The Undertaker's Wrestlemania streak is legendary. The list of wrestlers who became obsessed with breaking it are even more legendary. As the Dead Man prepares to face everyone's most hated face, Roman Reigns at this year's Wrestlemania, I decided to watch through every one of the Phenom's 'Mania matches.
21 straight victories over 18 different men on the biggest stage of them all is a ridiculously impressive feat that will probably never be equalled.
After three Hell in a Cell matches, two no DQ matches, a casket match and one handicap match, I gained a better appreciation for the Undertaker. And also realised that some of the matches were right
stinkers.
It was interesting watching him evolve, add moves to his repertoire (some even much later on in his career) and change his appearance and his theme music. For anyone one guy to stay around for that long and constantly remain relevant is really impressive.
When Lesnar beats the streak, the reaction on the fans faces is incredible and shows how much the Undertaker and the streak meant to them. Picking Lesnar to be the man who breaks the streak was an odd choice for me. Obviously he is a beast and it is believable that he would be the one to do it. However, he is a part-timer and giving the honour of beating the streak to an up and coming full-time wrestler would have a smarter move in my opinion, to raise a superstar's profile and elevate them to the top of the roster.
Every year there's speculation about whether it will be 'Taker's last 'Mania and his retirement match. However, the recent matches have actually been some of his best. I loved the match with Shane-O-Mac last year (although I might be biased because I love Shane) and there is no doubt that the fact he is only wrestling one or two matches a year means that that he can ensure that the Wrestlemania match is a high class match against a high class opponent. All of my favourite matches from the streak are from the last ten years which shows that he has ensured that he is producing high quality bouts.
My favourite matches in the streak:
1. HBK (26)
2. Shane McMahon (32)
3. HBK (25)
4. Edge (24)
5. Triple H (28)
If you want to read my thoughts on all of the matches as I was watching them, they are all documented below.
Wrestlemania 7 v Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka
24 March 1991
Duration: 4:20
Record 1-0
The Dead Man's first Wrestlemania match is planted firmly in the middle of the card. There is very little fanfare surrounding the match, which is to be expected as he only made his WWF debut 5 months before the event, at Survivor Series 1990.
This is in the cartoon era of wrestling, with Paul Bearer's face and actions being comical rather than frightening. The Phenom himself does come across as menacing spending the start of the match staring straight at Snuka who gets very minimal offence in during the bout. I always feel nostalgic for the image of the Undertaker at this era, as it is the one that is stuck in my head from my childhood.
There aren't many signature 'Taker moves on display other than the tombstone, although he does do a cool flying clothesline. You never feel that Snuka is going to win this and the match isn't terribly enjoyable to watch.
Rating: 2/10
Wrestlemania 8 v Jake "The Snake" Roberts
5 April 1992
Duration: 6:36
Record: 2-0
The fans are much more into this match and the commentators help the image of 'Taker as unbeatable. He's 27 and you can see he's actually quite agile.He gets knocked over the ropes but lands perfectly on his feet, before he drags Roberts outside and at Paul Bearer's instruction, throws him into the steel post.
He uses a one-handed choke hold but not yet a chokeslam. He spends a lot more time in character, posing and playing to the crowd. He's clearly getting a sense of showmanship.
When Roberts hits him with the DDT which is his finishing move, Undertaker does his classic sit-up. He is hit by a second one and Heenan sells that no-one has ever got up from two DDTs as 'Taker sits straight back up again before giving Roberts a tombstone on the outside before rolling him back into the ring and pinning him with the folded arms.
The legend of the Undertaker has clearly been built on a lot since the last Wrestlemania.
Rating: 5/10
Wrestlemania 9 v Giant Gonzalez
4 April 1993
Duration: 7:33
Record: 3-0
Giant Gonzalez had entered the Royal Rumble illegally when the Undertaker was alone in the ring. He eliminates the Undertaker which set up this feud. Giant Gonzalez has a ridiculous costume. It's a flesh coloured skin tight outfit with muscles drawn on. It's crazy. However, the Dead Man does have to look up to the giant.
The Undertaker enters the ring on a funeral chariot with a vulture. He does brooding and menacing really well.
This is the first time he did the old school walk the ropes during the streak. His move set has clearly been developing as he has found his feet in the character. Paul Bearer uses the earn to revive 'Taker after he's taken a bit of a beating, using its mystical powers.
