1. The Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels - WrestleMania 25
Citing that the silver anniversary of Mania needed to be honored with a special match, Michaels renewed a rivalry with The Deadman that had lain dormant since a Casket Match in 1998 pushed HBKs injured back over the edge and to surgery/subsequent retirement. Michaels set out to playing mind games almost immediately, saying that while he respected Taker, he was not afraid of him. HBK was Mr. WrestleMania and as far as he was concerned there was no one more capable than he of ending The Streak. Taker told HBK that it was Hell trying to get to Heaven. Thus, the story took on a light vs. dark theme, including one classic Smackdown! segment where HBK came out to Takers music but donning a white robe and hat. The pre-match intros were excellent, with HBK descending from above surrounded by white light and Taker ascending from below surrounded by darkness and fire. The match had already been great when Taker swatted Michaels out of the air during a moonsault attempt to the outside. The Deadman tried, a few moments afterward, to leap over the top rope and clobber HBK with everything he had left, but Michaels moved and threw a camera man in the way. Sim Snuka, the camera man, did a poor job and Taker literally landed on his head. There was a long pause as the wrestling world pondered the consequences. To be honest, it accidently served the purpose of furthering emotional investment. You know what happened from there. Every subsequent viewing has revealed a layer of excellence to the match not previously noticed. The crispness of the counters, the athleticism, the near falls, and especially the manner in which they executed the two Tombstones made this the modern definition of the perfect pro wrestling match. Greatest match of all-time. Some of the more prominent match reviewers have heralded this match as a 5-star classic and one of the greatest WrestleMania matches of all-time. It was Takers best performance in his career and the story that these two told was a marvelous one that no one who watched will ever forget. There were so many layers of drama. It was quite the roller coaster ride, emotionally. Never has there been a more complete display of athleticism and storytelling in professional wrestling.
"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.
