**MATCH OF THE YEAR**

**Winner: The Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels (Wrestlemania 25)**

Unquestionably, the best match of 2009 was the bout between The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels from Wrestlemania 25. In my opinion, it’s the best Wrestlemania match ever. That alone says it all.

The build up to the match was simply amazing, and although we all knew deep down that the Undertaker was going to win, one of the great things about the match is it actually had people wondering if the Undertaker would finally lose a match at Wrestlemania. It suspended our belief, which really is what pro-wrestling is all about.

And you couldn’t have asked for more from the match itself. the action was fast paced, back-and-forth non-stop action with both wrestlers throwing everything they had. They both pulled out all the stops and used every trick in the book, complete with dozens of nearfalls. Just when you thought the match was won, they would kick out of the pin and go back into delivering more amazing in-ring action. Of particular note, the Undertaker’s dumbfounded look when Shawn Michaels kicked out of the first tombstone piledriver is priceless.

It also had some of the best moments you’re bound to see in a WWE match, such as when Shawn Michaels missed his aeriel maneuver on the Undertaker outside the ring and landed straight on the floor below. Or when the Undertaker did his now famous Wrestlemania dive outside the ring, only to have Shawn Michaels shove a “cameraman” in the way, resulting in the Undertaker landing in such a way that you really wonder how he didn’t break his neck.

And the crowd reaction was insane! If you have the Wrestlemania 25 DVD, listen very carefully to the crowd in this match and tell me if you can make out even a second when the audience isn’t going crazy with cheering.

This was definitely a five-star match. The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels’ upcoming rematch at Wrestlemania 26 has a lot to live up to, but I’m confident they can recapture the pure excellence of this bout (the build up certainly has delivered).

A magnificent match.

**Runner-up: CM Punk vs. Jeff Hardy (TLC match at SummerSlam)**

Although this is a very distant second place, it doesn’t take away from the fact that this match was great (even with my mixed thoughts on Hardy and the rivalry)!

Something else that stands out about this match is that I actually saw it in person. And to see a tables, ladders and chairs match in person for the first time was great in itself. And it’s amazing how it came off just as well right there as it did on camera.

The match was all around great and included a lot of high flying moves and ladder spots. It all culminated in Jeff Hardy leaping off of a giant ladder onto Punk, breaking him though a table. Though (aweseomly) CM Punk still managed to pull out the win and claim the world title!

A great TLC match that helped define CM Punk’s great year.

**Runner-up: Christian vs.Shelton Benjamin (ladder match at the TLC event)**

This one came late in the year, and for some reason was the opening match of the inaugural Tables, Ladders and Chairs pay-per-view.

Aside from the aforementioned TLC match, this was the best ladder match of the year. Both Christian and Shelton Benjamin put on a great show, giving it all they had in a fantastic match that just delivered.

Of course, it was all for the ECW championship, which gave the title the great title defense it deserved.

And of course there were many great moments with the ladder itself, the best of which came at the end, when Christian broke Benjamin through a ladder before climbing another one to retain the title.

This match was just simply awesome.