Ranking The Best Wrestlemania Matches In WWE History
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This is WrestleMania 38 week, and the Granddaddy of them all is stopping in my hometown of Dallas, Texas.
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As we are approaching the two-day event, I will be ranking the best matches in Mania history. As a fan, I prioritize storytelling, how the match made me feel when I first watched it, the replay value of it, its uniqueness, and the overall quality of the match.I spent the past few weeks rewatching all the previous matches to have a fresh mind to write this, and this is what I came up with.
38.Cody Rhodes vs. Rey Mysterio, WrestleMania XXVII
This match is a banger that is not talked about enough. The story these two men told was awesome. "UnDashing" Cody Rhodes was a great character, and Rey's attire is great. The only two knocks I have about this match are the crowd not matching how hard these men are working and "Heel" Michael Cole on commentary.
37.Boneyard Match: The Undertaker vs. AJ Styles, WrestleMania 36
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Taker's last match was the perfect way for Taker to go off. This was a Taker compilation match, and AJ Styles was the perfect last opponent for this cinematic match.
36.Kurt Angle & Ronda Rousey vs. Triple H & Stephanie McMahon, WrestleMania 34
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This match can debatably be higher. Ronda's debut had the audience electric. The "heat" Stephanie and HHH got in this was textbook. Future mixed Tag matches should look at this for the formula for building a hot tag.
35.Undertaker vs. Triple H, WrestleMania XXVII
This PPV was a one-match show. Despite a lackluster PPV and a build that picked up steam very late, this match was excellent. Taker being left out on a stretcher was enough to have Taker wanting a Hell in a Cell match next year at the show of shows.
34.Money in the Bank Ladder Match, WrestleMania 21
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The First Money in the Bank is hands down the best one to this day. The spots Shelton Benjamin was doing in this match make you question why the E never put the rocket on him at least one time in his career.
33.Mickie James vs. Trish Stratus (c), WrestleMania 22
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Never as a kid did I think a woman would be "over "enough to make a crowd turn on Trish Stratus, but that's what Mickie James was able to do. The build-up for this match at WrestleMania 22 was one of the best rivalries. The hype and drama were magical.
32.Charlotte Flair (c) vs. Asuka, WrestleMania 34
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The Asuka storyline was one of the last organic storylines we have seen in the Fed. Asuka was undefeated for 914 days at this point. Asuka was on mega-star status, and then The E decided to ruin it. The match is still, great but the booking just doesn't make sense.
31.Undertaker vs. CM Punk, WrestleMania XXIX
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On a Raw leading up to this show, Punk dumped out an urn of Paul Bearer's ashes onto Undertaker’s body, and from that moment you knew this match would smack when time.
This was the last elite match in Taker's career and CM Punk's last Mania match. This match was so good that it overshadowed The Rock vs. John Cena.
30.Seth Rollins Vs. Finn Balor Vs. The Miz (c), WrestleMania 34
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A very good triple threat match to open a Pay-Per-View that had so much potential to be an "all-timer." Each man's attire was on point. Miz holding the IC belt felt so right, and this was the beginning of what would be a great babyface run for Seth "Freakin" Rollins.
29.Bret Hart vs. Roddy Piper (c) (WrestleMania VIII)
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This match was a passing of the torch. These two first-time fighting for the Intercontinental belt was a great match that proves Bret was probably the best wrestler all of 1992–96.The match was a masterpiece of storytelling between the best in-ring storyteller vs. the best storyteller in the business at the time. The match was simple and failed to make me lose focus despite using none of the high-flying moves that we see today. The use of blood from Bret was great during a time when we didn't see it as much. Gorilla Monsoon and Bobby Heenan's call of this match elevated this match as much as Roddy Piper elevated Bret here.“What the hell — use the bell!” *chef's kiss*
28.60-Minute Iron Man Match: Shawn Michaels vs. Bret Hart (c), Wrestlemania XII
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It's so wild to me every time I watch how hard these two men went for an hour and the crowd was totally invested the majority of the time. The match is fun to rewatch, and Michaels' comeback in the last five minutes was a star-making performance.
