Opinion

Top 5 Most Emotional WrestleMania Moments

Published

7 years ago

March 22, 2018

It’s WrestleMania season. To wrestling fans this is our Christmas, the one weekend of the year when the biggest, brightest and best stars in the professional wrestling industry gather together to put on a plethora of shows over one action-packed weekend. WrestleMania weekends are packed with a blend of the stars of today, the ones carrying the business into the future, and the stars of past, who grace us to mix the present day with nostalgia to give us that bittersweet sensation we so rarely feel. While we do have a variety of shows on offer, none of them come close to ‘‘The Granddaddy of them All’’.

But what it is it that makes WrestleMania so special? The bright lights? The humongous stage? The arena being packed with over 70,000 rabid fans every year? The returns of some familiar faces? The rise of new ones? Or maybe because it’s the one time of year that we as fans, as lovers of professional wrestling place aside our biases and general preferences, to watch one event so large and significant within the world of Sports-Entertainment that we all bask in the excitement in-front of us.

Since my very first WrestleMania in 2007, all the way until April 8th of this year, I have been delighted in sitting through some of the finest moments in the history of professional wrestling, moments that reminded me just why I love this form of entertainment in the manner I do, and with that has come a train of different emotions. From happiness, to sadness and even to moments that result in buckets of tears, it is those moments that stand out as the best.

Today we’re going to look at the 5 Most Emotional Moments in the History of WrestleMania.

1. Daniel Bryan wins the WWE Championship (WrestleMania 30; April 6, 2014)

A lot of people are critical of Michael Cole as the lead WWE commentator, feeling he’s either bland, continuously incorrect or just spouts far too much generic dialogue. I for one, bow to him on this night. His line of; ‘‘A miracle on Bourbon Street!’’, is one of the finest calls in the history of the WWE. Daniels Bryan’s road to the WWE Championship at WrestleMania XXX was paved with controversy. A string of matches with Randy Orton, getting pulled out of the title picture entirety and the mess that was the 2014 Royal Rumble, fans hadn’t been this rabid over a superstar in a very long time.

Despite numerous attempts to shove what we perceive as their ‘Corporate Image’ down our throats, fans refused WWE’s attempts at implementing stars like Randy Orton & Batista, and had made up their mind, Daniel Bryan was the next big thing.

Having already gone to war, and successfully defeating Triple H earlier in the evening, Bryan had been victim to a lot of punishment, and having him step into a ring with both Randy Orton & Batista seemed almost criminal. The fans at this point were already depleted, from one particular moment earlier in the show and were begging for something to life their spirits.

In a grueling match, everyone’s valiant underdog constantly came back into the fight despite being knocked down more times than I can count. It’s the end of the match however that sparked an eruption that few can garner in today’s wrestling word.

Following his execution of the ‘YES Lock’, Daniel Bryan made Batista tap out in the middle of the ring to an explosion of fans embracing and celebrating their chosen underdog finally climbing to the top of the WWE mountain without any controversial external factors. His initial WWE Championship reign may have been short lived, and fairly tragic, but the memory of this moment will live on forever and constantly show us the power of the WWE fans.

2. Hulk Hogan slams Andre The Giant (WrestleMania III: March 29, 1987)

While this view is certainly up to debate & personal preference, I’m a firm believer that Hulk Hogan slamming Andre The Giant at Wrestlemania III is the most iconic, game-changing moment in the history of professional wrestling.

During the 1970’s and 1980’s WWE (then WWF), was regarded to most familiar with it as the ‘Land of the Giants’. This was a place where athletes almost literally larger than life dominated the main card of every event, towering over their opponents like behemoths and dominating the field with absolute ease. There is perhaps no example more intimidating, jaw-dropping and iconic as Andre The Giant, a name that still runs through the annals of the business to this very day. Not only was this man the pinnacle of a ‘giant’, but, WrestleMania III at the Pontiac Silverdome might not be the best show in terms of wrestling quality, but it could very well be seen as the event that truly launched WrestleMania into the stratosphere it is today. The show boasted a main event that would take place in-front of the largest audience in the business to that point, a colossal 93,000 fans all of whom paid their ticket to see Andre The Giant take on his biggest challenge to date, Hulk Hogan. Hogan to many would be the latest victim in an undefeated streak that had spanned close to 15 years, but many had confidence that the one man capable of stopping him had come along.

