WWE: 5 Forgotten WrestleMania Classics Worth Watching

The time is long-overdue to give these forgotten WWE WrestleMania classics the recognition they deserve.

For over 30 years, WrestleMania has hosted some of the greatest matches in WWE, and professional wrestling history. At WrestleMania 3, Randy Savage and Ricky Steamboat brought workrate to the mainstream. At WrestleMania 13, Bret Hart and Steve Austin not only had a brawl for the ages, they told a story for the ages as well.

These matches and many others are permanently etched in the annals of WrestleMania lore. Like clockwork, they’re discussed each year as the WWE begins the Road to WrestleMania. But unfortunately, some classic WrestleMania matches that don’t get this same recognition. For a variety of different reasons, these bouts don’t make the “Best Of” lists, and are left off DVD compilations.

This article is about changing all of that. Here now are the 5 most underrated matches in WrestleMania history.

Credit: WWE.com

#5 – Ric Flair (c) vs Randy “Macho Man Savage (WWE Championship match) – WrestleMania VIII

Why it’s Underrated: Fans were too caught up in Hogan/Flair *not* happening to appreciate that a much better match *was* happening.

Why it Shouldn’t Be: It was a match between two of the greatest technical wrestlers, battling to prove superiority. Then, it became personal. Ric Flair announced to the world that Liz had been “walking the aisle” long before she had entered the “Danger Zone”. Flair stated he would not only beat Savage at WrestleMania, but would immediately thereafter reveal proof of his relationship with Liz as well.

The heat for this match was off the charts. From the outside, Flair’s “Executive Consultant”, Mr. Perfect, took the role of “interfering manager” to new heights. In a shocking moment, the Nature Boy was busted open after running head-first into a guardrail. It was the first time blood had been seen on WWE television in a long time. Flair would face office backlash for his decision to violate the company’s blade ban.

When it seemed the drama couldn’t get any higher, Miss Elizabeth sprinted down to ringside. Liz ignored the bevy of WWE officials who surrounded her and begged for her to leave. She stayed, and cheered on her man. The match concluded when, in a moment of poetic justice, Savage out-cheated the “Dirtiest Player in the Game”. The Macho Man grabbed a cradle, hooked the tights, and captured his second WWE Championship.

It has a compelling story. It has top-notch wrestling. This match is the epitome of “Sports Entertainment”.