Money in the Bank Ladder Match (WrestleMania 21)
By the time WrestleMania 21 had rolled around, WWE had exhausted the ladder match stipulation. It had become a staple of programming, but it was getting to the point where there was no new ground to conquer. Then the light bulbs came on when a new twist was applied to a classic stipulation, and the Money in the Bank ladder man was born.
As with many things, the first is usually the best. The originality of Money in the Bank was one thing, but WWE needed its talent to stick the landing.
Thankfully, the talent involved put on a show for the Los Angeles crowd. They sold the importance of winning the briefcase with fantastic spots that hadn’t been seen in ladder matches of past eras. Shelton Benjamin, working his butt off on every spot, was a particular highlight, showing off his tremendous athleticism. The greatness achieved at WrestleMania 21 is a massive reason Money in the Bank remains an integral part of WWE programming today.
Triple H v The Undertaker (Hell in a Cell Match; WrestleMania 28)
The WrestleMania trilogy between Triple H and The Undertaker is one of the best in WWE history. There aren’t many wrestlers who could weave together WrestleMania matches spanning a decade, putting together contests that increase in intensity. All with the amazing finale that took place within the confines of Hell in a Cell.
The End of an Era match had all the Hell in a Cell trimmings the fans want, but included a very personal story that made it that much better. The violence was there, but it all had a purpose of Triple H doing everything he could to end The Undertaker’s fabled undefeated streak.
The bonus of Shawn Michaels being the guest referee added another layer to this already captivating story. This was the first time in years that the world believed that streak might end. The Superkick/Pedigree combination was incredible, and the entire Miami crowd jumped out of their seats. It was only matched by The Undertaker’s mind-bending kickout that had us all screaming.