The match itself isn’t what most remember about this particular moment in time, but that one moved that changed everything. Hulk Hogan, mid-match, managed to muster all of his strength and pick up the 7-foot-3 Andre The Giant and slam him right back down onto the mat. Performing a move this basic, may seem like an odd choice to most wrestling fans these days, but it was the context of what this symbolized; the first man to ever defeat Andre himself, and the first man to ever successfully slam him over his 15-year undefeated streak.

It is moments like this that remind me of just how good professional wrestling can be when a long-term story is implemented. Memories such as these only come along once in a generation, and the fact that this moment is still discussed in professional wrestling fanbases all over the world.

3. The Rock vs ‘Hollywood’ Hulk Hogan (WrestleMania X-8: March 17, 2002)

To quote the legendary Jim Ross; ‘‘This is a WrestleMania Moment’’.
The WWE buy out of WCW/ECW in early 2001 left many fans excited, the biggest stars of the brand would be crossing over into the dominant territory to wage war on a whole new playing field. As it turned out, many of us were left disappointed. Some of the biggest names (i.e. Hulk Hogan, Kevin Nash, Goldberg, Scott Hall, Sting, etc.) had all signed pre-set contracts and were not contractually obligated to work under any circumstances. This left much of 2001 fairly empty in terms of major league star power.

In 2002 however, the WWE decided to reunite the NWO under their own roof, in an attempt to bring the nostalgia of WCW over to post-Monday Night War fanbase who had been clenching for some new faces. The revival itself was fairly substandard and did little to mimic the success the faction has in their earlier days, but one positive that came out of this was this historic evening in Toronto.

I list this entire match and not one particular moment because of the impact that every single second had on us as fans. This match wasn’t just a dream match, it was everything the WWE vs WCW/ECW invasion should have been, a battle of past vs present and representation of everything that made this sport so grand over the last decade.

In terms of action the style was simple, but straight to the point and did everything it intended to. The purpose of this was never to be a mat-classic, but just see the two hottest stars at the time landed their signature moves one after the other. WWE did attempt to replicate similar success with Cena vs Rock a decade later, and while the buyrate may have been higher, this is one of those moments that has withstood the test of time and will forever be remember as the ultimate dream match of this generation.

4. Ric Flair says goodbye to the WWE (WrestleMania XXIV: March 30, 2008)

Saying goodbye to our favourite superstars over the years is something we as fans always struggle to accept. From the likes of Edge, Shawn Michaels, Steve Austin & Daniel Bryan, we always live in the moment and hold the belief that these athletes are truly invincible despite the abuse they put themselves through.

At the time, Ric Flair had been in the wrestling business for close to 40 years, a career that is filled with so many memories I would need an entire other essay to discuss on its own. The end of 2007 marked the first time that fans had a reality check, the thought of Ric Flair never entering a WWE ring again was officially a possibility.

Despite overcoming a plethora of obstacles, from the likes of MVP, Mr.Kennedy, Triple H, Edge, Umaga & even Mr.McMahon himself, but no obstacle had fans as intrigued as his match with Shawn Michaels. The build to this match was equally as excellent as what we got on display in Orlando, as the use of ‘Old Yeller’ added a range of emotions that is rarely seen in this sport, or any for that matter.

The match itself was a masterpiece. Despite his old age Ric Flair held his own with the best singles performer in WrestleMania history, constantly using the tactics that made him so famous to try and outsmart the ‘Heartbreak Kid’. It is the ending of the match however that will stick with me forever, HBK putting the stamp on Ric Flairs career with those faithful words; ‘‘I’m sorry, I love you’’.

