12 Biggest WWE Storylines Ever (And How You Never Saw Them Coming)

4. The Beginning Of The End Of An Era

The Undertaker, Triple H and Shawn Michaels were permitted to claim WWE's most financially fertile time when they left the WrestleMania XXVIII stage together after an emotionally exhausting Hell In A Cell battle. The "End Of An Era" tag was fanciful of course - it classified no singular "era" in company history, merely the regular use of part-timers on the 'Grandest Stage', but the trio had at least gone to the trouble of starting said story years before devising such a powerful conclusion.

Nearly a decade on from the 1997 classics, Shawn Michaels and The Undertaker closed out the 2007 Royal Rumble with a near-10 minute individual scorcher. Fittingly, both ended up in Championship matches at WrestleMania, but they were back at the very start of the Battle Royal the following year. In 2009, they didn't need titles to steal the 'Show Of Shows'. With The Undertaker's streak on the line, the pair crafted one of the finest battles in industry history before nearly managing the same with a worthy sequel the following year. That put paid to 'HBK's entire career, but opened the door for Triple H to twice defend the honour of his best friend with his own failed cracks at 'The Deadman's iconic unbeaten run.

The lasting image of the three was one steeped in earnest nobility and pride. Every chapter from beginning to end enhanced that exact aura.