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The Undertaker has to be considered the most enduring character ever created by WWE. With his 30th Anniversary and 'Final Farewell' this Sunday at Survivor Series 2020, this is the perfect time to look back on his illustrious catalogue of classic matches.
The Deadman has taken part in many tremendous bouts as well as first time ever contests such as Hell In A Cell, Casket Match, and Buried Alive. He has had technical wrestling battles and vicious brawls. Undertaker has also faced a who's who of present and future Hall of Famers across his 30-year run as this character.
From WrestleMania classics to the most memorable bouts on pay-per-view and TV, it is difficult to sum up all of his legendary contests in a list. In this article, we take a look at the 10 greatest Undertaker matches of all time.
#10 Undertaker vs. Jeff Hardy in a Ladder Match for the WWE Undisputed Championship (RAW - July 1st, 2002)
On the July 1st, 2002 episode of RAW, Undertaker defended the WWE Championship against Jeff Hardy in a Ladder Match. Hardy had lost a title bout against The Deadman a week prior and challenged him to this rematch in his speciality.
At this time, Taker was referring to himself as Big Evil and had established a vicious streak as a no-nonsense heel. This encounter built and built with Jeff Hardy putting in a star-making performance in his bid to win his first world championship. Hardy took Undertaker to his limit, using every risk he could to get the victory here.
In the end, Undertaker cut Hardy off at the top of the ladder by chokeslamming him down to the canvas before grabbing the WWE Undisputed Championship. After the match, Big Evil beat down Hardy some more and looked to leave with his title in tow on his motorcycle. However, the upstart Jeff Hardy got the microphone and screamed that he was still standing.
This led to Undertaker coming back to the ring, looking to inflict more damage on Hardy, but he stopped. Taker instead shook his head and raised Jeff Hardy's hand in a show of respect. This is considered one of the defining moments of The Charismatic Enigma's career and one of the best RAW matches in history.
#9 Undertaker vs. Brock Lesnar in a Hell In A Cell Match for the WWE Championship (No Mercy 2002)
Like the aforementioned entry, Undertaker's legacy was often used to establish brand new stars in WWE. By 2002, he was the locker room leader and conscience of the company. There probably was no bigger Superstar made by the Deadman in that year than 'The Next Big Thing' Brock Lesnar.
Lesnar had been on a path of destruction during his rookie year in the company, destroying the Hardys and Hulk Hogan on his way to defeating The Rock at Summerslam 2002 to become the youngest WWE Champion. To further establish Lesnar as a top star, he needed to defeat The Undertaker. However, WWE took things one step further with putting the two inside Hell In A Cell.
Taker had become synonymous with the Cell by this point. A win for Lesnar would tell the world just how seriously WWE was taking him. This became a brutal, bloody war with Lesnar using the steel steps to make Undertaker bleed buckets. Not only would Brock Lesnar come out of this match bloody, but so too would his manager, Paul Heyman.
Brock Lesnar would gain the victory in the biggest win of his rookie year. This legendary bout solidified Lesnar as the future of WWE and wound up turning him babyface. He could no longer just be looked at as a monster heel and gained the respect of every fan. This was all done to Undertaker's willingness to make him look like the Superstar that Brock Lesnar was always meant to be.
#8 Undertaker vs. CM Punk (WrestleMania 29)
This entry gives us the first contest that took place at The Showcase of Immortals. The final WrestleMania classic and win of the Undertaker's legendary run came at the 29th edition in 2013 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. On that night, Undertaker defended his streak against CM Punk. The unquestionable match of the night of this event is remembered for different reasons.
The buildup to WrestleMania 29 was extremely controversial with the recently departed manager of The Deadman, Paul Bearer, used at the center of the story. However, the match itself is a bonafide clinic in superb storytelling. This encounter was incredible with several memorable moments and near falls that had the Jersey crowd on the edge of their seat.
From Punk's death dying flying elbow through the announce table to Taker sitting up from the Anaconda Vice, this contest had so many significant moments sprinkled throughout to make a wonderful highlight reel to look back on. Paul Heyman's reactions alone are awesome and definitely added to his part in the build to the following year's Undertaker vs. Brock Lesnar encounter.
This was the best match CM Punk ever took part in at WrestleMania and definitely is worthy of being in the conversation as one of the greatest in the Undertaker's career.
#7 Undertaker vs. The Rock vs. Kurt Angle in a Triple Threat Match for the WWE Undisputed Championship (Vengeance 2002)
There is an argument to include the underrated No Way Out 2006 match between Undertaker and Kurt Angle on this list. The two competitors traded a submission meets MMA battle that was brilliant at that event. However, the magic that they created alongside The Rock at Vengeance 2002 has to be talked about on any list of classics in The Deadman's career.
