10 WWE Questions You Most Want Answered (Oct 4)
1. What's Your Favourite Payoff To A Modern Storyline?
I'm not sure how far back to stretch in counting the modern era, but I'll go with my favourite storyline from the past decade. While the 'Summer of Punk' probably evoked the most emotion from me as a wrestling fan, there's no denying that it was a car crash by the end. How on earth a revolutionary storyline centring around CM Punk ended with Triple H vs. Kevin Nash, I'll never be sure. Instead, I'm going to answer with Shawn Michaels vs. The Undertaker in 2010.
The build to their WrestleMania XXV classic wasn't the most complex, fading into view after the (slightly baffling) HBK/JBL ownership angle, but the following year, things really started to kick into gear. Desperate to challenge Undertaker again, Michaels offered a rematch to the Deadman, but was refused. He entered the Royal Rumble in order to force a bout with the World Heavyweight Champion, even turning on best friend Triple H in the middle of the match - but was heartbreakingly eliminated by Batista, clawing at the ropes as he fell. Michaels' reaction was perfect, slowly realising that his opportunity to end the streak was gone, before snapping and taking out a couple of innocent referees.
The following month at Elimination Chamber, HBK shockingly cost 'Taker his title, rising from the chamber floor and helping Chris Jericho take the championship. Incensed, Undertaker finally accepted his WrestleMania challenge, on the condition that Michaels put his career on the line. HBK accepted, and the rest is history.
This feud had everything: phenomenal storytelling by both the writers and wrestlers, excellent matches, high drama, and plenty of twists and turns - capped by the emotion of that WrestleMania XVXI main event. Perfect.