10 Creative Triumphs Of WWE’s PG Era
8. The End Of An Era (Tetralogy)
The four year arc between Shawn Michaels, The Undertaker and Triple H was a triumph of long-term storytelling. That such tenured talents were afforded such creative attention during a time of dimmed star power was questionable, if not irritating - but then, the advanced psychology of those matches was something only they could have devised.
WrestleMania 25 saw Shawn and 'Taker, for better or worse, reinvent the main event wheel in a match that, in its mythical kickout sequences, defined what the Showcase of Immortals was. 'Taker in that match showed an unprecedented glimpse of humanity under the 'Dead Man' guise, flashing an expression of desperate disbelief when Shawn kicked out of his Tombstone. After he retired Shawn at 'Mania XXVI in another classic, this human aspect of the Undertaker character was explored further in an ultra-violent war with Trips at XXVII. The legend of the Undertaker had been so annihilated that he was unable to leave the Georgia Dome under his own power.
At 'Mania XXVIII, Triple H and Michaels sought to destroy 'Taker in the match that they elevated to greatness: Hell In A Cell. 'Taker's rebirth was the absolute best of sports entertainment - a masterclass of body language, dramatic tension and trademark WWE Big Match storytelling.
In a way, it was the End Of An Era. They don't make matches that layered anymore.