In the buildup to this Triple Threat Match, The Rock returned to the promotion after Stone Cold's departure from the company and set his sights on the WWE Undisputed Championship. The champion at the time was The Undertaker who was fighting off challenges on both RAW and SmackDown like the aforementioned Ladder Match against Jeff Hardy.
The Rock had gotten involved in Taker's defense against Triple H at King of the Ring 2002. However, with The Game out via injury, another former champion stepped in to create a compelling three-way. Undertaker and Kurt Angle battled on SmackDown weeks before Vengeance and went to a no-contest with Taker tapping out to a triangle choke, while Angle was pinned.
This Triple Threat was high octane with each competitor delivering non-stop action for over 20-plus minutes. The blend of Taker's hard-hitting strikes, Angle's technical wrestling, and The Rock's charismatic bravado made for a truly exceptional main event at this event. It was The Rock who was victorious winning the WWE Championship for the sixth time.
Not only is Vengeance 2002 deserving of being one of the greatest bouts of the Undertaker's legendary career, but it is also viewed by many as the best Triple Threat Match in WWE history.
#6 Undertaker vs. Edge for the World Heavyweight Championship (WrestleMania 24)
Another match that just missed this list was the WrestleMania 23 showdown between Undertaker and Batista. Those two powerful men met in a show stealer in Ford Field in Detroit, but the rivalry that sprung from this one was given the main event spot the following year to great success.
Following a brutal steel cage match with Batista, Undertaker was laid out by Mark Henry. With The Deadman beaten down, 'The Ultimate Opportunist' Edge came in and cashed in Money In The Bank to defeat Taker for the World Heavyweight Championship. After Edge had to relinquish the title due to injury, he returned at Survivor Series 2007 to cost The Deadman the belt again.
Their feud spanned almost an entire calendar year before they faced at WrestleMania 24 in the closer. This excellent World Heavyweight Championship bout was thrilling and showed that even at an advanced age that Taker could keep up with one of the best in-ring performers of this time. Edge showed himself to be the top heel and cunning foil to The Undertaker on this night.
The story of this contest became Edge's ability to stay one step ahead of his older opponent. His counter based attack was on another level and made for a deeply engaging main event for those in Orlando and watching at home. There was many times The Rated R Superstar made you believe he was on the verge of ending the legendary Streak.
In the conclusion, Undertaker countered Edge reversing the spear into his Hell's Gate submission for the win. After surprising some with a stellar encounter with Batista the year prior, Undertaker showed that he could raise the bar for himself at the biggest show of the year with this battle. Edge proved himself as a worthy Mania main eventer and elevated his legacy in defeat.
#5 Undertaker vs. Triple H in an End of An Era Hell In A Cell Match w/Shawn Michaels as special guest referee (WrestleMania 28)
The peak of Undertaker's iconic run of WrestleMania classics has to be his four-year program with Shawn Michaels and Triple H from 2009 to 2012. The conclusion of this series was at WrestleMania 28 where he met The Game inside Hell In A Cell in a bout that was entitled an End of An Era. This bout was a rematch from the year prior where Taker beat Triple H but was stretchered out.
With Shawn Michaels as special guest referee just two years after Taker ended his career, the emotions were high heading into this encounter. This would also be a battle of the two men synonymous with the Devil's Playground. Fans witnessed some of the most spectacular brutality and storytelling in this epic Hell In A Cell war. The two men used steel chairs and the unmatched will to inflict pain on one another.
This match also featured what many consider the greatest near fall in professional wrestling history. After Undertaker had attacked HBK, Michaels nailed The Deadman with Sweet Chin Music into The Game's Pedigree for the closest of two counts. Michael's dramatic reaction to Taker's kick out made every person watching in Miami and around the world fully engaged into what was happening.
Undertaker would destroy Triple H with steel chair shots and a sledgehammer before finally finishing him with the Tombstone Piledriver to win this End of An Era battle. The final shot of a beaten-down Game with his opponent Undertaker and best friend Shawn Michaels is an iconic visual in WrestleMania lore. This memorable spectacle is considered among the greatest in Mania history.
#4 Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels in a Career vs. Streak Match (WrestleMania 26)
The greatest opponent and rival of Undertaker's 30-year career has to be Shawn Michaels. Whether it was a heel HBK trying to avoid the unstoppable Deadman or as two legendary babyfaces battling, they created an undeniable mark on every fan that witnessed them encounter one another.
The first entry listed here is their final match at WrestleMania 26. After their fantastic WrestleMania 25 encounter, Shawn Michaels became obsessed with the fact that he came so close to ending the Streak. Michaels repeatedly challenged Undertaker to a rematch the following year, but Taker denied him until HBK cost The Deadman the World Heavyweight title at Elimination Chamber 2010.
Big Evil would finally accept on one condition. Shawn Michaels would have to put his career on the line. In the main event of WrestleMania 26, the fans in Phoenix was amazed by a stunning battle between these two legends. Michaels took every risk that he could to finally end the Streak, but Undertaker put down the defiant Heartbreak Kid with a super Tombstone to end his career.
