The Undertaker's 24 WrestleMania Matches Ranked - From Worst To Best

23. Vs. Giant Gonzalez - WrestleMania IX

Taker Mania XXX
WWE.com

Any aura Giant Gonzalez might have commanded was swiftly erased the very second he emerged through the curtain. The WWF wheeled out their usual production tricks. Cameras filmed him from a low angle in order to accentuate his, ahem, gigantic height. Commentator Randy Savage made ludicrous comparisons to his height ("this guy is bigger than the roman coliseum").

And yet, he wore a flesh-coloured suit more befitting a child on halloween than a monster heel threat.

His selling was unspeakably abysmal. When Undertaker unloaded with his right hands (mercifully, well before it was mandated to describe him as the greatest pure striker in WWE history), Gonzalez gurned as if in a state of profound confusion. Perhaps he was still trying to parse the logic behind his attire.

The match receives bonus points in the so-bad-it's-good department, at least initially. In attempting to underscore 'Taker's otherworldly persona, Savage proclaimed that Taker's ability to withstand Gonzalez's kitten-weak offence "proves he's not real...he's from down under!" Australians are people, Randy.

Elsewhere, it was as dull as pro wrestling gets. Gonzalez spent practically the entire duration locking 'Taker in a sleeper hold. It could not have been more apt.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!