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WWE: Ranking the Five Greatest Matches in WrestleMania history

By Marquis Arnold

LAS VEGAS, NV - JANUARY 08: WrestleMania logos from past years are displayed on a screen during a news conference announcing the WWE Network at the 2014 International CES at the Encore Theater at Wynn Las Vegas on January 8, 2014 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The network will launch on February 24, 2014 as the first-ever 24/7 streaming network, offering both scheduled programs and video on demand. The USD 9.99 per month subscription will include access to all 12 live WWE pay-per-view events each year. CES, the world's largest annual consumer technology trade show, runs through January 10 and is expected to feature 3,200 exhibitors showing off their latest products and services to about 150,000 attendees. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - JANUARY 08: WrestleMania logos from past years are displayed on a screen during a news conference announcing the WWE Network at the 2014 International CES at the Encore Theater at Wynn Las Vegas on January 8, 2014 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The network will launch on February 24, 2014 as the first-ever 24/7 streaming network, offering both scheduled programs and video on demand. The USD 9.99 per month subscription will include access to all 12 live WWE pay-per-view events each year. CES, the world's largest annual consumer technology trade show, runs through January 10 and is expected to feature 3,200 exhibitors showing off their latest products and services to about 150,000 attendees. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /
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WWE WrestleMania 37 is set to take place on April 10 and 11, and with two short weeks left before WWE’s biggest show, we’ve got all the matches that we will see this year. This road to WrestleMania hasn’t been the most exciting one, but the wrestlers on the card are sure to go out there and deliver regardless of the WWE creative team not being at their best. In this article, I will be discussing the five greatest matches in WrestleMania history.

5. The Rock vs. ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin (X-Seven)

The attitude era’s two most iconic superstars squared off in the main event of WrestleMania X-Seven in a match that would be known as the end of the Attitude Era. The Rock and Austin had the loudest reaction in Houston’s Astrodome that night. They knew how to control the crowd and tell a story in the ring because, as a fan, it felt like we were watching two wrestlers who hated each other because they both wanted to be the number one guy in the company.

In this match, we got to see Steve Austin dig deep and even use the million-dollar dream move from when he was going by the Ringmaster. The Rock wasn’t going to lay down for Steve Austin. He made sure that Austin worked for the win. At the end of the match, we saw something that we taught we would never see in the WWE, and that is Mr. McMahon helping Austin win the match and them shaking hands with each other. This was a heel turn that many fans weren’t expecting back then, but the question now because it really wasn’t needed.

4. Shawn Michaels Vs. Kurt Angle (WrestleMania 21)

Shawn Michaels and Kurt Angle are two of the greatest wrestlers of all time, so when a match was announced between the two at WrestleMania 21, the fans knew we were going to get something special. This match was one of the biggest matches in WrestleMania history because fans were already expecting a 5-star classic match based on their names alone.

The match was mostly controlled by Angle, who was all over HBK throughout the whole match. Angle would kick out of Sweet Chin Music and would trap Michaels in an ankle lock that would make HBK tap out. WrestleMania 21 gave us a lot of great moments, but Angle and HBK were the best match that.

3. The Hardy Boyz vs. The Dudley Boyz vs. Edge and Christian (X-Seven)

For the second consecutive year, Edge and Christian, The Dudley Boyz, and The Hardy Boyz battled for the WWE Tag team championships. The Triple Threat Ladder Match stole the show in 2000, but the match they would have the following year would become one of the greatest matches in WWE history. All three tag teams upped the violence and creativity and created some of the most risk-taking matches ever seen in professional wrestling.

The match saw Rhyno, Spike Dudley, and Lita helped add to the match because each of them brought their own unique twist that added to the storyline of the match. The most known spot in the match came when Edge speared Jeff Hardy, who was hanging from the championship belt almost 16 feet in the air. The game ended with Edge and Christian getting the win, but all three teams delivered in the classic match. One of the things that make this match unique is the fact that it was able to stand out on what people call the greatest WrestleMania of all time.

2. Ricky ‘The Dragon’ Steamboat vs. ‘Macho Man’ Randy Savage (WrestleMania 3)

This match will always be remembered for the build to it, which showed a heel Randy Savage using the ring bell to crush Ricky The Dragon Steamboat throat. This match was for the Intercontinental championship when having the IC championship meant something. This match was a storytelling/ athletic wrestling match made in heaven.

The fact that it was built on Steamboat seeking revenge for the assault that could have ended his career showed that storytelling in wrestling when done right, can keep fans’ interest. The match ended with Steamboat rolling Savage up for the pin. The image of Steamboat celebrating is one of the greatest wrestling moments in WrestleMania history.

1. Shawn Michaels vs. the Undertaker (WrestleMania 25)

Two of WWE’s most incredible veterans from an era that changed professional wrestling forever put on the most excellent WrestleMania match of all time at WrestleMania 25. The match that HBK and Undertaker delivered was the instant classic wrestling fans expected it to be.

This match has everything from near falls, high spots, good mat psychology, crowd manipulation, and facial expressions from both wrestlers that showed great storytelling. The finish of this match was the most incredible wrestling finish ever because HBK would launch himself off the top rope with a moon salt and fall right into the Undertaker so that he could set up one final Tombstone that would end the match.

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