By Richard Gardner, Torch specialist

Since Vince McMahon acquired the WWF from his father Vince McMahon Sr., there have been two periods of time that could be classified as booms in popularity for the company. First, there were the 1980s, an era characterized by Hulk Hogan, Saturday Night's Main Event, a troupe of wrestlers with cartoon characters, and even more unbelievable physiques, which was tempered when steroid scandals hit the news.

Then there were the late nineties, in which a change in booking philosophy led to a change from a pale imitation of the old 1980s formula to more realistic and adult-orientated storylines. Like many wrestling fans, I became hooked at an early age during one of the WWE's booms in popularity. Yet, it was during neither of the time periods listed above.

While WWF was in the eye of a media storm in the U.S., pro wrestling became unexpectedly popular in the United Kingdom due the prevalence of satellite television. My first exposure to the world of pro wrestling was a VHS recording of Summerslam '92. Two of the wrestlers who appeared on that event have been a significant part of the company ever since, and will face off at WrestleMania 25.

Shawn Michaels was actually a major beneficiary to WWF's steroid scandal. Having been a dependable tag team wrestler for several years, Michaels received a major singles push that was intensified after an unbelievable performance in the famous ladder match against Scott Hall at WrestleMania 10.

As the years progressed Michaels evolved into the WWF's top star, was forced to retire with a serious back injury, and then made a courageous comeback to reclaim his place as the top performer on the roster. Wrestling fans who have followed the WWE over the years have witnessed Shawn Michaels's life work unfold before their eyes; his character evolving from cocky young upstart into elder statesmen of the company, whose performances in the ring can rarely be called into question. During this time, another wrestler has been a constant at the top of the card in the WWE.

In hindsight, the Undertaker character could have massively flopped. The idea of a zombie-like character that draws inspiration from a mythical urn was far fetched even by the standards of the WWF in the early '90s, but the performance of Mark Calloway, coupled with his remarkable athleticism in the ring, made the character work. Since his first PPV appearance at the 1990 Survivor Series, Vince McMahon has shown the foresight to reinvent The Undertaker persona so that it remained relevant in the face of an ever changing industry. Today, The Undertaker retains elements of the character that became famous nearly two decades ago but still remains one of the most popular wrestlers on the roster.

Given that the Shawn Michaels and The Undertaker have been an important part of the WWE roster for so long, it is remarkable that their paths have not crossed more often. They feuded at the end of 1997, a rivalry that culminated in the match in which Michaels suffered his career- threatening injury.

The feud was unique, as the two had not worked a program before, but was ultimately overshadowed Bret Hart's acrimonious departure from the WWF. Their second meaningful meeting came when the two were the last wrestlers in the 2007 Royal Rumble battle royal, a match that The Undertaker won. The exchange in the closing stages of the rumble illustrated the potential that a bout between the two had, and Michaels-Undertaker was immediately identified as a prospective match for the twenty-fifth WrestleMania.

Considering that the WWE is erroneously promoting this year's WrestleMania as the 25th anniversary edition, it is surprising that the major storylines are only just beginning to take shape. Evidently a huge buyrate for the February "No Way Out" PPV was more important. Because of this, many of the WrestleMania storylines feel rushed. Unfortunately, the Michaels-Undertaker feud has not been immune to this after two weeks were wasted on meaningless qualifying matches.

JBL originally challenged The Undertaker for a WrestleMania match in the hope of ending his undefeated streak at the event. However, he was interrupted by Shawn Michaels who explained that he wanted the match. With his new found ability to book matches, JBL proposed that the two of them fight the honor of wrestling The Undertaker at WrestleMania. Michaels defeated JBL on the next episode of Raw, but he did not get his wish. He was ambushed by Vladimir Koslov, as it was revealed that the two would square off the following week for the right to face The Undertaker.

While the wrestling public shuddered at the thought of a Koslov-Undertaker match at WrestleMania, Michaels dispatched The Moscow Mauler and the dream match was made.

JBL and Vladimir Koslov have been unwelcome distractions in the run-up to WrestleMania, but fortunately Shawn Michaels vs. The Undertaker is one of those matches that would feel special without any build whatsoever. That Michaels is unlikely to be the one to end The Undertaker's undefeated streak is irrelevant; the match is of such historical importance that any predictability surrounding the result will not detract from it as a spectacle. And the quality of the action at the 2007 Royal Rumble outlined that an encounter between the two has the potential to be a WWE match of the year.

Shawn Michaels vs. The Undertaker is a dream match in an era when few exist. The match promises to deliver on all levels, and feels fresh due to the WWE limiting their contact over the years. With nearly 40 years in the company between them, the two are almost part of the furniture, but despite their lengthy tenures, the interaction between the two over the years has been limited to only one meaningful feud. Added to which, it is a treat for wrestling fans who grew up in the nineties and have followed the sport ever since.

And that's why Michaels-Undertaker is the match that I am looking forward to most at WrestleMania 25.

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