20 Best WWE Matches Since 2000
6. Shawn Michaels Vs. The Undertaker (WrestleMania 26)
Choosing between Shawn Michaels and The Undertaker's two epic WrestleMania matches is incredibly difficult, and frankly, it's hard to objectively say that one is better than the other. They're both absolute classics in their own right, and no matter which one you prefer, there's very little separating the two.
WrestleMania 26 was their second big stage showdown in as many years. It was Taker's long-standing WrestleMania Streak versus Shawn's 20+ year career as a professional wrestler, and they closed the show in incredible fashion.
The duo came in with an immense amount of hype behind them. Many considered their WrestleMania 25 match flawless, and while you can't improve on perfection, Michaels and Taker certainly tried. They put on a thrilling show that gradually escalated in pace throughout, before Shawn fell into survival mode.
Desperate to save his career, Michaels relentlessly targeted The Deadman's knee. He destroyed the joint about with a number of focused attacks and a Figure Four Leglock, but he just couldn't keep The Phenom down. They eventually built to one of the most thrilling, emotional climaxes in WrestleMania history, and when Taker finally put Michaels' career to bed with a leaping Tombstone Piledriver, it closed 'Mania 26 in perfect fashion.
This is a stunning example of how to tell an emotional story within the confines of a professional wrestling match. Michaels lost, but he couldn't have asked for a better closing chapter.