100 Greatest WWE WrestleMania Moments

WrestleMania XII was a point of principle for Kevin Nash and The Undertaker. They knew they couldn't be the focal point on the card due to an exhausting 'Iron Man' match between Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels, and they were also keenly aware that certain things were expected in the WWF whenever two big men were programmed together. Expectations, be damned.

Nash was almost out the door and on his way to WCW. Further, his Diesel gimmick had morphed and changed to have rougher edges in recent months. Knowing that, and desperate to show he could actually work rather than produce slow, zombie plodders, 'Taker pulled his friend aside and offered the chance to put in a shift right before Bret and Shawn hogged the spotlight.

They went close to 17 minutes, and the match was a much zippier affair than peeps had grown to expect whenever Undertaker was involved. This was a far cry from big man vs. big man fare like Diesel vs. Sid from the prior year, put it that way. Nash often spoke of "needing movement" (a smaller guy to bump around for him, basically) in his matches. Astonishingly, that movement came from 'Taker at 'Mania XII - he moved like a Cruiserweight for select spots.

1996's card can be viewed as a turning point for The Undertaker as an in-ring performer. He got to showcase some fresh skills to an audience who'd watched him do largely the same thing since 1990. That'd quickly accelerate once Mick Foley joined the promotion as Mankind a few months later.

Diesel helped set a new template for 'Taker matches.