If you are a fan of WWE, you too agree that the WWE’s classic event has come a long way since its creation in 1985 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The great wrestling event is the culmination of the company’s storylines, and more often than not, WWE relies on a big main event to entice the public to watch its “Super Bowl of Spectacle Sports. In this article of Gazettely, we will take a look back at some of the best WrestleMania in the history of WWE.
To come with this list, we haven’t just looked at the technical aspect of the fight in the ring. Instead, we have done this compilation based on the importance of the fight, its history, the technical aspect, the entertainment and its importance in history. While there is no magic formula, it’s a mix of all of these sprinkled with a personal preference to break down certain choices.
As you work through the list, you’ll notice several things. For example, Hulk Hogan was the main focus of the first decade of WrestleMania. In addition, the same names come up a lot in the fights to watch in different eras. Ultimately, and significantly in this ranking process, we see that the WWE has often made the wrong main event choice for its biggest card of the year. Without further ado, below is our compilation of the 36 main bouts in WrestleMania history.
We should also add that in this article we have talked about some more memorable matches of that WrestleMania, so in fact there are much more than 30 of the best WrestleMania matches in this article.
WrestleMania 1 (1985): Hulk Hogan & Mr. T vs. Roddy Piper & Paul Orndorff
We need to start at the beginning and WrestleMania 1 introduced us to the least interesting main event in history, although it had a long term impact. It was pretty much a big party to draw people in with stars, glitter, music and not many good fights. The REAL fight should have been Hogan vs. Piper, but they were both coming off The War to Settle the Score gala and you couldn’t repeat the fight a few weeks later. Therefore, a tag team fight with a star and a lot of flare.
WrestleMania 11 (1995): Bam Bam Bigelow vs. Lawrence Taylor
In the first WrestleMania of the Monday Night War era with WCW, Vince McMahon chose to do one thing in particular: not finish his biggest show of the year with his world championship. Rather, it was an affair between NFL Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor and veteran Bam Bam Bigelow. Why Bam Bam?
Well, because he spent months training with Taylor in an effort to choreograph a decent fight for the end of the gala. And this was a worthy fight under the circumstances, which demonstrates Bigelow’s great talent. But it remains a disappointing choice to end such an important gala.
WrestleMania 7 (1991): Hulk Hogan vs. Sgt. Slaughter
For anyone who has forgotten this sad story, Sgt. Slaughter was back after several years of absence, but rather than being a beloved soldier of the crowd, he was playing an Iraqi partisan in the Gulf War. A terrible idea and a very bad main fight. Meanwhile, Slaughter was also in his 40s during the fight and not particularly fit. It looked like it. Stay tuned for more o the best WrestleMania matches!
WrestleMania 4 (1988): Macho Man Randy Savage vs. Ted DiBiase
The WrestleMania 4 tournament is a legendary one and Savage’s crowning is a great moment. However, the fight itself was not so famous. The moment was important, but it was also the conclusion of a boring WrestleMania. That being said, Savage’s year was pretty good after that.
WrestleMania 13 (1997): The Undertaker vs Sycho Sid
You heard about the forgettable Sid Justice earlier, but it was the form of Sycho Sid that really stood out because of his rise as a real threat. However, in 1997, it was a strange transitional period for the WWF and the legend the Undertaker was not yet a presence at WrestleMania.
WrestleMania 27 (2011): The Miz vs. John Cena
This is our first “modern” WrestleMania on the list of best WrestleMania matches and the start of the long list of fights with John Cena as the star. In fact, WrestleMania 27 in its entirety was quite unpleasant to revisit and The Miz on top made no sense at the time. He was nowhere near the star he is today and apart from the surprise appearance of The Rock at the end of the show, there was nothing about the whole affair that was worth watching.
Another truly memorable match at WrestleMania 27 was The Undertaker vs. Triple H. Coming off two wars with Shawn Michaels, The Undertaker started his sequence with Triple H and it was just as sweet. The second fight of three between the two was mostly a door opener for the final, ultimate cage match. But it was still a highlight match.
WrestleMania 36 (2020): Brock Lesnar vs. Drew McIntyre
Because of the health crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic, WrestleMania 36 was the first one to be held in two nights and, for the only time in history, the spectators were absent. As a result, the main event between Royal Rumble winner Drew McIntyre and Brock Lesnar had a challenging atmosphere that would unfortunately affect the quality of the fight.
It was still a good story and a good collision between the two, but difficult not to remain bitter in front of McIntyre’s triumph in front of nobody.
