IT’S Wrestlemania season once again, a time when every WWE superstar wants to make wrestling history – but can they top up to these historic moments?
SunSport rounds up the 11 most important matches of all time – matches that created stars, broke barriers, and changed wrestling forever.
The Rock v Hulk Hogan
WrestleMania X8 – March 17, 2002
It didn’t transform the business as other matches on the list did (except for kickstarting one last run for the Hulkster), but the sheer magnitude of it can’t been overstated.
The image of Rock and Hogan face-to-face represents so much: Hulkamania v Attitude Era. WWE v WCW. A defining “WrestleMania Moment”.
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It’s also a belter of a match – the last truly great outing of Hulk Hogan’s career.
And the fact that Hogan came into the match as a heel but was cheered as the babyface is a testament to wrestling’s eternal truth: Hulkamania will live forever, brother.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYmiD4QaBJw&t=41s
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Royal Rumble Match
Royal Rumble – January 26, 2014
In terms of action, it’s a well paced-but-unremarkable Rumble. But its historical significance is huge – the match that shifted the balance of power between WWE and its fans.
After years of having Cena rammed down their throats, Daniel Bryan became the fans’ chosen hero – but WWE didn’t even enter him into the Rumble.
Instead, mainstream star Batista won – so fans turned on the match and subsequently hijacked WWE TV shows until Bryan was inserted in the WrestleMania main event.
It marked a change in attitude for WWE. Wrestlers from the indies and Japan – who would never have even made it to WWE years gone by – have since been given major pushes.
The Rumble also set Roman Reigns on track to becoming “the guy” (when he broke the all-time elimination record) and was CM Punk’s last match before walking out.
John Cena v The Rock
WrestleMania 28 – April 1, 2012
It didn’t live up to the hype in the ring. The Rock – who won on the night – didn’t have the old magic and Cena wasn’t good enough to carry it.
(The “once in a lifetime” tagline turned out to be nonsense too, when Cena got a win back the following year.)
But like Rock v Hogan 10 years earlier, it was a hugely significant collision between two different generations.
And the attention that Rock drew catapulted WrestleMania back into the mainstream – where it’s been ever since – starting a new era of increasingly spectacular shows for WWE’s premier event.
Hulk Hogan & Mr T v Roddy Piper & Paul Orndorf
WrestleMania – March 31, 1985
You could argue that Hulk Hogan’s first WWE world title win over the Iron Sheik – which happened in January 1984 – should take this spot.
But it was the success of the first WrestleMania that determined the future of WWE.
It also cemented Hulkamania as the most powerful force in wrestling history.
Broadcast on closed circuit across the US, the match was an OTT exhibition with all the bells and whistles – making WrestleMania a whopper success
John Cena v CM Punk
WWE Championship Match
Money in the Bank – July 17, 2011
In WWE storylines this is a significant match, as CM Punk beat John Cena and scarpered from WWE as the reigning champion.
But taking place just one month after Punk’s infamous Piper bomb promo, it’s what this match represents that makes it so important.
It’s the disgruntled, purist wrestling fans – personified by Punk – versus the homogenised, corporate machine – represented, of course, by Cena.
This match would be even more important if WWE had let Punk roam the indie wilderness as its champ – what an industry-changing storyline that would have been.
Instead, WWE bottled it and created a new champ (you guessed it, John Cena), then brought Punk back just a few weeks later.
Undertaker vs Brock Lesnar
WrestleMania XXX – April 6, 2014
Some would say that other matches from Taker’s undefeated ‘Mania streak should feature here.
The first win against Jimmy Snuka. The match against Randy Orton, when WWE first made “the streak” a thing. Or either of his incredible matches with Shawn Michaels.
But by ‘Mania 30, the streak had become WWE’s most important accolade – bigger even than the WWE championship – and an intrinsic part of both WrestleMania and Taker.
Brock’s defeat of Taker was a car crash of a match. Taker was concussed and looked utterly lost. When Brock got the pin, the atmosphere was sucked out of the building.
The fans knew all too well: ending the streak is the single biggest booking mistake WWE ever made. It changed the very fabric of WWE – and the legacy if its greatest superstar.
Shawn Michaels v Razor Ramon
Ladder Match for the Intercontinental Championship
WrestleMania X – March 20, 1994
The Kliq – Michaels and Ramon’s backstage crew – have taken lots of heat over the years for both their politics and having Vince McMahon’s ear.
But in many ways, they were right. They knew that wrestling in the mid-1990s needed to change and which direction it should be going in.
This match backs it all up – a groundbreaking, hugely influential masterpiece that is still the blue print for every ladder and TLC match to happen since.
It also helped Michaels climb new heights (in every sense) as it put him on track to becoming a legit main eventer.
Bret Hart v Stone Cold Steve Austin
WrestleMania 13 – March 23, 1997
For starters, it’s the greatest match in WrestleMania history – and perhaps the best ever example of in-ring storytelling.
The infamous “double turn is a masterclass of wrestling psychology, with Hart and Austin reversing roles during the match – Hart leaves as the heel and Austin as the babyface.
But it’s not just an incredible piece of work, it’s historically important too.
It was the peak of Hart’s best ever year and a crucial, blood-soaked step towards Austin becoming WWE’s biggest superstar.
‘Macho Man’ Randy Savage v Ricky ‘The Dragon’ Steamboat
Intercontinental Championship Match
WrestleMania III – March 29, 1987
This is still regarded as one of the best ever WrestleMania matches – and its influence on the business is felt to this day.
Sandwiched in the middle of a mostly dire card of plodding action, it was years ahead of its time – and put the emphasis on workrate and the artistry of pro wrestling.
It paved the way for a more athletic, technical style, and stars such as Bret Hart, Shawn Michaels, and later CM Punk and Daniel Bryan to become headliners.
It was also meticulously planned by Savage – itself an influential approach to how matches would be put together in years to come.
Though it’s dated by today’s standards, Savage v Steamboat is the true godfather of the modern style.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxo6sr1DuAE&t=15s
Bret Hart v Shawn Michaels
WWE Championship Match
Survivor Series – November 9, 1997
AKA the “Montreal Screwjob” – a moment that changed WWE forever.
As the final match in the rivalry between Hart and Michaels – an epic, hard-hitting brawl – this crosses the line between fiction and reality and is very nearly an all-time classic.
That is, of course, until Vince McMahan orders the bell to be rung and screws Bret – who’s leaving for WCW – out of the title live on pay-per-view.
It’s the biggest moment in the WWE v WCW war. The moment that created the Attitude Era and WWE’s greatest ever heel, Mr McMahon. And the moment that put the spotlight on wrestling’s backstage politics.
Over 20 years later, the wrestling world is still obsessed with the Motreal Screwjob – proof that wrestling was never the same again.
Hulk Hogan v Andre the Giant
WWE Championship Match
WrestleMania III – March 29, 1987
By no means a technical classic (though more entertaining that most people give it credit for), Hogan v Andre is the defining WWE match.
It drew an (alleged) crowd of 93,000-plus, created the ultimate ‘Mania moment in the pre-match stare down, and told the story of Hogan doing the impossible by slamming a defeating the Giant.
It’s a spectacle and level of gravitas that WWE has tried to recreate at every WrestleMania since.
But more importantly, none of what came after – Austin, The Attitude Era, Undertaker, John Cena – would have been possible without the success of this match.
It’s well known that Vince rolled the dice with ‘Mania III – a gamble that paid off and made WWE what it is today
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