RELATED: 10 Rumored Wrestlemania Matches For The Undertaker We Wish Had Happened. Let's analyze. These matches have entered into wrestling folklore for fans and wrestlers alike for their storytelling, creativity, and overall drama. Also Read | WWE News: Mark Henry Opens Up On Facing The Undertaker In The Ring; Watch, Home Min constitutes high-level committee to deliberate with farmers, promises swift talks, PM Modi to interact with 3 teams involved in COVID-19 vaccine development on Monday, Shah responds to Owaisi's dare, challenges him to write letter for removal of Rohingyas, Undertaker's streak could have ended at WrestleMania 25 as referee shares inside story, The Undertaker Responds To Chris Jericho After Using His Lines On WWE RAW For AJ Styles, When The Undertaker choke slammed Post Malone And Stunned WWE Universe; Watch Video, WWE News: Undertaker Showcases AJ Styles' Gravestone, Says Disrespect Will Cost Him At WrestleMania, WWE News: Mark Henry Opens Up On Facing The Undertaker In The Ring; Watch. Watch the match with the sound off and it plays entirely differently. https://www.wwe.com/videos/undertaker-vs-shawn-michaels-wrestlemania-25 Watching the 30:44 WM25 match back in its entirety, there were three duel count-out attempts, four pinning attempts by Michaels on The Undertaker, and seven pinning attempts by The Undertaker on Michaels. More than a decade has passed since The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels battled at WrestleMania 25 (WM25) and then again at WrestleMania 26 (WM26). This could have potentially resulted in The Undertaker's streak to end at WrestleMania 25 at 16-0. The shows without fans simply lack energy. RELATED: 10 Real-Life Facts Fans Need To Know About Jim Ross. Their previous matches and styles paid off in what we all saw at WM25. & 9 Other Questions About Her, Answered, 10 Bad World Title Reigns That Followed Great Ones, WWE Wins The War: The Final Night of WCW Nitro, Explained, 10 Stars Who Won Big WrestleMania Matches & Did Nothing After, The 9 Worst Gimmicks In WWE Today, Ranked, Why Roman Reigns Was The Right Wrestler For The Face Of His Generation (& 5 Better Options), 10 Times Non-Wrestling Wives Got Involved In Storylines, 11 Wrestlers Who Chose To Sign With Other Companies Over WWE, 10 Tag Teams With The Best Claim To Be On A Wrestling Mount Rushmore, 10 Shocking Endings To WrestleMania Main Events, Lars Sullivan & 9 Other Most Controversial WWE Wrestlers, 5 Most Underrated Ruthless Aggression Wrestlers (& 5 Most Overrated), The 10 Most Underpushed WWE Superstars Each Year In The 2000s, Every Version Of Jeff Hardy, Ranked From Worst To Best, 10 Wrestlers Who Turned Heel During Their World Championship Run, 10 Lamest Ways A Wrestling Championship Changed Hands, Roman Reigns' First 10 Singles' PPV Matches, Ranked. Fans are a big reason why the ratings are down for WWE Raw, NXT and Smackdown. The list goes on and on around successful sequels that lived up to the hype. For good measure, we will argue in reverse with 5 reasons why the WM26 match topped the WM25 match. The Sportster is putting this argument to rest with 5 reasons why the WM25 match between these two wrestling icons was better than its WM26 follow-up. A long time Hulkamaniac and Batman fan, Charles takes his writing seriously, but never takes himself seriously. Then, Elias revealed that The Undertaker was seriously hurt after the botched dive. The fans were into the match from the wrestlers' entrance to exit. Rocky II, The Empire Strikes Back, The Godfather Part II, The Dark Knight. RELATED: The Undertaker's 5 Most Treacherous Acts (& His 5 Most Heroic). With WM26, The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels needed to set a tone for what the match would be. The Undertaker's WrestleMania streak was one of the most protected and highly regarded storylines in WWE. These were movies that followed blockbuster debuts by their predecessors, where expectations were high. It was like an old western movie where the hero rides off into the sunset. On the Chris Jericho podcast, Jericho and Marty Elias discussed that moment during watch-along of the WrestleMania 25 match. They have also battled in Casket Matches and numerous tag team battles, so these wrestlers are keenly aware of how to create chemistry with each other. Which legendary match was the better of the two? By utilizing the old repository of moves, a sense of nostalgia was created by both. Counting just the pin and submission attempts, that's 14 different false finishes where the match could have ended, a true roller coaster ride. WM26 took place in the Arizona desert and no better picture could be painted. While all this is well documented, Elias, who was the referee for The Undertaker's match at WrestleMania 25, revealed on the Chris Jericho podcast that The Undertaker wanted Elias to count him out of the match. Coming from their WM25 match, that same formula followed The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels for WM26 where expectations would also be high. This WM26 match was built around Shawn Michaels going into retirement if he did not defeat The Undertaker. Also Read | When The Undertaker choke slammed Post Malone And Stunned WWE Universe; Watch Video. Add in the build for the rematch was longer than that the WM25 build and this would be the first time The Undertaker would be facing the same opponent in back-to-back WrestleManias, you have all the ingredients for a successful sequel. That athleticism put this match on another level, higher even than their work the following year. The original match from WM25 was focused on Shawn Michaels putting the first loss up against The Undertaker's then-undefeated WrestleMania streak. Even with Shawn Michaels losing the match and going into retirement, leaving the ring last to close out WrestleMania 26 was a fitting way for Mr. WrestleMania to end his career. While 21-0 is still a great feat in itself, The Undertaker's streak could have ended way before WrestleMania 30. The former referee further stated that the Phenom had given him the instructions to count him out of the match if he failed