By: Vaughn Resper, Jr
20. Daniel Bryan vs Randy Orton vs Batista (WWE World Heavyweight Championship-WrestleMania XXX):
Five years before #KofiMania and ten years before #WeWantCody, the “Yes! Movement” dominated the Road to WrestleMania. In 2014, Daniel Bryan was red hot as the most popular babyface in WWE, and critically acclaimed as the top technical wrestler in the world. The original plan was simply Batista vs Randy Orton for the WWE Championship. However, the fans made their voices loud and clear that they would not be satisfied until Daniel Bryan was in the main event. The fans even hijacked Monday Night RAW. As a result, WWE had no other choice but to cave in and surrender to the persistence of the fans. The addition of Daniel Bryan single-handedly changed the complexion and dynamic of the match, and it was for the better. After going through Triple H in the first match, Daniel made his way to the main event where he would clash with The Viper and The Animal. Bryan reached the zenith of his career as he made Batista tap out to the Yes Lock to win the Undisputed WWE Championship. The Yes Movement reached a fever pitch as they celebrated with their hero for the 30th Anniversary of the Show of Shows.
19. Undertaker vs Triple H (WrestleMania XXVII):
A legendary clash. In the aftermath of Shawn Michaels’ retirement, The Undertaker was ready to welcome another challenger of his mythic streak. Shawn’s best friend and fellow DX running mate, Triple H steps up to challenge the Deadman and avenge his comrade. Much like how he stepped up to become the leader of DX after Shawn’s first retirement, The Game would become Taker’s next challenger after HBK’s second retirement. As a bonus, this was the same weekend that Mr. WrestleMania went to the Hall of Fame. At WrestleMania XXVII, The Phenom and The Cerebral Assassin had the match of the night as they left it all on the line. Even though The Undertaker started to look even more of a mortal, he found a way to pull out the win by making Triple H tap out.
18. Shawn Michaels vs Chris Jericho (WrestleMania XIX):
Teacher vs Student. A mirror match. Chris Jericho grew up being a fan of and patterning his style after one of the most influential wrestlers we have ever seen, The Heartbreak Kid Shawn Michaels. Jericho modeled himself after Michaels in more ways than one, and a dream match was waiting to happen. By this point, Chris Jericho had earned his merit and established himself as a superstar and future Hall of Famer by winning multiple Intercontinental Titles, and most notably defeating The Rock and Stone Cold on the same night to become The Undisputed WWE Champion. However, that paled in comparison to the opportunity for Jericho to wrestle his idol on the Show of Shows, WrestleMania. By 2003, Shawn Michaels returned as a full-time competitor returning to his first WrestleMania since 1998. When Y2J made his WWF debut in 1999, Michaels was already a year into his first retirement. Fast forward, Chris truly believed that he surpassed his hero. While Shawn was rejuvenated, Jericho was at the top of his game at this point. This was a work of art between two of wrestling’s all-time greats as HBK would win in his Mania return.
17. Bianca Belair vs Sasha Banks (WrestleMania 37):
A cultural milestone. WrestleMania 37 was known for creating history in the Main Event of Night One as we witnessed two black women main-eventing WrestleMania for the first time in history. Bianca Belair and Sasha Banks broke barriers with this match, as they soaked in the impact of the moment that they had created. The match itself was without flaw. This was the passing of the torch, as Bianca stepped up to the plate and rose to the occasion to claim her crown as the new Women’s Champion. The match was great on its own, but the historical impact ranks this even higher.
16. Bianca Belair vs Becky Lynch (WrestleMania 38):
Revenge of the EST. Eight months earlier at Summerslam, Bianca Belair was flying high anticipating her rematch with Sasha Banks from WrestleMania 37. However, plans for that match would soon fall through as Bianca would wait for and anticipate who her next opponent tonight. However, Belair and the rest of the fans would be utterly surprised at who her opponent would be. It would be none other than Becky Lynch herself. Just as they were ready to shake hands, Becky caught her off guard with the Manhandle Slam to become the new Women’s Champion. The anticipation was at an all-time high, as Bianca had earned her stripes to take the crown as a Queen. As we enter Mania, Bianca comes out with her HBCU Marching Band. The match was tremendous overall, as Belair was able to get her revenge on Becky as she would defeat The Man to become the new RAW Women’s Champion. If it wasn’t for Stone Cold vs Kevin Owens, this would’ve been The Main Event.
