5. Triple H vs. Batista - WrestleMania 21
Another WrestleMania match that made a superstar out of a hot act as Royal Rumble winner Batista faced his former Evolution stable leader Triple H for the World Heavyweight Championship in the main event of WrestleMania 21. Friction had been building for a while between The Animal and The Game as Batista's rise to the top was viewed as a threat by Triple H and Ric Flair, who tried to encourage him to move to SmackDown to keep his threat away from his championship. Batista was almost persuaded until he overheard the two conspiring backstage and made his big face turn by signing the contract to face Triple H in Los Angeles. The two competed to show who was the better man but eventually Triple H resorted to more drastic measures as he set up for a Pedigree on the steel steps. Instead Batista countered and launched Triple H into the ring post, splitting open the champions forehead and within seconds the blood was flowing down his face and down to his chest. The state of Triple H, who had sat atop the Raw tree relatively unchallenged for years, promoted the sheer power and dominance of Batista who was sold as a true top star by not just his victory but the fashion of it. As Batista celebrated overcoming both Triple H and Ric Flair, the former champion struggled to get to his feet. Leaning against the corner with blood covering his face, chest and through his hair he was a man truly bested by his superior opponent. A theme which would continue across the following two Raw pay-per-view events as Batista defended successfully against his former mentor both times to solidify his rise to the top before being traded to SmackDown where he became the face of the show.