Gonzalez does look like he's got more of a shot at beating the Phenom than either of his previous Wrestlemania opponents seemed to, but this is partly due to his size.
The Giant uses some sort of cloth with chloroform thrown into the ring by his manager Harvey Wimpleman to make the Undertaker pass out, although he is disqualified for doing so. Taker is taken out to the back on a stretcher and shortly after you hear a gong and he makes his way back down to the ring to fight off Gonazalez, adding to his invincible persona. Somehow the relatively tiny Paul Bearer manages to restrain him.
Rating: 3/10
Wrestlemania 11 v King Kong Bundy
2 April 1995
Duration: 6:36
Record: 4-0
The Undertaker did not compete at Wrestlemania 10 due to an injury, and made his return to the biggest stage the following year in a match against King Kong Bundy with Larry Young, a baseball referee who was out of work at the time due to a strike, as a special guest referee. He doesn't do anything that you'd expect a special guest referee to do, so I'm not sure what the point of him being there was.
Something that I noted is that 'Taker's outfit now has purple gloves and boots as opposed to the grey ones in previous years.
King Kong Bundy was part of the Million Dollar Corporation who had stolen Paul Bearer's urn at the Royal Rumble. Ted DiBiase comes in with Bundy and the urn which he drops just before the bell rings. The urn is about twice as big as it was during 'Taker's first Wrestlemania appearance. DiBiase doesn't have it for long as the Deadman is distracted by it and exits the ring to take it from the Million Dollar Man and presents it to Paul Bearer. Bearer takes the lid off the earn and a bright light shines out from it.
DiBiase then summons Kama who attacks Bearer and takes the urn back which prompts Undertaker to get distracted as he tries to get it back again. He is unable to and Kama takes the urn backstage to be interviewed by Jim Ross where he says he is going to melt it down and make it into jewelry.
Bundy manages to get in quite a bit of offence and has the Phenom in a submission move which makes it look like he is fading before 'Taker hits back with a big boot, a slam and a flying clothesline to get the pinfall. It is quite a quick and not completely believable comeback, especially as the slam looked like it was perhaps meant to be a tombstone.
After the match, Bearer holds 'Taker back from going after the urn and for the first time at Wrestlemania, the Deadman rolls his eyes back so they are completely white.
Too much of this match is the story about what is going on with the urn and the actual fighting doesn't really live up to it.
Rating: 3/10
Wrestlemania 12 v Diesel
31 March 1996
Duration: 16:46
Record: 5-0
Continuing the theme of putting the Dead Man up against big guys, he faces Big Daddy Cool in his fifth Wrestlemania appearance. This seems to mark a step up in terms of his profile. Although out of the five matches, it is the third time going up against a Hall of Famer, this is the last match before the main event of the Iron Man match between Shawn Michaels and Bret Hart.
Paul Bearer has a regular sized urn again. I wonder what happened to the giant one since last Wrestlemania. They never mention anything about it. When both men are down, Bearer cries about "the power of the urn!" in an attempt to get Undertaker up.
The video feed cuts out briefly near the start just before 'Taker attempts to get an early tombstone. He appears to be more worried about Diesel than any of his previous opponents and he attempts a chair shot.
Whilst the match lasts a lot longer than previous matches in the streak, it is also a lot slower in terms of the pace of the match, which you would expect with two big guys who are both good workers. Diesel delivers two jackknifes but instead of going for pins, he taunts Paul Bearer and waits around being cocky. When he does go in for the pin, 'Taker grips him by the throat and makes his way to his feet.
He eventually hits a chokeslam and then a tombstone for the victory to end a decent match although not one which will go on any greatest matches of all time lists.
Rating: 6/10
Wrestlemania 13 v Sycho Sid
No Disqualification Match for the WWF World Heavyweight Championship
23 March 1997
Duration: 21:19
Record: 6-0
The Undertaker is rally over with the fans by this stage. He's gone back to his traditional grey boots and gloves as well. In this match he is attempting to win the championship for the second time, having previously held it for just 6 days in 1991.
This is the first time that he has wrestled at Wrestlemania without Paul Bearer which actually makes him seem a bit more menacing. It is also his first time headlining Wrestlemania. He also appears to have a tear tattoo on his face.
