Here are the greatest finishes in WWE WrestleMania history.
WrestleMania, WWE‘s grandest stage of them all. Ever since the event’s inception on March 31, 1985, it has been a source of memorable moments in droves. For many years, fans have traveled from all corners of the globe to become a part of this spectacle.
Far and wide, the alluring prescience is felt and proceeds to reverberate throughout the entertainment industry as a whole. This is the place where performers aspire to get a tan in the spotlight. For some, not being on the card is enough. That main event spot is what they’re yearning to achieve.
In this piece, we’re looking at the best five closing moments to end WrestleMania. I must also advise that this is a retrospective. There are numerous finishes off this list that once had a massive impression on me as a fan. Unfortunately, due to scandals revolving around some of the talents, they have tarnished their once decorated legacies. As a result, these particular moments can no longer be viewed in the impactful and positive light they once were.
On the flip side, we’re left with a myriad of great finishes. Those we reflect fondly and which also draws our emotions just as they did back when they played out before our eyes the first time. It is a platform that is held to the highest expectations, for both the talents and onlookers.
Here we have five that stick out from the rest. Without further adieu, let’s get down to brass tacks.
WWE WrestleMania 35 Main Event
Coming in at No. 5 is the main event at WrestleMania 35. The winner takes all triple threat title match for the Raw and SmackDown women championships. Featuring Ronda Rousey, Charlotte Flair, and last but not least, Becky Lynch.
For the first time in history, an all-female main event closed the show. WWE has come leaps and bounds over the past decade in elevating the prescience of these performers. For too long, women’s matches have been positioned low in the pecking order. Here we see an entirely new change of pace.
At the closing moments, we saw Becky Lynch captured the championships when she pinned Ronda via the crucifix. This finish did not go entirely to plan, the crowd was somewhat taken aback with the execution and their reaction didn’t flow as it should have.
Despite this blemish, witnessing Becky Lynch holding both titles on the biggest event of the year, surrounded by a magnificent firework display, was surely a sight to behold. An enormous impression had been left to freshen up and diversify the product even further.
These three women broke new ground and brought a change of perception that was sorely needed in the wrestling business. A reinforcement that promotions need to factor in the star-power of the female locker-room inclusive of the broader picture. And WWE gave Becky, Charlotte, and Ronda the most valuable platform to demonstrate why.
When you’re talking about the best finishes, I don’t think this one is going to slip peoples’ minds any time in the long and distant future.
WWE WrestleMania 14 Main Event
At number 4, we have the biggest draw in professional wrestling taking on arguably the best performer to ever lace a pair of boots. Between these forces, ‘The Baddest Man On The Planet’, boxing legend, Mike Tyson, is commissioned as the referee to keep order. Recipe for disaster, huh?
I am of course referring to WrestleMania 14, Stone Cold Steve Austin challenging Shawn Michaels for the WWE championship. This match was filled to the brim with drama that hooked fans along for the ride. The champion did anything and everything in his power to keep the strap. No way would he lose his spot to the 1998 Royal Rumble winner.
Under two years since the famous Austin 3:16 promo, Stone Cold finally reached the top of the mountain. He caught the leg of Michaels off the sweet chin music, spun him around, and delivered a devastating stunner to capture his first main event title, with the aid of a fast count from Mike Tyson. The crowd erupted as a new face of the company was crowned at that very moment.
The former champion felt betrayed, hoping the special guest referee would serve his purpose. Upon confronting Mike Tyson, Shawn Michaels suffered a knockout punch, where he bowed out of the business to return a few years later.
Stone Cold’s dynamic influence would overtake the reigns of WWE’s image moving forward from that point. By going over Shawn Michaels, this WrestleMania solidified him as a main event star, shooting up into super-stardom. A changing of the guard transpired this night that shifted the company into a whole new direction.
WWE WrestleMania 26: Streak vs. Career
For No. 3, whenever the Undertaker’s once undefeated streak is brought up, there are fond memories. For over two decades, it was preserved and for the most part; stood out as a unique and valuable selling point. Never again will we witness anything like it. Never to be duplicated in our lifetime.
Over eleven years ago, fans were reeling off a phenomenal encounter between Shawn Michaels and the Undertaker, at the 25th annual WrestleMania. The streak remained intact and fans continued an age-old tradition in speculating who may be the one to break it. With many upcoming talents being the focal point of those conversations.
As we entered 2010, an unusual twist came about during the Slammy Awards. Shawn Michaels received a trophy for the match of the year. His appreciation of the accolade soon turned into issuing challenge to the ‘Dead Man’ was issued, with Michaels citing how close he came to ending the undefeated streak, posing the greatest threat to ending it, up to that point.
The Undertaker initially refused, driving an obsessed Shawn Michaels over the edge to ensure his challenge would be accepted. Not only did Michaels ruin Undertaker’s prospects of going to WrestleMania as champion, but he was also willing to give up everything for that one final shot.
At WrestleMania 26, we witnessed a display of light vs darkness. A rematch to one of the greatest encounters in the event’s entire history. This time, however, it would close the show. Either the Undertaker’s streak would end, or Shawn Michael’s career.
As expected, they tore the house down once again. Fans in attendance and around the world gripped to their seats, with close calls tugging at their heartstrings. Two legends waging war with legacies hanging in the balance.
