As we’re in the full swing of Wrestlemania season, we thought we’d take a look back at some of the best matches in the show’s history. Here are our top 5 Wrestlemania matches of all time.
Honourable mentions:
Randy Savage v Ricky Steamboat (Intercontinental Championship, Wrestlemania 3)
First of our honourable mentions is the brilliant Intercontinental Championship match from the much renowned Wrestlemania 3. Savage and Steamboat put on a classic in ring match that is still talked about some 25 years later. The two told a brilliant story of the plucky babyface Steamboat conquering the despicable heel champion, Savage. It was a battle of two warriors and both left it all out on the mat that night.
Bret Hart v Owen Hart (Wrestlemania 10)
A classic rivalry and a typical tale of brother vs brother which culminated in a fantastically wrestled match at Wrestlemania 10. Bret Hart was the clean cut babyface whom the crowd adored as due to his incredible in ring skills. And Owen Hart was the jealous ungrateful younger brother who played the heel wonderfully during this feud. The two had a mat special and executed everything to precision. It was Owen who ended up getting the big upset win too which helped catapult his career upwards.
Rock v Austin X7
The cap off match to the attitude era. A match that was one of the biggest star power wise of all time. Two massive stars at the peak of their careers, fighting for the WWF Championship at the biggest PPV of all time, bringing to an end the biggest boom period wrestling has seen. The match swerved at the end as Austin turned heel and sided with McMahon to win the WWF Championship. In hindsight it may have been a smarter move for Austin to have called an audible and stunned McMahon, either way, the match ruled.
Shawn Michaels v Kurt Angle (Wrestlemania 21)
At number 5 on the list is The Showstopper v The Wrestling Machine in a wrestling masterpiece. For many years and for many fans this was a dream match. Arguably the best performer to ever step foot in the ring against arguably the greatest technical wrestler to ever step into the ring. But for years we didn’t see it as both were on separate shows, not to mention Shawn’s back injury as Kurt was breaking out. The stage was set at Wrestlemania 21 for the dream encounter and two of the best to ever do it did not disappoint. For over 25 minutes the two told a compelling story whilst using great in ring psychology, with both superstars using superb technical wrestling to try and outdo the other. The match slowly built to a gripping conclusion with some great near falls including an epic Angle Slam from the top rope. Angle finally secured the victory with an Ankle Lock forcing Mr. Wrestlemania to tap out after being in the hold for over a minute. A wrestling clinic with psychology, selling and brilliant technical wrestling from two of the best in ring performers of all time.
Triple H v Shawn Michaels v Chris Benoit (Triple threat match for the World Heavyweight Championship, Wrestlemania XX)
At number 4 is a controversial one for obvious reasons, however the match and moment in a vacuum was outstanding. Of course it’s the scintillating triple threat match from Wrestlemania XX featuring World Heavyweight Champion at the time Triple H, Shawn Michaels and Royal Rumble winner Chris Benoit. Taking place in the famous Madison Square Garden, the main event of 2004s Mania was a fast paced, drama filled, feel good match as it saw the crowd favourite and career hard worker Chris Benoit capture the World Title for the first time in his WWE career to a huge reaction. The crowd were firmly behind Benoit the whole match, but the performance of all three superstars was incredible. Triple H played the end boss heel who was champion for a long time and who the crowd were desperate to see lose his belt. Michaels added his big time match experience and incredible athletic ability, while Benoit played the underdog babyface trying to capture his Wrestlemania moment. Excellent triple threat sequences had the crowd eating up everything the three men did and were incredibly hot for the finish which saw Benoit dispose of Michaels and lock in the cross face on the tyrannical champion for the clean tap out win which saw the crowd erupt. Then WWE champion and long time friend of Benoit, Eddie Guerrero came out for the post match celebration, which saw an emotional embrace of the two friends and a big statement from WWE which showed that smaller more technical wrestlers could headline the biggest shows of the year, paving the way for future stars like Daniel Bryan to do similar. At the time, a genuinely feel good Wrestlemania moment and a culmination of Chris Benoit’s career to that point.
TLC 2 (Wrestlemania X7)
At number 3 on the list is the crazy tables, ladders and chairs match between three of the best tag teams of that era, The champions, The Dudley Boyz, The Hardy Boyz and Edge & Christian. The match took place at the fabled Wrestlemania X7, which is still heralded as the greatest wrestling PPV of all time. The match was insane from minute one with all 3 teams using all the furniture available to beat the ever loving hell out of each other. Crazy spots, death defying stunts and terrifying moments that will live in fans memories forever. From Jeff Hardy’s Swanton Bomb off the top of a ladder through 2 tables, to Matt Hardy and Bubba Dudley crashing through 4 tables off the top of a ladder, to Edge’s memorable spear off the ladder onto Jeff Hardy hanging from the title belts. After all the chaos, destruction and broken bodies, it was Edge and Christian stood tall at the end to become Tag Team Champions once again.
Shawn Michaels v The Undertaker (Wrestlemania 25)
Number two on the list is renowned for being one of the greatest wrestling matches of all time. This match encapsulates perfectly the grandeur and big time stage of Wrestlemania and how to put on an absolute show for the fans. The two legends went back and forth for over 25 minutes, with amazing storytelling, selling and big moves which left the crowd on the edge of their seats throughout. The match started off slowly but really picked up after a terrifying spot in which Undertaker leaped over the top rope and landed head first on to a camera man. Taker was incredibly not injured from this and when the two got back into the ring, it was an absolute showcase from there on in on how to build drama and excitement. Michaels and Taker hit signature move after signature move with multiple near falls that had the crowd gasping at the story the two were telling. Chokeslams, Last Rides and Tombstones were kicked out of as well as multiple Sweet Chin Musics which left the crowd ultimately wondering if Shawn would be the one to break The Undertaker’s hallowed Wrestlemania streak. One misstep from Shawn at the end led to a second Tombstone and the win for The Deadman which extended his incredible streak to 17-0. An absolute wrestling masterpiece from two of the greatest Wrestlemania performers in history.
Bret Hart v Steve Austin (submission match, Wrestlemania 13)
So we’ve come to number one on the list and it won’t be a surprise to many. It’s often regarded as the greatest Wrestlemania match of all time, a match that had huge implications in the few years to follow and for WWE in general as it transitioned into the attitude era. Bret Hart v Steve Austin at Wrestlemania 13 was an influential match as it showcased violence, brawling and lots of blood. The two beat the hell out of each other with weapons, ringside brawling and any manner of object available to them, all the while being policed by special enforcer/referee and former UFC submission specialist, Ken Shamrock. Hart won the match with a Sharpshooter after working on Austin’s leg throughout the match, but it was the fact that Austin refused to give up, instead passing out from the blood loss and pain which created iconic scenes and showcased Austin’s fortitude. This, coupled with the fact Bret refused to let go of the hold and was generally drawing the ire of fans as they preferred the cooler Austin, led to a seldom seen event in wrestling which worked perfectly on this night, the double turn. Austin naturally became a babyface and Hart a heel after the match which led to an incredible rivalry with Austin and the whole Hart family throughout 1997 and it was this feud and the development of Austin’s anti hero character, which saw a huge swing in ratings for the WWE in which they never looked back. The match may have been the catalyst for Austin’s legendary character and WWEs influential attitude era which saw them drive WCW out of business by 2001. The best match in Wrestlemania history.
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Author: Alex Bakothanasis & Kurt Teale
Photo Credit: WWE
One Stop Wrestling 