The Undertaker vs. Diesel 03/31/96

Where: Anaheim, CA

Backstory:
Diesel had lost the WWF Title to Bret Hart at Survivor Series '95 and had been out to regain his edge after becoming too fan friendly. He interfered in the championship match between Hart and the Undertaker at Royal Rumble '96, and Undertaker returned the favor during a rematch between Hart and Diesel at the following PPV. After feuding for the last 3 months, they settled their feud at Wrestlemania 12.

In Ring Analysis:

Diesel charges the Undertaker as he is taking off his entrance gearand the bell rings. Both men slug it out with Diesel getting the advantage. He whips him into the corner, but Taker catches him with a big boot and a clothesline. Taker then misses an elbow drop and Diesel clotheslines him outside the ring. The Undertaker, being a great athlete lands on his feet and pulls Diesel outside with him. He then uses a series of body punches to soften up Big Daddy Cool. Nash regains control, but Undertaker rams his head into the steel ringside steps.

Diesel rolls back in and attacks Undertaker as he follows. He throws the Undertaker into the ropes, but Taker hits him with a kick to the face. Then he tries a Tombstone which is reversed. Undertaker runs the ropes again and this time hits on a cross body block for a two count. Taker then puts Diesel in an arm bar and hits his signature rope walk strike. For a guy the Undertaker's size that a very impressive move. Taker then goes for another running cross body off the ropes, but Diesel ducks and the Undertaker is down. Diesel then tries to set up a move with Taker on the apron, but The Undertaker drops his neck over the top rope to recover. Undertaker continues to dominate by punching on Diesel until he falls out of the ring.

Taker follows him out and rams his back hard into the steel ringpost. He then tries to hit him with a chair but Diesel ducks and the Undertaker hits the ringpost instead. Diesel finally gives himself some breathing room by recovering to throw the Undertaker into the steel guardrail. Diesel then repays the favor and rams the Undertaker's back into the steel ringpost. Diesel then scares off the Undertaker's manager, Paul Bearer to establish that he's a jerk for picking on the weak. Then he goes int the ring and boasts which draws more booes. Undertaker tries to get back in the ring, but Diesel brings him in and hits a big boot to the face. Diesel then taunts the Undertaker and punches him down several times. He then hits a sidewalk slam for a near pinfall.

Diesel continues to steer the course of the match by hitting a snake eyes on the top turnbuckle then continuing to taunt the crowd. Diesel works him over in the corner and whips him into the turnbuckle. He charges but the Undertaker elbows him. Taker begins to fight back but both men simultaneously kick each other in the face. Both men are down and the Undertaker gets up at the count of 8. Diesel also gets up and puts the Undertaker in a bearhug. Taker fights out, but Diesel puts him in a side headlock. Taker reverses with a belly to back suplex and the ref counts them down again. The match is starting to drag a little bit with all of the non action the last two minutes.

Taker back up and hits an elbow drop. He then goes to the top and hits a flying clothesline on Diesel. He goes for a pinfall and only gets a two count. Taker whips Diesel into the ropes but Diesel gains the advantage and hits a Jackknife powerbomb. Diesel being supremely confident just taunts Taker and shows the crowd that he has him defeated. Diesel kicks at the Undertaker to taunt him, but Taker sits up out of nowhere. Diesel is originally taken aback but then pounds on Taker some more and hits another Jackknife. He is very cocky as he leans against the ropes and tells the crowd that he's so good. He then taunts the Undertaker some more before going for the pin. Before he gets down the Undertaker grabs Diesel by the throat. Diesel pounds him off, but the Undertaker grabs him by the throat again. Once again Diesel fights him off but before he can pin him the Undertaker again gets him by the throat. Taker gets back to his feet before Diesel fights him off and gets a belly to back suplex. Diesel does more taunting, but this time the Undertaker sits up and catches him off guard. Taker gets his Irish whipped reversed, but hits Diesel with a flying clothesline Taker seizes advantage and hits a big chokeslam for a nearfall. Undertaker motions for the Tombstone piledriver, and hits it for the clean pinfall.



Winner by pinfall in 16:46: The Undertaker ***

This match's main focus was that bragging and being cocky will be your downfall. Several times, Diesel had the match in hand, but showed off and acted like a jerk instead of staying focused. In the end, that's what finally let the Undertaker take advantage of the match and get the victory. While the match wasn't excellent it was a great big man matchup because the Undertaker is such an athlete he could be the "small" guy in the matchup and create movement ala Shawn Michaels. Diesel left the WWF for WCW two months after this match so it made sense to showcase the Undertaker as the dominant competitor in the end.