We saw the end of the career of one of the best to ever lace up a pair of boots on this evening, a record-setting former champion who forever changed the game of professional wrestling. If there is ever a way a wrestler wants to go out, it would be like this, on the highest note possible in a moment that would bring a tear to the eye of any fan.

5. Brock Lesnar breaks The Undertaker’s Streak (Wrestlemania XXX: April 6, 2014)

The image above is to many, the most horrifying, emotional but telling image that could ever be capture on camera.

Wrestlemania & The Undertaker go hand-in-hand, both the event and the man made the other. If it wasn’t for The Undertaker, the hype and build towards any event under this chronology would be substantially less than when we know ‘The Deadman’ was coming back to claim his latest victim.
In no way is this intended to favour the number of ’21-1’ over the feat that Brock Lesnar accomplished at WrestleMania XXX, because even the harshest of critics can admit how surreal of a moment this was, regardless of where you were. Brock Lesnar having his hand raised at the end of this match was something that no living wrestling fan saw coming, it was the end of an era, and for many of us the destruction of our childhood.

The Undertaker’s streak played a big role in moulding many of us, myself included, into fans, with countless classic matches that will span across decades with their unbelievable quality. His match against Brock Lesnar was by no means the finest he has ever put on, if anything this was on the weaker end of his WrestleMania performances, but this was without question the most impactful.

Seeing the eyes, jaws and faces of over 70,000 fans in absolute disbelief, shock and just pitch silence is an image that sticks with everyone. It was one of the few times wrestling fans had no genuine reaction to what had just played out in front of them, many believed the match would restart and waited patiently, while others burst into tears as arguably the most popular WWE superstar of all time collapsed on the stage that he used to own.
This may sound like a heartbreak & horrifying moment, but it is one that reminds me just how phenomenal of a stage WrestleMania could be, and on no other night would anything of this magnitude have made this much of an impact. In my humble opinion, this is the greatest WrestleMania moment of all time.

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Opinion

Chairshot Staff Picks: WrestleMania 41 Las Vegas

Time for The Chairshot personalities to put their money where their mouths are! WreslteMania 41 predictions from the “expert” staff at TheChairshot.com and Chairshot Radio Network.

Published

2 days ago

April 18, 2025

PC Tunney

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome back to the Chairshot Staff Picks. And what better setting than WrestleMania for this article to return! This 41st edition has one of the most stacked rosters in WWE history. So, without further ado, let us get to the predictions and prognostications…

AJ – The New Day
Andrew – The New Day – No one seems to hold tag titles long anymore.
Dave – The New Day – They have earned it.
DJ – The New Day – Feel tha Powah!
DPP – War Raiders – Big E distraction.
Jason – The New Day – We are not getting E in a working capacity though everyone wants it.
Patrick – The New Day – WWE doesn’t care about this match, so why should I?
Rey – The New Day – Its a New Day, bruh.
Rob – The New Day – New Day rocks and wins!
Greg – The New Day – New. Day wins. New. Day wins!

Tunney’s Take: War Machine – Yes, WAR MACHINE. I have personally had the pleasure of throwing back a few cold ones with these guys on more than one occasion. Not only being tag champs in WWE but defending the titles at Mania and against The New Day is really cool for me as a long-time fan. Would it be fun to see The New Day have another title run.. YES. I think it’s smarter to give the War Raiders a big Mania W.

Chairshot Pick: THE NEW DAY 9-2

AJ – Jade Cargill
Andrew – Jade Cargill – She needs to stay a dominant force.
Dave – Jade Cargill – Gotta gear her up for the long term.
DJ – No contest – Naomi puts another beat down on Jade.
DPP – Jade Cargill – Nervous for how this match will go.
Jason – Naomi – Way more runway with Naomi as a bad guy. Keep it going!
Patrick – Jade Cargill – Jade gets her revenge.
Rey – Jade Cargill – Best non-title feud going. Naomi should win but Jade sneaks by.
Rob – Naomi – Naomi gets help to win.
Greg – Jade Cargill – They ain’t beating Jade here.

