Picking The Single Best Match From Every WrestleMania Event So Far
Oh yeah, we’re doing this! There have been 39 WrestleMania events with the 40th coming up very soon, and we’re picking the best match for each event. What do we mean when we say “best?” While there are several ways you can think about the best, we’re looking at it as the single best technical match on each card. You could say it’s the match that has the best blend of technical and storyline. Picking the best match from every WrestleMania is still quite difficult regardless.
It doesn’t have to be 30 minutes of chain wrestling to make the cut. However, we’re sorry to say you won’t see Hulk Hogan vs. Andre the Giant on this list. That doesn’t mean it wasn’t awesome, it’s just not what we are using this list to highlight. We’re picking the best match from each event, and as iconic as this match was, it simply wasn’t the best match on its card. You’ll see what we mean soon.
We should note too that we know these shows often have more than 1 great match on the card. This is why we might be discussing the best one, but we’re also going to reference a runner-up as well. Simply put, we’re pro-wrestling fans so we cannot just ignore other fantastic matches!
Without further ado, let’s dive into our article revolving around the single best match from every WrestleMania event.
WRESTLEMANIA I: NIKOLAI VOLKOFF & THE IRON SHEIK (w/FREDDIE BLASSIE) vs BARRY WINDHAM & MIKE ROTUNDO (w/CAPTAIN LOU ALBANO)
The very first WrestleMania wasn’t known for its work rate or incredible spots. It was a spectacle much like Vince McMahon drew it. This was more about the star power and the event itself. Keep in mind, WWE was at the forefront of the PPV model we’d know much more years later. They used the closed-circuit model, which resulted in at least one million people watching this way. A little more than 19,000 people attended the event in person.
Picking Nikolai Volkoff and The Iron Sheik was a very easy decision. Tag matches tend to have some built-in suspense and action that singles matches, especially at that time, just couldn’t live up to. Yet despite this issue, the match did its job. Interestingly, the U.S. Express (Barry Windham & Mike Rotundo) are going into the 2024 WWE Hall of Fame. Part of the reason is due to great matches like this.
This was also a pretty short match, but it did the job. Thereby making it on our list for the best match from every WrestleMania.
Runner Up: Hulk Hogan & Mr. T (w/Jimmy Snuka) vs Paul Orndorff & Roddy Piper (w/Bob Orton)
WRESTLEMANIA II: RICKY STEAMBOAT vs HERCULES HERNANDEZ
Spoiler alert: this won’t be the last time you see Ricky Steamboat on the list. It is clear that Steamboat knew how to put on incredible matches. Ricky was a world-class wrestler in his day. If you happen to find this match and take a look, you’ll see that even in a short amount of time, he managed to make this match work. The pacing is great, and the psychology is top-notch.
Steamboat was one of the best in-ring technicians of his era. We also do need to give Hercules Hernandez his flowers, as he managed to do quite well here too. We loved this match. If you have 10 minutes, you should check it out. It’s well worth your time.
Runner Up: The Funk Brothers (Hoss Funk & Terry Funk) w/ Jimmy Hart vs The Junkyard Dog & Tito Santana
WRESTLEMANIA III: RICKY STEAMBOAT (W/GEORGE “THE ANIMAL” STEELE) vs RANDY “MACHO MAN” SAVAGE (W/MISS ELIZABETH)
We know that the most crucial match on this card was Hulk Hogan vs. Andre the Giant. No one should dispute that it is perhaps the biggest match on this card. However, we know that this list isn’t always about importance. Sometimes, they intersect. Sometimes, you lay the foundation for future events to come that might always be in your shadow. That is the case here
Ricky Steamboat vs. Randy Savage has long been regarded as one of the greatest matches in the history of wrestling, and for good reason. In under fifteen minutes, these guys put on a fantastic match that proves you don’t need 45 minutes to put on a wrestling clinic. You need two top-tier performers with a great storyline.
To try and nail down this impressive performance, the two men spent several weeks working together at live events all over the place. They’d try stuff out to see how it worked, and it if did, they’d add it to the list of the spots they did for their Intercontinental Championship match at WrestleMania III. This was how they were able to not only make everything look good but do so in a way that would get everything done within the 15-minute time limit they were given.
Savage was the ultimate heel at this time, even going so far as to try and clobber Steamboat with the ring bell.
This match was an incredible moment in WrestleMania. It certainly set the way forward for the quality of the game you needed to bring to the table for this event in the future.
Runner Up: Hulk Hogan vs Andre the Giant
WRESTLEMANIA IV: GREG VALENTINE (W/JIMMY HART) vs RICKY STEAMBOAT
If you’re keeping track, this is Ricky’s third in a row. Can anyone stop him? Even Shawn Michaels? We’ll have to find out.
This card is not known for its great wrestling, but that’s all the more credit to Steamboat. While Greg “The Hanmer” Valentine was not known for his world-class wrestling, he was known for his ring psychology. Giving him Steamboat to work with was a great choice because the two could bring something to the table that could be impactful. O
We’re grading on a scale here, but it is what it is. In a card of substandard matches, this one rose above. Keep in mind that this was an event that had some men working several matches. Including Valentine, who had to wrestle Savage after this one. Yet it is his match with Steamboat that we had to add to our list for the single best match at every WrestleMania event.
Runner Up: Randy Savage (w/ Miss Elizabeth) vs Greg Valentine (w/Jimmy Hart)
WRESTLEMANIA V: HULK HOGAN vs RANDY SAVAGE
It is. Go watch the match if you haven’t, and you might agree with us.
Of course, this match was aided by the fact that it had one of the great all-time builds and storylines surrounding it too. The “Mega Powers” exploding was a year-long saga between the two top guys in the wrestling world. You could not get bigger than Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage at this point in WWE.
Sometimes, the story can make the match. Andre vs. Hogan was a big deal at that time, but that was Andre on his proverbial last legs. He didn’t have the athleticism to do what he used to do in the ring. If he had, he might have had the match of the night.
This was different. We had both Hogan and the Macho Man at the peak of their powers and this match had everything from a psychology standpoint. Some WrestleMania events have a lot of great matches whereas others have maybe one to two worthy of caring about. Yet WrestleMania V really was stacked with a murderer’s row of impressive performances all over the place.
