Most underrated Wrestlemania matches of all time?..

[CheesalaIsGood]

I'm gonna have to toss my vote in for HHH and Cena. I really expected a Lesnar/Goldberg reaction to this match but it seemed the crowd was ready for a wrestling match. I confess the stars must have been aligned to get a match this good. Cena could have and should do more to make the STFU look you know... painful. Overall it's a great match that deserves more praise than it gets.

[Corey_Lazarus]

NAO vs. Cactus Jack/Chainsaw Charlie - Dumpster Match (WM14)

 

It's a great brawl, and it still holds up today. Overshadowed by the impact of Austin/HBK and the pure wrestling quality of TAKA/Aguila, but it's still a good brawl.

[Gary Floyd]

Ahmed /Road Warriors vs. NOD was a fun little brawl. The Somersault plancha Ahmed did over the guardrail was awesome.

 

HHH vs. Undertaker was fun.

[Epic Reine]

I agree with the Nation vs Ahmed Johnson and Road Warriors from WM13. Really intense brawl which was unique for it's time and if you ever wanna see how over Ahmed truly was, watch that match.

 

I also mark out for Ahmed doing a flying plancha through the crowd onto Savio Vega.

[snuffbox]

Can-Am Connection vs. Orton/Muraco made a pretty good opener for WM3. Orton and Muraco were still over as heels and had been at/near the main event for almost a decade, Martel was a recent AWA champ (which might have been of little consequence with the tv audience, but the Michigan crowd saw the importance), and Zenk was another young prettyboy face. A nice little 6 or 7 minute match to set the tone for an epic show.

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

I think Macho-Flair is somewhat underrated in the grand scheme because it didn't go on last and the finish was slightly out of nowhere, but still a great match, made better by the desparate actions of Perfect and desperate words of Heenan.

Macho's post-match promo is still one of my personal all-time faves:

 

"THIS IS WHAT MAKES YOU TICK! This is what makes you tick... this is what makes you tick..."

[Caliban]

I only got a PIECE of you Flair... JUST A PIECE!!!

[Darth Vader]

Jake Roberts/Rick Rude WMIV. Probably the best match to come out of that horrible WM.

 

Are you high? That match was a 15 minute chinlock. Steamboat vs. Valentine was the best match of that night.

[Si82]

I'm gonna go with the N.O.D./ Ahmed Johnson & L.O.D. streetfight from Wrestlemania 13 too. It was the perfect follow up to the Austin/Hart submission match.

[Guest Hemme]

A few underrated matches imo-

 

Tatanka vs Shawn Micheals, WMIX.

Bret Hart vs Yokozuna, WMIX.

Steve Austin vs Savio Vega, WMXII.

Owen Hart vs Triple H, WMXIV.

Molly vs Victoria WMXX.

[normam]

The harcore match at WM17 (kane, big show & raven)

[slabinskia]

WM2

 

Funks vs Jyd/Santana

 

WM3

 

Can Am Connection vs Orton/Muraco

 

The six man match with the buldogs/hart foundation was something that looked great on paper but was nothing special.

 

WM4

 

Demolition vs Strike Force

 

Maybe it was just the mark out moment of demolition winning the belts for the first time but I liked this one.Steamboat/Valentine and Savage/Dibiase were also solid and that's about the only positive things you can say about that ppv.

 

WM5

 

Rockers vs Twin Towers

 

I thought this was a really fun match. Anyone agree ?

 

Brainbusters vs Strike Force

 

A good ten minute match that I wish had more time. They could have put on a great tag match with 20 minutes.

 

WM6

 

Jake Roberts vs Ted Dibiase

 

Too bad the only thing remembered about this match is the wave because it was a pretty good match imo.

