WWE Payback: Ranking the Best Ambulance, Casket, Dumpster, Etc., Matches Ever

WWE Payback's main event between John Cena and Ryback will have an ambulance match, a match with a very limited history, as its final fall. 

Only a handful of times has WWE ever pitted two rivals in a fight that ended when one man shoved his foe into an ambulance and shut the door. The company, though, has produced several container-based matches where the winner shoves the loser into another designated object.

In these matches, the finish line has been a hearse, a casket or a dumpster.

Dusty Rhodes and Ivan Koloff's coffin match began what became a type of match most associated with The Undertaker. Due to how closely it ties into his gimmick, Undertaker has been booked in more casket matches than anyone else. It's no surprise that he takes the top spot here alongside a man who he has produced a great number of masterworks with.

In the decades following the Rhodes and Koloff bout, there have not been a plethora of classics associated with container-based matches. Their legacy is nowhere near as impressive as cage or ladder matches. Still, there have been some very good versions of these matches.

Ranked on their stakes, story and excitement, the following are the best dumpster, casket, Last Ride or ambulance matches in WWE history. The list is focused on WWE only, so clashes like Sabu vs. Abyss or Jason the Terrible vs. Leatherface won't be included.

Can Ryback and Cena end their Three Stages of Hell match with an ambulance match that bests its predecessors? That feat will be far easier than topping WWE's previous Three Stages of Hell matches.

7. Survivor Series 2003: Kane vs. Shane McMahon (Ambulance)

The fearless Shane McMahon took on the monstrous Kane in a match that was at times entertainingly vicious and, at others, clunky.

Those two did such a fantastic job in the Last Man Standing match at Unforgiven 2003 that WWE apparently decided to have them try to repeat that magic. Their Survivor Series rematch showed off Kane's brutality and McMahon's resiliency like the Unforgiven bout, but was hurt by awkward spots that looked far too planned.

During its best moments, though, this match featured McMahon smashing a chair onto ring steps that were propped on top of Kane. Kane also used the ambulance itself as an effective weapon, spearing McMahon into it.

Their brawling generated enough excitement to earn them this spot, but moments that dragged backstage and spots like Shane O'Mac leaping off the ambulance onto a pile of foam keep it from ranking any higher.

6. Elimination Chamber 2012: John Cena vs. Kane (Ambulance)

Had John Cena been more serious for more of his ambulance match with Kane, and had he sold the violence of the match more by acting more hurt after it was over, it would have been an excellent bout.

Instead, Cena vs. Kane turned out to be a solid match that ended a very intriguing storyline. Kane had returned with a new mask on and tried to encourage Cena to embrace his dark side. Kane injured Zack Ryder, setting himself up as a monster who needed to be stopped.

A slow start built into a good brawl into a jaw-dropping climax. Cena delivered the Attitude Adjustment to Kane from off the top of the ambulance.

This match outdid the Shane McMahon vs. Kane ambulance match in terms of energy and violence, but didn't feel as important or enthrall the way the matches above this did.

5. WWE Raw 1999: The Rock vs. Undertaker (Casket)

Despite its brevity, The Rock's casket match against The Undertaker on WWE Raw provided a compelling experience.

A raucous crowd and Rock and Undertaker's bad blood helped give this match a wild, infectious energy. The Rock fought with a cast on his left arm, Undertaker limped on his way into the ring and the two foes made the most out of their brawl.

Much like WWE in general during the Attitude Era, this match had a chaotic feel to it. Triple H prevented the officials from opening the casket and later whacked Rock with his crutch. A brawl broke out backstage between The Union (The Rock's group) and The Corporate Ministry (Undertaker's group).

His foes eventually locked The Rock inside the casket and Triple H pounded it with a sledgehammer until it was severely bent.

This proved to be one of the most fun and entertaining container-based matches yet. Having it be for a championship or letting it go on longer would have earned it an even higher ranking.

4. Armageddon 2006: Undertaker vs. Mr. Kennedy (Last Ride)

The best Last Ride match was powered by intensity, brawling and big spots.

A slugfest in and around the ring saw Undertaker dominate for much of the action. It took him missing a diving knee to open things up for Mr. Kennedy.

Mr. Kennedy managed to knock Undertaker out and put him in the hearse. The difference between the Last Ride match and the other container-based matches is that it doesn't end when the doors close, but when someone drives the hearse away.

The fight continued and both opponents climbed onto the Armageddon set to trade haymakers. Mr. Kennedy threw Undertaker off it, providing the match's biggest, most shocking moment.

The fall wouldn't be enough to put away The Deadman. Undertaker recovered enough to later chokeslam and tombstone Mr. Kennedy on the roof of the hearse.

The brutality and the exciting use of the hearse as a weapon and landing spot helped tell a story of redemption, of Undertaker crushing his defiant opposition.

3. Madison Square Garden 1997: Vader vs. Undertaker (Casket)

A match between two giants ended with a surprise attack from Mankind and The Undertaker lying limp inside a casket.

The action and the story itself make this one of the very best WWE container-based matches, but it didn't have the big-fight feel or the same high stakes as the matches just above it.

The fast-paced brawl saw Vader pound Undertaker with heavy blows to the head. Undertaker retaliated with impressive power moves, including lifting the Mastodon enough to land a Tombstone piledriver.

It was right after this move, when Undertaker was ready to drag his foe into the casket and earn the win, that Mankind made his presence known. He had been hiding inside the casket the whole time and popped out to grab Undertaker with the Mandible Claw.

This was a match worthy of pay-per-view hype, of a bigger audience, but it was only broadcast to folks with the Madison Square Garden network.

2. WrestleMania XIV: Terry Funk and Cactus Jack vs. New Age Outlaws (Dumpster)

This is the ugliest match on the list from a technical standpoint, but these two teams delivered a showcase of violence and insanity that fans will never forget.

The New Age Outlaws pushing Terry Funk and Cactus Jack off a ledge while inside a dumpster led to the first-ever dumpster match. It was a more dangerous and bizarre battle than all of the other container-based matches.

The teams pulled weapons out from under the ring to smack each other with. The real weapon, though, was the dumpster itself. Funk and Jack spent a good portion of the match being smashed into the sides of it.

Several times, men flew in and around the dumpster, stunning the crowd.

The action ended when Funk dumped the Outlaws into a dumpster backstage with a forklift. This strange and awesome sight ended a story of revenge and earned Funk and Jack the tag team championships.

1. Royal Rumble 1998: Shawn Michaels vs. Undertaker (Casket)

Is it a surprise that the finest, most compelling version of a casket, ambulance or dumpster match featured two of the greatest performers ever?

The star power of these two men, the fact that it was for the WWE title and the thrill of the story's climax make it far and away the best match of its kind.

Shawn Michaels gave a gutsy performance. After injuring his back when he hit the edge of the casket, Michaels continued the match and action didn't suffer due to his throbbing back.

Triple H and Chyna looked on at ringside as Michaels tried to use his quickness to evade The Undertaker. The big man, though, would catch him in mid-air time after time and either slug him or slam him. This was more than a brawl; it was theater, a circus and a pit fight.

Lasting images from the match include Undertaker grabbing Michaels by the jewels and later dragging a desperate, fearful Michaels toward the casket.

The ending was even more thrilling than the match. After a massive run-in with a gang of men attacking the Undertaker, Kane cleared the ring only to attack the Undertaker himself. He stuffed his brother into the casket and set it on fire.

No other match like this has been as dramatic, has had such a big-match feel or left such a lasting impression on WWE fans.