Ranking all The Undertaker matches at WrestleMania

There are many reasons why Wrestlemania has become one of the most anticipated events of the wrestling calendar over the years. It is the showcase of the immortals, where some of the most iconic matchups are made and the industry's most memorable moments are born.

But amidst all the drama and spectacle, one thing has always remained constant: Wrestlemania is the ultimate playground of the Phenom, The Undertaker.

His matches at Wrestlemania are not just a collection of amazing in-ring encounters. Collectively they make up what has become known as 'The Streak', the most intriguing consecutive winning record in all of sports entertainment.

Ranking every Undertaker match at Wrestlemania is no easy task, but here is our rundown:

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#25 Brock Lesnar - Wrestlemania 30

There may be worse storylines on this list, and we have certainly seen worse matches over the years in general, but Undertaker vs. Brock Lesnar at Wrestlemania 30 makes the bottom of the pile due to what it ultimately meant for the WWE and for The Undertaker himself.

By the time 2014 had come around, Undertaker's streak was the biggest thing in wrestling. At the show of shows, it did not matter who was in line for a championship title match or who was due to face retirement; Wrestlemania was about the legendary undefeated streak of the Phenom.

Ending it deserved a much better story; it deserved more time and it deserved a better ultimate conqueror. Undertaker's early set concussion did not help matters but the problems with this one go far deeper than that.

#24 Giant Gonzalez - Wrestlemania 9

It's perhaps no surprise that one of the worst Undertaker Wrestlemania matches featured on the worst Wrestlemania of all time. Undertaker might have gone on to save future shows by doing what he does best, but his matchup against Giant Gonzalez didn't even come close.

As good a performer as the Deadman is, even he could not get a decent match out of the incredibly awkward and limited Gonzalez. Everything from the in-ring action to the messy finish, not to mention the Giant's attire, make this an instantly skippable edition of the Wrestlemania streak.

#23 A Train and The Big Show - Wrestlemania 19

The biggest problem with this handicap match up at Wrestlemania 19 is the fact that given the Deadman had been involved with the WWE for such a long time, the company still couldn't think of anything better to do with such a useful asset.

The subtext to this is also fairly humorous. The Texan was originally supposed to team with Nathan Jones, but his limited abilities in the ring meant the company was forced to relegate him to the sidelines - another example of how badly Vince McMahon handled Undertaker on this particular occasion.

Oh, and the match was pretty bad too!

#22 Roman Reigns - Wrestlemania 33

Undertaker may have had some of his best matches in the latter part of his career, but the most recent Wrestlemania match against Roman Reigns was not a good one.

On the surface, it's clear what the company were trying to do here. Reigns is billed to be the next big thing in the industry and becoming only the second man to defeat Taker at Wrestlemania is certainly a huge stepping stone.

Unfortunately for us fans, this was a sloppy encounter with both men visibly struggling to live up to the expectation going into it. What makes matters worse is that after bothering so much to portray this as Taker's last ride; it appears as though it now won't even achieve that accolade.

#21 King Kong Bundy - Wrestlemania 11

Bad match from a bad show. — Bad match from a bad show

Capping off our bottom five is the forgettable meeting between the Deadman and King Kong Bundy at Wrestlemania 11. Despite Undertaker being allowed to show some versatility in his move set after years of stiff, zombie-like performances, Bundy wasn't exactly at the peak of physical fitness himself at this stage.

Perhaps it was the fact that Undertaker had seemingly outgrown Bundy by this stage, but something about this just felt off. Wrestlemania 11 was a bad show from top to bottom and this match did very little to defend its honour.

#20 Jimmy Snuka - Wrestlemania 7

Where it all began. — Where it all began

Undertaker's first Wrestlemania appearance was short-lived and largely uneventful, but it definitely did the job it was supposed to do.

Long before he became the widely acclaimed legend of Pro Wrestling, Taker was introduced to the WWF as an all-conquering monster and he needed guys like Jimmy Snuka to defeat in order to get that persona across.

For a very underrated Wrestlemania show, this match played its part and will always carry the honour of being the point where it all began.

#19 Bray Wyatt - Wrestlemania 31

As far as Undertaker Wrestlemania matches go, this wasn't all bad. The in-ring action was more than passable and Bray Wyatt, at the time at least, felt like the right opponent for the Undertaker just 12 months after losing his streak to Brock Lesnar.

The reason this does not feature more prominently on the list is due to the fact that it could have been so much more. This was a chance to either cement Undertaker's redemption or to create a new star in Wyatt. With so much emotional baggage, and given Bray's impressive mic skills, this had potential to be truly significant.

Sadly, it ended up being just another match with none of the spectacle and intrigue originally promised.

#18 Big Boss Man - Wrestlemania 15

Lacking the Attitude. — Lacking the Attitude

It's one of the quirks of Professional Wrestling that out of all the 'Attitude Era' Wrestlemanias, the majority of them under delivered. How could the company put together so many disappointing shows with arguably its strongest ever roster?