One other truly memorable fight at WrestleMania 36 was the Undertaker vs. A.J. Styles (Boneyard Match). With no spectators present, the cinematic matches were featured. While John Cena and The Fiend put on a very entertaining battle, the Undertaker’s final match was the one that would draw the most attention as he put on an action-packed short to put away A.J. Styles. This was the Undertaker’s 25th career win at WrestleMania and the finale to a very big career.
WrestleMania 34 (2018): Brock Lesnar vs. Roman Reigns
This is still very new and Brock Lesnar’s win seemed like a disavowal of Roman Reigns’ rise. So why are we putting the fight so low? Because it was completely forgettable and in no way represented what fans were hoping to see at the biggest gala of the year.
One of the most memorable fights of WrestleMania 34 was Kurt Angle & Ronda Rousey vs. Triple H & Stephanie McMahon. The smashing debut of Ronda Rousey took everyone by surprise and she kicked off her successful year-long partnership with WWE. It was the fight that was talked about the next day and with good reason.
WrestleMania 16 (2000): Triple H vs. The Rock vs. Mick Foley vs. Big Show
When looking at the four names in the match, you’d hope for a flamboyant show, just like the turn of the 2000s and the WWF’s triumph over WCW. But … this wasn’t quite that. The match wasn’t bad, but with four wrestlers and each a sidekick, it was crowded, confusing, and ultimately not that entertaining. It also put the pieces in place for the dominant Triple H era.
A really unforgettable match from WrestleMania 2000 was Edge & Christian vs. The Dudley Boys vs. The Hardy Boyz. The ladder match that ignited the fire that would become the first TLC at the following Summer Slam. Three amazing teams, a crazy result and an absolutely electrifying rivalry. One could also talk about the outstanding fight between Chris Jericho, Kurt Angle and Chris Benoit for the European and Intercontinental championships, although it’s hard to revisit Benoit’s good moves without that immense feeling of guilt.
WrestleMania 33 (2017): The Undertaker vs. Roman Reigns
Roman Reigns, we must admit, had it pretty rough for his first long climb. This culmination against The Undertaker wasn’t the show we were hoping for, especially considering the age and health of The Taker. It was still a big fight, but a strange time and questionable timing.
A truly remarkable match from WrestleMania 33 was A. J. Styles vs. Shane McMahon. The most entertaining fight of the night, between Styles and McMahon, was our surprise of the night. Stay tuned for more o the best WrestleMania matches!
WrestleMania 18 (2002): Triple H vs Chris Jericho
This isn’t really fair to Triple H and Chris Jericho, but both were to follow a crazy fight that burned the fans and it shows in the show. The crowd was drained for this world championship and WWE should have changed the order. Other than that, it was a good fight.
Most notable match of WrestleMania 18 was The Rock vs. Hulk Hogan. This was the match that drained everyone, Icon vs. Icon, The Rock vs. Hulk Hogan. Such a great match, such a great atmosphere, such a great moment.
WrestleMania 20 (2004): Triple H vs Shawn Michawls vs Chris Benoit
A night to forget, a triumph for Chris Benoit. We had to put the fight on the list of best WrestleMania matches and despite Benoit’s awful actions, the fight is still memorable. It remains difficult to talk about it with praise, so let’s move on to the real highlight fight of the night: Eddie Guerrero vs. Kurt Angle. This was the other showstopper of the night, Eddie Guerrero’s. It was a classic with Angle, a happy ending and the pinnacle of the Latino Heat’s career before his tragic death.
WrestleMania 32 (2016): Triple H vs Roman Reigns
Following his Royal Rumble win for the World Championship, Triple H was expected to come out and lose it to Roman Reigns. While the story had some appeal, people just didn’t want to see Reigns on top yet and the show was suffering. It was still an important confrontation for the time, though.
The truly monumental match of WrestleMania 32 was Charlotte v. Becky Lynch v. Sasha Banks. Perhaps not the best encounter with these wrestlers, but it had to start somewhere and the crowning of a first female champion would start the “famous” women’s wrestling revolution. All this is to be taken with a grain of salt, but it was still an important moment. This was also the longest women’s wrestling match in WrestleMania history at the time with over 16 minutes.
WrestleMania 22 (2006): Triple H (c) vs. John Cena
When it comes to Triple H, he was often the man chosen to “pass the torch”. In this case, he had to do it against John Cena and it was still satisfying. With John Cena’s prominence after this fight, he had to be given the spotlight.
A truly notable battle from WrestleMania 22 was Edge vs. Mick Foley (Hardcore Match). Both Edge and Mick Foley went all out and the fight will go down as one of the best of the career of both.
