There is no denying how special of an annual event that is Wow made of WrestleMania. It was sold to audiences initially as the Super Bowl of wrestling, and more than 40 years after the first event, it feels even bigger than that initial selling point. Through incredible matches and great moments, it’s where wrestlers become legends in real time.
However, not everyone is offered the same luxury of becoming a household name at WWE’s biggest event. Because WrestleMania is loaded down from top to bottom with big-time matches, not every match is going to feel big. The biggest moments will be big enough to be astronomical, however Others end up going forgotten or overshadowed in the long run. These end up being some of the most underrated forgotten classics the event has to offer, and here are just a few examples.
10
The Rockers vs. Haku/Barbarian
WrestleMania VII
The year before, Shawn Michaels made his WrestleMania debut when he and Marty Jannety lost to the Orient Express, but WrestleMania VII marked. The first time Shawn Michaels put on a performance worthy of stealing the show. On an event that included Ultimate Warrior vs. Macho King Randy Wilde and Hulk Hogan vs. Sgt. Slaughter, this is the bout that left an impression on many and certainly holds the best of any other match on the night. A match like this wouldn’t look out of place in a modern WWE setting.
Shawn Michaels is synonymous with Mr. WrestleMania and The Show Stealer, and The Rockers unexpectedly stole the show in one of WrestleMania’s best opening matches. The only thing better than a David vs. Goliath match is pitting two Davids against two Goliaths, and this match did just that.
9
Steiner Brothers vs. Headshrinkers
WrestleMania 9
The ninth WrestleMania is notoriously considered the worst WrestleMania, if not among the worst. However, one of the few saving graces of WrestleMania 9 is Steiner Brothers vs. The Headshrinkers. Both teams have a legacy as being Two of the most influential tag teams in wrestling historyAnd seeing them go head-to-head makes it easy to see why.
One of the bright spots of a short stint in the WWE for the Steiner brothers proved to be one of the best matches of their entire career. That’s saying a lot considering how many promotions the two wrestled in, though The Headshrinkers proved to be perfect dance partners for Rick and Scott Stones in a night when it matters most.
8
Diesel vs. The Undertaker
WrestleMania 12
The earliest matches of The Undertaker’s WrestleMania Streak were uneventful for lack of a better word. It seems almost ironic to associate the word uneventful with the most prolific undefeated streak in the history of sports entertainment, but all his matches were short and by the numbers. For the most part, he wrestled wrestlers who were either past their prime and ready to put over an up-and-coming rookie, or people like Giant Gonzalez.
His match with Diesel proved to be The first good match Taker would have in his streakAlong with Diesel, his first challenge could be defeating Undertaker at the Showcase of the Immortals. Tucker’s lack of chemistry with other big men is well known, but tonight proved to be an exception. The plot was also well constructed, and the characters meshed well. The bout was as physical as expected, culminating in two jackknife powerbombs that couldn’t keep the Dead Man down. This was the night the venture was made.
7
Taka Michinoku vs. Aguila
WrestMania 14
The success of WCW’s cruiserweight division was enough to inspire WWE to introduce its own light heavyweight division. At WrestleMania XIV, Taka Michinoku was in his first reign as the inaugural Light Heavyweight Champion. One of the standout moments of the previous winter tournament to crown the inaugural champion was seeing Michinoku face Agula (aka Esa Rios) in the semi-finals. The bout was so spectacular that it was decided that WrestleMania would house their rematch.
This was a match that felt like the caps were already off, so to speak. It didn’t feel like the two athletes were constrained by any kind of limitations, and it felt as if They were allowed to have not a WWE style match, but a full blown Lucha Libre bout. Taka Michinoku brought to the table that unique blend of Japanese style and Mexican high-flying that made him famous, and Agula matched him move for move. In what is considered the inaugural WrestleMania of the Attitude Era, this match still managed to stand out, which is no small feat.
6
Undertaker vs. Ric Flair
WrestleMania X8
If his match with Diesel was one of Undertaker’s first big matches at ManiaHis match with Ric Flair is one of Taker’s all-time great Mania matches. Even at his age, the Nature Boy is still arguably the greatest in-ring wrestler to lace up a pair of boots. It is also a rare sight to see Fleur as the sympathetic baby face. Undertaker was rarely even seen as a heel Stepping into WrestleMania quarters, however, both men play their respective roles exceptionally well.
Flair earns empathy as the awkward father bent on avenging a son who was attacked, while Tucker revels in playing the schoolyard bully. The only thing that made this match easy to forget was that WrestleMania X8 was just that event. The Rock vs. Hollywood Hulk Hogan alone is enough to overshadow Flair vs. Undertaker, but fans shouldn’t sleep on this match. Ric Flair could make anyone look good in a ring, and pairing him with the boundless talent of Taker was a recipe for magic.
