10 Wrestling Matches That Were NOTHING Like You Expected

2. The Undertaker Vs. Batista - WWE WrestleMania 23

John Cena The Undertaker
WWE.com

Batista was the guy Triple H did everything in his unprecedented power to get over. He bled for him, took three consecutive clean losses to him, and sold selflessly for him like he was a modern day gladiator. Batista was also the guy who couldn't get it done against virtually any other wrestler throughout what was a disastrous, injury-plagued 2006.

The Undertaker was the bloodcurdling horror movie baddie who mauled the small with awesome, literal jump scares, but entered dreaded "methodical" territory in uneven crossover features with fellow monsters.

Together, the man out of form and the selectively seminal threatened a slog of stalling and big moves. WWE almost anticipated as much, and tucked their 'Mania 23 World Heavyweight Championship bout in the midcard slot - but together, they delivered a blood-pumping, full-on thriller elevated into the realm of the classic by an ineffable chemistry and a mood of pure defiance. This was a heavyweight prize fight, with perfectly-timed, emphatically delivered signatures in place of near-knockout blows, creating a genuine sense that it could end at any time.

A match most expected not to get out of second gear somehow stayed in fifth for 15 pulsating minutes.

 
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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!