Greatest WrestleMania Matches of All-Time

UseTheSledgehammerUh · February 14, 2006

First off, below were the matches up for my own personal consideration that anyone can argue for. I've compiled a list that I think it's extremely accurate, but I would like to see your comments, specifically if you think a match is too heavily overrated, lacks historical importance, or is just plain better than another. This list is what I had hoped WWE's horrible "Top 10 WM Matches Ever" in 2004 would be.

Honorable Mentions

#33 - WRESTLEMANIA XV - Shane McMahon Vs. X-Pac

An unimpressive bout when looked back upon, it did a great job of elevating X-Pac into an upper-midcard babyface role, had lots of humor with the Mean Street Posse's big-time debut, began Triple H's heel run to the WWE Title, and showed that Shane could hang with the boys.

#32 - WRESTLEMANIA III - Hulk Hogan Vs. Andre the Giant

Perhaps the most famous bout in history, these two delivered to the fans a passing of the torch, but due to the lack of actual wrestling, the bout can be hard to watch in present day. Included for historical value only, as its one of the worst matches in WM history.

#31 - WRESTLEMANIA VII - Hulk Hogan Vs. Sgt. Slaughter

A surprisingly well-worked contest saw Hogan defeat lame-duck champion Slaughter to end a storyline that was based on reality...and in reality, well, the good guys had already won in the fans' eyes. "What a comeback!" indeed, Regis.

#30 - WRESTLEMANIA 2 - The Dream Team Vs. The British Bulldogs

Standard formula tag was changed around a bit, and with a couple great workers and a couple decent workers stepping up their game, one of my favorite memories came about. The Bulldogs took the straps in an above-average match and the late 80's era of tag greatness really got started.

#29 - WRESTLEMANIA V - Hulk Hogan Vs. Randy Savage

The Mega Powers exploded with a little less intensity than was expected. Savage's immediate launch into a heel really hurt this, as a pure one-on-one between the Fed's biggest babyfaces would have probably resulted in a better, less formula ending of a match. Good effort and memorable, but dissapointing.

#28 - WRESTLEMANIA X-8 - Triple H Vs. Chris Jericho

Unlike most, time does this match well. These two have only gotten on the right track together once, in a gimmick bout, in 2000. This match is hated on for H's slower paced face offense, Jericho's HORRIBLE WM storyline, Stephanie's involvement, and the easily predictable outcome. However, I must add, the match was executed pretty flawlessly, if not unspectacularly. Give it a try and I think you'll see, while a POOR choice for a WM main event...it is indeed #28.

#27 - WRESTLEMANIA VII - The Rockers Vs. Haku & The Barbarian

Fast-paced, speed vs. power tag that saw Marty & Shawn's technical ability and crowd-popping double-teams used effectively to kick off a good show. Barbarian (one of THE most underrated workers I've ever seen) and Haku hang in there, using good, clean, power moves to tell their part of the story.

#26 - WRESTLEMANIA XX - Christian Vs. Chris Jericho

Excellent (yet cheesy "O.C."-esque) buildup, a well-worked match, interesting offense thrown in, and an outcome that elevated three people (Jericho back into full sarcastic dick babyface, Trish into irritating skank, and Christian into an upper midcarder with a big WM singles win).

#25 - WRESTLEMANIA XV - The Rock Vs. "Stone Cold" Steve Austin

Intense heat that saw the peak of the McMahon Vs. Austin storyline coincide with the peak of The Rock's "cool heel" heat. Decent match that has been done better, both on the PPV the next month and at future Manias. Throw in Michaels, Foley, Mr. McMahon, and a rabid Philly crowd hungry for Rock to be "stunnered" out of his boots and you get the #25 match.

#24 - WRESTLEMANIA VI - Hulk Hogan Vs. The Ultimate Warrior

Perhaps one of the greatest examples of overachieving in a WM main event (not named "Wrestler Vs. Football Player"). Both men elevated their game and looked like the top kings of the company because of it. A legit split crowd helped the match, and while it may be billed as "one of the biggest battles of all-time", it's #24 due to a good match between two usual stiffs, filled with lots of drama.