27.The Undertaker vs. Edge (c), WrestleMania XXIV
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This is the most underrated match on this list. Edge/Taker was an absolute banger that is worthy of being top 10. If you can't tell, storytelling is my favorite thing about sports entertainment, and this one had just that. This feud took an entire year to get to this moment. Edge had wonderful heelwork leading into this feud and made you pay to see him get his butt kicked.The match was great and had plenty of "OMG" moments. Taker hit a suicide dive in his match that would be his most memorable dive if a cameraman didn't catch him on a diving attempt in another match on this list. The false finish moment we got from Charles Robinson was a great PPV moment, and the match ended with the streak being continued.
26.Shawn Michaels vs. Ric Flair, WrestleMania XXIV
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“I’m sorry, I love you.”Those words gave us a moment wrestling fans will remember forever. The arc of Ric Flair retiring was great television that had me watching every Raw for months in 2006. When Shawn and Flair were being built up, Ric Flair's promo game turned back the clock. We saw him bring out his NWA championship to remind Shawn that he didn't need sympathy, and the "Old Yeller" promo Shawn cut back was amazing.The match was great, and the dirtiest player in the game did just that. Everyone knew who was going to win, but Flair's generational ability to perform to wash away the disbelief of the crowd here was awesome. When it was time to win the match, HBK uttered the words above, and that was the end of Flair's wrestling career in the WWE.
25.Charlotte Flair (c) vs. Sasha Banks vs. Becky Lynch, WrestleMania 32
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Charlotte retaining in the match was the moment I knew how WWE was going to book her for the rest of her career. I will stay on the hill of believing this is the moment Sasha Banks should have gotten her first Mania win and begin the push of her being the face of the women's division.Despite that, the match was good, and Ric Flair interfering to help his daughter win makes sense based on how the storyline was being played out weeks before. I can't wait to see Charlotte become the person to beat her father's record of most title wins ever.
24.Eddie Guerrero (c) vs. Kurt Angle, Wrestlemania XX
Lie, Cheat, and Steal!
Some may question why Eddie didn't win clean in this match, but I always thought the finish was perfect. Eddie had a unique ability to be a heel and get monster boos, and a face that everyone loved. He is also one of the only people who can be a face and do heel tactics and everyone cheers.
Eddie is one of a kind, and this match is one of the best of his career.
23.The Ultimate Warrior vs. “Macho King” Randy Savage, WrestleMania VII
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Career vs. Career match between two of the biggest names to ever touch the ring.
I'll be the first to tell you that this match is not the best in-ring match you'll see, but it was the perfect amount to have you all in on every move. The storytelling within the matches is what stands out to me, and the ending gave us the greatest return in Mania history right behind the Hardy Boyz at WrestleMania 33.
When Savage lost and was being kicked by Sherri, Miss Elizabeth returned and had every woman in the building crying. Even The Young and the Restless couldn't get this much emotion out of one person. Savage and Miss Elizabeth were back, and the Savage man retired (for six months).
“What a woman. And what a man!”
22.Daniel Bryan vs. Triple H, WrestleMania XXX
"YES! YES! YES!" This movement leads to the best fan reactions since the Attitude Era. If you don't believe me, watch the steel cage match from Raw against Bray Wyatt or how livid Philly fans were for Rey Mysterio being #30 in the 2014 Royal Rumble. They boo'd Rey Mysterio for this man.The fans demanded Daniel Bryan get this spot, and WWE gave him the ball. Well, not unless he beat the HHH, who played excellently in his role as the head of the Authority.The stipulation led to this opening match being one of the best opening matches ever. DB was the perfect underdog, and the crowd bit at every move. DB would come out victorious and would be a part of the main event.
21.Randy Savage vs. Ric Flair (c), WrestleMania VIII
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This match should have main-event WrestleMania 8.
WWF Champion Nature Boy Ric Flair claimed that he had a thing with Miss Elizabeth, Savage's wife, before he was with Savage, and that's the story right there.
