For years, Shawn Michaels has been seen and known as “Mr. WrestleMania” for his continuous show-stealing matches year after year at the grandest stage of them all. However, Shawn’s nickname was given to him long ago and it is hard to accept that anyone else should ever be known as “Mr. WrestleMania”. But there have been many stars throughout the history of the company and WrestleMania who may have earned to be known as “Mr. WrestleMania” even more so than Michaels, with all the appearances and frankly a better record than the Heartbreak Kid, who lost more at the show of shows than came out victorious. So, with that said, we take a look at five stars in the history of WrestleMania who have earned the right to be known as the true “Mr. WrestleMania”.
Searching for Mr. WrestleMania
Shawn Michaels
The Heartbreak Kid has earned the nickname of “Mr. WrestleMania” through his incredible amount of show-stealing matches with the likes of Bret Hart, Kurt Angle, and the Undertaker. In many fans opinions, he has the best match in the history of WrestleMania when he faced the Undertaker at the 25th edition of WrestleMania, when he would do all in his power to try and break the Undertaker’s then-undefeated streak and came so close before getting caught by the Undertaker on a moonsault attempt which would result in the Tombstone finish. Or his match with Kurt Angle at WrestleMania 21 which was an in-ring classic that was a half-hour masterpiece. The only thing that really hurts HBK’s claim of being “Mr. WrestleMania” is the fact that despite his phenomenal matches, his WrestleMania record leaves a lot to be desired. His record sits at a not so pretty 6-11 on the grand stage, with many other performers having a far better record of success. If the only thing that holds back the current “Mr. WrestleMania” is a win-loss record and not his in-ring performances that rank among the highest of all-time in the history of pro wrestling, it’ll be hard to make a case for anyone else to take the name away from Shawn Michaels.
Hulk Hogan
Hulkamania was a term that was made for a reason. Hulk Hogan helped bring wrestling to the forefront of popularity in the 1980’s and his magnitude remains today. From saying your prayers and taking your vitamins, to Hulkamania truly running wild on you, brother, Hulk Hogan made his name at WrestleMania. Hogan was in the first WrestleMania main event, teaming with Mr. T to face Paul Orndorff and Roddy Piper in a winning effort, being surrounded by the blue steel cage at WrestleMania II against King Kong Bundy, and slamming Andre The Giant at WrestleMania III. It is fair to say without Hulk Hogan, WrestleMania wouldn’t be the magnitude that it has become today. The moment where time stood still as Hogan took on The Rock at WrestleMania X8 and they had one of the most memorable face-offs in the history of wrestling, Hulk Hogan did everything to make WrestleMania special. His 8-3-1 record at the show of shows makes him a serious contender to be the true “Mr. WrestleMania”, as well as his record eight WrestleMania main events to add to his case. He has certainly one hell of a case to be “Mr. WrestleMania”.
Edge
The Rated R Superstar has one of the most interesting cases when it comes to possibly being “Mr. WrestleMania”. The beginning of Edge‘s WrestleMania career started off in the memorable triangle ladder match between he and Christian, The Hardys, and The Dudley Boyz at WrestleMania 2000. Edge and Christian would win this one just like the following year which they would win as well at TLC II when all three teams faced each other once again. E and C would walk out victorious yet again in one of the most exciting and remembered WrestleMania matches of all-time. Edge’s WrestleMania career would go down the singles rode, as he would beat Booker T and then win the first ever Money in the Bank Ladder Match at WrestleMania 21. Edge continuously had matches then would forever be remembered, especially at the show of shows. Edge would take on Mick Foley at the 22nd edition of WrestleMania in a Hardcore Match in which he would win once again. And with a career record of 6-4 at WrestleMania, his matches always had an iconic moment that would be in replays forever. He would main event his only WrestleMania at 24 against the Undertaker as the defending World Heavyweight Champion. And while he would lose, many people can fondly remember this as one of the best matches in the career of the Undertaker and especially Edge himself. And finally, he would have his last match ever at WrestleMania 27 when he would successfully defend the World Heavyweight Championship this time around against Alberto Del Rio. Edge may be the underdog when it comes to be known as “Mr. WrestleMania”, but his record and continuous moments at the show of shows gives him the resume to do so.
John Cena
Love him or hate him, John Cena‘s career at WrestleMania has certainly warranted his chance of being in the discussion to be “Mr. WrestleMania”. Cena is one of two active competitors on this list, however with his in-ring career closer to the end than the beginning and his continuous success in Hollywood, it is hard to determine how many more WrestleMania moments and matches the 16-time World Champion will have. But his time at WrestleMania has included some of the biggest and best moments of his career and in Mania’s history. He holds a career record of 10-4 which is among the best all-time which has included his first ever world championship win at WrestleMania 21 when he defeated JBL for the WWE Championship. It has also included wins over Triple H at 22, Shawn Michaels at 23, Batista at 26, and The Rock at 29, all in fact that featured the WWE Championship on the line. That right there alone is a who’s who of the WWE in the last two decades. Cena also competed in the year long build and match up of “Once In a Lifetime” against the Rock at WrestleMania 28, and while he did lose, it was one of the biggest matches in the history of the company. John Cena’s career is not ever, and he can very well add to this tonight at WrestleMania if he was to show up and have an impromptu match, but with or without, he is certainly in the running for “Mr. WrestleMania”.
Undertaker
A 21-0 record. 24-2 overall at WrestleMania. For much of WrestleMania’s life, the Undertaker was a feature of the show as he carried the greatest streak in the history of professional wrestling, a streak that is known by people who don’t even follow pro wrestling, which was simply known as The Streak. Undertaker went into a number of WrestleMania’s in a featured role, either fighting for a championship or simply just putting his streak on the line. No one will ever forget the matches he had with Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania 25 and 26, in which he retired one of the greatest of all-time in an epic match. Of course, having some of the best matches with the current “Mr. WrestleMania” isn’t saying much, but his matches with Batista, Triple H, Edge, and CM Punk were among the best of their respective WrestleMania’s. He would have match after match that would be key points, and then at WrestleMania 30 it would all come to an end when Brock Lesnar had the most shocking win of all time and ended the Streak, making it 21-1 and finally putting an end to one of the most prestigious records of all time. Undertaker is quite possibly the greatest performer in the history of WrestleMania and one of the most respected ever. IF anyone deserves to be “Mr. WrestleMania”, it is the Undertaker.
“Mr. WrestleMania” is a name that Shawn Michaels has had forever, however, these other four men have the resume to be the new holder of such nickname. And while these are four great options, WrestleMania will have plenty of performers this year who will be looking to become the new “Mr. WrestleMania”.
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