Before the match starts, Bret Hart makes his way down to the ring and grabs a microphone to taunt Shawn Michaels who is on commentary, telling him that he is a faker, before telling the Undertaker they are no longer friends and telling Sid he is a fraud. Sid powerbombs him and he is taken out of the ring.
Sid is in control of the match at the start, and takes 'Taker outside, using the railings and a table to inflict damage onto him to add to the lengthy bear hugs that he gave him previously. The champ maintains control of the match and tries multiple pin attempts on the Dead Man.
Sid even hits a a tombstone on the Phenom and follows it up with the folded arms pin, which 'Taker kicks out of. The challenger slowly wears away against Sid whilst taking a lot of punishment, and eventually 'Taker wins when Bret Hart interferes and gives Sid two chair shots. 'Taker doesn't seem to want the help but he takes advantage, giving Sid a chokeslam which is kicked out of. Hart appears again, distracting Sid and letting 'Taker hit the tombstone for the victory with what may be the slowest three count ever.
The natch felt a bit slow, and in comparison to the Bret Hart v Stone Cold Steve Austin submission match earlier in the evening, didn't really set the world on fire.
Rating: 5/10
Wrestlemania 14 v Kane
29 March 1998
Duration: 17:05
Record: 7-0
This is a very personal story about 'Taker's half-brother Kane having died 20 years ago in a fire apparently caused by the Undertaker, but Paul Bearer let him know that he lived, albeit very badly burned. The story and their collision looks like it had been mounting for several months. Paul Bearer is now managing Kane and they had put the Phenom in a casket which they set on fire and declared the Dead Man to be dead. 'Taker comes back with a new look and a new attitude.
They really tried to make this storyline have an epic feel, with Undertaker coming out accompanied by a number of "druids" who each have a flaming torch and create an arch for him to walk through whilst O Fortuna plays.
'Taker's new look involves an awesome studded cape with a massive collar. This is the top right photo in the evolution of the Undertaker photo montage above.
Baseball legend Pete Rose (part of a team also known as the Big Red Machine) is the special guest ring announcer for the match. He does the standard heel tactic of mocking the local team before introducing Kane who gives him a tombstone piledriver, starting a Wrestlemania tradition of Rose being attacked by Kane.
With KAne being a very similar size and physique as the Undertaker, he is actually able to dominate the early going in this match, although when he tries to hit a tombstone early he is unable to do so. The fight goes to the outside and Kane uses the steel steps to inflict a lot of damage to his brother. Paul Bearer even gets a few cheap shots in when the Phenom is on the floor.
Kane is so in control that he delivers a chokeslam and goes for the cover but pulls 'Taker up himself to stop the pinfall in order to inflict more damage. Kane has most of the offence and even when the Dead Man starts to rally and incredibly launches himself over the top rope, Kane sidesteps meaning Undertaker launched himself straight into the commentary table.
Kane continues to control the match and hits a tombstone from which 'Taker kicks out. He then starts to rally and hits a chokeslam and a tombstone but Kane manages to kick out of that. He even manages to kick out again after a second tombstone. A third one finishes him off.
After the bell, Paul Bearer throws a steel chair into the ring and starts to assault Undertaker. Kane hits a tombstone onto the chair before Bearer orders him out of the ring and the two of them exit to boos.
Rating: 7/10
Wrestlemania 15 v The Big Boss Man
Hell In A Cell
28 March 1999
Duration: 09:46
Record: 8-0
This is in the era where literally everyone was in a stable. The Undertaker was part of the Ministry of Darkness with the Big Boss Man being part of the Corporation. The two were feuding with 'Taker having burned Vince's teddy bear in possibly the silliest part of any Undertaker feud I've encountered yet. From the pre-match montage it looks like the story was quite well written, although it's not really explained why Boss Man is the one to take on the Undertaker.
Undertaker comes out with Paul Bearer and in much more ceremonial robes and also to new music - heavy and dark. I like it but I don't like it at the same time. It's not the 'Taker of old, and therefore the point has been got across well.
The match starts off as a bit of a brawl and then the Boss Man gets out a pair of handcuffs with which he attacks 'Taker before cuffing him to the cell. Boss Man then gets his nightstick and attacks him with that. The Phenom falls to the floor and improbably breaks the handcuffs as he does so, which remains on his wrist as they continue to fight. All of this leads to the dead man wearing a crimson mask.
