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. 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. However, the Deadman continued in the match and went to beat Shawn Michaels. It could only end on a pinfall or submission, which made it clear someone was going to win. More than a decade has passed since The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels battled at WrestleMania 25 (WM25) and then again at WrestleMania 26 (WM26). Re-watching that match even today will enable viewers to feel the emotion right through their TV or smartphone. RELATED: The 10 Most Questionable Bookings in WrestleMania History. Also Read | WWE News: Undertaker Showcases AJ Styles' Gravestone, Says Disrespect Will Cost Him At WrestleMania. These matches have entered into wrestling folklore for fans and wrestlers alike for their storytelling, creativity, and overall drama. This WM26 match was built around Shawn Michaels going into retirement if he did not defeat The Undertaker. The shows without fans simply lack energy. 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. 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. There were also three submission attempts in the match with the Figure-Four, the Crossface, and Hell's Gate all being applied. The commentary at WM25 by the trio of Jim Ross, Jerry "The King" Lawler, and Michael Cole took the WM25 match to another level. Which legendary match was the better of the two? Coming from their WM25 match, that same formula followed The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels for WM26 where expectations would also be high. Living on Long Island with his extensive toy collection, Charles is happily married for more than 20 years and has three wonderful children. WM26 took place in the Arizona desert and no better picture could be painted. It was like an old western movie where the hero rides off into the sunset. https://www.wwe.com/videos/undertaker-vs-shawn-michaels-wrestlemania-25 In the world of sports entertainment, the announcers always play a pivotal role in telling of the match's story. 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. 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. 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. These were movies that followed blockbuster debuts by their predecessors, where expectations were high. However, as we all know, the deadman beat Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania 25 before ending the latter's career at WrestleMania 26. When they fought at WM25, these two athletes were in the best condition of their respective careers. Also Read | When The Undertaker choke slammed Post Malone And Stunned WWE Universe; Watch Video. The fans in attendance gave the WM25 match a shot of adrenaline for nearly 30 minutes, and the match didn't even need it. The list goes on and on around successful sequels that lived up to the hype. Then, Elias revealed that The Undertaker was seriously hurt after the botched dive. RELATED: 10 Rumored Wrestlemania Matches For The Undertaker We Wish Had Happened. The very first Hell in a Cell match was Shawn Michaels versus The Undertaker, back in 1997. The Undertaker's WrestleMania streak was one of the most protected and highly regarded storylines in WWE. RELATED: 10 Real-Life Facts Fans Need To Know About Jim Ross. These matches have entered into wrestling folklore for fans and wrestlers alike for their storytelling, creativity, and overall drama. Also Read | The Undertaker Responds To Chris Jericho After Using His Lines On WWE RAW For AJ Styles. Let's analyze. 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. 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. More than a decade has passed since The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels battled at WrestleMania 25 (WM25) and then again at WrestleMania 26 (WM26). Watch the match with the sound off and it plays entirely differently. A long time Hulkamaniac and Batman fan, Charles takes his writing seriously, but never takes himself seriously. Their previous matches and styles paid off in what we all saw at WM25. NEXT: The 5 Wrestlers With The Most Wins At WrestleMania (& With The 5 Most Losses). However, as we all know, the deadman beat Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania 25 before ending the latter's career at WrestleMania 26. Although no titles were on the line, The Undertaker versus Shawn Michaels closed out WM26 and the match was nearly 30 minutes long. Rocky II, The Empire Strikes Back, The Godfather Part II, The Dark Knight. Michaels was at the top of his game when this match stipulation was made. Fans are a big reason why the ratings are down for WWE Raw, NXT and Smackdown. The most LOL-worthy things the Internet has to offer. By utilizing the old repository of moves, a sense of nostalgia was created by both. 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. The Undertaker & Shawn Michaels put on magic at both WrestleMania 25 & 26. 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. 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. That athleticism put this match on another level, higher even than their work the following year. Unique lists featuring pop culture, entertainment and crazy facts. For good measure, we will argue in reverse with 5 reasons why the WM26 match topped the WM25 match. 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 original match from WM25 was focused on Shawn Michaels putting the first loss up against The Undertaker's then-undefeated WrestleMania streak. It has since gone down in history as one of the biggest WrestleMania botches and could have even ended The Undertaker's career. 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 … RELATED: The Undertaker's 5 Most Treacherous Acts (& His 5 Most Heroic). The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels are basically the same age, only a year apart, with The Undertaker the older of the two. 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. Michaels using The Undertaker's throat-slash gesture to bookend the beginning and end the match was fitting. & 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. Counting just the pin and submission attempts, that's 14 different false finishes where the match could have ended, a true roller coaster ride. It was always speed versus power, height versus quickness, and opposing personalities.