In the end, this match was the best.
Runner Up: Mr. Perfect vs The Blue Blazer
WRESTLEMANIA VI: THE ULTIMATE WARRIOR vs HULK HOGAN
You swear right now that we’re breaking the rules, but tell us what the other options were here Half the matches on this card were four minutes, seriously, we checked!
Should we give this to Duggan vs. Dino Bravo? Bad News Brown vs. Roddy Piper? Come on. You have to have a match that is at least quality and give us some moments to qualify.
There were technically only two major names in WWE at this point wrestling full-time. That was obviously Hulk Hogan, and this guy you may have heard of known as the Ultimate Warrior. While Warrior missed a bit of time, he returned to become the Intercontinental Champion yet was hungry for more gold and wanted Hogan’s WWE Championship. That led to the massive main event that ended up being Title for Title, winner-take-all!
Granted we’re going to admit that neither one of these guys could teach a wrestling class, especially Warrior who might have been the most accomplished wrestler ever who wasn’t very good in the ring.
Still, this match was the only match on a pretty terrible card to be anything worth writing home about. Dusty Rhodes vs. Macho Man would have been good in an alternate universe. Yet for whatever reason, the match felt a little more “spectacle” and a little less “work” involved.
We’re sorry. We know that you want work rate matches, but some cards just didn’t lend themselves to this. Don’t worry, though, there are plenty more of those on our list for the single best match on every WrestleMania card.
Runner Up: The Orient Express vs The Rockers
WRESTLEMANIA VII: THE ULTIMATE WARRIOR vs RANDY SAVAGE
This was a much better card than VI, and we feel that Ultimate Warrior and Randy Savage took the cake here. If you thought Warrior wasn’t going to appear twice on the best match from every WrestleMania card, we’re just as surprised as you are. Seriously, we’re not sure how WWE let this happen.
This match was excellent, and that’s a testament to Savage in a massive way. This man sold like a maniac for Warrior throughout the match. It was not quite Shawn Michaels against Hulk Hogan scale selling, but one can argue Randy did far more than he had to here. He even managed to neutralize Queen Shari’s interference in the match with an accidental bump.
The spot where Warrior catches Macho in a power slam, drops him to his feet, and slaps him is just high-quality storytelling.
Of course, the best part of this match is after it’s over. This was the event where the Macho Man and Miss Elizabeth reunite. It is still one of the best moments in pro-wrestling history, and just so happens to follow a Warrior match. This man is seriously the Forest Gump of pro-wrestling and we’ll never think otherwise!
Runner Up: The Nasty Boys vs The Hart Foundation
WRESTLEMANIA VIII: RANDY SAVAGE vs RIC FLAIR (w/MR. PERFECT)
Finally, another stacked WrestleMania card. It really was difficult to pick the best match on this card, as it is stacked with options. That said, we totally understand if you disagree with our choice. It was a razor-thin choice between this match and our runner-up match honestly.
Randy Savage vs Ric Flair would have been good for any card, in any promotion during this era. Both are incredible performers and Flair is a Mount Rushmore-caliber worker. That certainly makes Randy’s job much easier as he does not have to sell like he’s about to lose his life savings in the stock market. Having these two spend over 15 minutes in the ring was going to yield incredible results. It truly lived up to any expectations one might have had for these two.
What is so odd is that, to this day, many are still shocked WWE did not have Ric Flair/Hulk Hogan on this card. In reality, it would have been so easy to do. This would be Flair’s only WrestleMania appearance until his return in late 2001.
As we work our way through Mania cards, you could make the case that Savage was his era’s Mr. WrestleMania. It seems that he put on one hell of a show every time he locked up at the show of shows. At least for this match, they gave him Ric Flair. Talk about giving him an incredibly easy night compared to his other appearances on this card.
Runner Up: Bret Hart vs Roddy Piper
WRESTLEMANIA IX: TATANKA (W/SENSATIONAL SHERRI) vs SHAWN MICHAELS(W/LUNA VACHON)
This is Shawn Michaels’ first appearance in the match of the night for a WrestleMania event. This won’t be his last, of course. If we’re being honest, this match wasn’t that great, but it was better than the rest of the card. We have yet another WrestleMania card filled with pretty bad matches here.
We could have given it to Doink vs Crush, but we’re not insane. The Steiner Brothers vs The Headshrinkers would have been a fair move and will make the runner-up here, but we thought that Michaels had the better match by a razor-thin margin.
This also seemed to have ushered in an era where guys were getting more time on the card. Michaels had over 18 minutes. The Steiners got just under 15. That’s progress from a couple of cards ago where half the matches didn’t last five minutes. Vince seemed to like giving his main events a ton of time and wanted to stack the cards with a lot of star power. Yet the length of time behind matches would not be a concern for him. This card started to change that.
We’re glad as it gave us a great Michaels performance. Which allows it to be added to our single best match from every WrestleMania list.
Runner Up: The Steiner Brothers vs The Headshrinkers
WRESTLEMANIA X: RAZOR RAMON vs SHAWN MICHAELS
This was as tough of a call as any we’ve had so far. Owen Hart vs Bret Hart is an outstanding match between two of the best technicians in the company. This could have been the match of the night, and no one would have said a word. In fact, our editor feels Hart vs Hart was the best from this card. Yet it’s hard to argue that this match did not deserve the match of the night honor.
We’ll be honest here, Razor Ramon vs Shawn Michaels edges Owen vs Bret out by the slimmest of margins. We have to give a little bump to the fact that this was the first-ever ladder match (or well, the first properly televised ladder match). This was also Scott Hall (Razer) at the peak of his powers. His career would suffer many ups and downs, often due to problems of his own making, but this was the absolute highlight from an in-ring standpoint.
Michaels, at this point, is not Mr. WrestleMania. However, one can argue that this match started his climb to that nickname.
We also want to acknowledge that this is the last appearance of “The Macho Man” at WrestleMania. He has four best matches out of 10 WrestleMania appearances. That’s pretty impressive. This is the first-ever Mr. WrestleMania. Yet Shawn took this and ran with it in a major way. One can argue his match with Razor was the night when everyone took him seriously as the best in-ring performer in the business.
