40 Greatest Stories Wrestling Ever Told
12. HBK Is Obsessed With Ending The Streak (WWE, 2009-2010)
'It was a single mistake, that's all'. Those fine margins cost Shawn Michaels the glory of ending The Undertaker's vaunted winning run at WrestleMania XXV. At first, it seemed for all the world like Shawn and 'Taker would move on to fresh battles, but Michaels fanned the flames for a rematch heading into 'Mania XXVI.
Initially, Undertaker said no, but then HBK cost him the World Heavyweight Title at Elimination Chamber by effectively gifting the belt to another old rival: Chris Jericho. That showed the true extent of Shawn's crusade. He was willing to give Y2J success just to goad 'Taker into another whirl at the 'show of shows'.
Angry and seeking vengeance, 'The Phenom' gave Shawn what he'd wanted all along by signing on for a 'Mania repeat. However, there was a caveat. HBK's career would be on the line, and he'd have to call it quits if he couldn't win big. Instantly, Michaels shot back that his career wouldn't be worth proceeding with anyway if he couldn't get the job done against Undertaker.
Somehow, despite already having multiple scorchers behind them and the added bells and whistles of 'Streak vs. Career', both legends served up a match that was arguably better than anything they'd done before. Yes, including HIAC in 1997 and 'Mania XXV's magnificence.
Shawn's borderline unhinged obsession with doing what he thought needed to be done was a quite brilliant follow up to his retirement win over Ric Flair in 2008, and it's a storyline WWE plundered for Triple H even after Michaels decided to hang up his tights.
That's when you know you've got a strong narrative to work with.