WWE: 5 Best Shawn Michaels WrestleMania Matches
5. Shawn Michaels vs The Undertaker - Wrestlemania XXVI
-->-->Even in a business where nobody truly retires and Hulk Hogan to this day still parades around with his overly tanned leathery hide; this match is most likely going to go down as the last of Shawn Michaels storied career.
With this being a rematch of the previous years masterpiece with the Undertaker expectations were at an all-time high, in fact it is one of the very few in Wrestlemania history that has been booked to go on last and main event over a World Title match.
The build-up started when WWE dragged out their answer to the Oscars - The Slammy Awards and awarded Michaels for his part opposite the Undertaker in the aforementioned Wrestlemania 25 classic.
Upon finishing his acceptance speech, Michaels flashed a sly grin at the camera and then cut a promo goading the Dead Man to once again put his infamous Wrestlemania undefeated streak on the line.
Delaying the inevitable Taker initially refused the challenged claiming he had nothing left to prove and that Michaels must earn another opportunity to break the streak.
A month before Wrestlemania however Michaels made the Undertaker change his mind after costing him the World Heavyweight Championship at that year's Elimination Chamber. Taker accepted the challenge with the stipulation that if Shawn lost his career would be over.
With the stage set and very little doubt that the WWE would break the Undertakers profitable Wrestlemania streak the only question left to answer was would Shawn Michaels deliver a swansong befitting of his extraordinary twenty six year career. As if there was any doubt, true to form the Showstopper delivered in spades.
For nearly thirty five minutes the two icons exchanged counters and false finishes in front of an amazed crowd at the University of Phoenix Stadium.
In the end however Michaels would yet again be defeated in what will go down as one of the most emotional finishes in pro wrestling history.
After a Tombstone failed to put Michaels away he clawed himself to his feet and mirroring the actions of his idol Ric Flair begged the Undertaker to end the match and his career once and for all. Reluctant at first the Deadman obliged with a brutal Tombstone when in one last defiant act Michaels slapped the Undertaker across the face.
The dust settled and The Undertaker in a rare showcase of emotion broke character and embraced his fellow colleague with tears in his eyes.
Shawn Michaels rode out of the WWE on a career high having earned the respect of the most respected man in the locker room and the millions of fans who got the privilege to watch this or one of his many iconic Wrestlemania matches.