This was Flair’s WrestleMania debut, and it felt like a big match. Soon as Savage hit a B-Line to the ring to attack Flair, you know this match was going to slap. This entire match, Savage is giving a masterclass on how to be the perfect babyface. The emotion he brings to the match makes it that much better. The finish of the match made sense and furthered the feud in the ongoing months.
I'm telling you, the rollup is the most dangerous move in wrestling.
20.Brock Lesnar vs. Kurt Angle (c), WrestleMania XIX
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WrestleMania XIX was a memorable PPV! From Stone Cold's last match to Jericho/HBK. Those moments were great, but the lasting oppression of the great PPV came in the main event.Kurt Angle was the champion and was at his athletic peak. He had Team Angle as his lackeys, and he competed in this match with a broken freakin' neck. Angle and Lesnar have insane chemistry together, and to this day Angle is Lesnar's greatest rivalry. The two would, later on, have the best iron match ever, but for now, let's talk about this match.This was the first WrestleMania main event featuring two wrestlers using their real names. The match is one of the Greatest Pure Matches in WrestleMania History. This match had everything a fan can ask for with two legit wrestlers giving their all.The most famous spot comes when Brock gives himself a concussion (thank god that and not a broken neck) when he botched the Shooting Star Press. I can talk more about how crazy of a botch that was, but him botching the move is one of wrestling's biggest "what ifs." If he lands that move, I believe Brock possibly never leaves the Fed the next year, and we see Brock get pushed to Hogan-level stardom. Also, this match goes from outside the top 10 to the top-5 status.A fun nugget is the loading screen for "WWE Smackdown Here Comes the Pain" comes from this match, for my PS2 fans.
19.Shawn Michaels vs. Chris Jericho, WrestleMania XIX
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This feud was golden! HBK's first WrestleMania match since retirement being Y2J was a wonderful booking decision. The rivalry between these two men was nothing short of excellent.
The chemistry between these two men didn't take any time at all to build. Christian posing as Y2J in the Royal Rumble so Y2J could sneak attack and eliminate him is one of my favorite openings to a Rumble match.
When it was time for the match, you can see why Jericho was so high on it. It was amazing. Jericho and Michaels were two of the greatest performers of their generation, and their styles perfectly meshed.
I often debate if this version of their feud is better than the 2008 version.
18.Edge vs. Mick Foley, WrestleMania 22
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The "E" took the belt off Edge a month before this Mania because they weren't ready to call Edge a main event player. Edge and Foley proved them wrong this night. This match is the most violent match we will ever see take place at WrestleMania. The rated-R superstar and the Hardcore Legend put on a show for the ages.Thumbtacks, Tables, and Fire oh my, or whatever Dorothy said.
17.Hulk Hogan (c) vs. Andre the Giant, WrestleMania III
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Hogan slamming Andre is a moment that ultimately transcends wrestling.
Steamboat vs. Savage was the better technical match on this card, but this is the match that got 90,000-plus fans filling the Pontiac Silverdome in Detroit. Two of the biggest names ever going at it on the biggest stage ever. Seeing a 7'4" man get body-slammed will never get old, and Hulk-a-Mania has arrived, brother.
16.Ladder Match: Razor Ramon (c) vs. Shawn Michaels (c), WrestleMania X
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The "OG" to all the other Ladder matches we see at WrestleMania was a great one. Razor and HBK put on a match that elevated the way the Ladder match was done in the early '90s. Razor was one of the best workers of the '90s, and this is Michaels' first time that he was able to put on a classic performance at WrestleMania to claim the "Mr. WrestleMania" moniker. Both men were out to make a name for themselves.The match stole the show on a show that had a top-10-caliber Mania match on it.