to get back in the ring. Iconic calls like "...impossible, im-freaking possible" (King) and "...and a kick-out and a kick-out and a kick-out" (J.R.) helped shape the narrative and story that night. At WrestleMania 36, the 55-year-old will once again be the main attraction as he will be facing AJ Styles in a Boneyard match. RELATED: The 10 Most Questionable Bookings in WrestleMania History. In the world of sports entertainment, the announcers always play a pivotal role in telling of the match's story. After going without a WrestleMania defeat for 21 matches, the company finally ended the streak at WrestleMania 30 after Brock Lesnar hit The Undertaker with three F-5s before finally pinning him for the win. The Undertaker vs Shawn Michaels - WrestleMania 25 As is the case in many sports, a match can often be hyped up to oblivion and then proceed to … NEXT: The 5 Wrestlers With The Most Wins At WrestleMania (& With The 5 Most Losses). Re-watching that match even today will enable viewers to feel the emotion right through their TV or smartphone. The WWE also added unusual win conditions to the match. Unique lists featuring pop culture, entertainment and crazy facts. It could only end on a pinfall or submission, which made it clear someone was going to win. Although no titles were on the line, The Undertaker versus Shawn Michaels closed out WM26 and the match was nearly 30 minutes long. However, as we all know, the deadman beat Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania 25 before ending the latter's career at WrestleMania 26. Former WWE referee Marty Elias recently joined Chris Jericho on his Talk is Jericho podcast and revealed that The Undertaker had given him the permission to award the win to Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania 25. Living on Long Island with his extensive toy collection, Charles is happily married for more than 20 years and has three wonderful children. Also Read | The Undertaker Responds To Chris Jericho After Using His Lines On WWE RAW For AJ Styles. The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels are basically the same age, only a year apart, with The Undertaker the older of the two. The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels knew that for the sequel to their WM25 match, they had to be innovative. Watch: The Chris Jericho podcast Now a veteran in the WWE, The Undertaker has so far lost two matches at WrestleMania - against Brock Lesnar and Roman Reigns. Charles "Zito" Zinkowski is a freelance writer who covers the world of wrestling for TheSportster.com, as well as freelances on general sports and Star Wars topics. But which of these two matches were better? The very first Hell in a Cell match was Shawn Michaels versus The Undertaker, back in 1997. The Undertaker & Shawn Michaels put on magic at both WrestleMania 25 & 26. More than a decade has passed since The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels battled at WrestleMania 25 (WM25) and then again at WrestleMania 26 (WM26). That move enabled Michaels to showcase that career-long renegade mentality and it allowed for The Undertaker to showcase his anger against Michaels for stealing his gimmick. When they fought at WM25, these two athletes were in the best condition of their respective careers. The Springboard Moonsault, Old School, Snake Eyes, the Ankle Lock, the Apron Leg Drop and the Spear are just a sample of the moves that happened in the WM26 match that never appeared in the WrestleMania match the year before. However, the Deadman continued in the match and went to beat Shawn Michaels. The World's Most Entertaining Car Website, 5 AEW Wrestlers Who Zelina Vega Should Manage (& 5 From Impact), 5 Reasons The Undertaker Vs Shawn Michaels At WrestleMania 25 Is Best (& 5 Why WrestleMania 26 Is Better), 10 Rumored Wrestlemania Matches For The Undertaker We Wish Had Happened, 10 Real-Life Facts Fans Need To Know About Jim Ross, The Undertaker's 5 Most Treacherous Acts (& His 5 Most Heroic), The 10 Most Questionable Bookings in WrestleMania History, The 5 Wrestlers With The Most Wins At WrestleMania (& With The 5 Most Losses), The Macho Man Vs. DDP & 9 Other Times A Legend Went Out Of His Way To Make A New Star, Does Sasha Banks Sing Her Theme Song? The fans in attendance gave the WM25 match a shot of adrenaline for nearly 30 minutes, and the match didn't even need it. Michaels was at the top of his game when this match stipulation was made. Now a veteran in the WWE, The Undertaker has so far lost two matches at WrestleMania - against Brock Lesnar and Roman Reigns. The first of two matches between Shawn Michaels and The Phenom will always be remembered by the fans after a WWE crew botched his duty resulting in The Undertaker being on the receiving end of a nasty fall. There were also three submission attempts in the match with the Figure-Four, the Crossface, and Hell's Gate all being applied. As a result, this felt like a match The Undertaker could finally lose. These matches have entered into wrestling folklore for fans and wrestlers alike for their storytelling, creativity, and overall drama. It was always speed versus power, height versus quickness, and opposing personalities. They did this in WM26 by going back to the old moves that the fans always loved, but were actually never used in the WM25 match. The commentary at WM25 by the trio of Jim Ross, Jerry "The King" Lawler, and Michael Cole took the WM25 match to another level. The most LOL-worthy things the Internet has to offer. It has since gone down in history as one of the biggest WrestleMania botches and could have even ended The Undertaker's career. Michaels using The Undertaker's throat-slash gesture to bookend the beginning and end the match was fitting. The old boxing adage of 'styles make fights' holds true with The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels. However, as we all know, the deadman beat Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania 25 before ending the latter's career at WrestleMania 26. Also Read | WWE News: Undertaker Showcases AJ Styles' Gravestone, Says Disrespect Will Cost Him At WrestleMania.