7: Vs Triple H – WrestleMania 17 (9-0)
The Undertaker’s first match against Triple H was also the first match of the streak that had some real quality to it.
The match featured some great spots outside the ring, including the two fighting into the crowd as the referee was knocked out cold for what appeared to be an eternity.
This match was also notable for being the first one where Taker wrestled under The American Bad Ass gimmick at Mania. The two would go on to have two more matches back to back Manias a decade later.
6: Vs CM Punk – WrestleMania 29 (21-0)
The last in The Undertaker’s incredible seven-match WrestleMania streak and sadly, the last match in the streak overall. CM Punk rallied hard to be in the main event of WrestleMania 29 but alas, the WWE opted to take his title belt from him and award it to The Rock.
The straight edge superstar got his own back, though, by having the best match of the night with The Deadman earlier in the card. Punk and Taker were on the top of their games here and while we all knew Taker was going to walk out the victor, the pair sold the match brilliantly and there were times when it looked as though Punk could pull off the upset. The match finished with a string of near falls that come to be a lynchpin of all the streak’s later match before Taker hit the tombstone and walked away as the victor.
5: Vs Batista – WrestleMania 23 (15-0)
Heading into WrestleMania 23 no-one would have believed that Batista Vs The Undertaker was going to be the match of the night. The two superstars pulled out all the stops though and gave us a match that was arguably better than the main event between John Cena and Shawn Michaels.
The Deadman had won his first ever Royal Rumble in 2007 and was set to compete for The World Heavyweight title at WrestleMania for the first time in a decade, his opponent Batista was one of the biggest stars in WWE at the time and many were shocked when the match was placed fourth on the overall card.
The two made up for it, though, pummeling each other from pillar to post and starting Taker off on an incredible streak of seven amazing matches at consecutive WrestleManias.
4: Vs Edge – WrestleMania 24 (16-0)
I’ve always spoken at length about this match in my ranking of every WrestleMania main event. WrestleMania 24 is a hugely underappreciated match and the main event, despite having to follow Ric Flair’s emotional retirement was one of Taker’s best on the big stage.
Edge was on fire back in 2008 and really brought it all to the table in his first and only WrestleMania main event. This was also notable for being the second consecutive Mania where Taker had won the World Heavyweight Championship, having defeated Batista 12 months prior, and also the last time The Deadman would compete for the gold at the big show. It’s an awesome match that finished with Taker forcing the Rated R Superstar to tap out – marking the first of two occasions where Taker would win via submission during the streak.
3: Vs Triple H – WrestleMania 28- Hell in a Cell (20-0)
The second Hell in a Cell match on this list and the third time The Undertaker defeated The Game at WrestleMania. This was Triple H’s second consecutive attempt to top Taker’s matches with Shawn Michaels at the previous two WrestleManias and damn, did he come close.
This match was easily the best match of Mania that night and it is easily Triple H’s best outing on the big stage. The ending of the match was perfect, with all three men (Shawn Michaels was the special guest referee) helping each other up the ramp and raising their fists in the air at the end.
The match itself is one of the best Hell in a Cells of all time, and the fact that there are two matches above it is a testament to Taker’s incredible career. The pair made effective use of the cell and Michael’s involvement only adds to the drama. Triple H is a master of in-ring psychology and this match tells such a fascinating story from beginning to end. The ending features a series of thrilling near falls and I genuinely thought Triple H was going to end the streak here at the death. In the end, Taker overcame the odds and made his streak two decades long.
2: Vs Shawn Michaels – WrestleMania 26 (18-0)
The greatest Mania main event of all time – WrestleMania 26 match between Shawn Michaels and The Undertaker is pretty much perfect. The match was The Streak Vs Shawn Michael’s career and heading into it, we knew we were going to see something historic.
The men delivered on the night, coming within a fraction of besting their match from WrestleMania 25. The emotionally charged ending, that saw Shawn slap Taker after The Deadman had urged him to stay down was an incredible moment and a fitting way to top off one of the greatest careers in the history of the business.
1: Vs Shawn Michaels – WrestleMania 25 (17-0)
In a previous column where I ranked The Undertaker Vs Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania 26 as the greatest WrestleMania main event of all-time, I said that to ask someone to choose between that match and this one would be like asking them to choose their favourite child. Well, after much consideration, I chose the first of my two children.
Shawn Michaels Vs The Undertaker at WrestleMania 25 is the greatest match in WrestleMania history. It’s a wrestling masterclass from the first bell to the last.
The two men had not met in the ring since 1997 and both had evolved a lot since then. Literally, everything in this match is perfect – the intensity of the early minutes, the psychology, the storytelling and above all else, the wrestling. Both men gave everything here and the match features so many incredible moments. The moment where Taker pulls Michaels over the rope for a tombstone left my jaw on the flaw the first time I saw it and still impresses me every time I watch it now.
Taker’s dive on the camera man, despite the botch from the latter, is still an awesome moment. The near falls that lead to the finish are so exciting and once again, I thought there was a chance that Michaels might end the streak, giving WrestleMania 25 an iconic moment. Turns out the match itself was iconic enough in the end. This is two of the finest wrestlers the world has ever seen performing together at their top of their game on the grandest stage of all time – incredible stuff.
SEE ALSO: WWE WrestleMania 33 Predictions
What do you think is the best match of the streak? Do you think The Undertaker will say goodbye this Sunday at WrestleMania? Let us know in the comments below, and let Liam know on twitter here – @liamhoofe
