The Undertaker versus Kamala at Survivor Series 1992 was WWE’s first official Casket Match, and The Undertaker versus Rusev at the 2018 Greatest Royal Rumble is the latest documented bout in the sources cited here. This ranking weighs historical importance, stakes, storyline payoff, format and spectacle—not a claim that WWE has published an official quality list. The available record does not establish a complete, audited WWE-only match ledger, so the list ranks notable documented matches rather than claiming to include every bout.
How this ranking works
WWE’s 2012 retrospective supplies the historical landmarks through 2008, while its 2018 match report establishes the later Undertaker–Rusev bout. The retrospective is useful for WWE’s account of the match’s origins, but its description of the 2008 match as the last one is no longer current. This ranking uses historical significance, championship or event stakes, storyline payoff, match format and the spectacle of the finish. It does not present an unsupported verdict about in-ring execution: the sources cited here establish the events and results, not a comparative viewing assessment.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
WWE: WrestleMania 39 | $20.45 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
WWE: Smackdown 20th Anniversary (DVD) | $16.37 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
WWE: Wrestling's Greatest Factions | $14.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
WWE: Legends of Mid-South Wrestling | $24.94 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
WWE: Greatest Stars of the '90s | $7.44 | Buy on Amazon |
The entries below are a ranked selection of notable documented matches, not a complete all-time ledger. WWE’s retrospective does not provide a full table of every televised match, and CAGEMATCH’s displayed total covers Casket-type matches across promotions rather than WWE alone. CAGEMATCH’s Casket Match index is therefore a cross-promotional check, not a WWE match count.
The ranked matches
1. The Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels — Royal Rumble 1998
WWE Championship stakes, the Undertaker–Michaels rivalry and Kane’s intervention make this the strongest overall choice for a ranking built around consequence and spectacle. Kane intervened and the casket was set ablaze, turning the finish into a major storyline moment rather than a routine match-ending image. WWE’s retrospective identifies Michaels as retaining the title. WWE’s history of Casket Matches recounts the event.
#1 Best Overall
2. The Undertaker vs. Yokozuna — Royal Rumble 1994
This championship match gave the format a major early showcase: Yokozuna retained the WWE Championship after interference, and Undertaker’s defeat became one of the match type’s defining early stories. Its place near the top rests on the title stakes and the lasting drama of the finish, not on an unsupported claim that it outperformed every other match in the ring.
3. The Undertaker vs. Kamala — Survivor Series 1992
The original belongs near the top because it established the format. WWE identifies this as the first official Casket Match, initially called a “Coffin Match.” Zach Linder wrote in WWE’s retrospective: “Although referred to at the time as a ‘Coffin Match,’ the first official Casket Match occurred at 1992’s Survivor Series with The Undertaker battling Kamala.” The first bout still required a pinfall as well as a closed lid; WWE says the no-pinfall rule followed afterward, making enclosure the standard objective.
4. The Undertaker vs. Mark Henry — WrestleMania 22 (2006)
This match earns its position for a milestone rather than title stakes: WWE says it was the Casket Match’s WrestleMania debut, with Undertaker defeating Henry. The showcase on one of WWE’s largest annual events gave the stipulation a prominent setting that few entries can match.
5. The Undertaker vs. Big Show — Survivor Series 2008
WWE’s 2012 retrospective records Undertaker defeating Big Show at Survivor Series 2008. The bout stands out as a late chapter in the run covered by that retrospective, but it was not the last WWE Casket Match: the documented 2018 return against Rusev came later. The sources available here establish the result and chronology, not enough detail to make a stronger claim about its execution.
6. The Undertaker vs. Rusev — Greatest Royal Rumble (2018)
At the Greatest Royal Rumble in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on April 27, 2018, Undertaker defeated Rusev. WWE described it as Undertaker’s first Casket Match in a decade, and reported that Aiden English also ended up in the casket beside Rusev. Its place in the ranking reflects the format’s return after a long gap and the unusual extra participant in the finish. WWE’s match report gives the result and event details.
7. The Undertaker vs. Randy Orton and Bob Orton — No Mercy 2005
This handicap match earns a place for its format and storyline stakes: two opponents faced Undertaker together, and WWE records the Ortons as the winners. It is a notable variation on the usual singles contest, though a handicap format makes direct comparison with one-on-one matches less straightforward.
Rank #3
- Factory sealed DVD
8. The Undertaker vs. Yokozuna — Survivor Series 1994
Undertaker’s rematch victory over Yokozuna supplied a clear reversal of the Royal Rumble result earlier that year. The return bout ranks below their first encounter because the earlier championship stakes and interference-driven defeat carry greater historical weight, while the rematch remains important as a direct resolution to that story.
9. Kane vs. Triple H — Raw (2002)
WWE records Kane defeating Triple H in a Raw Casket Match, with Shawn Michaels emerging from the casket. That post-match reveal gives the bout a memorable storyline function beyond the result itself, and shows the match type’s use outside Undertaker-centered rivalries.
10. Triple H vs. Mideon and Viscera — 1999
WWE calls this the first handicap edition and the first Casket Match not featuring Undertaker. Those firsts make it a useful marker in the stipulation’s evolution: the format was no longer defined solely by its originator. WWE’s retrospective identifies the participants and historic distinction, but does not provide a complete match ledger with a precise date in its prose.
Rank #4
- Factory sealed DVD
What changed after the first Casket Match?
The original Survivor Series 1992 bout required a pinfall and a closed lid. WWE says the no-pinfall rule came after that first match, shifting the familiar objective toward shutting an opponent inside the casket. That change matters when comparing eras: the earliest match did not use exactly the same win condition viewers came to associate with the stipulation.
The format also expanded beyond Undertaker. WWE’s examples include Triple H against Mideon and Viscera in the first handicap edition, and later singles matches such as Kane against Triple H. Its WrestleMania debut came at WrestleMania 22 in 2006, when Undertaker beat Mark Henry.
What was the first WWE Casket Match?
WWE identifies The Undertaker versus Kamala at Survivor Series 1992 as the first official Casket Match. The match was initially referred to as a “Coffin Match,” and its win condition included both a pinfall and closing the lid.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Best Value
- Factory sealed DVD
Who has won the most WWE Casket Matches?
The available sources do not establish a complete WWE-only match ledger or a verified all-time win tally, so they cannot support a reliable answer to who has won the most. WWE’s retrospective centers on Undertaker and documents numerous victories and defeats, but it is not a full results database.
When was the last documented WWE Casket Match?
The latest bout documented in the sources used here was The Undertaker versus Rusev at Greatest Royal Rumble on April 27, 2018. WWE reported Undertaker as the winner and called it his first Casket Match in a decade. This identifies the latest match established by these sources, not proof that no later WWE Casket Match has ever taken place.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
