10 Greatest WWE WrestleMania Gimmick Matches

One can argue about the ranking of The Undertaker’s streak matches endlessly, but for sheer drama, this one’s difficult to top. Building on the legacy of the Deadman’s past three wars, Undertaker had been stretchered out of the arena after a successful effort against Triple H the previous year.

Blurring the boundaries of kayfabe, he wasn’t able to live with that image, and so renewed their rivalry again inside the cell. A rare modern HIAC match with the gravitas to merit the stipulation, this is a grandiose, history-drenched encounter with two veterans going all out to assert their continued place at the top of the card.

It’s not gruesome, but it’s heavyweight and gladiatorial, made starrier still by Shawn Michaels in the guest referee position. The finest spot sees ‘Taker eat a superkick then a Pedigree, beating the three count with precision timing to leave the crowd gasping and HBK indulging in head-clutching histrionics.

Undertaker eventually prevails, of course, but the match ends with the three rivals showing mutual respect on the ramp as an era draws to an end. For what amounts to two big blokes walloping each other for 30 minutes in a cage, it’s remarkably poignant.