10 WrestleMania Followup Pay-Per-Views with WrestleMania Rematches

#3. Backlash 2007: Undertaker and Batista destroy each other

In the pantheon of "better than we thought" WrestleMania matches, Undertaker vs. Batista from WrestleMania 23 is at least an honorable mention; their later rematches would up the intensity, and the gimmickry, but the epic clash of WWE's hosses over the World Heavyweight Championship electrified Ford Field with massive throws and powerful strikes, in addition to an Undertaker staple at 2000s WrestleManias, the flying plancha.

In the end, the 2007 Royal Rumble winner Tombstoned The Beast to add another number to his streak, and take the World Heavyweight Championship, but Smackdown General Manager Theodore Long allowed Batista's contractual rematch to be contested at Backlash under the Last Man Standing rules, where the two superstars would battle until one man failed to get to his feet before a count of ten.

Undertaker and Batista picked up where they left off 28 days prior, but used the match's relaxed rules to add more spectacle and hardcore action to the contest; after an Undertaker leg drop put Batista through an announce table, the pair brawled up the entrance ramp until Batista took Taker down and off the entrance stage with his signature spear.

Batista puts his opponent down for the count, but puts himself down, too.

The intensity of the move, however, meant that neither man could answer the ten count, and the match was declared a draw, allowing Undertaker to retain the World Heavyweight Championhip, and ensuring far more destruction in the duo's future.

Which Worked Better?

For the third entry in a row, this one comes down to personal preference; many fans like the novelty of the WrestleMania match, and its stripped-down lack of gimmicks let the men focus on making moves matter. Fans of gaga and over-the-top action, though, prefer Backlash, and its dramatic spear off the stage provided a lasting and memorable image. Critics, likewise, are split, including Dave Meltzer, who rated the two matches an identical four stars.