6 – Triple H V The Undertaker (Wrestlemania 28)
The End of an Era cell match. This match was pure perfection. It had everything. Must-see action, highly innovative spots and pure storytelling at it’s finest. The match was excellent, but the addition of Shawn Michaels as special guest referee, it’s magical. Three of the biggest stars in wrestling history, locked in a box, two of them out to destroy each other. The two men are back and forth constantly, and Shawn Michaels is putting on an award-worthy performance alongside them. “You end it Shawn, or I will”. I love it. It goes on for a lengthy amount of time, but every cover, every move, is completely gut-wrenching. Undertaker’s last three years were spent putting on five star matches against Michaels and HHH, two with the former, one with the latter, and this match was, quite literally, the end of an era. One of the best near-falls in history. Shawn Michaels hitting Undertaker with Sweet Chin Music, allowing Triple H to down The Deadman with a Pedigree, only for him to come undead and kick out at the last possible moment. The three men had the Miami crowd on strings. Eventually, The Undertaker put Triple H away with a Tombstone Piledriver, Michaels reluctantly counting the pin as his best friend lay prone on the canvas. It’s fifty minutes of pure storytelling genius, and it’s truly one of the greats.
5 – The Undertaker V Mankind (King Of The Ring 1998)
The closest we’ve came to murder in a wrestling ring. This match just hurts to watch at times. Foley being rag-dolled inside and outside the cell by The Phenom. This match is definitely for the ones who crave for violence when they watch wrestling. What can you really say about this match? It stands out for two gruel moments, but even without those, it’s a solid match. Mick Foley put his body on the line for us fans across the world, and as entertaining as it as the first few times, it just becomes an uncomfortable watch after awhile. Mick was brutalised, put through the cell, the ring and the announce table, not to mention the fact he lost a tooth during the match. This match didn’t just elevate the winner, that being the Undertaker, but it turned Mick Foley into an even bigger star than he already was. The two men set the bar high for cell matches to come, with violence that could never, ever be topped again inside the fiendish structure, forcing stars to create new spots that could be used to peak the viewers’ interest, a blessing in disguise when you really think about it. Despite how ugly it was, it’s still one of the best cell matches of all-time, and all we can say now is thank you, Mick.