Michael Cole is on bad form, constantly repeating himself and certain lines that are clearly pre-prepared. Although, it's still much better than when he decided he was heel. That was a torturous time.
They continue to fight and almost out of nowhere, the Undertaker hits the tombstone and looks to the sky as he seems to summon the Brood down from the ceiling. Gangrel, Edge and Christian come down on wires and then rip their way into the cell and they lower in a noose to the Undertaker. The Brood continue to do something to the cell before posing and then ascending to the sky again.
Boss Man has the noose around his throat and Paul Bearer gets the controls to the cell and he raises it leaving the Boss Man dangling there, genuinely looking like he is going to pass out. The lights go out presumably to allow them to actually save the Boss Man without ruining the image. Apparently Boss Man had a harness under his attire making the illusion possible. This was a cool ending to a poor match.
Rating: 4/10
Wrestlemania 17 v Triple H
1 April 2001
Duration: 18:17
Record: 9-0
After missing Wrestlemania 16 due to injury, the Phenom is back at Wrestlemania which is in his home town of Houston, and in his American Bad Ass image. I didn't like this era of 'Taker. It didn't feel right to me. He had a really cool gimmick and he started to go away from it.
The match came about because Triple H was bragging about having beaten everyone before the Dead Man came out and pointed out that Hunter had never beaten him, setting up a rivalry.
Hunter has Motorhead play his theme music for his entrance. He does like making a grand entrance.
This is the first year when the old school walking the ropes is preceded by the shout of "Old School" although Triple H had it scouted and threw 'Taker straight to the mat.
Shortly into the match which is slow and deliberate which is the MO of both competitors, Hunter goes outside to get his sledgehammer. The referee who Hunter had already angered by pushing him grabs the sledgehammer from him. Triple H is thrown into the referee before he suffers a chokeslam and 'Taker narrowly misses the three count. Angry, he decides to assault the referee, knocking him out for the count.
This allows the match to become a streetfight when Triple H is backdropped onto the concrete in the crowd and they brawl back through electrical equipment, ascending to higher and higher levels before Helmsley manages to get a steel chair and level up the battle before he suffers a chokeslam off the gantry and out of sight. In reality, it was probably a drop of about 12 feet but it was onto a soft landing which you see during one of the replays. The commentators were selling it as onto the steel floor but later shots ruin this image.
The Dead Man drops an elbow on him and pushes the EMTs away from The Game's body so he can continue his attack and drag HHH back to the ring. As the referee is still down, the Dead Man picks up the sledgehammer although as he goes to swing it down, he suffers a low blow dropping the sledgehammer in Hunter's hands but fortunately for 'Taker he gets a boot to Hunter's face before the hammer is used.
The Game tries a tombstone but isn't able to hit it and The Phenom his his own and goes for the pinfall but the referee remains down and so 'Taker raises his arm and attempts to hit the last ride but HHH had grabbed the sledgehammer which he uses to counter the move. He goes for the pinfall with the now cognisant referee but the Dead Man kicks out at 2, clearly now busted open.
Shortly after this he manages to hit a last ride and gain the victory.
Rating: 8/10
Wrestlemania 18 v Ric Flair
17 March 2002
Duration: 18:47
Record: 10-0
Flair had interfered in Undertaker v Rock at No Way Out and this started a feud where 'Taker beat up Flair's friends and family until he agreed to a match. This seemed a bit over the top to me, especially as he was asking Flair to his face. Surely he could have beaten up Flair rather than outsiders. Nevermind. It's only a means to an end, although 'Taker did seem to take it a bit far.
He rides down to the ring with Limp Bizkit's Rollin' in the background and even though Flair stumbles getting into the ring, the Nature Boy takes the early advantage but then the Phenom goes on the rampage outside the ring and Flair's face turns red as it often has done previously in his career.
Flair is 53 at the time and takes some crazy bumps for someone of his age, such as a superplex off the top rope. He's a top level performer, that one. 'Taker plays into the image he's given of going too far when straight after the superplex he has Flair pinned but decides to end the count himself. This actually gets a boo from the crowd. He does a similar thing again shortly after.
It's really odd seeing Undertaker as a heel and he even gets booed when he goes to do the old school walking the ropes move. Flair shows his fighting spirit and stays in the match. He even pulls out a lead pipe from the Undertaker's bike, which he must have somehow hid there previously... which doesn't make too much sense.
