The big show is just around the corner so we thought we’d countdown the most iconic moments from the best WrestleManias of all time!
10. WrestleMania 31 – Seth Rollins v Randy Orton.
So many great moments in this show. Rollins cash in his money in the bank against Roman Reigns and Brock Lesnar at the end of the night is one of the highlights but it was Rollins match with Orton that comes out on top here. In most wrestlemania matches involving Randy Orton he always manages to pull of an extra special RKO. This match was no different. Just as Rollins set up Orton for the curb stomp finisher Orton stood up pushing Rollins in the air before catching him with the RKO. Truly spectacular finish to the match. Orton was so impressed by his finisher and how he pulled it off Rollins had to remind Randy to cover him while laying prone on the mat!
9. WrestleMania 6 – Hulk Hogan v The Ultimate Warrior
Now this one is probably most memorable for the after match of the main event rather than the match itself. With Hulk getting ready to ride off to Hollywood and leave the WWF behind he found himself in a champion v champion match at WrestleMania 6 against the always unpredictable Ultimate Warrior. The plan was for Warrior to take the win and herald in the new era of champion. He did win but not after Hogan kicked out just after the 3 count (a way of disrespecting your opponents finisher) he made sure the main event was all about him even in defeat as he made sure the final shot of the night was him giving Warrior the belt and being the one to raise his arm. You might think this was Hogan passing the torch but no he was making sure he was getting as much camera time as he could while disrespecting Warrior at the same time.
8. WrestleMania 14 – Stone Cold Steve Austin v Shawn Michaels
This again was not so much about the match but more about the hype of the match and who it involved. With Mike Tyson as the special “enforcer” after a storyline that saw him become an unofficial member of D-X. After Austin got the win he threw Tyson an Austin 3:16 shirt. Michaels got in Tysons face after he thought he should have had his back. Tyson floored HBK with a punch and draped an Austin t-shirt over him. This was about the pull of Tyson just after having his boxing licence rescinded and fined $3 million dollars (coincidently his fee from WWE) Tyson was white hot during this period and WWE certainly capitalised on it
7. WrestleMania 19 – Brock Lesnar v Kurt Angle
In a show that featured Hulk Hogan v Vince McMahon as well as Shawn Michaels v Chris Jericho and The Rock v Stone Cold Steve Austin The match that edges them is Angle v Lesnar, two genuine stars of amateur wrestling and another passing of the torch match. Dave Meltzer gave this match 4 and 1/4 stars, high praise indeed. But the most memorable part of the match was Brocks attempted shooting star press to Angle which he missed by quite someway landing on his head. He managed to continue the match got the win over Angle.
6. WrestleMania 10 Razor Ramon v Shawn Michaels
Poor Brett Hart not only did he invent the ladder match in WWF (Brett had ladder matches in Canada before joining the then WWF and brought the idea with him only to see it handed to Michaels and Ramon) he also must have thought the opening match he had with his bother Owen was a shoe in for match of the night. That would have been the case if it wasn’t for the absolute classic Michaels and Ramon had in their ladder match. The first of its kind in WWF and a landmark in wrestling. Meltzer gave it a full 5 out of 5 in his ratings and claimed WrestleMania 10 the best pay per view he’s seen at that time.
5 WrestleMania 30 – The Undertaker v Brock Lesnar
The streak…is over! One of the most memorable endings to a match in a long time. Far from a classic as seen in previous WreslteMania’s this one was all about the unexpected. For 21 times at WWE’s main show The Undertaker got the win. This was to be the night that ended and Brock Lesnar became the 1 in 21-1. The story goes no one was privy to the finish backstage and the referee Chad Patton was only told what was about to happen just before the closing stages. Imagine being the referee counting the three count not knowing if you’ve just killed one of the longest running stories in professional wrestling! Plus the audible gasp of the crowd then the ref counted the pin made this a special match.
4. WrestleMania 22 – Edge v Mick Foley
The hardcore legend pulled out all the stops in this match against the much younger and in better shape Edge. The closing stages to this match is what got people talking. Not the barbed wire baseball bat or the chairs but the table. The burning table on the outside of the ring in which Edge speared Foley onto. One of the most memorable moments in WWE especially at their biggest show of the year.
3. WrestleMania 3 – Hulk Hogan v Andre The Giant
Now in todays day and age of guys like Ricochet and Will Ospreay, and your absolute classic matches like Omega v Okada. Hulk v Andre isn’t exactly a match full of high spots. But what it did have was the first time Andre The Giant, all 525 lbs of him could be beat. Not only beat but taken off his feet and slammed by a much small opponent. The pop for such a regular move was immense and its still shown in WrestleMania hype packages to this day.
2. WrestleMania 13 – Stone Cold Steve Austin v Brett Hart
Now Austin was never known for being a submission wrestler in WWE. And the odds were stacked against him against the excellence of execution in Brett Hart. The heel Austin went against the baby face Hart for over 22 minutes. With Ken Shamrock as the special guest referee both guys gave it everything in this 5 star rated match. Austin bled profusely from the head and while never actually submitting he was in the sharpshooter for so long and bled so much he “passed” out ending the match. This saw Hart keep the hold on and start attacking Austin after the match had ended. This led to the infamous double turn as the crowd turned on Hart and cheered Austin. The sight of Austin with blood pouring from his head is one of the most iconic images in WrestleMania history.
- WrestleMania 17 – Edge and Christian v The Hardys v The Dudleys
This is the most well remembered, iconic match in WWE history let alone WrestleMania.
In a tables ladders and chairs match all 6 of these guys left everything in the ring. They went through tables. Took chair shots. Took nasty looking falls from the ladders. Matt and Bubba Ray went off a 20ft ladder through tables on the entrance ramp. The most iconic of all was Edge spearing Jeff Hardy as he hung from the tag team titles suspended above the ring. Those who were there in the back said all 6 got standing ovation from the guys in the locker room when they came back though the curtain. If you ever get the chance you need to check this match out. Its an absolute classic!