#23 - WRETLEMANIA XIV - Triple H Vs. Owen Hart

#22 - WRESTLEMANIA XIV - Shawn Michaels Vs. Steve Austin

Both "DX" members took the ball given for WM 14 and ran with it. Triple H went over and on to bigger things, and showed signs of being able to run things by himself here...well...with a little help from the soon to be huge babyface Chyna. The mid-card title match saw good, clean, fairly quick-paced action, and a silly but solid finish. The WM 14 main event launched Austin into the official flag-bearer of WWE, and was remarkable for Michaels' injuries. Two memorable contests.

#21 - WRESTLEMANIA 2000 - Kurt Angle Vs. Chris Jericho Vs. Chris Benoit

I was dissapointed when I saw this live and am still dissapointed by it today. While it provides better technical wrestling than a great deal of every WM match EVER, it still feels like an exhibition of what was to come later in the three men's WWE careers. No real flow, and the ridiculous booking of the match (Euro Title made more prestigious to send babyface over last? WHAT?) kinda make people forget about this one, but its solid enough for #21. Just missed the cut.

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Now the explanations will stop. Please comment on the following rankings.

The Top 20:

#20: WrestleMania XX - Evolution Vs. The Rock & Mick Foley

#19: WrestleMania 21 - Money in the Bank Ladder Match

#18: WrestleMania 2000 - The Dudley Boyz Vs. The Hardy Boyz Vs. Edge & Christian - Ladder Match

#17: WrestleMania XX - Kurt Angle Vs. Eddie Guerrero

#16: WrestleMania X-8 - The Rock Vs. Hollywood Hulk Hogan

#15 - WrestleMania VIII - Bret Hart Vs. Roddy Piper

#14 - WrestleMania XIX - Kurt Angle Vs. Brock Lesnar

#13 - WrestleMania 21 - Kurt Angle Vs. Shawn Michaels

#12 - WrestleMania X-Seven - Kurt Angle Vs. Chris Benoit

#11 - WrestleMania VII - The Ultimate Warrior Vs. Randy Savage

#10 - WrestleMania X - Shawn Michaels Vs. Razor Ramon - Ladder Match

#9 - WrestleMania XIX - Shawn Michaels Vs. Chris Jericho

#8 - WrestleMania XII - Bret Hart Vs. Shawn Michaels - Ironman Match

#7 - WrestleMania VIII - Ric Flair Vs. Randy Savage

#6 - WrestleMania 13 - Bret Hart Vs. Steve Austin - Submission Match

#5 - WrestleMania III - Ricky Steamboat Vs. Randy Savage

#4 - WrestleMania XX - Triple H Vs. Shawn Michaels Vs. Chris Benoit

#3 - WrestleMania X-Seven - The Hardy Boyz Vs. Edge & Christian Vs. The Dudley Boyz - TLC 2

#2 - WrestleMania X-Seven - The Rock Vs. Steve Austin

#1 - WrestleMania X - Bret Hart Vs. Owen Hart

humanoid92 · February 15, 2006

It really all depends on the list of criteria. I tried to rank my top 20, but after awhile I realized I didn't even know what I was doing. If it's purely on historical significance, matches like Hogan/Andre and Hogan/Rock should make it. But if it's just workrate alone, they shouldn't. Then there are some matches that are quality and were main events, but don't really have any significance. For instance, I like Flair/Savage more than Rock/Austin (X7) but the former was forgotten about a few months later, and the latter pretty much put the exclamation point on a successful era for the company. So which should be higher?

Also, I find it difficult to put a whole lot of stuff from after '98 on the show because even though it's still Wrestlemania and they still usually have a big-time feel, it's just not the same as it used to be. There's too much exposure now with 12-16 PPVs a year, and the same guys interacting every week on TV. Yet there are more really good workers now and a better chance of getting really good matches on each card.

