WWE WrestleMania is the grand stage. It is the culmination of a year’s worth of build and effort by WWE. For the company, it is the time of year when money is no object. WWE spares no expense when putting the show together. The stage, the ringside area, and the fireworks displays are fantastic and make the show a unique experience.
The awe of WrestleMania is something that bleeds into every aspect of the show, especially with the wrestlers’ entrances. Wrestlers go all out for their Wrestlemania entrances. They embrace the over-the-top nature and, in some instances, present some of the most memorable moments on The Grandest Stage. Below are the ten best of these entrances.
Andre The Giant – WrestleMania III
The ‘Eight Wonder of the World’ will always be an impressive sight. Andre the Giant towered over everyone he came into contact with. It was incredible how he dwarfed the larger-than-life wrestlers of the then-WWF. His remarkable stature made for a fantastic entrance into the Pontiac Silverdome.
The ring carts will always be a fan favorite. It is a great visual from WrestleMania III, and it was made even better by Andre riding to the ring on one. How he made the cart look like a toy was awesome. It was a simple entrance but one that is burned in the mind of every wrestling fan.
Rusev – WrestleMania 31
Rusev was a man on the rise in 2015/2015. He was pushed as a monster and carved a path of destruction wherever he went. He was given a run with the United States Championship, which solidified his status as a man to look out for.
This type of presentation was extremely evident when he was given a heck of an entertaining entrance at WrestleMania 31. Rusev came to the ring riding a freaking tank at the show. The visuals alone were worthy of WrestleMania, and it was the perfect way to assert him as one of the best on the roster.
‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin – WrestleMania 13
Steve Austin was the antihero we all needed. He was at the forefront of change in WWE as the company switched to a more mature product. He was a break from the norm and not the man many thought would become a star. At WrestleMania 13, he broke through that glass ceiling, literally and figuratively.
When entering his match against Bret Hart, a glass window was placed over the entrance. A window that Austin smashed through on his way to a brutal I Quit Match. It was a great moment and one that symbolized Austin breaking his way into the main event.
Kane – WrestleMania 21
Kane was one of the best characters WWE ever created. The brother of The Undertaker came in like a house of fire, pun intended. His entrance was always a spectacle, and this was amplified to 11 at WrestleMania.
When Kane entered the Money in the Bank match at WrestleMania 21, his usual pyro came with him. However, this time, the flames engulfed all the ladders surrounding the stage area. It was a great visual, one that perfectly matched his character. It was unlike anything that had been produced before or since.
Charles Robinson – WrestleMania 24
Yes, that’s right. Charles Robinson is making it on this list. It may be an odd entry, but it is one that had its effect, and it is still shown to this day.
In the main event, Edge and The Undertaker were on their way to a great final match of the night. Then, of course, a ref bump got in the way, and the match ended with no blue shirt. Then, the amazing happened when Charles Robinson sprinted into the ring.
A run that spanned nearly 75 years and only took mere seconds to complete. It was great and an entrance that needs to be talked about more.
The Undertaker – WrestleMania 29
The Undertaker can have an entire category detailing all of his great WrestleMania entrances. I had become as much a part of the show as the national anthem. It was nearly impossible to pick a favorite out of the bunch, but the WrestleMania 29 version is quite the sight.
Against a blue backdrop, ‘Taker looked like he was climbing straight out of hell. As he made his way up, numerous hands came up and tried to pull him back down. The gothic imagery matched his character perfectly. It was creepy and intimidating, everything we had come to expect from an Undertaker WrestleMania entrance.
Triple H – WrestleMania 22
Outside of The Undertaker, Triple H has been most associated with epic WrestleMania entrances. He has always been able to put together original entrances that added to his WrestleMania contests. The best of which had to be his Conan the Barbarian-themed entrance into the main event of WrestleMania 22.
‘The Game’ usually works some warrior gimmick into his entrance, and this was the best of them. He rose from the stage wearing gear that made him look like he should have been in the Conan universe. He sat on an impressive throne that showed the world he was the ‘King of Kings.’ This, paired with a banger from Motorhead, produced a great entrance.
John Cena – WrestleMania 24
John Cena has been synonymous with grand WrestleMania entrances. He was almost always involved in the main event, which prompted big entrances. Entrances that he nailed out of the park at every turn. Entrances like the clones at WrestleMania 25 and the Mustang appearance at WrestleMania 23 were great, but none were going to top WrestleMania 24.
‘Big Match John’ was joined by a marching band on stage. The band played his entrance theme without any musical backing. They nailed the performance and put on one heck of a rendition of Cena’s entrance theme. It was a unique performance that had the gravitas around it worth of WrestleMania.
Bobby ‘The Brain’ Heenan – WrestleMania IX
While respected, Bobby Heenan was one of the most hated characters of the Golden and New Generation Era. He was a detestable heel, one that we all reveled in seeing get his comeuppance in the end. No better showing of this is his embarrassingly hilarious entrance into Wrestlemania IX.
Entering into the ‘Roman Coliseum, ’ the Brain was supposed to be on a platform led by gorgeous women. Instead, he came through the curtain riding backward on a camel. It was an incredibly embarrassing moment for the smug manager. One that got a great reaction from the crowd and put Heenan in his place.
Shawn Michaels – WrestleMania 25
‘The Heartbreak Kid’ has always been about showing up every wrestler on the roster. He is about stealing the show, and this extends to his entrance. He is always high energy during his entrances, but WrestleMania is a time when everything rises to another level. The best example of this is his heavenly entrance at WrestleMania 25.
Going against The Undertaker, HBK decided to adopt the exact opposite attitude to The Deadman. Descending from the rafters, Shawn Michaels was donned in all-white attire. It was a direct refute to the underworld leanings of his opponent. It was grandiose and a slap in the face to The Undertaker, the epitome of The Heartbreak Kid.
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