11. The Undertaker Wins The Royal Rumble - Royal Rumble 2007
Toward the end of 2006, The Undertaker engaged in a feud with Smackdown newcomer Mr. Kennedy, with the youngster looking to make a name at the Phenom's expense. Kennedy picked up the win in a first blood match at Survivor Series, but The Undertaker got revenge in a "Last Ride" match the following month at Armageddon. Still, Kennedy managed to cheat The Undertaker out of a chance to get a World Heavyweight Title shot at the Royal Rumble, meaning that if 'Taker wanted to contend for the belt, he would have to win the Rumble itself. Standing in The Undertaker's way was the one man he had never beaten - Shawn Michaels. Undertaker entered the Rumble at #30, and after The Great Khali, MVP, Edge, and Randy Orton were eliminated, it came down to him and Michaels. The result was one of the greatest finishing sequences in the match's history. The excitement of seeing the two legends clash for the first time in almost a decade was heightened by the fact that victory would be gained simply by tossing one's opponent out of the ring. Both veterans were determined not to let themselves be dumped, but after successfully hitting a superkick and trying for another, Shawn Michaels was hoisted up by The Undertaker and thrown over the ropes. The Undertaker had scored the first Royal Rumble victory of his long career, and he was going to WrestleMania.
Scott Fried is a Slammy Award-winning* writer living and working in New York City. He has been following/writing about professional wrestling for many years and is a graduate of Lance Storm's Storm Wrestling Academy. Follow him on Twitter at https://twitter.com/scottfried.
*Best Crowd of the Year, 2013