Shawn/Angle from last year was really good, but nothing else really stood out to me. Money in the Bank was exciting, but I find it hard to consider it so highly because ladder matches were just so played out by that point. Eddy/Angle from WM 20 was a great match and should probably be on the list, but again, it just didn't seem like a really big deal to me. I actually loved HBK/Jericho from WM 19; that's the one recent WM match that felt like a really big match to me, probably because Shawn hadn't been back full-time for very long at that point and there was something compelling about seeing Jericho in that position.

I also find it hard to rate the TLC-type matches against each other. People say the X7 match was better, but 2000's was really good too and 2000's made more of an impact since it was the first time we saw such a match.

I like your list because you give credit to Savage/Flair and HBK/Jericho but some of the newer matches are a little high for my liking. I agree with what you said about Benoit/Angle/Jericho. It was a really good match but the heatless crowd and the bizarre European Title being decided second kind of hurt it.

WM Matches I feel are generally overrated:

Austin/Rock. All of them. Yes, X7 was by far the best, but I don't understand where all this ***** talk comes from. It was a really good match but no way was it a classic. Maybe I need to re-watch it again, but I wasn't blown away by it at the time.

XV had a good storyline but the match itself I thought was pretty boring and followed the standard Attitude main event brawl formula.

XIX was just kind of pointless and the result was a foregone conclusion.

Bret/Austin. I'm Bret's biggest fan and I completely understand the significance of this match. Love the storyline, and this is definitely still a top 10 WM match. But when everyone automatically puts this at #1 I scratch my head. I'm glad you only had it at #6.

Undertaker/Flair. It's just nothing special. Pretty slow and uneventful. Though I'll admit I've only actually watched this one once. I just don't feel compelled to ever watch it again.

Benoit/Angle. Again, I think it's an awesome match, I just thought it was overrated at the time. I remember the next day people were going nuts over it. It's a really good match that helps the card a lot but I don't see it as a ****+ classic that a lot of people pimp it as. Maybe this is another one I should re-watch.

WM Matches I feel are generally underrated:

Jericho/Regal. NOT that's a better match than Benoit/Angle and not that it's a masterpiece. After all, it only gets like 8 minutes. Still, something about this match feels special to me. It was just a perfect opener for that card and the right guy went over. Just an all around feel good match.

Brainbusters/Strike Force. Again, not a **** match, but still good stuff. This one is remembered more for its ending, but before that there was some pretty solid wrestling going on. Twin Towers/Rockers from the same show is remembered much more (and I like that match a lot too) but at the expense of this one.

Shawn/Diesel. This entire card gets forgotten, with good reason, but this was easily the match of the night. I know people complain about the psychology being backwards (the underdog little guy challenger was the heel) but I thought that made for a unique match. No one remembers this now, but a lot of people thought Shawn was going over here, and a lot of people got behind him as a "cool heel". Since it wasn't the final match on the card, it really felt like he might pull it off. Exciting match with some legitimate near falls. I liked this just as much as their brawl the following year that gets endless praise.

Bret/Piper. It gets a solid amount of love, but to me it's easily top ten. A perfect little story packed into 12 minutes, with an actual meaningful ref bump and an innovative finish. Enhanced a lot by the commentary and the classic pre-match interview. This isn't a typical "classic match" but to me it is one.

Shawn/Tatanka. Not a classic by any means, but a solid opener. The non-finish hurts it a little and I could have done without the Sherri/Luna stuff. It may be pretty basic stuff, but everything is really solid, and the story of Tatanka's undefeated streak against Shawn's IC Title is pretty good. Shawn is great in this match.

Anyway, like I said, I find it hard to blend historical value, main events, and workrate to blend into one list that makes any sense, so here's a list of my personal favorite top WrestleMania matches:

10) Wrestlemania 2000: Edge & Christian vs. Hardy Boyz vs. Dudley Boyz

Unique match at the time that felt like a big deal as it was happening. The right team went over. If they had only done one of these types of matches instead of three more in the next year-plus, this would probably be remembered as much more special. Instead, they kept topping themselves, which made for good fun, but set an impossible standard.