Runner Up: Owen Hart vs Bret Hart
WRESTLEMANIA XI: DIESEL (W/PAMELA ANDERSON) vs SHAWN MICHAELS (W/JENNY MCCARTHY & SID)
Again, we have a pretty bad card here. This was also WWE at a time when they were starting to lean into the TV-14 concept, moving solidly away from the PG format they had for years. This was due to the rising WCW, where one of the men from this match would end up a few years later.
While Michaels again appears in the match of the night, it’s not as honorable as some of his other matches. Diesel (Kevin Nash) was perhaps the worst World Champion in the history of WWE. When it comes to ticket sales, television ratings, etc., he was a financial disaster. His matches were never very good, but this match could give him something useful. Shawn was one of his best friends and the best performer in the business. Plus, there was a built-in story between the two already in play.
This whole card feels like a company that doesn’t know where it’s going and what it wants to be. That is because we’re not quite in the Attitude Era yet, but we’re going in that direction. This match takes place a bit before Diesel leaves the company and right before WCW upends the wrestling world.
Still, the match is good for what it wants to be. Adding Pam Anderson and Jenny McCarthy was…something. Baywatch and Playboy are beloved by male WWE fans. You know, because of the stories and articles from each. Nothing more.
Runner Up: Razor Ramon vs Jeff Jarrett
WRESTLEMANIA XII: SHAWN MICHAELS vs BRET HART
This was the easiest choice for us by far.
There’s no question that had we come up with anything else, we should have been barred from writing about wrestling for the rest of our lives. This match was one for the ages and easily the best WrestleMania match of all time up to that point. It certainly belongs on our list for the single best match from every Wrestlemania list.
Bret Hart & Shawn Michaels were two supremely gifted storytellers, and their chemistry in the ring was truly unbelievable. It’s even weirder that they were so good together yet they absolutely hated each other. This was the infamous Ironman match, a match where one must get as many pins/submissions as possible within a one-hour time limit. Not only did they go for an hour, but they also went for a little longer due to neither picking up a pinfall or submission during the time limit.
They needed a winner, so the “sudden death” rule was applied. They wrestled for a little longer until Michaels caught Hart and won his first World Championship.
In our research for this match, we noticed that noted wrestling journalist & insider Dave Meltzer gave it just 4.25 stars. This begs the question, what the hell is wrong with Meltzer? Of course, that’s an entirely different conversation.
The rest of this card is not that special, which may be why they gave Bret and Shawn an hour of in-ring storytelling. It was to distract us from a rather lackluster undercard.
Runner Up: Undertaker vs Diesel
WRESTLEMANIA XIII: BRET HART vs “STONE COLD” STEVE AUSTIN
This match had literally everything. It had the infamous double turn by “Stone Cold” Steve Austin and Bret Hart, something that is incredibly hard to pull off and even harder in 2024.
These two did it somehow with Austin leaving as a crowd favorite and Hart leaving as the hated heel. This is despite the fact that Austin technically lost this match. It was his starting point where fans began to back him. Leading to an infamous run that few others can ever claim to have.
Of course, this is also the match that has the iconic image of Austin covered in blood, screaming in pain from the Sharpshooter. Many think of this image when they think of a WrestleMania during the Attitude Era. Funny enough, many trace back the Attitude Era’s starting point to this match.
This match cemented Austin as one of the next top guys, soon to be “the” top guy in the business. It also shows a tough-as-nails character who’d rather pass out from pain than submit to a guy he hated, like Hart.
This match was also meticulously laid out and executed. Not a punch or kick was wasted, which says a lot for a 22-minute match. Keep in mind that this was not the main event of the show. Yet it overshadows every other match on the card. That is the main reason it lands on our single best match from every WrestleMania list.
It was just a master class and two in a row for Bret Hart as the Mania match of the night.
Runner Up: Billy Gunn vs Flash Funk
WRESTLEMANIA XIV: “STONE COLD” STEVE AUSTIN vs SHAWN MICHAELS (W/CHYNA & TRIPLE H)
We’re in prime D-Generation X time. Yet Shawn Michaels has a back that is pretty much destroyed at this point. He needed to get away for a while, but that meant that WWE needed to crown a new top guy. “Stone Cold” Steve Austin had been climbing up to this role since the previous year, so he was the perfect guy for Shawn to pass the torch to on his way out.
WrestleMania XIV is a good card, but this match stands out. This match gives us Austin taking the singular top guy role, and it’s the last Michaels appearance in a match at WrestleMania for many years. In the background of this is Triple H’s rise, as he’s not just Michaels’ DX partner but a clearly worthy top guy himself. He’d go on to be Austin’s main rival along with The Rock throughout the Attitude Era.
For Michaels, he essentially retires from the ring. He took on a Commissioner role with WWE for a bit but then had to walk away from that as well.
This match had it all. Michaels wasn’t at his best, but he was good enough to give us a quality show. Of course the spectacle of Mike Tyson as the guest referee added something special to the entire event as well. After all, he was a big fan of “Cold Stone.”
While Austin’s run was ultimately short-lived, it was one hell of a run while it lasted. It all starts here, with Michaels giving him everything he had to give at the time.
Runner Up: Undertaker vs Kane
WRESTLEMANIA XV: “STONE COLD” STEVE AUSTIN vs THE ROCK
This was the first of many main events for these two enormous superstars. The Rock and Steve Austin had perhaps the greatest rivalries in the history of the WWE. This match had everything you could have wanted. It was both men at their prime, especially The Rock who was incredibly athletic and capable of anything.
The Rock had truly come into his own at this time, and it was clear that while he wasn’t as big a star as Austin, it was only a matter of time. The whole pay-per-view was built around this match. Mankind was even the special guest referee, allowing him to play spoiler for The Rock.
If we’re being honest, the rest of the card wasn’t the best that a WrestleMania had to offer, so this match almost wins by default. This is why it was perhaps too easy to choose it for our single best match from every WrestleMania list.
However, it was worthy of a shoutout just for how good Rock and Austin were at this time.
Runner Up: Shane McMahon vs X-Pac
WRESTLEMANIA XVI: EDGE & CHRISTIAN vs THE DUDLEY BOYZ vs THE HARDY BOYS
Mostly marketed as WrestleMania 2000, a lot of matches were on this card. Yet the main event was nothing to write home about and every other match felt disappointing more than anything else.
