10 Best Ever UK WWE Matches
1. Bret Hart Vs The Undertaker - One Night Only (September 1997)
Inexplicably edited out of selected video releases of the show, Bret Hart's final WWE Title match before the infamous Montreal encounter with Shawn Michaels is a near-perfect presentation of what made 'The Hitman' such an outstanding in-ring auteur.
Booked to go just short of half an hour and saddled with a cheap finish, Hart and The Undertaker were given challenging circumstances to work with in the shadow of their dramatic SummerSlam title switch just one month prior.
A pre-match interview with Bret hadn't helped, when babyface announcer Vince McMahon vindictively played up to the smattering of boos he'd had received from the UK crowd. The increasingly weary Hart looked rattled and saddened by the response, with McMahon's intentions appearing far more cynical when viewed through the prism of the pair's decaying working relationship.
Despite this loose dynamic, the experienced stars produced their best ever match together, with Undertaker allowing Bret to equal him in combat and Hart uniquely taking both heel and babyface opportunities to systematically destroy 'Taker's leg in an effort to weaken him for Sharpshooter. Rising support for Undertaker's plight focussed Bret's assaults further as he reluctantly embraced his villainous side for the remainder of the contest.
A disappointing non-finish saw Bret's head trapped between the top and middle rope following a Tombstone struggle, leading to Undertaker's continued assault forcing a disqualification. Rock bottom ending aside, the match was Hart's last truly spectacular in-ring effort, with his sharp attacks and ultra-tight offence drawing a similarly robust response from the much-improved 'Deadman'.