 

WM7

 

Rockers vs Haku/Barbarian

 

This might have to be removed from the underrated list because everyone has agreed that this was a good match. This was a great ppv with several good matches other than Savage/Warrior. I also liked:

 

Rockers vs Haku/Barbarian

Hart Foundation vs Nasty Boys

Hogan vs Slaughter

 

Hogan brought his A game 3 years in a row. I liked his match with Savage. Most people liked his match with Warrior. This one gets no love for some reason. People forget that slaughter was very good in the ring back in the day and he was motivated in this one.

 

I will list more later.

[JustJoe2k5]

How about Blue Blazer vs. Mr. Perfect from WrestleMania V?

 

Short but very sweet. Makes you wonder what type of match the two could have if they were given more time. I think an extended match between the two would rival Bret Hart's matches against Mr. Perfect.

[foleyfanforever88]

Angle vs Orton vs Rey WM22

 

This was a really fun, quick match. It had a few really cool spots (double German suplex for example) and didn't have any real down time. One of the MOTNs for me.

[GODSON]

LOD/Ahmed vs. NOD

[Danville_Wrestling]

I think Bret Hart vs. Yokozuna is overlooked from WM IX b/c of the Hogan debacle that occurred right after it but Bret works a very good "big man vs. small man" matchup by tieing Yokozuna in the ropes and unloading. One of Yokozuna's best matches right up there with his SummerSlam 1993 match with Luger which is my favorite of his.

 

Also, Slaughter vs. Hogan at WM 7 is a very good old school brawl that was much better than a lot of people were predicting. Even if the finish wasn't in doubt Hogan does a good bladejob which adds to the match.

[Guest DRH 502]

I remember WM 7's fun little match with Demolition/KitaoTenryu but I don't think it is long enough or really that good to be one of the most underrated of all time. Honorable mention though..

[CheesalaIsGood]

Hennig vs. Blue Blazer WM 5

 

 

Any reason you think this? IIRC this was something of a squash.

[Gert T]

I don't think it was too much of a squash, just a pretty condensed match.

 

I think I'll have to watch some matches tonight.

[Guest Overworked]

Undertaker vs Flair

 

Bob Backlund vs Bret Hart Wm11 I quit match that was entertaining.

 

Yokozuna vs Bret Hart, at that point Yokozuna was actually very mobile and was impressively flexible for his side, delivering a Savate kick.

 

Andre/Haku vs Demoltion, just on the Premise of Haku actually busting his ass wrestling the whole match on his own vs Ax/Smash and still making the match seem like it could go either way, with Andre doing his cheap shots, then the turn afterwards.

 

Future Faces of Fear (Haku/Barbarian) vs Rockers a Very excellent tag match even with Barbarian and Haku who as big man still did decent work with the Rockers who told the story of the match (Honorable mention for that year of course Orient express vs Rockers at Royal Rumble)

 

Taka Michinoku vs Agulia for being the very first Light heavyweight championship at a wrestlemania it proved to be excellent busting out moves only Taka and our favorite Essa Rios under a match can do.

 

guilty pleasure..

 

Kane/Raven/Big Show with Paul Heyman doing commentary with JR at Wm17

 

Ricky Steamboat vs Greg Valentine Wm4 tournament

 

Greg Valentine vs Randy Savage Wm4 Tournament

 

Hercules vs Haku

[Gert T]

Slightly off topic, but WM 8 is pure gold with Heenan & Monsoon, in the opener when Gorilla comments that he's never seen anybody lose to a side headlock reversed into a pin, to Heenan's comment "I've won with that a couple times".

[Guest Overworked]

Slightly off topic, but WM 8 is pure gold with Heenan & Monsoon, in the opener when Gorilla comments that he's never seen anybody lose to a side headlock reversed into a pin, to Heenan's comment "I've won with that a couple times".

 

 

Wm8 commentary was gold...GOLD... alot of funny instances..

 

intro when they talk about the Savage Flair angle where Flair would unveil the picture of Elizabeth Nekkid, Bobby was looking and go...is that it and you see Gorilla's Head SNAP up to look.

 

Heenan: I remember when I was champion.

Gorilla: Of What!?!

Heenan: of my neignborhood.