9) Wrestlemania XIX: Shawn Michaels vs. Chris Jericho

The wrong guy went over, yeah, but that doesn't even make me hate this match. Great performance. For some reason I like seeing Jericho in domes. Maybe because it's he always used to go on and on about how much he loved Savage/Steamboat and I think it's cool to see him in a similar big match setting. I don't know.

8) Wrestlemania 13: Bret Hart vs. Steve Austin

Awesome brawl and storyline. I just happen to like everything else higher on my list a little bit more.

7) Wrestlemania VII: Randy Savage vs. Ultimate Warrior

Incredible storyline. The stipulation, Warrior walking to the ring, the tights, the five elbows, the Warrior questioning his gods, the out of nowhere finish, Sherri, Elizabeth... just really exciting stuff with an ending everyone can love.

6) Wrestlemania X: Shawn Michaels vs. Razor Ramon

Watching this live, you knew you were watching something special. The best part is that the reason for the match made perfect sense within the storyline. Great story.

5) Wrestlemania XII: Bret Hart vs. Shawn Michaels

I've made posts defending this match before so I have nothing more to say.

4) Wrestlemania VIII: Bret Hart vs. Roddy Piper

Already wrote about this one too.

3) Wrestlemania VIII: Randy Savage vs. Ric Flair

This is how you make things feel chaotic. Heenan, Monsoon, Flair, Hennig, and Savage are all perfect here. It didn't even seem like a big deal that we never got Hogan/Flair because this delivered so well.

2) Wrestlemania III: Randy Savage vs. Ricky Steamboat

There's nothing I can say about this one that hasn't already been said.

1) Wrestlemania X: Bret Hart vs. Owen Hart

Plain and simple, this match (and storyline) made Owen's career. I used to be able to predict a fair amount of things the WWF was going to do, but somehow it never crossed my mind that Owen might actually win this match, what with all the focus on the Title picture. THIS was an upset. I just remember watching this with my friends live and being so shocked that Owen pulled it off. He had pretty much been a jobber up until that point. These days, I don't even think it would be possible to book an upset as meaningful or beneficial as this. And the storyline was perfect. Owen finally beat Bret, and proved himself to the world... and then two hours later Bret regains the Title, and he's #1 all over again. They don't do storylines like this anymore. My favorite.

gWIL · February 15, 2006

10. WrestleMania VII: Ultimate Warrior Vs. Randy Savage – Retirement Match

9. Wrestlemania VIII: Randy Savage Vs. Ric Flair

8. WrestleMania XX - Evolution Vs. The Rock & Mick Foley

7. WrestleMania- III - Hulk Hogan Vs. Andre the Giant

6. WrestleMania X-Seven - The Rock Vs. Steve Austin

5. WrestleMania XX - Triple H Vs. Shawn Michaels Vs. Chris Benoit

4. WrestleMania XIV - Shawn Michaels Vs. Steve Austin

3. WrestleMania X - Bret Hart Vs. Owen Hart

2. WrestleMania VI - Hulk Hogan Vs. The Ultimate Warrior

1. WrestleMania 13 - Bret Hart Vs. Steve Austin - Submission Match

CanadianChris · February 15, 2006

Going strictly according to personal favoritism (i.e. being a mark for both Randy Savage and WrestleMania III)...

1. Savage/Steamboat (III)

2. Savage/Warrior (VII)

3. Savage/Hogan (V)

4. Bret/Austin (XIII)

5. Savage/Flair (VIII)

6. Bret/Piper (VIII)

7. HHH/Michaels/Benoit (XX)

8. Bret/Owen (X)

9. Michaels/Razor (X)

10. Hogan/Andre (III)

11. TLC 2 (X-7)

12. Money In The Bank (21)

13. Michaels/Jericho (XIX)

14. Rock/Hogan (X-8)

15. Hogan/Warrior (VI)

16. Rock/Austin (X-7)

17. Bret/Michaels (XII)

18. Piper/Adonis (III)

19. Bulldogs & Santana/Harts & Davis (III)

20. Guerrero/Angle (21)

JimmyHendricks · February 15, 2006

In terms of my favorite matches to watch:

5: Bret/Austin, WM 13

---It's interesting to watch them slowly build Austin into a mega-star, over the course of ONE MATCH.