The only match that exceeded expectations was the TLC match between Edge & Christian, the Dudley Boyz, & the Hardy Boys. To be honest, it did not just exceed expectations, it laid a framework that made it nearly impossible to top. Every man in the match said they constantly struggled to top what they did here.
This was the best match on the card by far, and it wasn’t even close. It was also a pretty huge moment as it put the three tag teams firmly on the map. We should acknowledge that these three teams were already amongst the best in the world at this time. However, this match took the public perception of them to a different level. It also made tag team wrestling a must-see thing once again.
This match effectively launched the Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match that got its own pay-per-view many years later. It also was the crest of stunt work and daredevil matches of that era. When you put six Hall of Famers in the same ring together, then give them a canvas like a series of ladders from which to paint, it makes it relatively easy to create magic. Throwing in chairs and tables just added to the potential carnage they could create.
While there is a part of this event that was known as the McMahon in every corner, this will always be remembered for this ladder match, and we can’t blame them.
Runner Up: Triple H vs Mick Foley vs The Big Show vs The Rock
WRESTLEMANIA XVII: EDGE & CHRISTIAN vs THE DUDLEY BOYZ vs THE HARDY BOYS
Unlike in the year prior, picking the best match from this card was difficult. Rock & Austin are in the main event and have a great match. Undertaker & Triple H put on their first big WrestleMania match here too. Yet the tag teams did it again. Edge & Christian, the Dudley Boyz, and Hardy Boys came to play and somehow topped the match they had from the previous year!
Several cards will go by where there’s just one outstanding match, and the rest are ho-hum. Then they’ll have a card where they get several matches, and they are incredible. This is that card.
Still, you have to give it to the tag teams. This match has everything. It’s fast-paced, it’s risk-taking, it’s violent. It has a little something for everyone.
Austin vs Rock had the best match of their series here. However, this tag match was impossible to ignore from this card. For the second year in a row, these guys went out and absolutely stole the show from their fellow performers.
Runner Up: Steve Austin vs The Rock
WRESTLEMANIA XVIII: THE UNDERTAKER vs RIC FLAIR
Let’s address the elephant in the room. Yes, the Rock vs. Hulk Hogan match is the most memorable from this card, and probably similar to the Hogan vs. Andre match. It’s the match that you will talk about for years. However, from the standpoint of the action inside the ring Undertaker vs Ric Flair was just better.
We’ve tried to be consistent throughout our list involving the single best match from every Wrestlemania. If Rock/Hogan had just a bit better in-ring action, it might have been the victor here. The two did make magic together, and the turn from the crowd was fun to see. They decided to cheer Hogan while booing The Rock. Oh yeah, we should mention this took place in Canada…a place WWE has often referred to as “Bizarro World.” Yet we did not get enough from this match.
For Undertaker/Flair, we were treated to a fantastic match. This was The Phenom in his prime while it was a version of Ric Flair that was still capable of most of the things that made him a legend. He could still move like he used to and was capable of giving us a great performance. Due to it being the 10th victory for Undertaker, this match is also credited for being the time when we began to talk about The Deadman’s WrestleMania winning streak.
Flair was great here on his last legs. After all, he’d only wrestle another 22 years after this match.
Have a problem with it? We get it.
Runner Up: Triple H vs Chris Jericho
WRESTLEMANIA XIX: SHAWN MICHAELS vs CHRIS JERICHO
Shawn Michaels returned the year prior but did not take part in WrestleMania. He was part of the NWO at this point but did not start wrestling until the summer period, which was meant to be a one-off with Triple H. Yet everything worked out well, so Michaels kept going. That led to regular performances and finally to this showdown with another fantastic performer, Chris Jericho.
It is impossible to find a Michaels/Jericho match from their rivalry that is not worth checking out. This was the first of many great matches, and this performance stole the show. Sure, Brock Lesnar vs Kurt Angle was also great until that whole shooting star thing. However, Michaels/Jericho had everything you could want and then some.
This took place less than a year after Shawn returned to the ring, and it was like he never lost a step. Meanwhile, we have prime-era Y2J here. We should have known it was going to be a 5-star match.
They were pretty early in the card but were given ample time. With performers like this, you just need time and space, and magic happens.
To be the best match on this card is saying something, as there were three other matches you could have made a case for. Michaels continued to cement himself as one of the best performers of any era. He could pull a good match out of anyone. Luckily, Jericho didn’t need anyone to pull a good match out of him. He could do that anytime he wanted. It was a partnership that led to greatness.
Runner Up: Brock Lesnar vs Kurt Angle
WRESTLEMANIA XX: EDDIE GUERRERO vs KURT ANGLE
It is often forgotten that Eddie Guerrero actually won the WWE Championship at No Way Out, before WrestleMania. With the former champion, Brock Lesnar, on his way out of WWE…they needed a good worker for Eddie to face off with. Enter Kurt Angle, one of the best wrestlers of his generation.
Did this match get a nod over the main event because Eddie is a beloved former WWE champion who was gone far too early? Maybe. Did this match get the nod because the main event featured two men and a guy named [REDACTED]? Maybe
Angle and Guerrero had a great match. That was certainly thanks to the fact that these performers had incredible chemistry in the ring. Eddie and Kurt did not need any special stipulations to have a great match, they were purely impressive performers. Yet it’s amazing to see that they were able to have one of their best matches on the grandest stage of them all.
We will say that the main event was an excellent match if you can somehow remember that one guy in there. For some reason, it’s as if he disappeared from our memories as if to say he was edited out of WWE history. If you want to watch one match back with fondness, we recommend watching Eddie’s match.
Runner Up: Triple H vs Shawn Michaels vs [REDACTED]
WRESTLEMANIA XXI: KURT ANGLE vs SHAWN MICHAELS
Well, it’s another Wrestlemania where Shawn Michaels had the best match on the card. Who would have thought it?
We should certainly acknowledge that this card had a couple of great matches, including the very first Money In The Bank ladder match, which was excellent and had one of the most stacked fields in WWE history.