Flair even gets the figure four on the Undertaker, right in the middle of the ring. 'Taker sits straight up and grabs Flair by the throat and manages to hit a chokeslam. Flair kicks out which angers the Phenom and he attacks the official for the second year running. The official can't do anything as it's a no disqualification match and the Dead Man is about to hit Flair with the lead pipe before Arn Anderson runs in and hits a spinebuster. Flair goes for the pin and it looks like he's going to take the victory but the Undertaker kicks out.
Flair struggles out of a last ride but 'Taker gets him into a tombstone and takes the victory, before kicking the referee. He exits the ring leaving Flair, Anderson and the referee lying on the ring mat.
Rating: 7/10
Wrestlemania 19 v Big Show & A-Train
Handicap match
30 March 2003
Duration: 9:45
Record: 11-0
This was supposed to be a tag team match with Undertaker teaming with some dude called Nathan Jones that I'd never heard of, however Big Show and A-Train took him out before the match, making this a handicap match instead.
To be fair, the match had to go ahead as they'd paid Limp Bizkit to play Rollin' whilst 'Taker made his way to the ring.They are introduced as the WWE's "favourite band in the whole world." This is clearly in the middle of the nu-metal era. Although apparently, the Undertaker had already changed his theme music at this point making it even more confusing as to why Limp Bizkit were there for this match which was so far from the main event that it almost wasn't even on the card at all.
'Taker hits a chokeslam on A-Train almost immediately but Big Show makes the save. The two of them actually tag in and out rather than just beating up 'Taker which is what I'd do. I mean, it's the freaking Undertaker after all.
Whilst A-Train and Big Show are both massive intimidating guys, they have both been horribly booked and there's absolutely no doubt that the Phenom is going to win this match. Nathan Jones comes out and takes out the Big Show evening up the odds, allowing 'Taker to hit a tombstone on A-Train for the victory which he actually looked like he was going to get anyway.
This is not a classic.
Rating: 2/10
Wrestlemania 20 v Kane
14 March 2004
Duration:7:45
Record: 12-0
A feud that had been going on for several months with Kane having buried The Undertaker alive at Survivor Series, which looked like it had some really cool moments since then. This is an unmasked Kane which I've always felt sort of ruined the gimmick but nevermind. Paul Bearer is back with the Phenom and leads the way with choral music and monks with flaming torches. The spooky imagery is what I thought always made 'Taker really cool. Much better than the biker look.
This is the first time that Undertaker has faced the same man at 'Mania for a second time and it makes sense that it is Kane with all of the history that the two of them have together. However these guys are on different brands and so I'm not sure how they managed to get the rivalry going.
This is largely a brawl with the two big guys trading punches with a big power move thrown in here and there. A chokeslam and a tombstone finish off the younger brother but the match doesn't really have any high or low spots. It's not bad but it's not great either and certainly the match is vastly inferior to all of the build up to it.
Rating: 4/10
Wrestlemania 21 v Randy Orton
3 April 2005
Duration: 14:14
Record: 13-0
The story here is that Orton is the legend killer and he wants to kill the legend of the Undertaker to really make a name for himself. This is similar to CM Punk's story many years later. It's a pretty solid one compared to some storylines. If you want to be the man, you've got to beat the man.
Michael Cole, never one to shy away from hyperbole claims that Undertaker's list of defeated Wrestlemania opponents reads like a "who's who of sports entertainment," ignoring the fact that several big names of the last 15 years aren't on it but A-Train and Giant Gonzalez are.
Orton's game plan is very tactical, trying to get the Undertaker to fight his fight and he gets a lot of heat from the crowd, especially when he has the Dead Man on the floor and he's still standing. They're really using this match to help get Orton over as he really goes toe to toe with the Phenom, which not too many men have managed to do on the grandest stage of them all before.
'Taker is going for the last ride when Orton manages to shift out of it and with the referee down, Bob Orton takes 'Taker down with his arm cast and drags Randy into a cover and rouses the referee. You think this has snuck Orton the victory but 'Taker manages to kick out.
The Undertaker is going for a chokeslam but Orton manages to counter into an RKO and again you think he's got the victory until the Dead Man kicks out again. In a similar ending to the match against Triple H, Orton looks like he's going for a tombstone before 'Taker counters into one of his own for the victory.