15.“Stone Cold” Steve Austin vs. Shawn Michaels (c) with Guest Referee Mike Tyson, WrestleMania XIV
The start of Austin being the top guy in the Fed is here. This is also HBK's last match in the '90s.When Vince McMahon announced "the baddest man on the planet" Mike Tyson as the special guest referee for the main event, we knew we were in for a treat. The promo of Austin and Tyson's altercation is the stuff of legends.Despite Shawn Michaels' back being severely injured, HBK still put on a hell of a performance time of the match. Austin 3:16 won the big one for the first time, and we got to see him lead WWF into winning the Monday Night Wars.This match also earned Mike Tyson a slot in the WWE Hall of Fame, for what that matters.
14.Ricky Steamboat vs. Randy Savage, WrestleMania 3
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When it comes to WrestleMania 3, I always got this saying. "Andre and Hulk got the butts in seats, but Savage and Steamboat kept them there."This match was the best of the '80s. It was as smooth and clean of a match as you will ever see. The number of false finishes we have seen in a short amount of time guided future championship matches on the big stage. This match is a fun match to rewatch any time you're bored around the house.
13.Chris Benoit vs. Triple H (c) vs. Shawn Michaels, WrestleMania XX
This is the best triple threat match to ever happen. I know Benoit is supposed to be unspoken, but the other two competitors did a too wonderful job playing their role to leave off this list.
Also, until Money in the Bank 2011, the ending of WrestleMania XX was my all-time favorite ever. Chris and his longtime friend Eddie Guerrero shared the ring both as the champions after a long road over from being the Radicalz who jumped ship from WCW. The match was also what we thought would be the end of HHH's "Reign of Terror," so there was a lot to be happy about as a fan.
12.The End of an Era: Undertaker vs. Triple H, WrestleMania XXVIII
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Before The Hit-Man would go on to win the WWF Championship later this night, he opened up WrestleMania with the best opening match in Mania. This is one of my favorite matches to ever exist. Triple H defending his best friend, HBK's honor, and doing it in a Hell in the Cell against the Deadman reeks of a great match.Let me tell you: In my career as a fan, there are a couple of moments where I thought the streak might have been over, but when Special Guest Referee Shawn Michaels Super Kicked Taker into a Pedigree by HHH, I was 100% sure Trips ended the streak. That sequence + kick-out is something even Martin Scorsese couldn't come up with.Watching this as a high schooler felt like my childhood was ending in front of my eyes.
11.Owen Hart vs. Bret Hart, WrestleMania X
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Before The Hit-Man would go on to win the WWF Championship later this night, he opened up WrestleMania with the best opening match in Mania history.
Owen vs. Bret was the first time we saw a brother vs. brother match on the big stage, and it didn't disappoint. It's also very wild that we almost didn't get this match because Vinny Mac thought brothers fighting is "not realistic."I love how this feud started simply with Owen being upset at Bret for causing him to accidentally be the only Hart brother to be eliminated in their Survivors Series match. The Mania match was a six-month feud with the payoff happening at Mania. I truly miss slow builds in WWE and wish they get back to that in the future, especially in the mid-card.
The match was an old-school technical masterpiece. Owen was so damn smooth in the ring; everything he do in this match looked like a million bucks. The psychology in the match makes sense, and Owen winning was the right move.My favorite part of the whole PPV comes when Bret wins the title later that night and is cheered by the Madison Square Garden crowd and fellow wrestlers in the ring. Owen meanwhile was in the aisle staring at his brother in disgust.
10.Kofi Kingston vs. Daniel Bryan (c), WrestleMania 35
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This is hands down the best WrestleMania moment in its history, and do not forget it.
"Kofi-Mania" was amazing and the most fun I had as a wrestling fan since I was a child. The famous video of Shad Gaspard and MVP shows what it means to all of believing in the underdog.
This match deserves a post of its own.The build was immaculate, from the gauntlets, The Elimination Chamber, the BS Vince gave the New Day, being called a B+ player — the storytelling is some of WWE's finest.Let's not forget that what put this over the top is Daniel Bryan's astounding antagonist work. I thought I would never hate DB after him being in a similar situation in 2014, but how the tides have turned.The match itself was a great back and forth contest where you didn't know if Kofi was going to get the big one, since they gave the Main Event to the women in 2019. When he finally won, this moment is something WWE will never replicate. Kofi held the title for 180 days, and I would love to see him get another crack at the big one.