4: Shawn/Angle, WM 21

---I can remember everyone thinking this wouldn't be good because it was supposed to be about 5 years too late. Whew, were we all wrong or what?

3: Warrior/Savage, WM VII

---The first "career ending" match I ever saw, and I was almost throwing up when Savage dropped FIVE elbows on Warrior.....and Warrior kicked out. Then Warrior hit the gorilla press.....and Savage kicked out. Then the stuff with Elizabeth afterwards, which was a total shock. AMAZING.

2: Rock/Austin, WM X-7

---The same reasons as #3, just with different moments. Yeah, I had heard Austin would side with Vince, but to still see it actually HAPPEN was mind blowing.

1: Rock/Hogan, WM X-8

---I thought this would be a terrible match with a terrible finish, with Hall and Nash running in and doing a classic nWo beatdown circa 1997. I am happy to say I was completely wrong. The stuff before the match (Rock in the ambulance, Hogan with the semi) was goofy when you look at the result, but I never would have thought they would have brought back Hogan hulking up and I would have never thought Rock would go over clean. It could have been a passing of the torch, but Rocky wanted to do movies......

In terms of workrate:

5: Benoit/Shawn/HHH, WM XX

---Somehow they didn't fuck this up, and the right guy went over. I usually HATE 3 way matches, because it's usually one guy breaking up the pin all of the time. Not in this one. When Benoit had HHH in the crossface, I was just waiting for Shawn to break it up--but he didn't. MARVELOUS.

4: Bret/Shawn, WM XII

---It was a true wrestling match. 4 years later, HHH and Rock had a more exciting Iron Man at Judgement Day, with run in's and chairs galore (and unique booking), but this one truly lived up to the hype as one hour of WRESTLING.

3: Shawn/Angle, WM 21

---Every once in a while they still pull something great out of their asses, and this was one of those times. It was a breath of fresh air in a usually cloudy, "Main Event Style" world.

2: Bret/Owen, WM X

---Everything made sense, including the finish. You don't see two guys with the patience to let a match build for 20 minutes like this anymore.

1: Savage/Steamboat, WM III

---It will be hard to ever top this one. Like Angle/Shawn, it was something great in a punch and kick world. They didn't do anything spectacular move-wise, but the pacing and near falls were absolutely perfect.

In terms of drama:

5: Hogan/Warrior, WM VI

---Very hot crowd, and a shocking finish. One of those matches where you truly didn't know who would win. Ah, if EVERY match was like that.

4: Shawn/Angle, WM 21

---I caught myself being on the edge of my seat during this one, which NEVER happens anymore.

3: Benoit/Shawn/HHH, WM XX

----Chris finally wins the big one, clean, with HHH tapping. Who would have ever thought?

2: Hogan/Rock, WM X-8

---My friends and I were literally jumping up and down when Hogan hulked up. The complete opposite of what I thought it would be.

1: Austin/Rock, WM X-7

---You had heard it would happen, but you still couldn't believe it. Rock kicking out of EVERYTHING Austin threw at him almost gave me a heart attack. It was like an ECW match, where you thought it was over about 10 times, but it wasn't.

In terms of historical importance:

5: Shawn/Razor, WM X Ladder Match

---If this would not have been successful, we would have never had TLC matches or the Money in The Bank idea.

4: Shawn/Austin, WM XIV

---The final piece of the Austin star-making puzzle. The beginning of the real Attitude era.

3: Hogan/Andre, WM III

---It's called the most historic match ever, and if it was their ONLY meeting, it would be. Instead, they had a year long feud after this, with Andre deteriorating the whole time. It made this match seem less special.

