We are less than two weeks away from Professional Wrestling’s biggest night of the year. A night where careers are made, and legacies are cemented. Wrestlemania has been labelled “The Showcase of the Immortals”, but there’s only so much time to showcase the wealth of talent WWE has to offer. As I pointed out in last week’s article, not every Wrestlemania match gets the attention it deserves. Sometimes it gets dealt a bad hand of being on a crummy show that doesn’t want to be remembered, or often it gets overshadowed by a bigger moment on a great show. These matches may not be the most memorable moments of their show but they are Wrestlemania Classics none the less.
These matches aren’t featured in any highlight reels or promo videos produced by WWE, but maybe they should be. That’s why we’re here today. To honour the men and women who held up the platform for the big moments of Wrestlemania to stand upon, and did an excellent job in the process. We’ve already had a look at numbers 30-16, so let’s continue on with the countdown!
15. Rob Van Dam vs. William Regal (Wrestlemania X-8): Although this match was hastily put together, it proved to be one of those contests where the two competitors just “clicked” and put on a fantastic opening contest that had Toronto’s Sky Dome rocking. It’s amazing that these two weren’t paired up that often after this match. Although their styles were drastically different, both were hard hitting tough guys and their battle really made for great television.
14. Shane McMahon vs. Vince McMahon (Wrestlemania X-7): The first official battle in the forgettable Invasion story line was a match that gave us some real hope for the future. Vince and Shane beat each other silly in a match that I’m sure was a lot of fun for both men. Vince’s charisma and Shane’s agility were both on full display here, which combined with Mick Foley as referee and the turn/reveal of Trish Stratus and Linda McMahon gave all the drama one needed for a memorable Wrestlemania brawl.
13. John Bradshaw Layfield vs. Chris Benoit (Wrestlemania 22): I’m sure many fans didn’t expect much from this contest heading into the show of shows. After all, JBL was a lumbering big man, while Chris Benoit was a master technician. What they didn’t account for was that BOTH of these men can wrestle, both can hit hard, and both understand the psychology of pro wrestling. Their contest for the United States Championship came out of no where as a sleeper hit, and if you go back and watch it, you’ll see why.
12. Chris Benoit vs. Montel Vontavious Porter (Wresltemania 23): This time it’s the rabid wolverine going back to back in matches and in back to back Wrestlemanias. Both for the United States Championship. This was a coming out party for MVP as he held his own against the Canadian Crippler, proving he had what it takes to be a player in WWE. Although the crowd isn’t as vocal for this match as one would hope, looking at it from a pure wrestling standpoint you’ll see that both men gave a performance deserving of this list.
11. The Undertaker vs. Randy Orton (Wresltemania 21): When it comes to the streak, The Undertaker has had some classic matches and some real stinkers. This match however falls into the former category. While Randy Orton’s former partner Batista was stealing the main event spotlight, Orton tried to steal the show with the Phenom. He didn’t do that, but he came damn close, in one of the few matches that had me second guessing if the Undetaker could keep the streak alive. We even got a great cameo from Randy Orton’s father, Bob Orton Jr. with cast and all! A great match with some incredible moments.
10. Rey Mysterio vs. Eddie Guerrero (Wresltemania 21): We finally crack the top ten with one of many incredible encounters from these two Latino legends of pro wrestling. A lot of people dismiss this match up because it wasn’t as memorable as their mask vs title contest from Halloween Havoc 1997, and it certainly wasn’t that, but it was still a compelling drama between two fan favourites and great wrestlers, telling a story of one upmanship that was simply over shadowed by a show full of great matches.
09. Randy Orton vs. CM Punk (Wrestlemania XXVII): Both Randy Orton and CM Punk have been vocal in the past about how they felt pushed aside at Wrestlemania XXVII. Well, they did everything in their power to make those in charge regret that decision. In one of the few bright spots of a forgettable night, Punk and Orton pulled out all the stops and delivered a match of main event quality, without the baggage of a returning star or screwy finish to bog them down. There are few reasons to go back and watch Wrestlemania XXVII, but this is one of them.
08. Christian vs. Chris Jericho (Wrestlemania XX): This match will be remembered for two things. First, it will be remembered for the exciting clash between two former partners turned enemies, and it will also mark the moment that Trish Stratus broke every fan boy’s heart be kicking Chris Jericho below the belt, planting a sloppy kiss on the creepy little bastard, and beginning the most memorable run of her career as a conniving heel. This is one of those matches that has something for just about everyone. Great wrestling, psychology, and heart wrenching drama. Everything a Wrestlemania classic should have.