Still, we thought that the match of the night was pretty easily Kurt Angle vs Shawn Michaels. Unlike some years for Shawn since his return, people now expect something big from him again at the show of shows. Giving him Kurt Angle to work with, one of the greatest of his era, seemed like a recipe for 5-star greatness. Michaels did not let us down and neither did Angle. They absolutely destroyed in this match. It still holds up as awesome, so we recommend checking it out again.
These guys were two of the best ever, and it would have been somewhat criminal had they not had the chance to lock up against one another on a stage like WrestleMania. Angle wouldn’t have too many appearances left on this show in his career, and neither would Shawn, but they absolutely crushed it in this match.
Runner Up: Money In The Bank Ladder Match – Edge vs [REDACTED] vs Chris Jericho vs Christian vs Kane vs Shelton Benjamin
WRESTLEMANIA XXII: EDGE vs MICK FOLEY
There’s something about the violence in a match that can give it a bit of an artificial boost. This wasn’t a match with violence for the sake of violence though. It had a point and a purpose for most of its spots. Probably with the only exception being the spot we all remember the most from it. It helps that the two guys involved are expert-level storytellers in the ring. Edge & Mick Foley gave us everything we could have asked for.
While Foley had been part of WrestleMania several times in the past, up until this event…he never had a true “WrestleMania Moment.” He wanted this badly, so when the opportunity to work with a heel Edge in a hardcore match came up…it was the perfect opportunity.
He’d get his moment for sure. We probably all remember the iconic image of Edge spearing Foley through a flaming table. We all remember this the most, but it was only a small part of the match. The two basically inflicted pain upon the other that some horror movies are too afraid to add. It felt personal between these two, which is exactly what you need to sell a match like this.
Due to the massive amount of hardcore matches WWE had by this point, rivalries did not always matter. You could not get very personal with most of them and the pain felt staged, even if it wasn’t. Edge & Foley made everything count.
There are a few very good matches on the card, with the Money in the Bank ladder match coming to mind. It’s not the company’s best card, but this match is worth re-watching.
Runner Up: Rob Van Dam vs Bobby Lashley vs Finlay vs Matt Hardy vs Rick Flair vs Shelton Benjamin
WRESTLEMANIA XXIII: JOHN CENA vs SHAWN MICHAELS
Most wrestling historians will tell you that this match was never supposed to happen. The plan was to have Triple H work with John Cena in the main event of this WrestleMania. Yet he’d get hurt before the event, forcing WWE to find a credible opponent to work with Cena. Enter Shawn Michaels, because if you need a solid performer at WrestleMania…is there a better name to have on speed dial?
We want to take a second to give Cena his flowers. No one would ever say that Cena was the in-ring performer that Shawn was, but suggesting that Cena was not capable of delivering an outstanding match to the masses would be wrong. This match is exhibit one. Even if Shawn called the match, Cena still needed to deliver on everything asked of him. Plus, we cannot say that Michaels pulled out a great match from Cena.
Keep in mind that John did a lot of the heavy lifting in this match. Shawn brought the selling and agility that made him great. Both performers quite literally brought the best out of each other on this night. However, we think that this match did make it clear to people that there is no performer in WrestleMania history better than Shawn Michaels. The man was a walking 5-star classic every single time he stepped foot in the ring.
Runner Up: The Undertaker vs Batista
WRESTLEMANIA XXIV: UNDERTAKER vs EDGE
Did you think we were going to say Floyd Mayweather vs. The Big Show? We get it. Makes sense. However, we decided to go with a slightly better match. By slightly, we mean, well, massively better.
The other game in consideration would be Shawn Michaels vs Ric Flair. This was the last time Flair would wrestle in a WWE ring. Unless you count the “unsanctioned” stuff he did afterward. This was one of his best matches and it was tough to choose between this match and the main event of the show.
However, the Edge vs Undertaker match gets the prize here.
This match was outstanding, and it came at an era when Taker was really establishing himself as a big match performer. Sure, he had been in the main event in the past at WrestleMania. He also had some pretty good matches at the show too. However, he never had a top-tier WrestleMania main event on his resume. Edge never main evented the show, giving us two men who wanted to have a great performance.
Undertaker’s match history and persona didn’t always lend to him being looked at as a big work-rate guy. Yet this would start a string of classic matches for The Phenom.
Going into this match, we actually had two men who were both undefeated at WrestleMania. Yes, Edge was on a bit of a streak of his own at the time. Of course, this came to an end against The Deadman.
There’s a lot to love on the card for WrestleMania XXIV, but this one stands out, even if it’s only by a hair over Michaels/Flair.
Runner Up: Shawn Michaels vs Ric Flair
WRESTLEMANIA XXV: UNDERTAKER vs SHAWN MICHAELS
We want to acknowledge that Triple H vs Randy Orton was a very good match. In this writer’s opinion, it had one of the best builds we’ve ever had for a main event. Also one of this writer’s favorite promos leading up to the event.
With all that being said, there was no question that the match of the night was Undertaker vs Shawn Michaels. You can make a solid argument for this being the best match in WrestleMania history. From what the two men did in the ring together, to the commentary from Jim Ross, it was an all-time classic. Plus, one could realistically see a world in which Mr. WrestleMania took down The Streak.
If any performer was going to end the streak, it would be the greatest performer in the event’s history. He was still at the top of his game. Also, the build between the light and the darkness was very well done. It added an element to this match that their second match didn’t have.
Nonetheless, this was just an exceptional match in every way. In fact, they were so good that they couldn’t be followed. Sadly, the World Heavyweight Title Triple Threat Match & Triple H/Randy Orton were the only matches left. This match was so good that we still have trouble viewing how good Orton/Triple H actually was as a result.
Runner Up: Triple H vs Randy Orton
WRESTLEMANIA XXVI: UNDERTAKER vs SHAWN MICHAELS
We don’t like to call out Dave Meltzer. His ratings, like this list, are arbitrary, but we would like to point out that neither of the Undertaker vs Shawn Michaels matches were given one of his five-star ratings.
If you watched both of these and didn’t think that either of these matches got a top score on whatever rating system or scoring system you choose, you should rethink how you approach your entire life. We guess it should have taken place in Japan or something. He gives anything there, even a blah match, 3 stars minimum. Enough about that though, let’s talk about this match.