Undertaker vs. Big Boss Man at Mania 15 fits into that category perfectly. On paper, it felt like a big deal. There was a ready-made storyline heading into it with the tension building between the Ministry and the Corporation, but the in-ring action was a letdown.

Not to mention the rather unnecessary hanging at the end!

#17 Mark Henry - Wrestlemania 22

Middle of the road. — Middle of the road

Middle of the pack is probably the fairest position for this match. It involved Mark Henry, somebody you wouldn't immediately think of as a suitable opponent for Undertaker, but it was also based around the Casket concept meaning there is just enough here to keep you interested.

Henry wasn't Undertaker's worst Mania opponent by any means, but it's not a match you need to necessarily go back and watch. Although it is impressive how much Taker got out of Henry if nothing else.

#16 Jake Roberts - Wrestlemania 8

From one psychologist to another. — From one psychologist to another

In only his second Wrestlemania appearance, the Undertaker continued his rise to power by defeating another big name from the company's past. Jake Roberts, probably the best psychologist the business has ever seen, was the ideal opponent for this new, mysterious Undertaker.

While the action wasn't the best, something about the match overall really worked and it put Roberts in a slightly different light to where we were used to seeing him. One might even call this a 'passing of the torch' match with one terrifyingly fascinating character giving way to another.

#15 Psycho Sid - Wrestlemania 13

There's no denying that Wrestlemania 13 is a one-match card. Everybody remembers the iconic submission match between Bret Hart and Stone Cold. What you might not remember was that this also marked the first time the Undertaker featured in the main event of a Wrestlemania.

While the company was still getting ready to overtake WCW in the ratings and awaiting the arrival of the main Attitude Era stars, Undertaker was felt holding the fort and to his credit, he did an ok job.

While this match is nothing special, it's always good to go back and see the Phenom with the WWF Championship held high.

#14 Kane - Wrestlemania 20

Of all the opponents Undertaker has faced over his career, one of the most entertaining and compelling has been his onscreen brother Kane. The two have faced each other a lot over the years but this meeting at Wrestlemania 20 was not one of the best.

The match pretty much summed up the Wrestlemania 20 show overall - there was nothing particularly wrong with it, but it's not one you instantly remember either.

One thing this match did have going for it was the return of the Deadman character after the largely atrocious American Badass gimmick.

#13 Diesel - Wrestlemania 12

For those who wish to challenge the idea that Kevin Nash has enjoyed mostly undeserved success in the wrestling business, his run as Diesel as part of the WWF's New Generation is not exactly a great place to look.

But while it might be true that he was one of the most uncelebrated champions in the company's history, there were definitely a few gems hidden under the rough.

His match at Wrestlemania 12 against the Undertaker was a good one and certainly gives fans another reason to go back and watch the show other than the main event between Bret and Shawn - a pleasant surprise if nothing else.

#12 Shane McMahon - Wrestlemania 32

Better than it needed to be. — Better than it needed to be

If this was a list of the Undertaker's most surprising matches at Wrestlemania, his meeting with Shane McMahon would probably be a lot higher. After returning to the company following a lengthy absence, one assumed Shane would simply slot into a managerial role.

Instead, he was placed in a Hell in a Cell match with the Undertaker and pretty much went to war with the Deadman.

This match also had something riding on it, i.e. Shane's prospects at becoming the RAW General Manager. It also brought about some nostalgia pops after McMahon Jr. Jr decided to risk his life in front of his family by leaping off the cell onto an announce table.

#11 Randy Orton - Wrestlemania 21

As well as being a legend in his own right, Undertaker has also proven himself to be a stepping stone for others. After a mostly uninspired Randy Orton babyface push following his ejection from Evolution, fans were ready to turn their backs on the promising young lion.

That was until he found himself in a feud with the greatest opponent he could have asked for. The psychology of this whole rivalry was tremendous and the match was a pretty good accompaniment in itself.

Probably a better match for Randy than Taker, but still worthy of a high place on this list.

#10 Batista - Wrestlemania 23

As we move into the top 10, it's time to roll out the big guns.

Batista is another one of those PG Era characters that benefited tremendously from facing the Undertaker. Not everybody could get a great match out of the Animal, but his meetings with the Deadman over the years have pretty much all been highly-impressive.

This is by no means Undertaker's greatest match at a Wrestlemania, but one could make a pretty strong case for it being Batista's. And that pretty much sums up why this one deserves its place in the top 10.

#9 Ric Flair - Wrestlemania 18

On paper, this is by far one of the most impressive meetings you could possibly ask for from the Professional Wrestling business. The amount of titles and classic matches between these two is absurd and one would have thought the pair would feature much higher on this list.

The problem is, both men weren't particularly at their peaks during this stage. Flair was in the midst of a less than impressive comeback after the fall of WCW and Taker found himself in an awkward, half-way position between biker and phenom.

That being said, it makes our top ten because despite it not being the best match either man has had, it still stands out as a truly memorable encounter that made Mania 18 a hugely successful show.

