4. Batista vs. The Undertaker - SmackDown; May 11, 2007
The best rivalry of the first-half of 2007 was war over the World Heavyweight Championship between The Undertaker and Batista. The Dead Man won the Royal Rumble in January to earn a shot at The Animal's title. At WrestleMania 23, Undertaker added Batista to his storied undefeated streak with a title win on the biggest stage in professional wrestling. The following month at Backlash, they battled in a brutal and barbaric Last Man Standing match. A spear off the stage and into lighting equipment by Batista led to a no contest. On May 11, on SmackDown, their program would come to an end when they engaged in an incredibly physical steel cage match. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sk34XzwH64 The contest stayed true to its predecessors, providing fans with a hard-hitting, high impact match. Both Superstars pulled out their trademark offense, using power moves to put the other down in hopes of scoring a pinfall, submission or escaping the cage for the win. In the closing moments of the bout, each man scaled a side of the cage. Then, at the same time, the made a leap of faith to the floor. Like the Backlash match, they essentially tied, leaving fans without a decisive winner. They would never get one, either, as injury sidelined Undertaker and the arrival of "the Rated R Superstar" Edge necessitated a change in creative direction.
Erik Beaston is a freelance pro wrestling writer who likes long walks in the park, dandelions and has not quite figured out that this introduction is not for Match.com. He resides in Parts Unknown, where he hosts weekly cookouts with Kane, The Ultimate Warrior, Papa Shango and The Boogeyman. Be jealous.
