view match, Undertaker and Mankind produced a unique classic at SummerSlam, and there was still better to come from the pairing. No match in 1996 felt like this one. That goes a long way to securing its legacy as one of 'Taker's best.