By James Caldwell, PWTorch.com assistant editor

We're debuting a new feature on PWTorch.com counting down to WrestleMania 25 in Houston on April 5. Every day, we'll post a new story looking at a historically-significant moment, event, person, statistic, or "did you know?" from the previous 24 editions.

Shawn Michaels vs. Razor Ramon (Scott Hall) from WrestleMania X in New York is easily viewed as a Top 5 Mania match of all time, even if it wasn't the first ladder match in wrestling history, as WWE is quick to claim.

What led to the match is always an interesting story to tell. About six months prior to the WM date on March 20, 1994, Shawn Michaels was suspended for six weeks by Vince McMahon for a steroid test failure. He was also self-admittedly fat and out-of-shape.

Michaels denies the steroid claim; at the time, he argued vehemently with McMahon, who ultimately suspended him. Michaels, who was the Intercontinental champion at the time, refused to give up the physical belt, so a new one was created that Razor Ramon won.

Once Michaels returned to WWE after his suspension and ignored WCW's advances to join their company, Razor and Michaels began the program leading to WrestleMania X in New York to see who was the real IC champion.

"We didn't have to force anything," Michaels wrote in his "Heartbreak & Triumph" autobiography. "It wasn't like the ladder was thrown out there to be interesting or exciting. It fit within the story, and that's why I think the Ladder matches they've had since can't compare to this one. A lot of them were really good - they just seemed a little forced."

The match was unique to wrestling and wrestling fans, but fit within the context of the story between two wrestlers who had a rightful claim to the title in the storyline. Something that's missing from today's abuse of gimmick matches is the lack of context or purpose for having the gimmick involved in a conflict or feud.

HBK-Razor was not only a piece of artwork inside the ring, but it had a back-story. Michaels writes in his book about the reception the match received once they returned through the curtain.

"When we made it to the back, we knew we had stolen the show. We didn't know that we had set a new standard," Michaels said. "We just knew we had a great match. soon, everyone else started putting the match over, and that really gave us the sense that we had done something out of the ordinary."

VIDEO selection: Highlight package on WrestleMania X that aired on this week's Raw.



Torch readers: if you have a suggestion for a particular "moment" that might be beneath the surface or forgotten, but still significant, send an email to pwtorch@gmail.com.

WRESTLEMANIA COUNTDOWN INDEX
-- Moment #59 - Austin vs. Rock at WM 17
-- Intro to Countdown series

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