Michael Cole said it best following one of the best WrestleManias we’ll ever see: “I love professional wrestling.”
There’s nothing quite like it, between the pagentry, the drama, the action, and the emotion. Yes, the outcomes are scripted, but the best wrestlers are the ones who are so proficient at putting on a story that we forget that the outcomes are all predetermined.
There’s no better example of this than the best WrestleManias of all time. There are honestly quite a few to choose from, as most feature iconic moments that still make us smile today. However, we’re only doing five, so we have to make some hard choices. That showdown between Hulk Hogan and Andrew the Giant at WrestleMania III still gives us goosebumps, for example. WrestleMania 21 was the beginning of a new era.
As great as these events were, they fall behind these five WrestleManias.
WrestleMania 10
The best WrestleManias are the ones that have an overarching story. They give you a rooting interest throughout the entire night, not just in one match. For WrestleMania 10, that story is Bret Hart.
He may have lost an incredible opening match against his brother Owen, but he overcame Yokozuna to capture the WWF Championship in the Main Event.
The rest of the card is just as strong as well, with the obvious highlight being the ladder match between Razor Ramon and Shawn Michaels.
WrestleMania 30
Remember what I just said about the best WrestleManias being the ones with an overarching story? That’s what happened in WrestleMania 30. This time, however, it wasn’t Bret Hart. It was Daniel Bryan, who also pulled double duty.
Daniel Bryan was the story of 2014. His overwhelming popularity essentially forced WWE’s hand to change their original plan of Batista and Randy Orton in the Main Event to Daniel Bryan, making it a Triple Threat Match after defeating Triple H earlier in the evening.
Don’t forget, too, that this was the night we saw Brock Lesnar beat The Undertaker’s undefeated streak.
WrestleMania 19
Speaking of Brock Lesnar, his coronation, if you will, game in Seattle, Washington, at WrestleMania 19 in the Main Event against Kurt Angle.
It was a wrestling clinic put on by two of the most talented wrestlers to ever step in the Squared Circle, with the match exceeding the hype.
Remarkably, though, is the fact that there were several other matches that, in any other year, would have been the Main Event. Hulk Hogan vs. Mr. McMahon is one of the best matches put on by either competitor. Shawn Michaels and Chris Jericho put on a masterpiece, and The Rock vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin needs no further explanation.
WrestleMania 40
The one where Cody finished the story.
If there’s one major critique I have with modern WrestleMania cards, it’s that the two-day event can, at times, feel like an eternity. Sure, it’s great to see so many matches and WWE Superstars on the cards, but it’s a lot to take in.
WrestleMania 40 doesn’t suffer from fatigue or exhaustion, though. Like WrestleMania 10 and 30, there’s an overarching story that helps make it one of the best WrestleManias. It’s Cody Rhodes looking to finally capture the WWE Championship. It’s The Rock, Roman Reigns, and The Bloodline looking to protect their title.
As great as the undercard matches were, the back-to-back Main Event matches featuring Cody and Roman Reigns, which also features The Rock wrestling on Saturday night, delivers a WrestleMania I’ll never forget.
WrestleMania 17
Where do we begin with WrestleMania 17? From top to bottom, the card delivered and then some.
Whenever you see round-ups from various outlets, or even directly from WWE, featuring the best WrestleMania matches of all time, it feels like WrestleMania 17 dominates the top of the list.
The main event of Stone Cold and The Rock in a No Disqualification match was well worth the billing, but it was the Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match betgween Edge and Christian, The Duley Boyz, and The Hardy Boyz that stole the show.
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