2: Bret/Owen, WM X

---Owen goes from Bret's jobber brother to superstar in one match. I've always felt that if Owen wouldn't have won this match, he would have never become a star, quit the business, and never would have died.

1: Bret/Austin, WM 13

---The beginning of the Attitude era, with Austin as it's star, which was finally sealed the next year. Remember when they actually THOUGHT out their booking?

In terms of buildup:

5: Hogan/Savage, WM V

----You KNOW that they had this in mind before they ever decided to give Randy the title.

4: Hogan/Warrior, WM VI

----One of the few times they actually gave the fans something they had been dreaming to see. AND they kept both guys as faces. That would NEVER happen today.

3: Hogan/Rock, WM X-8

----Once again, who would have EVER thought? Since then, they've done Hogan/HHH, Rock/Goldberg, Shawn/Hogan, and yet, they all just don't seem as special.

2: Bret/Owen, WM X

----Bret refusing to fight Owen was classic. You truly felt that it was personal.

1: Hogan/Andre, WM III

----Despite the crappiness of the match and the feud afterwards, there will NEVER, EVER be a bigger money match than this. Everyone thinks Hogan/Austin would be, but I disagree, as both men are WELL past their primes, and we all know it. Back in 1987, that wasn't so obvious, and no one knew how Hogan could beat the Giant. It's why 93,000 people went to see it. Vince is a fool for thinking he could fill up Ford Field next year.

So, overall, MY top 5 for the GREATEST WRESTLEMANIA MATCHES EVER:

(taking all things into consideration)

5: Shawn/Angle, WM 21

4: Bret/Owen, WM X

3: Bret/Austin, WM 13

2: Rock/Hogan, WM X-8

1: Austin/Rock, WM X-7

I'm sure I'll get shit upon for putting Hogan/Rock in the list, but I don't care. I LOVED watching that match. But Austin/Rock was one of the few matches I couldn't sleep after watching because I was so amazed by it. Matches that DIDN'T make it? Steamboat/Savage was the best workrate wise, but Steamboat lost the belt a month later, and the feud was overshadowed by Hogan/Andre. Hogan/Andre had everything but a good match, and I can't overlook that. Rock/Hogan was bad, but still dramatic. Hogan/Andre was TERRIBLE, and that made it less dramatic. Hogan/Warrior always seemed really rehearsed, and I wasn't surprised when I found out it WAS. Shawn/Razor at WM X was great, but the gimmick has been done to death since then, lessening it dramatically for me.

chaosrage · February 15, 2006

1. Bret vs Shawn - WM12

2. Austin vs Bret - WM13

3. Austin vs Rock - WM17

4. Razor vs Shawn - WMX

5. Bret vs Owen - WMX

6. Savage vs Steamboat - WM3

7. Benoit vs HHH vs Shawn - WMXX

8. Shawn vs Jericho - WM19

9. TLC 2 - WM17

10. Jericho vs Christian - WMXX

JimmyHendricks · February 15, 2006

You wanted me to comment? Well, here you go:

The Top 20:

#20: WrestleMania XX - Evolution Vs. The Rock & Mick Foley

---I've always been bothered by the fact that this was a one time Rock appearance match, and that the crowd shit all over him because of it--which was a distraction, at least to me. I guess I need to go back and watch it again, and try to block all that out.

#19: WrestleMania 21 - Money in the Bank Ladder Match

---I liked it, but there have been so many table, TLC, and ladder matches in the last 7 years that it had a definite "been there, done that" vibe. But the idea behind it (a world title shot) was a shocking booking move that I didn't think they had in them.

#18: WrestleMania 2000 - The Dudley Boyz Vs. The Hardy Boyz Vs. Edge & Christian - Ladder Match

---I liked the X-7 match better (it seemed to have bigger spots), but this is a close second.

#17: WrestleMania XX - Kurt Angle Vs. Eddie Guerrero

---A very good match that was overshadowed by Benoit's win. It's too bad these guys didn't get a six month program to tear the house down with.

#16: WrestleMania X-8 - The Rock Vs. Hollywood Hulk Hogan