9. Shawn Michaels Vs. The Undertaker (WrestleMania XXVI)
At the time of this match, I distinctly remember many having doubts as to whether the rematch was necessary. Fans wondered if the WWE was justified to use one of the Undertaker's remaining WrestleMania encounters on a rematch and if these two had a chance of topping their all-time classic encounter just a year ago. What helped this match accomplish just that feat was the intensity that both performers brought into it. Whereas their WrestleMania XXV match was a slow-burning textbook classic that eventually escalated into a war, this match was a ferocious battle from the opening bell. Both men brought with them all of the emotion generated by the match's tremendous buildup that saw Michaels do everything in his power to agitate The Undertaker into accepting the contest. The creative ways in which these two played with the format of their last match in order to subvert expectations - as well as their shared commitment to inflict as mush damage as possible upon each other - led to one of the most intense matchups to not feature a hardcore stipulation that the WWE has ever produced. The story they told with every strike accomplished more than months of promos ever could. In the end, it was only with the help of a jumping tombstone (a rare case of the WWE using the fabled "super finisher") that The Undertaker was able to beat Michaels. It's incredible to think that Shawn Michaels could ever have a final match worthy of his storied career, but this is most certainly it.