5
Chris Jericho vs. Christian
WrestleMania XX
The story surrounding this bout was textbook soap opera storytelling that WWE was known for best during the Ruthless Aggression Era. What started as a battle of the sexes debate turned into a love triangleWith Christian bitter that Chris Jericho has chosen romance with Trish Stratus over their friendship. And in wrestling, the only way to settle soap opera drama was inside a wrestling ring.
The best part about this is, when you discard the soap opera narrative, you get Two top-class technical wrestlers with a good old-fashioned match embroidered with an intensity worthy of the rivalry. These are two Canadians who know each other better than most wrestlers on the roster, and who are known for never having a bad match. While this bout may lack flashy spots, it’s one that could easily be shown in wrestling schools as an example of everything you should do in a ring and out of it.
4
JBL vs. Finlay – Belfast Brawl
WrestleMania 24
One of the most ridiculous storylines of 2007 for WWE was the revelation that Hornswoggle was the illegitimate son of Vince McMahon. This soon turned into Vince trying to embarrass his bastard son at every turn by guys like JBL bullying him, his former handler Finlay coming to his rescue, and then revealing that it was Finlay who was actually Hornswoggle’s father, playing Part in a long-term mourning. To embarrass Vince McMahon. It was a mess, and something of a low point for both Mr. McMahon and WWE storytelling.
However, with WrestleMania 24 being the season finale of this year of storytelling, at least audiences are getting it A match out of him that is far better than it has any right to be. The brutal wrestlers in Finlay and JBL are most vicious, with the former finally getting a proper WrestleMania showcase after all he’s contributed to the company. While many wrestling fans love its technical aspects, sometimes there is nothing more exciting than a hardcore beatdown between two brutal men, and that is exactly what this match delivers.
3
Six Pack SmackDown Women’s Championship Challenge
WrestleMania 33
The match was placed awkwardly between two of the biggest matches of the night – Brock Lesnar vs. Goldberg for the WWE Universal Championship, and WrestleMania Overlord The Undertaker vs. future Tribal Chief Roman Reigns. Regardless if you loved or hated these two matches, it’s easy for the SmackDown Women’s Championship match to be overshadowed, especially given its offensively short length.
Regardless, it still is Six of WWE’s best women’s wrestlers of all time making the most out of six minutes. Becky Lynch, Naomi, Alexa Bliss, Mickie James, Carmella and Natalya all managed to do the most possible with the time they had to shine. Sometimes, in wrestling, you just have to prove people wrong, especially those at the top, and that’s what these women managed to do.
2
Cedric Alexander vs. Mustafa Ali
WrestleMania 34
205 Live was an understated, understated piece of WWE television during its heyday. Some of the best matches of the year would take place on 205 Live. It’s just too bad nobody watched the show. Not for lack of trying, it’s just that when WWE produced so much content with so many shows each week, the hour-long cruiserweight exclusive show seemed to be the one that was least necessary to watch, at least on paper. This match proved that statement wrong.
Thankfully, the cruiserweight got the chance to shine on the biggest stage possible on the pre-show of WrestleMania 34. Mustafa Ali and Cedric Alexander wrestled for the vacant Cruiserweight Championship, with future WWE Hall of Famer John Cena front row in attendance. If you make a former 16-time world champion’s jaw drop with your match, you must be doing something right.
1
John Morrison vs. Jimmy Uso vs. Kofi Kingston – Ladder Triple Threat for the Tag Titles
WrestleMania 36
Honestly, WrestleMania 36 could have filled every entry on this list with its matches. There are big bullets all over the card (Kevin Owens vs. Seth Rollins, Aleister Black vs. Bobby Lashley, Sami Zayn vs. Drew Gulak, etc.) but they’re easy to forget when they don’t have Mania’s signature pomp, circumstance and Electric load due to the restrictions imposed by the 2020 pandemic.
Due to protocols and the spread of COVID, many competitors could not make it to the tapings, including those in the scheduled Triple Threat Tag Team Title match between The Usos, Miz and Morrison, and New Day. to compensate, WWE made this a Triple Threat with one representative from each teamWho all laid their bodies on the line, as if they were in a full arena.
Although it is common knowledge that the great moments of WrestleMania 36, ​​such as Drew McIntyre winning his first world championship, were dulled by the strange atmosphere and lack of public, this ladder match still manages to entertain and excite viewers, a difficult feat To reach when you could hear a pin drop in the performance center.