The Undertaker's 10 Best Matches As The American Badass, According To Cagematch.net

The Undertaker made his WWE debut at Survivor Series 1990, and he managed to remain relevant for three decades as he reinvented his character. Undertaker showed a more human side to his persona when he returned from an eight-month injury layoff at Judgment Day 2000 as the American Badass. Undertaker began to ride to ringside on the motorcycle, and he began to speak more in backstage interviews and he cut promos.

RELATED: The Undertaker's Final 10 Matches As The American Badass, Ranked From Worst To Best

This was a huge risk, but it certainly paid off. The Undertaker won the WWE Championship for the fourth time during this time frame, and he reunited with his brother Kane as the Brothers of Destruction. Undertaker still performed at a high level, and he was involved in a few instant classics before he returned to being the Deadman once more at WrestleMania 20.

10 Royal Rumble Match - Royal Rumble 2003 (7.57)

The Undertaker returned to action as the 30th entrant in the 2003 Royal Rumble match. A Royal Rumble triumph was missing from Undertaker's impressive resume. Nevertheless, Undertaker wasn't there to make up the numbers, and he immediately cleaned out the house by removing John Cena, Jamal, and Batista from proceedings.

Maven couldn't eliminate Undertaker for the second consecutive year with Undertaker gaining his revenge and sending Maven packing. Moreover, Undertaker blindsided Kane and he eliminated his brother from the bout. Undertaker had an excellent showing, but he had to endure disappointment as Brock Lesnar won the Rumble at the first attempt.

9 The Brothers Of Destruction Vs. The Two-Man Power Trip - Backlash 2001 (7.58)

There was no shortage of firepower in the main event of Backlash 2001. The Brothers of Destruction were the reigning WWE Tag Team Champions, and they challenged the Two-Man Power Trip's Steve Austin and Triple H for the WWE and Intercontinental Championships in a winner-takes-all scenario.

The action was decent, and Kane's arm was bandaged up which the Two-Man Power Trip targetted. Undertaker protected Kane as much as he could. However, repeated interference from Mr. McMahon aided Austin and Triple H to continue their dominance as they ended the Brothers of Destruction's Tag Team Championship run.

8 The Undertaker Vs. Jeff Hardy - Raw 7/1/02 (7.80)

The ladder match between The Undertaker and Jeff Hardy on the July 1, 2002 edition of Raw for Undertaker's Undisputed WWE Championship was better than many expected it to be. Hardy was in his element as a ladder match specialist, and Undertaker dominated the match but Hardy held his own.

Undertaker toyed with Hardy for large portions of the match and it seemed that it was going to be a short night in the office for Big Evil. Hardy scaled the ladder, the crowd went berserk as did Jim Ross on commentary, but Undertaker hit Hardy in the back with a steel chair, and he chokeslammed him off the ladder, en route to retaining his championship.

7 The Undertaker Vs. Triple H - WrestleMania 17 (8.00)

The Undertaker and Triple H were positioned in the penultimate match of a jam-packed WrestleMania 17. Undertaker had the home-field advantage with WrestleMania emanating from the Reliant Astrodome in Houston, Texas. Both men are big-match players, and both brought their A-game to produce an excellent match.

RELATED: The 11 Best WWE WrestleManias, According To Cagematch.net

Undertaker wore the proverbial crimson mask as the Game clocked him in the head with his signature sledgehammer. Nevertheless, Undertaker regrouped as he executed the Last Ride to go 9-0 at WrestleMania. Jim Ross mentioned it on commentary, which was academic as the streak was acknowledged for the first time.

6 The Undertaker Vs. Kurt Angle - SmackDown 9/4/03 (8.53)

The Undertaker was looking to take the WWE Championship away from Kurt Angle on the September 4, 2003, edition of SmackDown. This was one of the greatest matches in the history of SmackDown, and Undertaker looked sharp and motivated in this bout.

Angle was on a tear in 2003, and both enjoyed spells of dominance. Moreover, Undertaker was unable to add a fifth WWE Championship reign to his collection, all thanks to Brock Lesnar who interfered and assaulted both men. The fans voiced their displeasure as they booed since the match did not reach its conclusion with an outright winner.

5 Six-Man Hell In A Cell Match - Armageddon 2000 (8.64)

The only six-man Hell in a Cell match in WWE history was star-studded at Armageddon 2000. Kurt Angle defended the WWE Championship with five hungry challengers in The Undertaker, Triple H, Steve Austin, Rikishi, and The Rock. The match was carnage, and there was no way that all six were going to fight in the cell for the entirety of the bout.

Undertaker has a reputation for making people famous in Hell in a Cell matches. Rikishi was his latest victim as he chokeslammed him off the cell. The other participants looked on in shock, but it was Angle who stood tall as he retained the WWE Championship.

4 Royal Rumble Match - Royal Rumble 2001 (8.68)

The 2001 Royal Rumble match is one of the greatest Royal Rumble matches in WWE history. The Undertaker and Kane stole the show as they worked as a cohesive unit. Undertaker entered the Rumble as the 25th participant, and alongside Kane, they cleaned out the house.

RELATED: The Undertaker's 11 Best Royal Rumble Appearances, Ranked From Worst To Best

Bradshaw, Hardcore Holly, and Val Venis were all sent packing by Undertaker. The Brothers of Destruction feasted on Scotty 2 Hotty, and they eliminated him with ease. Ultimately, Undertaker's dominance was ended by Rikishi who removed him from the equation with a savate kick.

3 The Undertaker Vs. The Rock Vs. Kurt Angle - Vengeance 2002 (8.82)

Three of the all-time greats in The Undertaker, The Rock, and Kurt Angle squared off in a triple threat match for Undertaker's Undisputed WWE Championship at Vengeance 2002. They knocked it out of the park in an outstanding championship match.

Undertaker was on the receiving end of a steel chair shot by Angle. Nevertheless, he regrouped, and he wasn't going down without a fight. The People's Champion planted Angle with the Rock Bottom, and he captured the WWE Championship for a then-record seventh time with Undertaker narrowly missing out on breaking up the fall.

2 Team WWE Vs. Team Alliance - Survivor Series 2001 (8.99)

The battle lines were drawn in the traditional Survivor Series elimination match at Survivor Series 2001. Undertaker marked his 11th anniversary with WWE, representing the company alongside Kane, Big Show, Chris Jericho, and The Rock. Their adversaries were Steve Austin, Rob Van Dam, Booker T, Kurt Angle, and Shane McMahon.

Undertaker failed to register an elimination but his presence was felt. Despite his removal from the bout, Team WWE was triumphant as Angle turned on the Alliance, and he gave The Rock an assist which led to Rock getting one over on Austin to send Team WWE triumphant.

1 The Undertaker Vs. Brock Lesnar - No Mercy 2002 (9.00)

Wrestling with a broken hand, The Undertaker produced a memorable performance in a breathtaking Hell in a Cell match with Brock Lesnar at No Mercy 2002. It was the first time that Lesnar had stepped foot in the Devil's Favorite Playground, and his WWE Championship was at stake.

There were buckets of blood, and it was a violent affair as expected. Neither heavy-hitter held back, and there were several near-falls. Undertaker executed the Last Ride but Lesnar managed to survive. Lesnar retained the WWE Championship cleanly with an F5.