4. Shawn Michaels Vs. The Undertaker – Royal Rumble 1998
For the third time in five years, The Undertaker featured in a WWE Championship match at the Royal Rumble. The Deadman challenged Shawn Michaels for the WWE Championship in a casket match in the main event of the 1998 Royal Rumble. Michaels and Undertaker’s title match was solid, but this casket match is infamous for Michaels sustaining a career-threatening back injury.
In the early knockings of the bout, Michaels’ back hit the back edge of the casket. He herniated a disc in his back, which stole four years of his wrestling career. HBK grimaced his way through and still put on a good performance. Undertaker executed one of the best Tombstones in his career when he Tombstoned Michaels into the casket.
However, there was outside interference, and Kane came to his brother’s aid. It was a ruse as Kane turned on Undertaker and chokeslammed his brother into the casket. Michaels and Triple H closed the casket lid shut with the Heartbreak Kid retaining the WWE Championship in the best casket match in WWE history.
3. Mankind Vs. The Rock – Royal Rumble 1999
Mankind and The Rock’s feud over the WWE Championship in the Attitude Era was one of the most fascinating feuds in WWE history. Both men defeated each other to kickstart their maiden WWE Championship reigns. However, their encounter at the 1999 Royal Rumble was one of their most controversial. They clashed in a violent “I Quit” match with Mrs. Foley’s Baby Boy defending his title.
Mankind’s family was in attendance, and he was on the receiving end of several unprotected chair shots to the head. Mankind was defenseless as he was handcuffed. A ladder was featured in the bout, and Rock attempted the Rock Bottom on the broadcast table, but with both men weighing close to 300 pounds, the table gave way.
Ultimately, the Corporate Champion became a two-time WWE Champion after Mankind uttered the words “I Quit,” later revealing that it was via a pre-recorded audio tape, not Mankind speaking the words into the microphone live.