We can all agree it was awesome. It wasn’t quite as good, in this writer’s opinion, as their previous WrestleMania bout. However, it was head and shoulders above every other match on the card. It was smart that WWE put them on last this time too. There were some good ones on here, though.
Let’s give a shout-out to Batista vs John Cena, as well as Chris Jericho vs Edge. They were both entertaining, but Michaels vs Taker wasn’t going to be denied.
We have two of the best in-ring workers of their era here. Plus, this was also going to be Shawn Michaels’ retirement match. The Heartbreak Kid gave us several classics at this event. Yet he had so much left to give. This is why when WWE made this “Streak vs Career,” we again thought Michaels might end the streak. Why would Michaels end his wrestling career entirely?!?
In interviews later, he claimed he wanted to leave people wanting more. To his credit, he did stay retired. At least for about a decade. We’ll ignore that tag match in Saudi Arabia, HBK.
Runner Up: Chris Jericho vs Edge
WRESTLEMANIA XXVII: THE UNDERTAKER vs TRIPLE H
If you’re keeping count, these are three straight WrestleMania events where Undertaker has had the best match on the card. At least in our opinion, that is. If you’re trying to find the single best match from every WrestleMania during this era, there’s a solid chance The Phenom will be in the top 2 or 3.
Of course, historically, this is where The Streak came into heavy focus. Every WrestleMania was now about who was going to try to end the streak and if they ever would.
While Triple H faced The Deadman at WrestleMania before, the company wanted us to ignore that. They also added more stakes to this match, where it would be a No Holds Barred match. Basically, it is a fancy way of saying you cannot get disqualified for anything. What’s striking about this match was Jim Ross on commentary. There is a version of Ross that’s animated like he was when Mick Foley was thrown off the Hell in a Cell.
You did not get that here. Instead, he was quieter, letting the match breathe and letting action do the talking more.
This was the best match on the card. While Miz/Cena main evented the show, with an appearance from The Rock, nothing topped Undertaker/HHH here. Yet the whole show is still worth checking out again. This was also the card where Edge had his last match for several years as he faced Alberto Del Rio. He’d announce his retirement the following night on RAW.
Runner Up: Cody Rhodes vs Rey Mysterio
WRESTLEMANIA XXVIII: THE UNDERTAKER vs TRIPLE H
Undertaker won their last match, but he did not walk to the back. The Game, however, did just that. Taker wanted to right this wrong badly. Triple H, now a suit in WWE, said he couldn’t face The Phenom again. It would be bad for business because he knows he’d have to end him. Of course, Undertaker always knew how to push The Game.
He said to him that his buddy Shawn Michaels was always better than he was. This has been a sore spot for the Triple H character for many years and we all knew it. That mention also brought back Michaels to be the special guest referee, inside a Hell in a Cell match. While this match was Taker’s playground, Triple H had the most wins inside the cell. Many feel this was their best match, while this writer feels the No Holds Barred match was better, none of us can say you’d be wrong for liking the HIAC match more.
Of course, this was the card where The Rock returned and faced John Cena. A good match, but only for spectacle. However, this match was the last of the Attitude Era guys. We’d never see these men in the ring together again (we’re ignoring Saudi, remember?) and that was sad.
This match was bloody and violent, and they took each other to the limit. Triple H tried everything to break the streak. Undertaker walked away the winner, but it was now the “end of an era.” We’d see many new names in this spot every year that followed, as evolution intended.
This was a decent card, but not a great one. This match sits head and shoulders above the rest.
Runner Up: CM Punk vs Chris Jericho
WRESTLEMANIA XXIX: UNDERTAKER vs CM PUNK
Obviously, we were going with Mark Henry vs Ryback. Just kidding. That match sucked. CM Punk might not have headlined WrestleMania during his first run with the company, but he was white hot during this time. He called himself “The Best in the World,” and proved that here. Undertaker & CM Punk had the clear best match of the night.
This is also the end of an incredible run for Undertaker. According to our official, (very) official calculation, this makes six straight WrestleMania events where Taker had the match of the night. Not bad for a guy who wasn’t “Mr. WrestleMania.”
CM Punk was the best in the world, he’s also one of the top stars in WWE. He might have been the biggest name of the era not named John Cena at this point. What better way to prove your greatness than by defeating The Undertaker at WrestleMania? Ending his streak was of prime importance to all. That made this match even better because we saw a version of Punk that was desperate and willing to do anything.
He also played mind games with The Deadman leading up to the event, a reversal of how it usually is. Undertaker’s former manager and storyline father, Paul Bearer, legitimately passed away shortly before this. That led to Punk using Bearer in promos, even using his ashes to mock Undertaker. It was really some of the best heel work he’s ever done. Should this match have headlined WrestleMania XXIX? Probably so. Of course, Rock/Cena II happened on this night so that was never going to happen.
Yet when we think about this event, most fans remember Punk/Undertaker far more. That is for a good reason.
Runner Up: Triple H vs Brock Lesnar
WRESTLEMANIA XXX: DANIEL BRYAN vs TRIPLE H
This was the “Daniel Bryan WrestleMania.” There was no doubt about it.
He had the two matches of the night, and it had been set up that way for weeks.
One could argue that the main event of WrestleMania 30 was better. This would not be wrong, but it was likely aided by what the moment meant. It gave Bryan a much-deserved and needed validation as the A+ Player he truly was. However, the show opened with Daniel Bryan vs Triple H, and The Game was willing to do anything to keep Bryan out of the main event.
The match stipulated that whoever won would go on to the main event with Randy Orton (WWE World Champion) & Batista (Royal Rumble Winner). This meant that this match meant everything to Bryan. Yet it also meant a lot for Triple H, who wanted to keep the status quo the way it was. Due to that, this match was incredible and gave us everything we wanted from both men. Triple H was no stranger to big WrestleMania matches and pulled out everything he could to stop Bryan.
Ultimately, Bryan would win this match and then win in the main event later that night.
You could make the argument for either Bryan match, but we’re sticking with our pick here.
Many bring up Undertaker/Brock Lesnar, as it was the ending of the streak. However, The Deadman sustained a concussion during the match and hurt the rest of their bout. Yet it does deserve an honorable mention.