Gorilla: Oh.

 

later after the flair savage match when Heenan was making a statement from Flair, Gorilla kept saying You're a liar like three times, then Bobby suddenly sound like he was losing it Gorilla goes "Don't jump its a Long way down" and Bobby said "Put em Up!"

 

and during the rest of the night Gorilla needling Bobby about Flair's loss to the point where bobby said "I know where you can stick it" after Gorilla said that Savage certainly stuck it to Flair.

[Guest Floridian Cool]

How is Rock/Shamrock from XIV underrated? The match lasted maybe 3 minutes.

 

The fatal fourway from 2000 was a trainwreck. Mediocre-at-best match, horrible finish.

[Guest DRH 502]

^ Welcome to ignore.

 

*Edited for rudeness.

[The Mountie]

Hogan vs Slaughter, for sure. Good match.

[Robert]

Even though Rock/Shamrock was about four minutes, it was still a good four minute match. The ending where Farooqq (sp?) walked out and set up the win for Shamrock was great. The reverse DQ ending was good, and Shamrock going insane and busting the Rock open was great. Pretty long feud between the two, IIRC. My choice is probably Hogan/Slaughter which impressed the hell out of me.

[Guest C3THIR]

I only got a PIECE of you Flair... JUST A PIECE!!!

 

YOU HAVEN'T BEEN BEAT UP PROPERLY YET!!!

 

*hands belt to Liz*

 

THIS is YOURS! Take it and GO!! And THIS IS YOURS RIC FLAIR!!

 

*rips open shirt*

 

THIS IS YOURS!!! YOU CAN have ALL of me next time!! MR PERFECT, I'M NOT PERFECT, YOUR NOT PERFECT... NOBODIES PERFECT!!!!

[humanoid92]

I think there are two ways to look at this. Classics like Savage/Flair and Bret/Piper that we all know are awesome but get lost in the shuffle for whatever reasons and matches that certainly aren't classics but are really good and get overlooked altogether, like say, Shawn/Tatanka.

 

Some of these have been mentioned already, but here's my list:

 

- Can Am Connection vs. Muraco & Orton, WM 3

So glad this was mentioned. It may not be a **** match but it's the perfect tag team opener. Couldn't compliment the card better.

 

- Twin Towers vs. Rockers, WM 5

Awesome fat guys vs. quick guys tag match.

 

- Barbarian & Haku vs. Rockers, WM 7

Awesome slow guys vs. quick guys tag match.

 

- Bret vs. Piper, WM 8

I think this is damn near a perfect match. Unbelievable storytelling. This is what wrestling is all about. Everything here is gold, from the pre-match interview to set up the storyline, the commentary to Piper playing dirty, Bret's bladejob, the ref bump, the finish and the post-match.

 

- Savage vs. Flair, WM 8

So much drama and chaos. One of the most chaotic scenes ever in wrestling (before the Attitude era made nonsense like cops and random vehicles the norm). Heenan, Flair, and Perfect are, well... perfect. And Savage is more than insane enough to pull off his end. It's interesting, because much like Bret/Piper, if you just go back and watch the match, the workrate itself isn't anything mind-blowing. Yet every time I see it I still can't help but think it's anything below five stars. Both WM 8 matches are classic cases of using drama and storytelling to turn less into more.

 

- Tatanka vs. Michaels, WM 9

Really solid match that could have easily gone 25 minutes. It was paced flawlessly and the storyline with the undefeated Tatanka having beaten Shawn twice (in a six man tag and a non-title match) was good. Shawn had previously separated his shoulder, so Tatanka went right to work on it. Lots of good psychology here, and great bumping from Shawn. Also have to mention my favorite Shawn move, the flying lefty clothesline from the apron to the floor. Cheap ending but the only way to protect the undefeated streak and Shawn's title. Could have done without Luna and Sherri being involved, but still a forgotten great match.

