Wrestlemania Top 5:
As follows, let’s take a look back at the greatest Wrestlemania matches. It’s a toast to Wrestlemania and all the fanfare, glitz, glamour and memories we have remembered that makes this show and industry great.
The first match on this list is the Hogan-Andre bout at Wrestlemania 3. The most famous match is this one. It is the one that broke all the records for the Pontiac Silverdome. Hogan-Andre is also the main event on the card, naturally and was the “big money” bout. This match and favorite moment (the body slam) was the slam heard round the world; a precursor to the 1994 moment for the younger audience when Hogan #2 (Lex Luger) slammed Yokozuna- going for the same effect.
Hogan-Andre may not have been the best “technical” pure wrestling bout, but it is legendary and the one that changed this business forever. It put WWE and Hogan on the map. Yes, technically The Sheik and December 1983 “launched” Hogan and his title reign. Who better than the biggest athlete in Andre to pass the torch? During a time where PPV was limited and not as prolific monthly offerings- for one single match to “hold out” fans interests was an amazing maneuver; and promoted correctly. We also had a story in which former friends, turned foes. Hulk never faced, nor beat Andre the Giant in WWE; and Andre never became the WWE Champion at that point. Ergo, something had to give. As Gorilla Monsoon once said; it is the unstoppable force meeting the immovable object.
The moment really cemented Hogan and built him better because of the scale of the audience, and financial growth for 93,173 fans and on the largest PPV. It was labeled Bigger, Badder, and Bolder and certainly was. Ironically enough and in a most difficult decision, the honorable mention in a tie (if there is one) makes Shawn Michaels-Razor Ramon’s WM X ladder match also high on the proverbial card.
The second match is linked in this manner because they are rematches; and occurred a year apart. They were also exceeding the bar from the year before. This time, these matches are Undertaker and “Heartbreak Kid” Shawn Michaels. The venues were Wrestlemania 24 and 25 respectively. The Wrestlemania 24 had a great story as it was about the cornerstones of WWE. They had battled before; but never on the grandest stage; and this one was it. Two storied careers and success were to clash. Mr. Wrestlemania who never really “loses” significantly and steals the show was on his best this night. It was athleticism versus the Streak, the enigma, the mystique of the Undertaker. UT would win this bout and resume his legacy and undefeated streak by beating one of the best.
Wrestlemania 25 had the importance of the first bout, and more. It was Streak vs. Career; and now someone really had to lose. Who would it be? After a titanic clash, and kept us salivating if “this” night and this opponent was going to be it- it kept us salivating at the possibilities. Unfortunately, Undertaker was weary and down-trodden but also successful once again. Two HOF-er’s battled on this night and which when all the chips were down- delivered a classic match.
The third greatest WM Match is the ladder match of Shawn versus Razor. It brought out the high-flying spectacle of the event, and in a bout that hadn’t been seen before. We also had the story of a dual IC title, and to whom was the legitimate undisputed champion. Realistically, Shawn never lost his title (until this night), and Razor was crowned as champion on RAW, on October 19th 1993.
The fourth match as the greatest did go down in history. It is Savage and Steamboat. It ushered in the “wrestler” era; and to where the smaller guys in the land of giants could compete and succeed. This match was the epitome of classic and the best pure technical bout. This match would be revisited and similar (to a degree) in 1996. (There is more on this later and as the fifth and “best” match in Mania).
It took two technical wizards in 1987; to also launch (in some ways) the careers of Michaels and Bret Hart. The two “small guys” ushered in a style and ability that was seen years prior in WM 1987. This match would come back during the New Generation Era. For this comparison, Bret Hart vs. Shawn Michaels iron man match was the Steamboat-Savage of this time in 1996. Two very different men, different personalities and styles (and spectrum’s as a reserved veteran in Hart, versus the flashier Michaels) was apparent on this night. Two different men who represented different values, intangibles in the business- Savage and Steamboat was a reincarnation again of Hart-Michaels.
The ultimate dream-match that would be created and never done is a fatal four way for the WWE Title. It would pit Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat versus “Mr. Perfect”, Shawn Michaels and Bret Hart. The rules would be elimination-style and in which the winner would pin or submit the other three opponents to win what would be a vacant WWE Title.
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