10 Most Important Matches In The History Of WWE

2. The Undertaker Vs. Randy Orton - WrestleMania 21

daniel bryan batista randy orton
WWE.com

Viewed in isolation, The Undertaker Vs. Randy Orton from WrestleMania 21 isn't anything too special. It was an enjoyable and heated midcard attraction remembered fondly for an early, jaw-dropping RKO reversal - but its legacy far outweighs its content.

2005 marked the first year in which WWE went all out in the marketing of 'Taker's undefeated streak. The treatment of it prior to 'Mania 21 was offhand, incidental - probably because the list of opponents and matches alike was far from impressive. The bluster with which 'Taker's achievement was promoted led many to believe that it was coming to an end, in order to further establish Orton as the Legend Killer and to re-heat him after his first, botched flirtation with the main event scene. The Streak - after this, it would be capitalised - remained intact. It was an astute decision, not that it was thought to be of any importance at the time.

Quickly, the Streak matured from statistical curiosity to genuine accomplishment - and as the years passed, it transcended even the WWE Heavyweight Championship as the scalp in the company.

From WrestleMania 23, WWE never again ran WrestleMania in an arena as relatively small-scale as the Staples Center. The Streak played a pivotal role in shaping its Stadium Era, and is synonymous with its grand, business-defining mythology.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!