Tunney’s Take: Jade Cargill – I imagine WWE sees Jade’s ceiling much higher than Naomi’s. What better way to keep Jade climbing the ladder towards a World Title than to pick up a decisive victory in Vegas!

Chairshot Pick: Jade Cargill 8-2-1

AJ – Jacob Fatu – “AJ does a pretty good LA Knight impersonation” – PC Tunney
Andrew – Jacob Fatu – I’m biased, Jacob for President.
Dave – Jacob Fatu – Getting gold back in the Bloodline is smart.
DJ – Jacob Fatu
DPP – Jacob Fatu
Jason – Jacob Fatu – Thanks for coming pal, YEAH!
Patrick – Jacob Fatu
Rey – Jacob Fatu – C’mon cuz! All gas no brakes with it. Yadadamean??
Rob – LA Knight – Solo costs Jacob.
Greg – LA Knight – Solo screws Jacob.

Tunney’s Take: Jacob Fatu – It has been quite the journey for the Samoan Werewolf. I feel like that journey and the positive turn around it has taken deserves to be rewarded. Let’s see what Jacob can do on his own. Plus, LA Knight is ready to challenge for a World Title.

Chairshot Pick: Jacob Fatu 9-2

AJ – Tiffany Straton
Andrew – Tiffany Straton – I hate Charlotte Flair, no objectivity here.
Dave – Charlotte Flair – Tiffy might be the future, but she kinda failed the litmus test.
DJ – Charlotte Flair – The Queen crowns the freshman.
DPP – Tiffany Stratton
Jason – Charlotte Flair – Tiff wasn’t ready for this spot. Charnos is inevitable.
Patrick – Charlotte Flair – Lol Charlotte wins.
Rey – Charlotte Flair – Tiffany SHOULD win but, if Charlotte can squash, she will.
Rob – Charlotte Flair – Charlotte gets number 15.
Greg – Tiffany Stratton – Lol Charlotte wins. (Actually she doesn’t)

Tunney’s Take: Charlotte Flair – Charlotte needs the title for the first time in her career. Tiffy has had a nice run but now needs to take that all important step of not losing momentum after losing the title. Despite the drama and lackluster build here, I see a really good match coming this weekend from these two.

Chairshot Pick: Charlotte Flair 7-4

AJ – El Grande Americano
Andrew – El Grande Americano – I’d like to see Gable gain some momentum. Rey is Teflon.
Dave – El Grand Americano – He needs a marque win much more than Rey.
DJ – Rey Mysterio
DPP – El Grande Americano – Grande wins with the switcheroo to prove he is not Gable.
Jason – Rey Mysterio – Unmask Grande at the end. It is fun but has a shelf life.
Patrick – El Grande Americano – TOTALLY NOT CHAD GABLE
Rey – Rey Mysterio – Someone’s mask is coming off and it ain’t Rey.
Rob – El Grande Americano
Greg – Rey Mysterio – Hall of Famer wins but doesn’t take the mask.

Tunney’s Take: Rey Mysterio – Go listen to DWI 471. DP, Greg and I lay out exactly what this match should be, FUN! Multiple Americanos!!!

Chairshot Pick: El Grande Americano 6-5

AJ – Jey Uso
Andrew – Jey Uso – Kinda booked themselves into a corner here.
Dave – Jey Uso – It just makes sense.
DJ – Jey Uso – Jey YEETS all over The Ring Genreal.
DPP – Jey Uso – Jey wins after normal Gunther beating.
Jason – Jey Uso – Land the plane man. YEET
Patrick – Jey Uso – Jey has earned this one.
Rey – Jey Uso – YEEEEEEEEEEEET!
Rob – Jey Uso – YEET
Greg – Jey Uso – If Jey loses we riot. We don’t cause he wins.

