The Complete History of the WWE Championship - Part 11

The Undertaker (May 19, 2002 - July 21, 2002)

The Undertaker chokeslammed his way to a fourth WWE Championship

Hulk Hogan versus The Undertaker for the WWE Championship.

WWE fans would be forgiven for thinking it was 1991 when they saw that match on the marquee. However, in 2002, WWE presented the same title match they had booked a decade earlier at the 1991 Survivor Series and This Tuesday In Texas six days later.

The 1991 bouts were lackluster and the 2002 encounter was no exception. Hogan could only go against the right opponent in 2002 and the Deadman was not that man.

The Undertaker ended the nostalgia Hogan title run at Judgment Day and moved on to new challenges.

He next defended the belt in a truly lethargic bout with Triple H at King of the Ring 2002 which would be the worst match the pair would ever have, before redeeming himself with a fantastic Ladder Match versus Jeff Hardy, the next night on Raw.

Full of brilliant high spots, energy and drama, 'Taker's successful defense against one half of the Hardy Boyz was everything the Triple H bout wasn't.

The American Bad Ass continued his fine run of matches with an equally brilliant title defense versus Kurt Angle in which he tapped out at the same time he pinned the Olympian. The bout was ruled a draw and when WWE tries to tell you The Undertaker has never tapped out, revisit the July 4, 2002 episode of SmackDown for proof that he has.

Undertaker's fourth WWE Championship run ended at Vengeance on July 21, 2002 in a triple threat title defense versus The Rock and Kurt Angle. 'Taker was miffed at the loss as he was not involved in the decision which ended his reign, but Undertaker's final WWE Championship run was over.