It was a highway to a showdown months in the making and one that started out simply: The Undertaker, after besting Shawn Michaels, emerged victorious in the 2007 Royal Rumble after using his business relationship with the grim reaper to enter at #30 and earn a main event championship match at WrestleMania 23.
But who would he face? Would he go face to face with the face of the face of professional sports wrestling entertainment and WWE Champion of the time John Cena? Would he stay the course and go one on one with the Filipino one and World Heavyweight Champion of the time Batista? Or would he lower his status and lend his reputation to the ECW Champion of the time Bobby Lashley. And the answers, dear reader, in order were revealed to be: No, Yes, as if.
Batista was set to defend his World Heavyweight Championship against the Undertaker at the big show and, despite expressing respect and lack of fear of the Deadman, the Phenom would not share his feelings resulting in a back and forth deterioration of gentlemanly sportsmanship culminating in a caveman like struggle for control of the gold shiny belt thing.
Undertaker would win the first shot of the upcoming war for the World Heavyweight Championship by handing Batista his first World Championship loss at WrestleMania 23 going to 15-0 in the process.
Batista, nonetheless, would not be deterred after being beaten cleanly in the ring in the middle of the WrestleMania show and would get his rematch at Backlash 2007 less than a month later in a Last Man Standing match. The two would go to a draw with Batista learning how unfair the stipulation is since Undertaker is not a man spearing him into electrical equipment to try and confirm that suspicion.
The two were also unable to settle their differences in the confines of a steel cage either with another draw ensuing by route of both men escaping at the same time. It was great synchronisation wasn’t it makes you wonder why they never sought a career in Synchronised Swimming.
Off of the heels of that wonderful image currently in your minds the two’s feud would be postponed due to Undertaker’s injury (natch) and Batista would be left to kill time with Edge and the Great Khali until Taker returned from…ahem ‘rehab’. But when Undertaker did return in the fall of 2007 the war was back on! The men would come face to face again on the stage of Cyber Sunday.
Batista would finally get a win over the Undertaker at Cyber Sunday 2007 with Stone Cold Steve Austin as the referee bringing in his unique ability to slam a mat three times without breaking his hand (Earl Hebner should be in a Hall of Fame by the way). So the score was tied 1-1 and how could their tie breaker be decided? We had a straight up match, a last man standing, a steel cage and a special referee what can be the ultimate decider to determine the best and World Heavyweight Champion? Unfortunately NOT a Drax Reaper Chain on a Pole match as I was hoping but rather HELL IN A CELL!
Yes the demonic structure would be brought back to attempt to finally put the rivalry to rest and the stage was set for Survivor Series 2007. In a battle that involved blood, chairs, steps and chain link face grinding the outcome would be marred in controversy after the return of Edge who would aid Batista in retaining his championship only to get knocked down with a chair afterwards. Edge does need to work on his celebration parties doesn’t he?
As far as Hell in a Cell matches go Batista Vs Undertaker seemed like a natural fit to be contested inside the structure. With the rivalry reaching a draw, and being contested under numerous other stipulations of varying victory conditions, booking facilitated the cell as a means to be the deciding match. While I would say the match doesn’t necessarily do anything new in terms of impact and moments it still remains competent and entertaining without becoming dull and tedious to watch.
It acts as the finale of the 2007 series of matches, as later matches in the year would involve Edge, and along with the others it serves as a complete package of a feud.
While Batista and Undertaker would face each other on occasion on Smackdown TV they would not return to a one on one PPV match until TLC 2009 where Undertaker defended the same championship they originally fought for in a Chairs Match, and yes if you didn’t know what a Chair’s match was back then you’re not alone.
Nevertheless, Edge’s interference may have robbed the audience of a true conclusion and definite victor in the rivalry, which is a prelude to the complaints of more recent Cell matches if you think about it, it would also serve as a stepping stone for Undertaker’s next feud that also facilitated the Hell in a Cell as the setting of a finale. So tune in next week for The Undertaker Vs Edge: SummerSlam burn in hell man
[Zak Fellows will probably burn in hell later]
Oh, come on there had never been a chair’s match before!