In the end, the Undertaker came out on top. Shawn Michaels remained defiant in the final moments before receiving one last tombstone piledriver for the definitive finish. A sold-out crowd reacted with cheers of relief, among feelings of remorse. The streak remained intact, yet a legend’s in-ring career was finally over. A bittersweet and yet mesmerizing way to end a WrestleMania.
WWE WrestleMania 30: The YES Movement
At No. 2, the finish of this match is reminiscent of what took place a decade prior. The circumstances surrounding the main event were a different tone that brought the WWE universe together against the companies own creative direction.
Along the road to WrestleMania XXX, a controversy arose following Royal Rumble 2014. Batista had made his comeback and ended up winning the opportunity to challenge the world title at the most important event of the year. There were a lot of cheers with Batista returning on television, however, those cheers plummeted when he won the Rumble.
Why did the fans turn? Well, around this time, Daniel Bryan’s popularity soared through the roof without a hint of losing any momentum. His connection to the audience was unprecedented at that time. You’d be hard-pressed to find any member of the crowd that wasn’t entranced into pointing their fingers in the air screaming “YES!”.
Naturally, the consensus would be that such a magnetic personality deserved being the focal point of the world title picture at WrestleMania. When Batista won the Rumble, a foul stench filled the air of mundaneness. His purpose returning to the company, to promote a film. WWE had given him an amazing opportunity to plug a movie, rather than award the hottest thing in the company, Daniel Bryan, the spotlight he worked for and undoubtedly deserved.
The people’s reactions genuinely changed plans revolving around WrestleMania XXX’s main event and to WWE’s credit: they managed to turn this into a worthwhile endeavor. This didn’t turn into a traditional champion vs challenger feud, no, Daniel Bryan battled the system. And Daniel Bryan was not alone, there were millions of fans all over the world supporting him.
This situation eliminated into a triple threat match for the richest prize in the game. The reigning champion Randy Orton, defending against Royal Rumble winner Batista, and the fan-favorite, Daniel Bryan. Watching back, you can still feel the desperation of needing the underdog to win this battle, to walk out with the gold, and beat the system.
On multiple occasions, there were hints that WWE swerved the fans, but a clear and decisive finish caused the roof to come off that arena. Batista tapped out to Daniel Bryan’s crossface. The system had been defeated, and an outstanding technical performer once stood as the centerpiece of the entire company.
Daniel Bryan celebrated, screaming “YES” at the top of his lungs. Everyone around him mimicking in unison. No one in WrestleMania history has commanded the fans in such a fashion to the extent he did. An emotional rollercoaster, where the prospect of bitter disappointment threatened to undo so much potential at every turn. Knowing it was all over and the rightful victor rose-up felt like a million bucks.
WWE WrestleMania 12: Boyhood Dream
Here we have yet a third pick involving Shawn Michaels. He comes in again at number 1, and you know what? There’s a good reason why they call him ‘Mr. WrestleMania’. The biggest PPV of the year is never a dull one when you have someone who a lot of fans consider being the greatest in-ring performer, period.
Shawn captured a golden ticket by winning the 1996 Royal Rumble. He also fell into the position of defending that right against Owen Hart. Where he went on to face Owen’s brother, Bret ‘The Hitman’ Hart at WrestleMania 12 and challenged for the WWE championship.
This main event wasn’t any typical stipulation, not at all. Whoever walked out that arena carrying the gold would have proven their metal to the World because both men endured a 60-minute iron man match to determine the winner.
Bret Hart is regarded as one of the best technical wrestlers of all time. He entered the title match as a four-time WWE champion and a certified main event attraction. His style complimented the athleticism of the challenger, and together they went all out to showcase their absolute best.
The iron man match initially came to a draw, the clock ending with no falls. Bret left the ring and walked towards the back carrying the strap. An announcement made by the late great Howard Finkel made a surprise announcement that beckoned the champion back to continue the bout under sudden death rules.
It is important to note, Shawn Michaels clawed to get this opportunity and keep his dreams alive. The draw spelled an end to that ambition of becoming champion. Naturally, that would have been an awful way to end WrestleMania. When Howard Finkel declared the continuation of the match, the fans were immediately rejuvenated with excitement. Hope was still alive and the emotional rollercoaster carried on.
Shawn Michaels dug the deepest under sudden death rules and sealed the deal with the ‘Sweet Chin Music’ to capture his first-ever WWE Championship. As soon as the three-count happened, his head went into his hands and the newly crowned champion was seen overwhelmed with emotion.
Vince McMahon on commentary made a comment that is forever etched into the history of WrestleMania and the career of Shawn Michaels which beautifully reflected how much this moment meant to him. “The boyhood dream has come true” Vince spoke with pitch-perfect infliction.
To me, this signifies the power of WrestleMania. It isn’t all about spectacles, it is about emotion and dreams. Each year fans are eagerly waiting to see such defining milestones achieved by wrestlers they’ve supported ever since they laid eyes on them. This is the place where legends are made and on this night, March 31st, 1996, Shawn Michaels broke through the glass ceiling.
Here’s an interesting thought, had WWE kept the title on Bret, how different would the future had panned out? What is for certain, Shawn Michaels went on to be instrumental in other classic WrestleMania matches and what helped him build that legacy stemmed from WrestleMania 12 when he defeated Bret Hart.
How do you feel about these picks, do any ring true or are there any way off the mark?
Let us know your take and share them in the comments section below.