It's often difficult to justify reasons for watching pro wrestling to friends and family, particularly to those whose only experience of the sport is the all-too-frequent news reports on the subject of wrestling deaths. Added to which, anyone who has encountered Triple H breaking into Randy Orton's house, Hornswoggle as Vince McMahon's son, or anything involving Kane while channel-surfing is liable to switch off and never want to watch again.
Wrestling is little more than an elaborate pantomime to the casual observer, but when Shawn Michaels and The Undertaker stepped in the ring last Sunday night, even the most jaded cynic would have a hard time denying that something historic was taking place.
Both men are synonymous with the WWE. The Undertaker is perhaps the greatest gimmick that Vince McMahon ever created, but the hard work and dedication of Mark Calloway has ensured that the character has existed way beyond its projected shelf-life. In the last few years, The Undertaker has gained a reputation for producing superb performances on the big stage. The big stage seems made for Shawn Michaels. That he is the best worker in the WWE at his age and with his injuries illustrates the natural ability he has, and his importance to the company over the past 20 years.