#8 CM Punk - Wrestlemania 29

Yet another PG Era star who came across the Phenom's lair just at the right time. CM Punk had enjoyed a fairly decent run as the WWE Champion but was constantly overlooked by bigger stars like John Cena and Brock Lesnar.

At Wrestlemania 29 he would again miss out on a chance to main event on the grandest stage of them all despite only losing his WWE Championship a few months before. But, as was the case back in 2013, facing the Undertaker in a quest to end his streak was arguably more prominent than any title match the company could put together.

This feud was also helped, in a rather morbid way, by the death of Taker's manager and life-long friend Paul Bearer. Punk was able to play the villain perfectly by mocking the untimely passing and when it came time to lace up their boots, the two men did an excellent job.

#7 Kane - Wrestlemania 14

Their best meeting. — Their best meeting

Fans are divided on the Undertaker and Kane's first ever feud back in 1997. Some think it is the best case of storytelling the company has ever achieved whereas others accuse it of going too far down the fantasy and dark arts route.

For someone who most certainly belongs to the former category, their first meeting at Wrestlemania 14 was a brilliant addition to one of the greatest shows in WWE history.

The only thing that lets this down a little is that given how spectacular the rivalry was leading up to it, the match was always going to struggle to live up to expectations. That being said, this was a worthy conclusion to the family feud that elevated both men to the upper echelons of WWE folklore.

#6 Triple H - Wrestlemania 17

For such a stacked Wrestlemania card it is impressive in itself that this match between Undertaker and Triple H features so highly on the overall list of Taker matches at the show of shows.

Both men were very much on form in this one, proving why the Attitude Era is such a widely loved time in wrestling history. This match oozes early 00s WWF with two of the all-time greats in their prime.

Perhaps it is the overshadowing from some of the other aspects of the Wrestlemania 17 card that gives this a lower position than expected, or maybe it's more to do with the fact that as far as both men were concerned, the best was still to come.

#5 Triple H - Wrestlemania 27

They say one match alone cannot save a card from being a disaster. That being said, Undertaker vs. Triple H at Wrestlemania 27 comes very close indeed.

For one of the worst shows of all time, this match was much more than head and shoulders above the rest of the action. The two men were given the freedom to explore their darker sides, perhaps even a little too much, and the end result was thoroughly entertaining.

The closing scenes in particular, when Triple H was clawing and scratching to find his sledgehammer whilst locked inside the Hell's Gate submission hold had everyone on the edge of their seats and set up their encounter at the following year's show perfectly.

#4 Edge - Wrestlemania 24

Perhaps the greatest thing you can say about this match is that it did enough to break into the Shawn Michaels/Triple H series of matches to make our top 5 list.

In a period of time dominated by the likes of John Cena, Randy Orton and Triple H, Undertaker was just the kind of opponent you could have asked for if you were looking to break into the main event picture.

Edge looked every bit as iconic as the aforementioned, going toe to toe with the Deadman in just one of multiple classic encounters between the two. And just like Mania 13, Taker holding the championship high above his head after a hard-fought main event makes this an instantly satisfying affair.

#3 Triple H - Wrestlemania 28

For a period of time between 2009 - 2014, the Undertaker match at Wrestlemania was all the WWE Universe could talk about. After defeating Shawn Michaels in back to back classics, Taker would then come across HBK's DX partner, Triple H.

While their match at Wrestlemania 27 was a better-worked match, their 'end of an era' meeting at 28 told one hell of a story inside the Undertaker's favourite demonic structure.

After such a close encounter 12 months previous, it genuinely felt like Triple H was about to end the legendary streak, but with Shawn as referee, all bets were off. When it came down to it, Taker proved just too strong for the Game and the final chapter of one of WWE's greatest trios was written.

#2 Shawn Michaels - Wrestlemania 26

Righting the wrongs of the previous year by placing this match in the main event of Wrestlemania 26, the WWE did right by Shawn Michaels in his final match for the company. The stage was set after weeks and months of speculation - would Undertaker accept Shawn's challenge of a rematch after their classic at Mania 25?

While their previous encounter was an out and out brilliant in-ring bout, this one at 26 was more about telling a terrific story of a company legend trying to prove his worth one last time. As the third Tombstone came crashing down, Shawn Michaels was no longer an in-ring competitor while the Undertaker simply marched on.

#1 Shawn Michaels - Wrestlemania 25

Choosing a winner from a list of 25 matches is normally no easy task, but when it comes to Undertaker matches at Wrestlemania there should only be one choice.

In fact, only number two on this list - yet another meeting between Taker and Shawn Michaels - comes anywhere close to challenging it. There can't be enough praise heaped onto this match, everything from the simple yet effective narrative to the insanely good in-ring action screams out 'instant classic'.

If nothing else, Michaels' kick out of the Tombstone and JR's infamous 'out of body experience' reaction are enough to make this truly the number one Undertaker match at Wrestlemania.

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Edited by Alan John