This was one of the most deeply emotional battles in the history of WWE. The amazing buildup was paid off in a magnificent clash of two icons of the business. Fans witnessed a dramatic end to one of the greatest careers, while the Streak continued on.
#3 Undertaker vs. Mankind in a Hell In A Cell Match (King of the Ring 1998)
At King of the Ring 1998, Undertaker faced Mankind inside the Hell In A Cell. This two-year rivalry had already seen many significant moments and battles. The two men battle in the first Boiler Room Brawl at Summerslam 1996 and the first Buried Alive Match at In Your House in October of that same year. Fans had even seen The Undertaker's longtime manager, Paul Bearer, turn on The Deadman to align with Mankind.
After the standard set in the original Cell Match, both men would have to do something memorable to meet the brutality of that first encounter. However, no one could have expected what would transpire. During the entrance, Mankind did not enter the Cell. He instead climbed up to the roof of the structure and waited for his opponent.
After the two men brawled on the roof for a few minutes, Taker threw Mankind off of the 20-foot high Hell In A Cell down into the announce table on the floor. Jim Ross' call of 'As God as my witness, he is broken in half' still lives on to this day. Surprisingly after being stretchered away from the scene, Mankind fought off the stretcher and removed his neck brace to go back up the Cell.
The two men once again brawled at the top. This time, Undertaker chokeslammed Mankind through the roof down to the canvas of the ring with a thud. Mankind would once again refuse to be stretchered out and continue to battle with The Deadman for about 10 more minutes. Taker would chokeslam Mankind onto thumbtacks and finally, give him a Tombstone Piledriver to win.
This was an unbelievable spectacle that could be described as a borderline in-ring murder. Undertaker almost ended the career of Mick Foley on this night in Pittsburgh. The legacy and legend of both men were etched in the minds of every fan that has witnessed this encounter. This has to be considered the most famous match in WWE history.
#2 Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels in a Hell In A Cell Match (Badd Blood 1997)
There is just something about the original though. The first-ever Hell In A Cell Match was between Undertaker and Shawn Michaels at WWF In Your House: Badd Blood on October 5, 1997. These two had been waging war ever since Michaels cost Taker the WWF Championship in his match against Bret 'The Hitman' Hart at Summerslam 1997.
After going to a no-contest at Ground Zero the previous month, WWF officials wanted to make sure this feud would end once and for all inside a new creation being the Devil's Playground. Undertaker and HBK put on an influential bout that set the bar for future Hell In A Cell Matches to come. The Deadman beat Michaels all over the steel structure, leaving him bloody.
The battle went out of the Cell where Taker inflicted more damage to his opponent, ending with him knocking Michaels off the side of the Cell through the announce table below. Just when Undertaker looked to put him away, Paul Bearer brought Taker's brother Kane down to the ring for the first time. Kane ripped the Cell door off the structure and came in to give his brother a Tombstone, which led to Shawn Michaels getting the pinfall victory.
This was a marvelous spectacle that was physically intense and took his toll on both men's bodies. The impact of this being the first Hell In A Cell made this the standard-bearer for feud enders in WWE. Kane's debut was also a payoff of months of build from Paul Bearer teasing his arrival and considered one of the best introductions of a character in company history.
The layers of significance make this one of the greatest encounters in WWE history, but there may be only one match in Undertaker's career that was able to top this with the same opponent.
#1 Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels (WrestleMania 25)
Almost 12 years after their astonishing effort inside of Hell In A Cell, Undertaker and Shawn Michaels clashed at WrestleMania 25. At this point, there were no other Superstars more associated with the legacy of The Grandest Stage Of Them All quite like these two men. They were also two clear icons of the Attitude Era.
Fans would witness Mr. WrestleMania facing the iconic 16-0 Streak of The Deadman here at the 25th Anniversary of The Showcase of the Immortals. Inside the Astro Dome in Houston, TX, these two living legends put on one of the greatest matches in WrestleMania history. This was a splendid battle between two all-time greats that saw many unforgettable moments.
There was Taker's death-defying dive and miss, which led to Michaels begging to the heavens that he would win by count-out. Undertaker would catch HBK on his skinning the cat and give him the Tombstone, only for Shawn Michaels to kick out at two. The Deadman's exasperated expression was the most emotion that we had ever seen from Big Evil.
Michaels would hit Taker with Sweet Chin Music for very close near falls. In the finale, Shawn Michaels went for a moonsault that Undertaker caught and dropped him with another Tombstone Piledriver to finally put his opponent away. This was the perfect match with flawless sequences and awe-inspiring counters. These two put on a classic that still is remembered as the best of both men's careers.
Although Undertaker has so many remarkable battles that did not even make this list, it is simply hard to debate that his extraordinary encounter with Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania 25 isn't his greatest match ever.
One of Samoa Joe's colleagues had harsh words for him HERE