Runner Up: Daniel Bryan vs Batista vs Randy Orton
WRESTLEMANIA XXXI: [SETH ROLLINS] vs BROCK LESNAR vs ROMAN REIGNS
This WrestleMania did not give us a ton of amazing matches. Therefore, picking the best match from this event was a bit easier for our list of the single best match from every WrestleMania list. Seth Rollins vs Brock Lesnar vs Roman Reigns, to this writer, was the best of the show.
It is now one of the most memorable main event matches of all time. That was because Seth Rollins did something huge. Still holding his Money in the Bank briefcase, he saw both Reigns and Lesnar down in the ring. They were having a pretty brutal & physical match up to that point. Rollins saw the opening and decided to cash in at this perfect time. Reigns and Lesnar were giving us a pretty fun match but the addition of Rollins made this match amazing.
What’s so interesting too is that Rollins already wrestled on the show. He lost his match to Randy Orton earlier in the night, where he gave us one of Orton’s most famous RKO moments. The Intercontinental Title ladder match was likely the next-best match on the card. We did have Undertaker/Bray Wyatt on this card too. Yet the two seemed to have trouble finding the best footing for the match, and it did not go as well as it could have.
Runner Up: Daniel Bryan vs Bad News Barrett vs Dean Ambrose vs Dolph Ziggler vs Luke Harper vs R-Truth vs Stardust
WRESTLEMANIA XXXII: CHARLOTTE FLAIR vs BECKY LYNCH vs SASHA BANKS
It took many years for WWE to give women’s wrestling proper time and opportunity at a WrestleMania event. Then the greatness of NXT happened, where we were given incredible workers like Charlotte Flair, Becky Lynch, & Sasha Banks. This was the event where they’d show off what we’d end up seeing for the next decade.
Finally, the ladies were given the time, space, and faith to put on a great match. That said, welcome to the best match of the event club, ladies.
That’s saying something, given that we also had the likes of AJ Styles vs Chris Jericho & Shane McMahon vs Undertaker inside Hell in a Cell.
Technically, the match was going to be for Charlotte’s WWE Diva’s Championship. WWE then decided to end the Divas Era, making everyone WWE Superstars. They would then bring back the WWE Women’s Championship, which we’d find out about the day of WrestleMania XXXII. Three of the four horsewomen would compete for the honor of being the new Women’s Champ.
This was Lynch before she was “The Man,” when Banks was still “The Boss,” & Flair before she was “The Queen.”
This match also featured three of the hungriest competitors you’ve ever seen, each fighting for more than the title.
The match we saw on this night was further proof that women can crush when given the opportunity. It put women’s matches on a trajectory that has allowed women’s wrestling main event, event at WrestleMania, on more than one occasion.
Overall, this was a solid card, but in hindsight, this match should have balanced the card. The actual main event between Triple H vs Roman Reigns and it wasn’t great. It underperformed heavily, making it an easy win for the ladies.
Runner Up: Chris Jericho vs AJ Styles
WRESTLEMANIA XXXIII: AJ STYLES vs SHANE McMAHON
You probably didn’t have Shane McMahon on your bingo card for the best match, but here we are. Of course, any match with AJ Styles in it can potentially steal the whole darn show!
Plus, Shane has long been an underrated performer. What he lacked in pure in-ring knowledge or skill, he more than made up for in his willingness to take chances. Plus, his ability to sell like he was being beaten to death in the ring was great too.
This was the surprising match of the night. Although it wasn’t truly memorable for its technical action or in-ring storytelling, it was also a hard card to pick the best match from. What gives this match an edge is how Shane brought several real-world BJJ moves into the equation, as well as the pure skill that AJ showed. Styles can work well with anyone, but when he’s trusted by an opponent willing to do whatever, he can guide one to a 4-star match at minimum.
If you told us that you thought Kevin Owens vs Chris Jericho was the best, we couldn’t be mad at that. If you said that the Women’s Fatal Four Way was the match of the night, we would totally get it. Of course, if you said John Cena/Nikki Bella vs Miz/Maryse was the match of the night, we’d want you to seek a proper doctor for that concussion soon.
It was a tough card to find the match that stood out, but AJ/Shane is just that. When trying to find the single best match from every WrestleMania event, it’s easy to find at least one great match these days. Yet this card wasn’t as brilliant as others.
Runner Up: Bayley vs Charlotte Flair vs Nia Jax vs Sasha Banks
WRESTLEMANIA XXXIV: CHARLOTTE FLAIR vs ASUKA
This whole card is like that horse meme. You know, the one where the horse looks great at the start of the drawing. Then, by the end, it looks like a drawing done by a two-year-old with a crayon. That’s this event. There are some truly awesome matches on this card whereas others…we’re not sure what happened honestly.
Charlotte Flair vs. Asuka was incredible. We had Charlotte Flair in the prime of her career as a Terminator, known for getting the win over anyone. Then we have Asuka, a woman who went undefeated in NXT and had the longest women’s title reign of all time as a result. She gave up her NXT Title and went to the main roster where she would also go unbeaten. Heading into this event, it was her winning streak versus WWE’s golden girl.
While this writer doesn’t personally agree with their decision to have Flair defeat Asuka so early in her main roster run, we can’t dispute the quality of the match itself.
This might sound crazy, but we feel like Asuka doesn’t get her due as one of the very best women’s wrestlers of all time. Charlotte, Becky, and Sasha all get massive credit for how talented they are, and rightfully so. However, Asuka is so smooth in the ring. She makes everything look and feel real and she has incredible timing.
There were two other matches close in contention: the Ronda Rousey/Kurt Angle vs Triple H/Stephanie McMahon match & the Triple Threat Intercontinental Title match.
However, Flair vs Asuka was excellent and deserves a rewatch if you go back to this event.
Runner Up: Seth Rollins vs Finn Balor vs The Miz
WRESTLEMANIA XXXV: KOFI KINGSTON vs DANIEL BRYAN
We will forever remember this WrestleMania for the first-ever women’s main event with Becky Lynch, Charlotte Flair, and Ronda Rousey. This was WrestleMania of “The Man.” We love seeing the women’s evolution that took place here. Yet it was not the match of the night. That most certainly goes to Kofi Kingston vs Daniel Bryan.
