7. Shawn Michaels vs. Kurt Angle - WrestleMania 21
This match was first hinted at back at the Survivor Series in 2004, when Angle cited a part of Edges book that talked about Shawn Michaels. Angle said that he could make HBK tap out in seconds. So, when the 2005 Royal Rumble rolled around and Angle was a surprise entrant, during which time Michaels was in the ring already competing, the time seemed right for them to interact. They wound up eliminating each other. It was later revealed that Angle had issues with HBK dating back to 1996, when he won a gold medal but was overshadowed by HBKs classic Mania 12 entrance and title winning performance in the Ironman match. To show HBK that he was better, Angle recreated some of Shawns signature moments. It was during this time that HBK started referring to himself as Mr. WrestleMania. Just as Angle had done in the build-up, Michaels spent the first few minutes of the match trying to prove that he could do better the things that made the Olympic Hero special. Instead of using his high flying style right away, Michaels annoyed Kurt by outwrestling him. Angle took offense and eventually gained the upper hand by abandoning his usual mat-based offense in favor a more brawling stylealmost as if Michaels goaded him into it since it played to HBKs usual strengths. Angle took control for much of the match, but Michaels refused to be pinned or tap out. He gave Michaels an Angle Slam off the top rope for easily the best near fall of the match. Angry and upset, Angle looked to up the ante with a high risk move that he had not performed in quite some time the moonsault. No one in the WWEs history has ever done a more athletically graceful looking moonsault than Kurt Angle. Yet, he hit nothing but canvas. Michaels would then hit the super kick, but Angle kicked out. When they reached their feet, Angle turned out to have been playing possum and locked on the ankle submission once again. After a brave and valiant struggle to escape, Michaels tapped out. At one time not too long ago, many felt that this was the best match in Mania history. Bobby Heenan called it the greatest match that he had ever seen.
"The Doc" Chad Matthews has written wrestling columns for over a decade. A physician by trade, Matthews began writing about wrestling as a hobby, but it became a passion. After 30 years as a wrestling fan, "The Doc" gives an unmatched analytical perspective on pro wrestling in the modern era. He is a long-time columnist for Lordsofpain.net and hosts a weekly podcast on the LOP Radio Network called "The Doc Says." His first book - The WrestleMania Era: The Book of Sports Entertainment - ranks the Top 90 wrestlers from 1983 to present day, was originally published in December 2013, and is now in its third edition.
Matthews lives in North Carolina with his wife, two kids, and two dogs.