WrestleMania 35 (2019): Charlotte vs. Becky Lynch vs. Ronda Rousey
Yeah, we were going to make a big deal out of this first ever women’s main event, but it was hard to get past the somewhat ragged pace of the business. Regardless, Becky Lynch was the most popular star in WWE at the time and her triumph crowned a far too long night in New York. Still, a great moment.
Most memorable match of WrestleMania 35 was Kofi Kingston v. Daniel Bryan. Kofi Kingston, World Champion. This idea caught on organically and this finale was worth the trip, particularly with Bryan’s hard work to make the veteran eternally relegated to the role of supporting player in WWE look good. Stay tuned for more o the best WrestleMania matches!
WrestleMania 19 (2003): Brock Lesnar vs. Kurt Angle
Before being the part-time beast, Brock Lesnar was “The Next Big Thing” and his feud with Kurt Angle certainly reflects that, notwithstanding the somewhat haphazard ending due to a botched maneuver. One has to revisit this fight to appreciate the raw talent and impact of Brock Lesnar. As well, Kurt Angle didn’t give away his spot.
A truly memorable fight from WrestleMania 19 was The Rock v. Steve Austin. This was the third match in the Rock and Austin feud at WrestleMania. While The Rock had already begun his transition to Hollywood, Austin was still on his last legs in the ring. Both of them still put on quite a show. Meanwhile, Chris Jericho and Shawn Michaels delivered a solid classic earlier in the evening. Stay tuned for more o the best WrestleMania matches!
WrestleMania 25 (2009): Triple H vs. Randy Orton
This is the story that needs to be told. Back in 2009, far from the days of Evolution, it was predator Randy Orton who was circling Triple H. By the 25th WrestleMania, they needed a big fight and a big story. Instead, they got robbed of the spotlight.
Definitely another memorable fight of WrestleMania 25 was The Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels. Yeah, Undertaker and Shawn Michaels had the first of two legendary fights before HBK’s retirement. What a match, worth watching again before the other one to understand the dramatic build up.
WrestleMania 29 (2013): The Rock vs. John Cena
This is the second fight that was only supposed to happen once. It’s unfortunate in terms of continuity, but the Rock and John Cena both put on quite a show and we put it right before the other one since it’s a long and still important story.
Another really momentous match at WrestleMania 29 was The Undertaker vs. CM Punk. With his championship stripped, CM Punk went to The Undertaker and gave the legend a run for his money before his streak ended. As a villain, Punk took every detour to get under the skin of the man from beyond the grave. A great performance.
WrestleMania 28 (2012): The Rock vs. John Cena
So, let’s talk about the fight between The Rock and John Cena for real, which was announced the year before at the end of WrestleMania. It was a brilliant idea to spread the match over a year, as a legendary clash with a very important part of the history of the classic. On top of that, it was really entertaining.
Another really outstanding match from WrestleMania 28 was The Undertaker vs. Triple H (Hell in a Cell). On the other hand, it was in a cage that the spectacle happened during the last fight between Triple H and The Undertaker at WrestleMania. It was all there and we thought that Triple H would finally throw away the sequence. But no. Stay tuned for more o the best WrestleMania matches!
WrestleMania 21 (2005): Batista vs. Triple H
If you don’t know why Batista is so famous, then you may have missed the rise and fall of Evolution. His announced triumph at WrestleMania 21 was simply the most well put together storyline of the year with a killer conclusion for the fans. Whenever we see him pointing his thumbs down at Triple H and Ric Flair again, we relive the moment.
Another truly great fight at WrestleMania 21 was when Edge won the first Money in the Bank Ladder Match. Also noteworthy is the start of a WWE tradition: the Money in the Bank Ladder Match. Edge won the first two and therefore became the ultimate opportunist. Alternatively, Kurt Angle and Shawn Michaels fought for almost thirty delicious minutes in a submission match. Stay tuned for more o the best WrestleMania matches!
WrestleMania 23 (2007): John Cena vs. Shawn Michaels
We’re going to say it here, this was possibly the best match of John Cena’s career thanks to the performance of Shawn Michaels, Mr. WrestleMania. This was also the moment of the Cena era with a 2nd consecutive WrestleMania defense of a world championship. Love Cena or hate him, he belongs at the top.
One really memorable fight from WrestleMania 23 was Bobby Lashley (with Donald Trump) vs. Umaga (with Vince McMahon). Would you think we wouldn’t highlight Donald Trump’s presence to shave Vince McMahon’s head? We would not miss this opportunity.
WrestleMania 6 (1990): Hulk Hogan vs The Ultimate Warrior
Forget the technique here, it was the magnitude of the moment that is simply unmissable. On April 1, 1990 in Toronto, Hulk Hogan turned the tables on The Ultimate Warrior in the most anticipated wrestling match of the 1990s. It was a great challenge, a great moment, that still rings true today despite the lack of wrestling holds.