9.TLC II: Edge & Christian vs. Hardy Boyz vs. Dudley Boyz (c), Wrestlemania X7
Edge and Christian, the Dudley Boyz, and the Hardy Boyz battled for the WWE Tag Team Championships and stole the show for the second year in a row. Not only Rock/Austin and HHH/Taker were on this card, but TLC II was another reason why this card was an all-timer.The creativity and breathtaking spots make this the most fun match on this list. Spike Dudley, Lita, and Rhyno being added in on spots made this match even better than the previous bouts.The spear from Edge to Jeff Hardy off the Ladder is a staple moment in my childhood. The Matt Hardy and Bubba Ray Dudley spot at the end of the match remains my favorite spot in a Ladder match that doesn't get talked about enough. This match is truly awesome.
8.Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels, WrestleMania XXVI
Compared to the storyline of their match during WrestleMania 25, the 26 match storyline is better, and the added stakes brought out a different intensity with this match.
HBK was obsessed with one more match with Taker. Taker wanted no parts of HBK due to him being the WWE Champion. When HBK cost Taker that championship at Elimination Chamber, I popped because I knew that Taker was going to come for vengeance. Then comes the "Career vs. Streak" tagline to make it even better.
The match was as good as the first one, and the counters this one give us had me on the edge of my seat. The last sequence of the match is why as long as I live, I will watch sports entertainment.
HBK kicks out of the tombstone to the disbelief of many, including Taker. HBK, despite kicking out, was finished. Out of respect, Taker shouted, “Stay down,” and HBK responded arrogantly as ever by slapping Taker’s mouth like Will Smith at the Oscars. This led to HBK receiving one of the meanest jumping tombstones ever seen.
This was the last match we have seen from Mr. WrestleMania (I'm not counting that hot mess in Saudi), and he went out in style. Sports entertainment is at its best when the story is amazing and the fans are emotionally invested. HBK/Taker is a feud that does just that.
7.Brock Lesnar (c) vs. Roman Reigns vs. Seth Rollins, WrestleMania 31
We talk about all-time great "Go Home" Raw shows later on in the list, but the Go-Home show for WrestleMania 31 is hands down the worst I've ever seen. The visual of Brock and Roman tugging on the belt is an optic that truly sucks. That is all erased quickly as this match starts in Levi's Stadium.I always said that even before Seth Rollins entered the equation, this match started very, very well, and even if he didn't come, I would still rank this match high. Roman earned so much respect from me this night as he was taking a beating from Brock before giving a great comeback himself. As the match was truly getting good, The Architect came and made it great.Seth Rollins entered the match and won making this the best Money in the Bank cash-in. This also leads to my favorite Micheal Cole call ever, when he titles Seth's cash-in the "Heist of the Century."
6.Kurt Angle vs. Shawn Michaels, WrestleMania 21
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What happens when you get the best performer of the '90s in an incredible second run versus a former Olympic gold medalist??? You get a damn classic, "Oh, it's true; it's damn true."In 2005, these two men were arguably the two best wrestlers that year. 2005 was also a time The Raw/Smackdown Brand Split meant something. With each man on opposite brands, the possibility of a "dream match" was out of the equation until that year's Royal Rumble. When HBK eliminated Angle with a gorgeous "Sweet Chin Music," it started a feud that was amazing and brought out an intense side of Kurt Angle we have never seen. The build saw Kurt Angle wanting to do everything HBK accomplished in four weeks. It was must-watch TV, and if you don't believe me, watch the classic Angle and Sensational Sherri segment.The match was simply pro wrestling. Angle worked HBK's back, which kept him out for years. Angle's new aggressive side was on full display as he was in control most of the match. At one point, he got so furious that he put on the straps on his gear and then took it off again. Michaels' selling of the Angle Lock was god-tier, and eventually, the Olympic gold medalist would walk out the winner.Fantastic WrestleMania match that I can watch over and over again.
