WWE: The Undertaker vs. HBK 1 is the best match in WrestleMania history

There are countless WrestleMania classics that the WWE Universe still holds in high esteem, one of which was an all-time great match that took place at WrestleMania 25 between two of the greatest of all-time.

Things had started to change through the landscape of the WWE by 2009.  The Ruthless Aggression Era had come and gone and less than a year prior to WrestleMania 25, the WWE had changed to a PG company more suited towards families.  There was also an influx of new talent looking to change the course of the company, but two mainstays still had a lot left to prove.

The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels are arguably on the Mount Rushmore of WWE and had been such prominent factors for Vince McMahon dating back some 20 years by 2009, but these two would end up on a collision course that would intersect on the Grandest Stage of Them All, WrestleMania.  Both Superstars were in need of WrestleMania plans and things lined up perfectly for an encounter years in the making.

HBK and The Phenom had quite the history together over the years.  The two competed in the first-ever Hell in a Cell match in 1997 and a couple of months later, the two competed in a casket match at the Royal Rumble 1998 that saw Michaels injure his back, an injury that ultimately cost him four years of his career.

The two didn’t cross paths much in the years that followed, but for WrestleMania 25, The Showstopper was looking to make history at The Undertaker’s expense.

The Deadman was 16-0 at WrestleMania heading into WrestleMania 25, but HBK wanted to be the one that finally ended his undefeated streak on the grandest stage of them all.  The match was built around that, but it was also built around the premise of the lightness vs. the darkness.

Fans knew something special was brewing between these two veterans that still had a lot left in the tank, but the fans were blown away by just how great this match would turn out.

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On the silver anniversary of WrestleMania on Apr. 5, 2009, Michaels and Taker put on a match that not only stole the show, but should be considered the greatest match in WrestleMania history.  It was a 30-minute roller coaster ride of emotions, athleticism, physicality, and storytelling.  It’s a match that if someone wants to study the art of professional wrestling, they should watch this one back because it was that perfect.

You really believed for a moment or two that Michaels was going to win the match.  You also believed Taker had the match won far earlier than it ended up being.  The finer, more subtle details in this match also helped put it over the top because let’s be honest, these two might be the best ever at making the little things go the longest way, especially HBK.  After Michaels laid out The Phenom with a Sweet Chin Music, it looked like it was over.

However, Taker kicked out and the match went on.  Michaels tried to go high risk towards the end with a moonsault from the top rope, but Taker caught him in midair and turned it into a Tombstone Piledriver that finally put Michaels away.  The Undertaker’s undefeated streak went to 17-0, but these two’s paths would cross again the following year at WrestleMania 26 when Taker’s streak was on the line and Michaels’ career was on the line.

As great as the WrestleMania 26 match was that also saw The Deadman win, the WrestleMania 25 match was even better.  There wasn’t as much as stake, but absolutely everything worked out perfectly in this match.  From the crowd reactions to the announcers to the actual match itself, everything was top notch.  Most consider this a five-star match and one of the greatest of all-time.

By this account, it is the single greatest match in WrestleMania history for all of those reasons previously mentioned.  There have been so many amazing WrestleMania matches over the years.  Hogan vs. Andre, Savage vs. Steamboat, Michaels vs. Hart, Austin vs. Hart, Austin vs. Rock, and so many more are matches fans always go to, and for good reason.  They were all incredible showcases of professional wrestling.

However, even as amazing as those matches were, there is still something special about Taker vs. HBK at WrestleMania 25 that makes it stand out above the rest.  That’s a testament to the greatness of both individuals.  That’s one of those matches that never gets old no matter how many times you’ve seen it and it’s one that will be talked about for generations to come.

WrestleMania is the showcase of the immortals, but two wrestling immortals have never been showcased as greatly as The Phenom and The Showstopper at WrestleMania 25 when they put on the greatest match in WrestleMania history.