15. Charlotte Flair vs Rhea Ripley (WrestleMania 39):
The 2023 Match of the Year, as we witnessed Cinema on full display. Charlotte would defeat Rhea at WrestleMania 36 and looked to catch lightning in a bottle twice. Meanwhile, Rhea Ripley would establish herself into much more of a star than ever before. This time, Ripley would establish her own identity and look as well as win the Royal Rumble. Unlike the previous match, Rhea would have an even bigger chip on her shoulder. As soon as Ripley won the Royal Rumble, she wasted no time calling out Charlotte Flair for a title match. Rhea redeemed herself in this match as she would vanquish Charlotte with the Figure Four leglock. Overall, this match was exceptional neither one of them would let their foot off the gas. In the end, Rhea would put away Charlotte with the Riptide to become the new Women’s World Champion.
14. Edge vs Mick Foley (WrestleMania 22):
Mick Foley is known all over the world as a Hardcore Legend. From his days as Cactus Jack in Deathmatches from Japan to Germany to being thrown off the Cell as Mankind at the hands of The Undertaker. Foley was one of the most popular stars of “The Attitude Era”. However, when you look at his WrestleMania track record, Mick did not have many defining Mania moments before Mania 22. He was involved in the abysmal McMahon Fatal Four Way at WM 2000 and teamed up with The Rock vs Evolution at Mania XX. However, those weren’t very noteworthy moments of Foley’s caliber per se. That would soon change when he battled Edge in a Hardcore match to always remember. Even though Mick has largely become a teddy bear, this match brought out his inner Grizzly bear. It was brutal and bloody, and brought the best out of the Hardcore Legend, as we saw many elements of Cactus Jack. This match elevated Edge to be seen as a tough guy if fans didn’t see that already. Being in the ring with Mick would do that for his opponents, from Triple H to The Rock, The Undertaker, Randy Orton, and even Shawn Michaels. Foley’s Mania moment finally came when Edge speared him through a flaming table, solidifying its place as one of the greatest WrestleMania matches of all time.
13. Macho Man vs Ultimate Warrior (WrestleMania VII):
In an epic battle, The Macho Man Randy Savage and Ultimate Warrior both put their careers on the line. Both were colorful, eccentric, and larger-than-life characters. Both were also former World Champions. The match itself was spectacular and very competitive. Macho King was his usual overconfident character, while Warrior tapped into his inner warrior to defeat Savage. The highlight of the match came when Savage hit Warrior with FIVE Elbow Drops. However, Ultimate Warrior reached into the power of the Warriors for the win. The overall story involving Queen Sherri as well as the reunion of Macho Man and Miss Elizabeth was the cherry on top and the exclamation point of a classic. This match CARRIED WrestleMania VII.
12. Undertaker vs Triple H (WrestleMania XXVIII):
The End of an Era. The end of a bygone era between three Icons. It was also the conclusion of a three-year story arc between The Undertaker, Shawn Michaels, and Triple H. After defeating Shawn twice including a retirement match, The Phenom would defeat HBK’s best friend HHH in WM XXVII. Taker would defend his streak against The Game once again, but this time inside of Hell in A Cell. Another element of drama was Shawn Michaels being added as the Special Guest Referee. This match was filled with near falls and false finishes with fans on the edge of their seats. I know I was shook when I saw this at a Watch Party. Things looked bleak when Taker got hit with Sweet Chin Music followed by The Pedigree. However, The Deadman would not stay down as he delivered The Tombstone Piledriver to defeat The Cerebral Assassin for the victory. It was a storybook ending with all three warriors standing together on the ramp.
