5 WWE matches every fan should see at least once in their lifetime

The WWE Network is one of the greatest gifts for fans of professional wrestling.

For just the small fee of $9.99 a month, fans have access to literally thousands upon thousands of matches, classic moments, shocking swerves and emotional wins.

But with so much content available at your fingertips, the question is simple:

Where to start?

Though there are no shortage of great, entertaining matches available on the Network, there are some bouts that stand head and shoulders above the rest.

These classic bouts have a certain X-factor to them, and have gone down in history as some of the greatest matches ever to take place inside a WWE ring.

Here are five WWE matches every single fan should see at least once in their lifetime.

5: Triple H Vs. Cactus Jack (Royal Rumble 2000. Street fight, WWF Championship)

Cactus Jack and Triple H waged a war inside the world's most famous arena.

In early 2000, Triple H was near-untouchable.

The WWF Champion and running the company alongside new wife Stephanie McMahon, the Game took great pleasure in making Mick Foley's life miserable, even forcing the former Champion away from the company.

Begrudgingly rehired after the entire roster threatened to walk out, Foley even received a shot at the title against Triple H at the Royal Rumble in a street fight.

And though Foley admitted he didn't feel ready to take on the King of Kings, he knew someone who was: Cactus Jack.

What followed was an all-out war, that defined the two men for years to come.

Battling inside Madison Square Garden, the pair would have arguably the greatest street fight of all time, though it was the new, more dangerous Triple H who emerged the victor and still WWF Champion.

#4 CM Punk Vs. John Cena (Money in the Bank 2011, WWE Championship)

The Second City Savior left WWE as Champion in his hometown in 2011.

Fans who were watching during the Attitude Era have for years said that modern WWE could never compete with the late 90s/early 2000S.

But in 2011, even the most fervent critics were hooked when CM Punk cut his infamous Pipebomb promo, threatening to leave the company as WWE Champion.

After weeks of trading verbal barbs with John Cena (who was at the top of his game), the pair met at Money in the Bank, in Punk's hometown of Chicago, Illinois.

Receiving a hero's welcome, Punk definitely had the home-field advantage and put on a 5* bout with the face of WWE.

Though he would return to the company eight days after leaving as champion, this match will always be one of the greatest contests in modern wrestling.

#3 The Hardyz Vs. The Dudleyz Vs. Edge & Christian (WrestleMania X-Seven. TLC Match, WWF Tag Team Championships)

These six young Superstars earned every penny they got after competing in TLC 2 at WrestleMania.

It is often difficult for a sequel to surpass the original, but at WrestleMania X-Seven, this match did just that.

A rematch of the first TLC match at SummerSlam 2000, this match had a lot to live up to.

Fortunately, the Hardyz, the Dudleyz and Edge & Christian lived up to the hype, delivering iconic moment after iconic moment.

When Jeff Hardy was left dangling from the tag titles several feet above the ring, it was Edge who gave the historic pay per view arguably its greatest visual, spearing the Charismatic Enigma from a ladder.

Though it was Edge & Christian who emerged the victors, all teams involved showed why they belonged on the biggest event of all time.

#2 The Undertaker Vs. Mankind (King of the Ring 1998, Hell In A Cell match)

Mankind and the Undertaker made history at King of the Ring 1998.

Though King of the Ring 1998 was sold on the possibility of Kane setting himself on fire if he didn't become WWF Champion, you'd be excused for not remembering this at all.

Instead, every fan who looks back on this show, thinks of the iconic Hell in a Cell match between Mankind and The Undertaker, in which both men created history.

Starting the match on top of the satanic structure, the match nearly ended early when the Deadman threw Mick Foley from the cage, crashing to the announce tables below.

Somehow, Mankind returned to the ring, and continued to compete, going through the Cell roof, and yet still holding his own against the lord of Darkness.

Eventually though, Mankind's body couldn't absorb any more pain and though he lost the match, Foley immortalised himself as a WWE legend.

#1 Shawn Michaels Vs. The Undertaker (WrestleMania 25)

The two icons of WWE gave a wrestling classic in April 2009.

By 2009, Shawn Michaels had done nearly everything there was in WWE.

A multiple-time World Champion, HBK was already considered one of the greatest ever, and was a sure-fire future Hall of Famer.

The only conquest the Showstopper had left, was ending the Streak.

Meeting The Undertaker in Houston at WrestleMania 25, the two legends gave one of the greatest matches ever, as Michaels hoped to make it 16-1.

Even before the match began, Shawn started with mind games, donning an all-white attire to juxtapose the Deadman's darkness.

As Michaels shockingly kicked out of the Tombstone Piledriver, fans were on the edge of their seat.

Unfortunately for HBK, he would indeed come up short against the Phenom, who went 17-0.

Though the match didn't go as planned for the Showstopper, this legendary bout was a true show-stealer.