The Undertaker's 25 Greatest WWE Moments

22. The Undertaker Shakes Jeff Hardy's Hand After Brutal Ladder Match - Raw, July 1, 2002

The "American Bad Ass" period of The Undertaker's career has become controversial over the past decade, but the fact remains that during that era - and especially the "Big Evil" phase of it, where 'Taker worked as a heel - he had many classic matches, some of which were far removed from "The Deadman's" previous element. The Undertaker was Undisputed WWE Champion in mid-2002, a time when the early days of the brand extension saw midcard workers elevated up the card to play larger roles on programming. One of those stars was Jeff Hardy, who challenged The Undertaker for the title in a ladder match in one of the best-remembered Raw bouts of the early 2000s. Hardy fought tooth and nail to become WWE Champion, but despite flurries of offense, he couldn't overcome The Undertaker (and a pair of chairshots to the head). After the bout, Undertaker laid Hardy out with a Last Ride powerbomb, but when the former tag team star got to his feet, a surprised 'Taker simply shook his hand and called him "one tough son of a bitch." It was a defining moment in Hardy's career, but also a sign that nobody's endorsement carries as much weight as that of the Phenom.