 

- Yokozuna vs. Bret, WM 9

Only a 10 minute match instead of the 30 that WWF Magazine claimed. Way better than the WM 10 match. They got over the story of the match very well, as Bret smartly used his speed and brains to his advantage but Yoko was simply to much. A lot of unique offense from Bret in this match, as he had to deal with such a large opponent. The way they worked in the exposed turnbuckle is a favorite of mine. And while Yoko looked good with all the big offense and winning in a relatively short match despite never attempting his finisher, it still protected Bret in that he somehow actually applied the sharpshooter and lost thanks to Fuji. Everything after the match I consider a separate issue.

 

- Money Inc vs. MegaManiacs, WM 9

Not that this one is a classic or anything, but it had a certain old school feel to it, with the Jimmy Hart storyline, Hogan's mysterious eye injury, Beefcake's mask, the faces controlling large portions of the match, Money Inc's countout tease, the mask as a weapon, the brick in the briefcase, etc. Underrated tag match that I think gets a bum deal just because it's Hogan and the role he played later in the show.

 

- Savage vs. Crush, WM 10

I'd never seen anything like it before. Unique stipulation for the time, and I like the fact that the loser of the fall had 60 seconds to return to the ring, unlike the hardcore matches that followed in later years that were just mindless chaos. Nice touch early on in this one with Crush dropping Savage on the guard rail in the aisle (a la Monday Night Raw) and scoring the quick pin. Good blowoff to an underrated feud.

 

- Razor vs. Jarrett, WM 11

I love this match. Maybe I'm just a mark for Jarrett, but I love his first WWF run. Just some solid wrestling and sound psychology here. Not as good as the Rumble match but still good.

 

- Owen & Yokozuna vs. Smoking Gunns, WM 11

A mystery partner that didn't disappoint and some fun action. Both these teams are pretty underrated. And it started one of my favorite subtle storylines that was never completed but was still a great concept. With the in-ring feud between Bret and Owen over, Owen vowed to accomplish everything Bret had. He had already won KOTR, and now he won the Tag Titles (with one of Bret's previous rivals to boot). He did eventually go on to win the IC Title... it all should have culminated with him winning the WWF Title eventually, but whatever.

 

- Bret vs. Backlund, WM 11

With all the WM 11 mentions you'd think I love that show. I really don't. I think it's better than it gets credit for but it's a pretty average WM. Still there are several matches that don't get enough love and this is one of them. Not one of my favorite Bret matches but still a good match. And you've got to love Piper as the ref.

 

- Shawn vs. Diesel, WM 11

Shawn bumped like crazy. I like the dynamic here, with Shawn as the cocky cool heel on the rise and Sid as the new bodyguard. A lot of people think the face/heel dynamic is screwed up here but I like that it's different. It would be too cliche to have Shawn as the gutsy smaller underdog babyface, and besides, he's too good of a heel to turn the tables around like that. Everyone thought Shawn was going over here, especially with the midcard positioning. Really good match with a legitimately buyable false finish and Shawn comes up just short. These days they would have put the belt on him right away, but back then they waited so that it meant so much more when he finally won it. For the record, I like this match more than their highly-praised IYH match in '96.

 

- Undertaker vs. Diesel, WM 12

Really good big man vs. big man match.

 

- Bret vs. Shawn, WM 12

Most smarks seem to hate this match. It's awesome. I've written about this at length on this board before so I don't want to get into it all again. But given the general smark feelings about this match, I feel it's underrated.

 

- Jericho vs. Benoit vs. Angle, WM 2000

Goofy rules aside, this is one of the few triple threat matches I can ever actually get into.

 

- Jericho vs. Regal, WM X7

At the time, I was disappointed by this match, yet in a strange way I also find it to be underrated. Sure, with 15 minutes they could have put on a technical masterpiece. But they made the most out of the 7-8 they got. This is one of those instances where I think the match and the place on the card fit the atmosphere of the event perfectly. Much like the WM 3 opener, I just think it meshed well with the rest of the card and even though they were capable of more, I like how this match turned out.