11. The Rock vs Stone Cold (Part III, WrestleMania XIX):
The final match of the epic Austin and Rock WrestleMania trilogy. Little did anyone know, but this would be Stone Cold’s last match in 19 years before making his return at WrestleMania 38. Meanwhile, The Rock was fully in his element as Hollywood Rock as Austin just made his return to the company after walking out the year prior. These two Icons have always had great chemistry, even with Steve’s back injuries slowing him down even more. Yet, they still found a way to deliver another classic in their story. In the end, The Rock finally got the win to vanquish his arch-nemesis and close this chapter.
10. Bret Hart vs Owen Hart (WrestleMania X):
Brother vs Brother. A story that so many people can relate to. The younger brother wants to jump out of the older brother’s shadow to prove that he can make a name of his own. In the greatest opening match in WrestleMania history, Bret and Owen Hart put on a technical masterpiece that is to be studied for years to come. These two knew each other so well, that they could easily telegraph each other’s moves. Every counter and transition was well calculated. Bret had already been a World Champion (He would regain the title later that night), but Owen wanted to make his own mark to prove he was better than his older brother. Owen would pull a surprise win over his older legendary brother. The outcome was a complete shock and added to their feud and catalogs. This match needs to be used as a masterclass.
9. Shawn Michaels vs Bret Hart (WrestleMania XII):
Eternal Rivals. A war to test each other’s will, skill, and desire to be the absolute best. Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels are the Ryu and Ken of WWF/E. They are the Yin to each other’s Yang, and this was the pinnacle of their historic feud. For the first time ever, we would witness a 60-minute Ironman Match for the WWF Championship at the Show of Shows, WrestleMania. The concept doesn’t quite hold up as well today, but it was groundbreaking for that time. The feud between Shawn and Bret deserved a Mania match, and this is what we received. Outside of the various rest holds, this match still has a strong historical impact in its own right. Bret put his technical prowess on full display, while Shawn unleashed his more explosive arsenal in a clash of styles. Michaels definitely outpaced his counterpart move for move. They would not deliver a single fall in regulation, which led to Sudden Death Overtime. This is where HBK was in his element as he put away the Hitman with not one, but two Sweet Chin Musics for the victory. The Boyhood Dream came true as Shawn Michaels won his first WWF Championship.
8. Undertaker vs Shawn Michaels (WrestleMania XXVI):
Career vs Streak. With the hope of following their epic encounter at WrestleMania XXV, Shawn Michaels, and The Undertaker would return for the sequel at WrestleMania XXVI. However, they raised the stakes as Shawn would put his career on the line while Taker put his streak on the line. This match was an emotional roller coaster (not like the song) because fans didn’t want Shawn to retire, but they didn’t want the Streak to end either. Even though it was not better than the previous encounter, this match had even more drama because the writing was on the wall for the end of Shawn’s career. This match was also the main event, as this was WWE’s apology for the year before. The Deadman would put the final nail in the coffin for the career of Mr. WrestleMania with the Tombstone for the win.
7. Shawn Michaels vs Kurt Angle (WrestleMania 21):
As Kurt Angle was making his ascent in WWE, the idea of Shawn Michaels was something of a dream match before it finally happened. Both are a great contrast of styles. As Shawn made history by becoming WWF Champion in 1996, Kurt made his own history by winning an Olympic Gold Medal with a broken freakin’ neck in the Summer Olympics. Angle made his debut in 1999, a year after Michaels made his exit. By 2002, The Olympic Hero was at the top of his game as The Heartbreak Kid made his return. However, it would take three years before they would finally cross paths. What was once a dream would soon become a great reality. Their styles were a great complement to each other as Shawn even caught Kurt off guard with an early grapple offense. Angle even unleashed a moonsault. HBK even caught Angle out of nowhere with Sweet Chin Music. Angle even trapped Michaels with the Ankle Lock for the victory.