5.Bianca Belair vs. Sasha Banks (c), Wrestlemania 37
This match is everything! Sasha vs. Bianca is easily the best women's match ever to take place at WrestleMania. I know this match only took place last year, but it's worth all the accolades and high ranking. Both women made history by becoming the first Black wrestlers to main-event WrestleMania. The match even won an ESPY award for "WWE Moment of the Year."
Bianca Belair, in my humble opinion, is the best babyface wrestling has seen in the past five years. The build to her winning Royal Rumble made her a star. Also, in my humble opinion, Sasha Banks and Bayley were the two best wrestlers of WWE's Thunderdome era in 2020. Both women carried the company on their backs, and Sasha as the Smackdown women's champion deserved to be headlining the show of shows. This feud and match had me and others emotionally attached from the beginning and didn't fail to let us down.When both ladies hit the ring and when the bell hit, we instantly saw the emotions on both women's faces. The moment was even sweeter since this was the first match in front of fans in 2021. As they were about to break character, Sasha gave Bianca a nice punch to wake her up, and the match was now on the way. Bianca's show of strength had me in awe. The match saw Bianca use her braid for the first time since arriving on the main roster and receiving her first WWE title with the "KOD."That moment felt like we were seeing the next face of WWE being molded in front of our eyes. The match was incredible and is honestly my favorite moment ever as a wrestling fan.
4.Stone Cold vs. The Rock (c), Wrestlemania X7
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WrestleMania X7...the greatest WrestleMania ever during what might be the greatest era of wrestling era ever, the "Attitude Era" came to an appropriate end on April 7, 2001. Rock vs. Austin for the second time at WrestleMania was the company's two biggest stars going at it for the company's richest prize.The build for this main event at Mania, just like Sasha vs. Bianca, had wack moments for such a big match, but it didn't matter when the bright lights turned on and both performers executed out of this world. The build was also a foregone conclusion when Limp Bizkit's "My Way" gave us the GOAT video promo of a match ever.The Astro Dome had great energy for this match, and the NO DQ stipulation added an unpredictability that raised the stakes. The pop each man got during entrances was amazing. The crowd was energetic. We saw Austin do many callbacks from previous moments in his career, such as applying the Million Dollar Dream on Rock and being put in a sharpshooter reminiscent of Bret/Austin Mania Mania 13.The ending is one I have a love/hate relationship with. 2001 Stone Cold is my favorite Steve Austin. His character had a different feel; he put on great matches with Angle and Benoit/Y2J. At the same time, Austin's heel turn and him shaking hands with Mr. McMahon, despite being a memorable visual, was not a great move. As a fan, I can tell he turned into one of "the boys," and that doesn't fit his character. The heel turn plus an invasion storyline that could have been executed better led to a decline in the product.
3.Bret Hart vs. "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, Wrestlemania 13
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This match will hold up forever. From the great selling, the intensity, Ken Shamrock as guest referee to legitimize the submission stipulation, and steller in-ring psychology, this match is one of the best — if not the best.The Hitman and Stone Cold put on a performance of a lifetime. But before I can talk about the actual match, I've got to mention the Go-Home Raw show in 1997 before Mania. Bret Hart cut the best promo of his career after losing a WWF title match in a steel cage against Sid. This promo saw Bret push Vince McMahon and display a real heartfelt promo before being interrupted by Steve Austin. This led to a four-way brawl between Hart, Sid, Austin, and Sid's Mania opponent, The Undertaker. The promo showed how great Heel Bret can be and how hot of a babyface Steve Austin could be when he finally turned. This was the perfect go-home for such an amazing program.The submission match stipulation was in the favor of Hart, but the way Austin was taking the beating while giving out a can of whoopa-- of his own made me and the audience in attendance believe he could pull it off. Hart did a beautiful figure four on the ring post, taking out Austin's legs, and when Austin started his comeback with what might be the best chair shot ever, the crowd erupted. That moment proclaimed that within a 20- to 25-minute span, Heel Austin had turned into the most cheered babyface in the Fed.Hart was diabolical, and the hard-fought match led to one of the best endings of any match you ever will see. The SharpShooter was applied, and we saw blood dripping down Austin's face, leading to him passing out with Hart refusing to let go. That is how the best "Double Turn" ever and realist-looking WWF match was booked.Thank goodness Shawn "lost his smile!"