Tunney’s Take: Jey Uso – ‘Til sweat drop down my balls, ‘Til all these bitches crawl, ‘Til all… YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Chairshot Pick: Jey Uso 11-0

AJ – Roman Reigns
Andrew – Seth Rollins – I can see Rollins being the last piece of Team Rock.
Dave – Roman Reigns – I can’t see Roman losing two years in a row.
DJ – Seth Rollins – Paul Heyman is a Seth Freakin Rollins guy.
DPP – Seth Rollins – The Rock helps Rollins.
Jason – Roman Reigns – Seth’s favor is a red herring. Make-A-Wish Brooks got his main, now look at the lights.
Patrick – Seth Rollins – Seth Rollins… Paul Heyman guy.
Rey – Seth Rollins – I smeeeeellllllll a new soul to sell.
Rob – Roman Reigns – Paul Heyman helps Roman win.
Greg – Seth Rollins – Brock Lesnar returns to help Seth win.

Tunney’s Take: CM Punk – I really have no idea here. I picked Punk because nobody else did. This is going to be professional wrestling cinema at its finest. The story is thick and neatly woven. All the participants are legends and so are the potential party crashers. Will The Rock stick his nose in here? Will Brock Lesnar return to play a factor? Obviously, Paul Heyman has a Plan A… but what is it? All these questions and more will be answered Saturday as night 1 will definitely go out with a bang!

Chairshot Pick: Seth Rollins 6-4-1

AJ – Iyo Sky
Andrew – Iyo Sky – Rhea vs Bianca doesn’t need a belt to be compelling.
Dave – Rhea Ripley – Going with Rhea barely, hoping Iyo wins.
DJ – Iyo Sky – Unfinished business.
DPP – Iyo Sky – Rhea and Bianca are too consumed with each other.
Jason – Iyo Sky – More layers to Rhea/Bianca. Iyo rules.
Patrick – Iyo Sky – Iyo stole the build and gets the win.
Rey – Iyo Sky – Smart money is on the underdog champ.
Rob – Iyo Sky – Iyo survives.
Greg – Bianca Belair – Naomi helps Bianca win and turn heel.

Tunney’s Take: Rhea Ripley – Rhea is the best women’s wrestler in the world. Give her the biggest win on the grandest stage of them all!!! Bianca needs to go full heel. Iyo has been amazing in this build.

Chairshot Pick: Iyo Sky 8-2-1

AJ – Dominik Mysterio
Andrew – Finn Balor – I can see a Judgement Day meltdown incoming.
Dave – Bron Breakker – Bron is about to become a MegaStar.
DJ – Bron Breakker – Judgement Day implodes.
DPP – Dominik Mysterio – Finn take the pin.
Jason – Penta – I literally do not care because the winner is us, the fans.
Patrick – Bron Breakker – The WWE doesn’t care about this matchup, so why should I?
Rey – Dominik Mysterio – Only match without a clear winner. I choose chaos.
Rob – Bron Breakker – Finn and Dom cancel each other out.
Greg – Dominik Mysterio – Dom steals the pin from Bron, on Finn.

Tunney’s Take: Bron Breakker – The case can be made for any of these four to walk away with the most prestigious non-World title in pro wrestling history. The short of it is though that the Main Event picture isn’t really readily accessible for Breakker right now. Let this IC reign go through the summer, to SummerSlam.

Chairshot Pick: Bron Breakker 5-4-1-1

AJ – Damian Priest – “AJ does a pretty good Drew impersonation” – PC Tunney
Andrew – Drew McIntyre – Priest has not been interesting in this face incarnation.
Dave – Drew McIntyre – Time for Drew to get that win back.
DJ – Fuck finish – To be continued at Backlash.
DPP – Drew McIntyre – Physical matchup!
Jason – Drew McIntyre – Either one is fine here.
Patrick – Drew McIntyre – With two eyes, Drew turns the tide.
Rey – Drew McIntyre – Low key match of the weekend.
Rob – Damien Priest
Greg – Damien Priest – Priest wins, Drew tweets about it half hour later.