6. Shawn Michaels vs Razor Ramon (WrestleMania X):
The match that established Shawn Michaels as Mr. WrestleMania. This was the first ever Ladder Match in WrestleMania History. Shawn Michaels and Razor Ramon were on the rise in 1994 as the mainstays of the Intercontinental Championship, the standard title for workhorses. The match was super innovative for its time and nothing we had ever seen before on a large stage. It was a standout performance for both HBK and Razor and still holds up as a classic in both of their illustrious catalogs. This ladder match was the blueprint and innovator for future ladder matches. Matches like TLC would not exist without this match. This was truly ahead of its time.
5. TLC II (WrestleMania X-7):
Tables, Ladders, and Chairs, oh my!! TLC II changed the game in wrestling, as it was a complete demolition derby from start to finish. All three teams had their first Ladder match at WrestleMania 2000 the previous year. They stepped their game up with the first Tables, Ladders, and Chairs Match at Summerslam. It was so nice, they had to do it twice with an encore at WrestleMania X-7. Edge & Christian, The Dudley Boyz, and Hardy Boyz became forever connected with these matches as they put their bodies on the line. The defining moment of the match was when Edge jumped off a Ladder and speared a hanging Jeff Hardy. This match was entertaining, historic, and downright insane.
4. Rock vs Austin II (WrestleMania X-7):
Stone Cold and The Rock were the two biggest icons in professional wrestling who were able to share the same galaxy during the Attitude Era. The two most popular stars at the time and of all time fighting over the WWF Championship at WrestleMania elevated their rivalry. Even though they wrestled at Mania before, the atmosphere was on a different level the second time around. The storytelling and build were a perfect storm as both Rock and Austin were at the peak of their popularity and much more settled in their roles. The match was an epic war and Stone Cold’s heel turn added a new dynamic that nobody expected. This bloody brawl over the greatest prize of them all makes this one of the greatest WrestleMania matches of all time.
3. Macho Man Randy Savage vs Ricky The Dragon Steamboat (WWF Intercontinental Championship-WrestleMania III):
This was a pioneer match as “Macho Man” Randy Savage and Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat were ahead of their time when it came to speed, timing, and performance style as they clashed like two titans for the Intercontinental Championship. This match laid the blueprint for other workhorse wrestlers years later. Hogan vs Andre sold the show, Savage vs Steamboat STOLE the show, as this match holds up more and has aged far better. This was considered the greatest WrestleMania match and greatest match overall for at least a decade. Steamboat vs Savage was the defining match of the 80s.
2. Bret Hart vs Stone Cold Steve Austin (WrestleMania 13):
The most epic double turn of all time. Bret “The Hitman” Hart had already cemented his place as a Legend and certified Hall of Famer in the making by 1996. However, we would see the rise of an adversary the Hitman had never experienced. Enter Stone Cold Steve Austin. After winning King of the Ring ’96, Austin called out Bret Hart. Even though The Hitman got the win in their first encounter at Survivor Series, they turned the volume up even higher for WrestleMania 13. Even though this was a Submission match, it was a perfect storm of technical wrestling, brawling and storytelling. Stone Cold walked in as the hero, but walked out as the antihero. The defining image of Austin in Bret’s Sharpshooter with crimson red blood covering his face is iconic to this very day.
1. Undertaker vs Shawn Michaels (WrestleMania XXV):
Light vs Darkness. Heaven vs Hell. This is the best WrestleMania not just for the recent generation of fans, but in my estimation the greatest of all time. The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels are the pillars and greatest stars in WrestleMania History. To have them clash at the 25th Anniversary of WrestleMania was even more special. By this point, HBK and Taker were seasoned veterans who knew how to tell a story in the ring with great psychology and match quality. However, the fire was lit under them even more when they were only fifth on the card. This was enough to cause them to turn back the clock and fire on all cylinders. This match was sheer cinema, especially with the way that Shawn kicked out of the Tombstone. The WrestleMania Phenom and “Mr. WrestleMania” completely stole the show and overshadowed everything else, including the World Title matches. Every near fall had you at the edge of your seat. Taker would put the proverbial nail in the coffin when he caught HBK mid-air and turned the moonsault into the Tombstone for the victory.
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