Ranking Every WWE Title Match At Royal Rumble - From Worst To Best

16. Royal Rumble 1998 - Shawn Michaels Vs. The Undertaker

They had better matches before, and they certainly had better matches after, but the Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels at the 1998 Rumble was a great casket bout that's sadly largely remembered for Michaels sustaining the back injury that would take four years of his career.

Here, it was great to see the undersized heel Michaels getting the better of the Deadman for large parts of the bout. 'Taker took it to the WWF Champion early on, but Shawn was able to get the upper hand after throwing some powder into his opponent's eyes.

From there, there were steel chair shots, the Phenom took a piledriver on the ring steps, and there was plenty of legal interference from Triple H and Chyna. Once Undertaker finally did get back in control and looked like he might seal the victory, Kane would screw him over and throw him into the casket - allowing Michaels to slam the lid shut and retain the WWF Title.

While Shawn would just about manage to make it to WrestleMania 15 to drop the WWF Championship to 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin, it would be more than four years until the Heartbreak Kid's next match. Of course, that match would be an unsanctioned one at SummerSlam 2002, where Michaels defeated his old buddy Triple H, and that would be followed in November '02 by the Showstopper shockingly winning the inaugural Elimination Chamber to become the World Heavyweight Champion.