A really worth remembering fight from WrestleMania 6 was The Orient Express vs. The Rockers. Since we had to name a fight, let’s go with The Rockers.
WrestleMania 24 (2008): Edge vs The Undertaker
This is where we enter the great classics. Edge effectively waged war on the Undertaker before losing like everyone else. It was a perfect storm of a match and Taker’s streak after that was too big to ignore and the fighting quality too imposing. Following Edge, Taker would rub shoulders with Shawn Michaels twice, Triple H twice and CM Punk before finally losing to Brock Lesnar. The end of the streak started with Edge and the World Championship, a great moment.
One of the most memorable matches of WrestleMania 24 was Shawn Michawls vs. Ric Flair (retirement match). “I’m sorry, I love you”. The words that still resonate in the hearts of wrestling fans. The final match of Ric Flair in the WWE crowned a well put together storyline to provide a last stand to a legend. And Shawn Michaels was the perfect opponent for this unforgettable moment.
WrestleMania 3 (1987): Hulk Hogan vs. Andre the Giant
Who could fail to rank the collision between Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant high on the best WrestleMania matches list? If we look only at the technical aspect, of course, the fight doesn’t make sense anymore. But the significance of the moment more than makes up for it, and WrestleMania 3 is the first WWF classic, the match that has gone down in popular culture with all the legend surrounding it. This was, at the time of wrestling’s growth, a pivotal moment.
Another truly great fight at WrestleMania 3 was Macho Man Randy Savage v. Ricky Steamboat, which was the first of its kind in the world. If you wanted some technical wrestling, Savage and Steamboat were the ones to turn to with a wrestling practice that was ahead of its time. A must-see to understand many things the two men saw coming before anyone else.
WrestleMania 15 (1998): The Rock vs. Steve Austin
This is the first of three WrestleMania’s where Steve Austin and The Rock faced off. It’s a very good match, but it’s the worst of the three so the match suffers a bit in hindsight. Still, it’s definitely worth a look. The Rock and Steve Austin are the cream of the crop, even when it’s not their best fight.
WrestleMania 14 (1998): Steve Austin vs. Shawn Michaels (and Mike Tyson)
Well, if you’re looking for a turning point for Steve Austin, you should look no further than here. The presence of Mike Tyson propelled this match into the upper echelon and two of their generations finest delivered an instant classic with Steve Austin’s crowning glory with his middle fingers. Nothing could stop Austin after that as he started his long rivalry with Vince McMahon who did not want a rebel champion for his company. This was the Attitude Era summed up in one match.
WrestleMania 26 (2010): The Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels
Once again, Shawn Michaels. The ultimate fight of his career before his sad return to Saudi Arabia almost ten years later. The second fight between Undertaker and HBK is the very best by far and the story told is almost perfect. The pursuit of Michaels for revenge would never find a home and in the end, the three count would shatter the hearts of the fans as Michaels had to hang up his boots.
WrestleMania 17 (2001): The Rock vs. Steve Austin
The famous “heel turn” of Stone Cold after his triumph at the Royal Rumble and his comeback to the top to dethrone The Rock. This is the classic match between the two, their 2nd WrestleMania, the cream of the crop with a gripping storyline, some surprises and two stars in top form. Truly, great art. Nothing to say, go see it again. Stay tuned for more o the best WrestleMania matches!
WrestleMania 12 (1996): Bret Hart vs. Shawn Michaels (60-minute Iron Man Match)
The boldness of announcing an hour-long match in the finals of WrestleMania was unprecedented in 1996, but if there were two wrestlers who could do it, it was Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels. The heated relationship between the two always produced great matches, though this one was just perfect.
While HBK would fulfill his childhood dream of being WWF champion, Hart would experience a great heartbreaking defeat that would fuel his final months in the WWF before the notorious Montreal Screwjob in 1997. We could put this fight at the top of the best WrestleMania matches list, but, it was missing a little something magical.
WrestleMania 30 (2014): Randy Orton vs. Batista vs. Daniel Bryan
The magic, it’s here. The New Orleans miracle, Daniel Bryan’s “Yes” explosion and a memorable night for the wrestler that the crowd wanted to see on top. WWE had to listen to their fans and after so many months, it was around the right waist that the championships ended. Daniel blew the roof off the Saints Superdome in New Orleans on April 6, 2014. An excellent WrestleMania with a magical ending.
What do you think of our list of best WrestleMania matches? Feel free to add your own in the comments.
