WWE WrestleMania 34: Who is the Real Mr. WrestleMania?
By Bryan Heaton
Match of the Night – Shawn Michaels
So we’ve done objective measures. Depending on how you look at it, either Hulk Hogan (ugh), Triple H (really?), or The Undertaker stand out as the real Mr. WrestleMania. But despite lousy overall card placement, not being in the most main events, not being on the most cards, and having an awful win-loss record, there’s one place where Shawn Michaels stands above the rest. And even though it’s a subjective criteria, there’s really no way of denying that no one has put on more great WrestleMania matches than The Heartbreak Kid.
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If we go by Dave Meltzer’s star ratings, Shawn Michaels had the best match of the night at WrestleMania a whopping ten times. At WrestleMania IX, the show opened with Michaels and Tatanka battling for the Intercontinental Title. From then on, HBK got a more prime spot on the card. His WrestleMania X ladder match against Razor Ramon is still one of only two Mania matches to be awarded five stars by Meltzer.
Michaels again outperformed the field at Manias XI, XII, and 14, before being forced into retirement due to injury. However, after his comeback, he was somehow better than ever. He ruled the night at WrestleMania XIX, XX, and 21 before putting on possibly his best two matches at 25 and 26 – both against The Undertaker.
Speaking of Undertaker, he’s had the best match at WrestleMania seven times. Besides the two matches with Michaels, his two bouts with Triple H at Manias 27 and 28 were terrific, as was the personal clash with CM Punk at 29. Taker also brought down the house against Edge at WrestleMania 24, and had an okay match with Ric Flair at Mania X-8.
Other superstars on our list of eleven fail to meet the mark set by Michaels and Undertaker. The Rock and Brock Lesnar were in the match of the night twice apiece, as was Kurt Angle. Hogan and Austin made it three times each, Triple H four. Batista and Roman Reigns have one apiece. And John Cena has never once gotten the nod.
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In conclusion, if we go strictly objectively, Mr. WrestleMania is The Undertaker, with Triple H looming as a real threat to take over. Subjectively, Shawn Michaels deserves the moniker, even though just looking at the numbers you couldn’t imagine why. Personally, I’m old, so my favorite WrestleMania moments feature Bret Hart and Randy Savage. What about you?