Rating: 8/10
Wrestlemania 22 v Mark Henry
Casket Match
2 April 2006
Duration: 9:26
Record: 14-0
They do a reasonable job of making 'Taker seem like a bit of an underdog in this match. Mark Henry has always had the World's Strongest Man moniker but without really ever seeming like such. He always seemed to be a midcarder at best. The match isn't great although there is a nice moment when both men are fighting inside of the casket. However the excitement never really builds. Henry foolishly goes for a pin in the middle of the ring which makes him seem foolish. The fact they made it a casket match seems to have been just to make it more interesting. There's not really any other reason for this feud to have escalated to the level to require the gimmick.
The match is poor. When Henry corners 'Taker and climbs the rope, Taz and Michael Cole initially claim that the Phenom gives the WSM a last ride when really he just sort of pushes Henry over. There is then the coolest moment of the match when 'Taker leaps over the top rope and the coffin to take Henry out. 'Taker then amazingly manages to hit a tombstone on the big guy before rolling him into the coffin for the victory.
Rating: 4/10
Wrestlemania 23 v Batista
World Heavyweight Championship
1 April 2007
Duration: 15:47
Record: 15-0
This is the match that the Undertaker earned from his Royal Rumble victory. However, it is far from being the main event, appearing at 1:20 into the 3:41 long show. This is the reverse story of someone challenging the Undertaker to break the streak, it's the Undertaker challenging someone to be at the top of the pile.
Batista as the champion gets off to a great start looking dominant. The Dead Man fights back and again does an impressive dive off the top ropes. It's good to see him add moves to his repertoire as time goes by to show that he is still improving. The flow of this match is great with both wrestlers alternating spells in control, including Batista hitting a running powerslam on Undertaker through a table.
In a much better version of the Mark Henry moment where his opponent backed him into a corner and was pummelling on him, the Undertaker hits a great last ride but doesn't get the victory. Towards the end of the match, each superstar's moment in control of the match gets shorter and shorter as Batista then hits a big spinebuster before 'Taker hits a chokeslam, Batista a spear and a Batistabomb and then Undertaker a tombstone. This sequence is orchestrated really well.
Rating 8/10
Wrestlemania 24 v Edge
World Heavyweight Championship
30 March 2008
Duration: 23:50
Record: 16-0
The way that the build up to this is presented, you really think that Edge is going to be the one to break the streak. The ferocity and the history in the montage prior to the match make it seem like him doing so would be momentous but possible.
Edge had won the title in May the previous year, cashing in a money in the bank contract against The Undertaker. He had won it again in the December prior to this 'Mania in a triple threat match again featuring the Undertaker. He is also undefeated at Wrestlemania and has also never lost to the Undertaker. It seems like Edge has got the Phenom's number.
This is the Undertaker's 16th Wrestlemania but only his second headlining match.
Edge is engaged to Vicky Guerrero which is just... odd. Especially as he gives he a massive smooch before heading down to the ring. Fortunately she goes straight to the back and is not a distraction in the match.
The Phenom's Wrestlemania matches have moved into much longer match territory and as you'd expect in a longer match, there is a lot of back and forth in terms of who has the upper hand. The faces that Edge makes are awesome, especially when he has the Undertaker in a submission hold. There is quite a bit of technical wrestling in this which makes sense in a match this long.
The commentators sell the fact that Edge has a counter for almost all of 'Taker's moves and the Phenom really looks exhausted as well. Watching this and not knowing the result, you could really think that it would be the end of the streak. However, at some point the Dead Man manages to hit all his big moves and will eventually seal the victory.
With the referee down, Edge grabs a TV camera from the cameraman and knocks Undertaker down with it but the Phenom sits back up. He hits a tombstone and a poor referee Charles Robinson sprints about 50 metres down to the ring to attempt to make the count, but Edge kicks out at two. Edge's posse head down and 'Taker dispatches of them before Edge hits a spear which only nets him a two count. After a second spear, the Undertaker locks in the hell's gate submission move which makes the Rated R superstar tap.
This is a well worked match and a worthy Wrestlemania main event.
Rating: 9/10
Wrestlemania 25 v Shawn Michaels
5 April 2009
Duration: 30:41
Record: 17-0
Shawn Michaels, aka Mr Wrestlemania, initiated this match as he again wanted to be the one to beat the streak. The 25th Wrestlemania seems like a good place for a match this epic. I was really looking forward to this as Chris Jericho rates it as his favourite match of all time. The build up is pretty immense, especially for a match in the middle of the show.