07. Rey Mysterio vs. CM Punk (Wrestlemania XXVI): I think Wrestlemania XXVI is often underrated as a show. It had great story telling in the build up, and the matches delivered on all fronts. Take this match for example. Heading into this contest, the story of CM Punk’s pursuit of Rey Mysterio to join his Straight Edge Society was hitting its apex, topped off by one of the creepier moments in WWE history with CM Punk singing Happy Birthday to Rey Mysterio’s daughter. Both men knew they had to live up to the build, and with these two firing on all cylinders, they didn’t disappoint.
06. Kurt Angle vs. Chris Benoit (Wrestlemania X-7): What made this match fantastic was not the actual wrestling, even though that was superb. What made this match great was the psychology. Benoit and Angle did wrestle at the outset, but like any good heel, once Angle realized he was being out matched on the mat, he threw a punch, took the match in a whole new direction, and kicked it into another gear, giving a match that was as good as it gets from an in-ring stand point. It’s only disadvantage was being on a stacked card full of excellent matches.
05. Shane McMahon vs. X-Pac (Wrestlemania XV): This match can be summed up in one word: Emotion. Shane McMahon as the cowardly paper champion, X-Pac as the rightful owner of the European championship, and the rest of the players contributing to the overall drama (including a heel turn that left many a jaw on the floor when it was all over) made this a match that used to be considered among Wrestlemania’s best but for whatever reason has fallen off the radar in recent years. If you go back and watch this classic example of storytelling, I think you’ll agree it deserves better.
04. The Undertaker vs. Ric Flair (Wresltemania X-8): When this match was announced for Wrestlemania X-8, my 18-year-old self thought it was a terrible idea. I never should have doubted these two veterans, and I was never more delighted to be wrong. Both of these men left everything they had in the ring, and both took each other to the limit in a nasty brawl that made both men look like the legendary warriors they are. Even Arn Anderson got physical and gave a classic Spinebuster to the Deadman in a pop that was only overshadowed by Hulk Hogan that night. Both men came out more over than when they walked in, and when you’re talking about the Phenom and the Nature Boy, that says something.
03. Kurt Angle vs. Shawn Michaels (Wrestlemania 21): The fact that this match does not get the attention it deserves as an all time great of Wrestlemania is a shame. But don’t take my word for it, Jim Ross himself has said so, and that’s pretty high praise from a pretty respectable source. It’s not hard to see why JR, myself, and others feel that way too. This was a story about passing the torch when the old lion just isn’t ready to lay down. Both of these men brought their A-game and gave without question the best match on the show. Let’s hope Kurt Angle does make a return to WWE in the near future so it can once again take it’s place in the annals of Wrestlemania lore.
02. Hulk Hogan vs. Vince McMahon (Wrestlemania XIX): This match is not going to win any awards for wrestling. This was a fight through and through, but what it lacked in ring ability was made up for in theatrics, drama, and brutality. This is match that’s all about the moments. It’s a highlight reel of “did you see that?”. We have Roddy Piper making an unexpected return to hit Hulk Hogan with a lead pipe, Vince McMahon peering over the edge of the ring apron looking like Satan incarnate, a huge leg drop from the top of a ladder, a feel good victory for the Immortal One, and a blood stained McMahon having just enough energy to flip Hogan the bird as he’s being carted away. Spectacle is one of the biggest parts of Wrestlemania, and this match is a true spectacle, one of the greatest in Wrestlemania history.
01. Bret Hart vs. “Rowdy” Roddy Piper (Wrestlemania VIII): Truth be told, I’m a little biased when it comes to this match, as it’s my favourite Wrestlemania match of all time. That being said, it is still worthy of more attention than it gets. What I love about this match is how layered it is. There are so many stories happening all at the same time in this contest. It’s a story about a former champion looking to regain what’s his, while at the same time proving himself against a mentor and friend. But it’s also the story of a veteran who has finally gotten a hold of his first singles gold in the WWF, and his struggle to not only keep it, but to keep his former demons at bay in an internal battle between the glory of gold, and the honour of a true champion. It’s almost beautiful in a way. Both of these men were master storytellers, and that’s exactly what they did in this match. Piper did more to tell a story holding a ring bell than most wrestler’s accomplish in their entire career.
There’s 15 more matches you should watch or re-watch as we get closer to Wrestlemania XXX. I’ve given you lots of matches here from across the eras, but maybe you feel Randy Savage versus George Steele should have been on here. Perhaps you’re shocked that Triple H vs. Booker T didn’t make the cut. Have your say in the comments below or through our social media systems. Just use #ManiaClassic when posting your opinion.
If one is to look at Wrestlemania only for the most memorable moments, then you certainly have no shortage of material. However if one is willing to look beyond the irresistible force meeting the immovable object or two icons staring each other down while 68,000 fans erupt or Mr.Wrestlemania competing in his last match against the Streak, then you’ll find some gems you didn’t expect.
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