Heading into the event, WWE fans would get behind Kofi big time. Since WWE did not have major set plans for Daniel Bryan’s title defense yet, they decided to give fans what they wanted. At the time, WWE never had an entirely black man as WWE Champion. The Rock is half-black, and all the other black men were World Heavyweight Champions. This meant that Kofi could make history for black men, and if you ask Xavier Woods, making Kofi the WWE Champion was a big part of New Day’s mission.
Kingston would be called a B+ Player ironically by the champion, Daniel Bryan. He wanted to prove he was better than that and he did just that.
This was one of the longest WrestleMania events in recent memory. Many felt that was a major reason why the crowd did not pop as much as some assumed they would have. Despite this, the fans were into it and went nuts for Kingston when he won the title. Sadly, they were burnt out after this match so the main event did not get much love.
Still, we cannot deny how good Kofi and Bryan’s match was. They stole the show and gave the fans the best match of the night.
Runner Up: The Usos vs Aleister Black & Ricochet vs Rusev & Shinsuke Nakamura vs The Bar
WRESTLEMANIA XXXVI: CHARLOTTE FLAIR vs RHEA RIPLEY
This was the first WrestleMania event to have two nights. It was also the first one that took place during a Pandemic and would be completely crowdless. It brought us our first “cinematic matches.” As in, matches that were not live but recorded ahead of time with inventive ideology behind them.
If we were giving out awards for this event, we’d give John Cena vs Bray Wyatt the “Most Inventive Award.” We’d also give the runner-up award to AJ Styles vs Undertaker, as it was fantastic. However, this writer feels the match of the night was Rhea Ripley vs Charlotte Flair.
For the first time ever, a Royal Rumble winner would challenge for an NXT World Title. Ripley, who had won the title late in the year prior, was on the rise. She was nowhere near the “Mami” she is today. Yet she was incredibly talented and hungry to prove she belonged. Flair meanwhile was, well, the Queen.
In a nearly empty arena, these women would have an incredible match. It lasted around 20 minutes with both women giving their best, despite the lack of crowd to cheer them on. Even though she lost to Charlotte, Ripley had a coming-out party that night. She showed the world she could hang with the best and take her to the absolute limit.
Runner Up: AJ Styles vs The Undertaker
WRESTLEMANIA XXXVII: BIANCA BELAIR vs SASHA BANKS
Picking the best match from this event was incredibly difficult. Several matches on this card could have easily been picked for this spot. Now, we recognize that if we broke the event up into two different events over two different days, we would have had Roman Reigns vs Daniel Bryan vs Edge on the list. Since it took place the following night.
However, this is about picking the single best match from every WrestleMania card. This means we have to pick only one from this event despite the two-night concept.
Bianca Belair and Sasha Banks are two of the best performers in the business, and they put on a hell of a show. This was both a coronation for Bianca as the face of the women’s division and a testament to Sasha Banks’ unbelievable talent. Banks sells like no-ones business. She can move from getting rag-dolled, as she did at moments in this match, to powering back with vicious offense.
It’s beautiful to watch when it’s working to its maximum capacity.
Perhaps the thing we all remember from this match was the hair whip. After pulling on her hair and using it against Bianca all match, Sasha yet again tried to do this late in the match. Bianca was tired of it and hit Sasha with a hair whip so loud, it echoed in an open freakin stadium. Belair would get the win here, but this match meant much more.
It was the first time two black women would main-event WrestleMania, and they did not disappoint for a single second.
Runner Up: Roman Reigns vs Daniel Bryan vs Edge
WRESTLEMANIA XXXVIII: CODY RHODES vs SETH ROLLINS
Heading into this event, Seth Rollins was told he would find out who he’d face at WrestleMania once he goes to the ring. Of course, we as fans knew who it would likely be in the end. Cody Rhodes was headed back to WWE and it seemed like the perfect night to have him return. Most fans felt Cody was going to be the mystery opponent and were not disappointed when he showed up. He came back to WWE, complete with his “American Nightmare” nickname, his AEW music, and the Homelander jacket.
Still, the pageantry of waiting until the event to reveal Seth’s opponent made the Cody entrance that much better overall.
Rollins doesn’t get enough credit for being good in the ring. Name the last time Rollins had a subpar match. You can’t. While Rhodes doesn’t need a talent like Rollins to pull an all-star performance out of him, it just makes Rollins the perfect dance partner for someone like Cody.
Plus, we as fans started to realize really quickly into this match that we actually had two of the best in-ring workers of their generation in a random match in the middle of the card. Cody fed off the crowd and put forth a hell of a show. He even made a nod to Stardust with the trademark cartwheel.
This would also ignite Rhodes’ first and probably best rivalry in the company to date. Seth and Cody have incredible chemistry, and it’s no wonder this made the match of the night. Something tells us if we see these two work together again at WrestleMania, they could steal the show then too.
Runner Up: Bianca Belair vs Becky Lynch
WRESTLEMANIA XXXIX: GUNTHER vs DREW MCINTYRE vs SHEAMUS
Let’s be clear that this event was stacked with excellent performances. First, you easily could have given Sami Zayn & Kevin Owens vs. The Usos the nod. This is not just for the incredible Sami story leading up to the event but also for the actual in-ring action, which was out of control. It honestly made you think that nothing they did on night two was going to top that match.
Rhea Ripley vs Charlotte Flair could have gotten the spot as well. These two ladies are magic when they are in the ring together. The raw display of power they both possess is so fun to watch at every turn.
You could have given Cody Rhodes vs Roman Reigns the win here as well. There were moments in that match where you just held your breath in anticipation of what would happen. For some, the ending was a letdown, but the match itself was top-tier.
However, there was something about Gunther vs Drew McIntyre vs Sheamus that we just loved.
We must acknowledge that Gunther did what he always does. He’s an absolute killer, and gets a good match out of everyone he’s in the ring with. These three men are no strangers to good wrestling, and the combination was fantastic. There is so much brutality in just over 15 minutes of wrestling. They were explosive and vicious, and Gunther looked on the edge of defeat as he always does. He found a way to win..yet again as he always does.
This card, both nights, was stacked. Picking a runner-up was just as hard as picking a winner. That said, we’d understand if you picked another match. It was a murderer’s row of excellence.
Runner Up: Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn vs The Usos