HBK makes a grand entrance, with classical music descending from the sky in white before his music hits. Undertaker makes the opposite entrance, rising from the ground in black.
The crowd really are split and make the atmosphere seem really special.
At half an hour, there is so much packed into this match, including Michaels pulling a cameraman in front of the Undertaker when he dives out of the ring which seems to break the camera - unfortunately you never see the view from that camera which would have been cool. I had assumed it was a prop.
The way that Michaels ends up in a tombstone is pretty neat and the fact that he kicks out of it is genuinely quite shocking. When Michaels hits a second sweet chin music, if you didn't know the result, you would think that the streak is over. The way he gets into the second tombstone which seals the victory is again cool. This really is a classic with two genuine legends.
Rating: 10/10
Wrestlemania 26 v Shawn Michaels
Streak v Career
28 March 2010
Duration: 23:59
Record: 18-0
The story is that Michaels has been obsessed with ending the Undertaker's streak for the last year. The only way that 'Taker would grant a rematch is if Michaels puts his career on the line. In an interview on Talk Is Jericho, Michaels has mentioned that he has never made a comeback out of respect for the Undertaker. I think the reality is that he would never surpass what he achieved in this match.
There are so many big spots, so many big moves hit, so many surprise kick outs - Undertaker after a second or third sweet chin music, Michaels after a second tombstone - it is full of action but well paced. It really has a big match feel, it really seems to mean something to both of these guys, the commentators do a great job of selling it.
Undertaker shows respect after the match, pulling Michaels to his feet and shaking his hand and giving him a hug. This is a match that is really worth watching.
Rating: 10/10
Wrestlemania 27 v Triple H
No Holds Barred
3 April 2011
Duration: 29:22
Record: 19-0
This is a good match but in the context of the streak, and after the Undertaker v Michaels matches, it doesn't seem quite as good as it would in any other context. There is no way the Dead Man should have won this, seeming to be dead on his feet after taking three pedigrees and a tombstone but the Phenom locks in Hell's Gate for what seems to be an eternity and the Game starts to fade before he is forced to tap. Neither competitor can stand for a good while after the bell, which sells how hard fought it was. In fact, the Undertaker actually leaves on a stretcher.
The ringside area is destroyed - table, ring steps, Michael Cole's ridiculous Cole Mine - all broken and thrown everywhere. It was enjoyable and really well worked but not quite as good as I had hoped it would be.
Rating: 8/10
Wrestlemania 28 v Triple H
Hell In A Cell
1 April 2012
Duration: 30:50
Record: 20-0
Shawn Michaels is the special guest referee as a rematch from the previous Wrestlemania is contested inside a cell. It is billed as an End of An Era match. They never seem to specify what era it is an end of.
HBK gets down on his knees during his entrance, supposedly awaiting his traditional fireworks which don't appear. I'm wondering if there was some miscommunication somewhere along the line.
The Dead Man enters in full Ministry-esque robes and pulls down his hood to reveal a shaven headed man with a bit of a mohawk and a dead stare. It is quite menacing all in all. The Dead Man had not been seen for a year. Apparently Undertaker was cutting his hair every day to get Triple H to agree to a rematch supposedly because he was embarrassed about leaving Wrestlemania 27 on a stretcher. I'm not entirely sure what the commentators were on about.
The Undertaker takes a lot of damage with Triple H using every weapon available until Shawn Michaels starts to stop him. There is then the added dimension of Hunter telling his best friend Shawn to end the match or he will and Undertaker threatening Michaels not to end it. This ends up with 'Taker putting Michaels in Hell's Gate before the Game continues the onslaught.
The idea of Michaels refusing to let a fellow professional take unnecessary damage is a good one, however the commentators don't sell it well. With Michaels out, another referee comes down and unlocks the ring and takes over from HBK. 'Taker gives him a chokeslam and takes him out of the game.
The Phenom then takes sweet chin music and a pedigree but still kicks out and the level of excitement in the crowd keeps rising. There comes a point when HBK can't even watch the action. It's a bit odd as he needs to call the falls however as a recently retired wrestler, you can see why he'd want to avoid seeing these guys take the extreme pain that a Hell In A Cell match affords.