2.Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels, Wrestlemania 25
The story tells it self. Heaven or Hell. Michaels' Christanity or Undertaker's Deadman. Undertaker's 17-0 Wrestlemania streak going against the guy who he had never beaten in his career. In 1998, Undertaker and HBK faced each other for the WWF title in a casket match where HBK suffered a back injury that caused him to be on the shelf for four years. These men didn't meet again until Royal Rumble 2007, where these men were the last two left and gave us a classic 10-minute ending to that match. That moment gave us a glimpse of what Mania 25 would look like. During the build to Mania, Taker's usual mind games didn't work on the HeartBreak Kid, and it seemed like Michaels was the one in Taker's head. The stakes were high for both men, and this match was an instant classic.
Commentary was perfect; the Houston crowd with 72,000 in attendance was perfect; the near falls this match gave us was perfect. Shawn Michaels did whatever it took, several kip-ups, figure-four locks, and several reversals.
The craziest thing is the match is the Undertaker's dive spot. Every time I watch it, i don't understand how Taker kept going. His head hit so hard in the ground that it left an imprint in the floor. Once Taker beat the count out, I knew this match was going to reach top-3 status.
In this match, we saw HBK become the fourth person ever to kick out of the Tombstone. Seeing him kick out made me believe that it's a possiblity that HBK might be the one to actually beat the streak. Once Taker eventually got the win at the end, this match was not just only instantly considered one of the best Mania matches ever, but one of the best professional wrestling matches ever.
The chemistry these two men had was magical and led to the rematch the next year.
1.The Rock vs. Hulk Hogan, Wrestlemania XXI
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"ICON vs. ICON!"
This match was a spectacle of the two most OVER superstars in the business ever. I know the IWC may be upset that #2 or #3 are not #1 (which while writing this, I honestly contemplated both at this spot), but this is the most unique Mania match ever. The crowd alone and personal meaning to me made this #1.
This match, which took place in 2002, saw NWO's "Hollywood" Hulk Hogan fresh off a WCW run returning to WrestleMania for the first time in 10 years in a match versus Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, the "People's Champ" of the New Era of WWE. This is what you call a dream match, and this promo of Rock challenging Hulk followed by a roar when Hulk accepted shows how special this match was going to be. No one going into this match proclaimed this was going to be a great wrestling match, but this match defined what "professional wrestling" is. I'm about to put over the crowd that night in a major way, but don't get it confused — the crowd is only giving the emotion this way due to Rock and Hogan being Rock and Hogan!
Hulk vs. Rock is psychology at its finest. Rock was the babyface, and Hogan was the heel, but in the opening three minutes, we saw a historically great Toronto crowd wanting to see Hulkamania run wild. Ultimately this crowd made this match. This match was not technical or high-flying at all, and real pro-wrestling didn't need it. This match tore the house down, and it doesn't have even one flaw. When Hogan "Hulk'd" up and eventually hit his Leg Drop, you are a mad man if you didn't get goosebumps. Jim Ross at this moment gave one of his best calls ever when he mentioned how "He beat Andre the Giant with that move!"
The right person won in an unpredictable finish. The next night Raw opened with Hulk, and that's when you get the extra unneeded confirmation that this is the best Mania Match Ever.
Sadly, The wrestling business will never see two stars of that magnitude ever be in the ring at the same time again, and this match is one of one.
Former AEW and WWE (hopefully not former WWE by next week) superstar Cody Rhodes claimed this was the "greatest match ever," and the referee of this match, Mike Chioda, said this match might have been perfect and one of the best ever. I advise everyone to watch Rocky and Hogan talk about this match as well.
Jerry Lawler said it best... "We will never see Tyson and Ali. We will never see Babe Ruth and Barry Bonds. But we are gonna get to witness Hulk Hogan and The Rock."
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