100 Greatest WWE WrestleMania Moments
10. Shawn Michaels Has To Retire (WrestleMania XXVI)
Individual taste dictates whether you prefer the first Shawn Michaels vs. Undertaker match at WrestleMania XXV or the sequel at XXVI. Obviously, this wasn't the first time those legends had tangled full stop, but it was something new for 'Mania. Some like the original better, whilst others adore that WWE heaped on HBK's retirement stip heading into the 'all or nothing' rematch.
It'll come as no surprise to either camp that both cracked the top 10 here.
Shawn was tortured by his inability to beat 'Taker at XXV. He lobbied for a rematch, was denied, then took matters into his own hands by ending his rival's World Title reign inside Elimination Chamber. Chris Jericho won the belt, then Michaels and 'Taker settled terms on one final encounter in 2010. That'd prove to be Shawn's last match until a regrettable one night return for a sweet payoff in 2018.
A third (leaping style) Tombstone Piledriver marked the site of HBK's full-time career grave in Arizona. Undertaker went to 18-0, Shawn laid his utterly brilliant second stint between 2002-2010 to rest, and WWE knew they'd have some job on their hands to replace his in-match quality going forwards. Some others on the roster would have to step up their game, put it that way.
The Undertaker giving Michaels a taste of his own medicine just two years after HBK had ended Ric Flair's own career (or so he thought) was sensational stuff. This result would come back up in the chat once Shawn was announced as special guest ref for 'Taker vs. Triple H at 'Mania XXVIII; again two years later.
These Hall Of Famers worked perhaps the greatest back to back 'Mania matches ever.