In a return of the show of respect from two years ago, HBK picks 'Taker up and raises his hand after the match. The two of them then help Triple H to his feet. This is a really nice moment with the three of them walking out of the ring to
This is really well constructed match, although more reliant on weaponry than the Undertaker-Michaels matches and therefore in my opinion, not quite as good.
Rating: 9/10
Wrestlemania 29 v CM Punk
7 April 2013
Duration: 22:07
Record: 21-0
This match is shortly after Paul Bearer's death and CM Punk and his manager, Paul Heyman use this to generate heat in the build up and Heyman holds Bearer's urn throughout the match up.
It is also shortly after CM Punk's 434-day title reign which is the longest of the modern era, making him an obvious choice for 'Taker's Wrestlemania opponent.
There is a stipulation that if the Dead Man loses by either disqualification or count out that the streak will still be over. I'm not sure why they needed this stipulation.
The crowd seems quite split. There are some "Undertaker/CM Punk" chants although immediately after this, JBL claims that 80,000 people are chanting for The Undertaker despite the fact that the crowd seems fairly evenly split.
CM Punk gets some really nice moments. He goes old school, has a massive leap from the top rope to attempt to put an elbow through the table that doesn't collapse. He also covers Undertaker with his trademark folded arms pin.
The match is good, however there are a few botched moves which drag it down slightly, and it might be a sign of the Undertaker not wrestling week in-week out and not being on top of his game.
Rating; 8/10
Wrestlemania 30 v Brock Lesnar
6 April 2014
Duration: 25:12
Record: 21-1
A Paul Heyman guy goes up against the streak for the second year running. Paul Heyman is just so good at what he does. Without him, Lesnar just would not be as awe inspiring.
Undertaker comes in with his mohawk and a new goatee beard, and the build up prior to this match seems to make the streak seem even more important than they've previously made it out to be, which in hindsight could perhaps have been seen as a sign of what was to happen.
There can be a lot of discussion about why Lesnar was the guy to end the streak. Personally, I wouldn't have given it to a part-timer. It's an honour that should have been given to an up and coming star, in my opinion but I'm not in charge of WWE creative.
There's a delay before they hit his music after the bell, and this allows you to really take in the reaction of Lesnar, Heyman and the crowd, whose shock is worth watching this for. After a while, all the commentators lead a round of applause and the crowd show their appreciation for the Dead Man.
You think that as he is part-time, this might end up being his retirement match but he is back in 2015 and has a rematch against Lesnar at Summerslam that year as well.
The match itself isn't amazing, however the fact that it ends the streak elevates it slightly.
Rating: 7/10
Wrestlemania 31 v Bray Wyatt
29 March 2015
Duration: 15:12
Record: 22-1
Bray is a very logical opponent for the Undertaker. He's sort of taken over the niche that was vacated by the Dead Man. The poor guy has to build the feud pretty much entirely by himself though as the Phenom is largely absent from WWE programming in the build up to 'Mania.
Shortly into the match, when Undertaker goes old school, the crowd start a "You still got it!" chant. However, he doesn't have in him a match that is as great as those of recent years.
The match is much shorter than recent matches and doesn't reach the heights of what we know both men are capable of. It doesn't seem as significant after the Lesnar match and it disappoints as the match could have been a lot more than it is.
The coolest moment is when Bray is doing his upside down thing and Undertaker does his sit up and they are face to face.
Rating: 6/10
Wrestlemania 32 v Shane McMahon
Hell In A Cell
3 April 2016
Duration: 30:05
Record: 23-1
This match was worth the wait. I'd forgotten how good it was. The stipulation is that if Shane wins, he gets control of Raw and Undertaker will never be at another Wrestlemania. This is actually almost irrelevant.
As soon as it was announced that it was a Hell In A Cell match, I knew Shane was going to take a big bump. He manages to get a big pop just from looking at the top of the cell as the crowd know what he's going to do. The crowd absolutely love Shane as well. I have always done so but I didn't realise how universal it was.
You think that Shane has no chance of winning. With 'Taker only losing for the first time at Wrestlemania two years ago to the beast Brock Lesnar, you think there's no chance that Shane will take a victory off him here. He doesn't but the storytelling is so good that you think he just might pull it off.
This match is incredible and Shane does the awesome job of somehow being cooler than the Undertaker.
Rating: 10/10
