10 Times The Undertaker Genuinely Defied Expectations In WWE
9. Match Of The Night (And The Year) - WrestleMania 23
Though 'Taker was enjoying his physical prime in 2006, WWE wasn't exactly making the most of it as he once again found himself paired with giants and monsters like Mark Henry and Great Khali (which, in all fairness, were much better matches than his '90s turkeys against big men). So when we all found out he'd be battling Batista at the following year's WrestleMania, we weren't expecting a classic.
The titanic pair knew that they were facing an uphill battle and they were also miffed about the fact that they were robbed of the main event slot - which Undertaker had earned following his Royal Rumble victory - so they took all of that frustration and pressure and channeled it into their match. And bah gawd they pulled off the impossible.
Rarely have two big men ever gelled together in the ring as well as 'Taker and Batista. The brawling was both physical and convincing, the action seamless and well-executed, and the storytelling was damn-near artistic - as a very game 'Animal' threw everything he could at an unstoppable Undertaker.
'Taker and Batista bucked the odds and stole the damn show. The rightful main event of 'Mania 23, they damn sure proved why they deserved to have the coveted slot.