Tunney’s Take: Drew McIntyre – With the addition of the Street fight rules, these two behemoths have a really good chance to have one of the best matches of the entire weekend (winks at Rey Ca$h-A-Mania)! I do wonder what is next for both of these talents moving forward. Priest has staled since leaving the Judgement Day and Drew seems stuck in the same cycle for a while now. Very interested to see what the summer holds for this pair.

Chairshot Pick: Drew McIntyre 7-3-1

WHO WILL BE RANDY’S OPPONENT?!?

AJ – Nick Aldis – Orton wins
Andrew – Orton and Aldis vs Solo and Tama – Orton and Aldis win
Dave – Someone is getting an RKO!
DJ – A segment w/ the Wyatt s6cks.
DPP – Rusev – Aldis introduces Rusev who defeats Orton.
Jason – Nick Aldis – You got one more in ya, bubba. Aldis wins!
Patrick – Nick Aldis
Rey – Solo then Rusev – Solo in a squash and Rusev MATCHKA(wins)
Rob – Nick Aldis – Aldis proves himself, Orton wins.
Greg – Nick Aldis – Orton beats Aldis, they shake after.

Tunney’s Take: I would really love to see a singles match between Orton and Aldis. More likely this is some type of involvement with Solo and Tama. Rusev as a surprise challenger would be cool but, I feel that would be better left for RAW. An impromptu Goldberg retirement match would be crazy and fun, yet highly unlikely and illogical. Whatever happens, best believe exactly what Dave Ungar said, “Someone is getting an RKO!”.

AJ – Logan Paul
Andrew – AJ Styles – Logan doesn’t need the rub and should stay upper mid card.
Dave – Logan Paul – It’s the smart move and would be a statement win for Paul.
DJ – Logan Paul – Kross gets involved somewhere.
DPP – AJ Styles – AJ wins a great high-flying match.
Jason – AJ Styles – Just enjoy it or get a beer, nerds.
Patrick – Logan Paul – Logan Paul will main-event Mania sooner than later…
Rey – Logan Paul – Pass the torch, my wily vet.
Rob – Logan Paul – Kross helps Paul win.
Greg – AJ Styles – Styles wins after Paul’s cheating backfires.

Tunney’s Take: Logan Paul – Logan seems to really have dedicated himself to becoming great in this business. Anyone with that type of goal must have a World title on their mind. Beating AJ at Mania will be a great springboard for Logan into the Main Event sooner than later (winks at Patrick O’Dowd).

Chairshot Pick: Logan Paul 7-4

AJ – Liv & Raquel
Andrew – Liv & Raquel – Not really a fan of Lyra, she needs more work.
Dave – Liv & Raquel – This Bayley and Lyra team makes no damn sense.
DJ – Liv & Raquel – Bayley crashes out.
DPP – Liv & Raquel – Bayley continues a potential heel turn tease.
Jason – Bayley & Lyra – Finish the story!
Patrick – Bayley & Lyra – The WWE doesn’t care about this matchup, so why should I?
Rey – Liv and Raquel – Bayley want a title but it ain’t the ones in this match.
Rob – Liv & Raquel – Champs retain.
Greg – Liv & Raquel – Liv and Raquel retain thanks to Carlito and maybe JD.

Tunney’s Take: Liv & Raquel – Liv and Raquel need to be kept as the cornerstone of the women’s tag division for a lengthier period of time. Building tag teams in this division is difficult enough, let alone without a North Star.

Chairshot Pick: Liv & Raquel 9-2

AJ – Cody Rhodes
Andrew – Cody Rhodes – They are mentioning it so much, I don’t think 17 happens.
Dave – Joh Cena – Record falls and we head to summer with a built-in storyline.
DJ – John Cena – Some kind of Final Boss involvement.
DPP – John Cena – Cena wins and retires on RAW.
Jason – John Cena – Story’s over, “Captain” BIG MATCH JOHN.
Patrick – John Cena – A record breaking night for Cena.
Rey – John Cena – They’d be really stupid to turn John just to lose. (Post-Mania: Rock, Cena, T Scott, Seth & Drew, TEAM Corporate)
Rob – Cody Rhodes – Cody surprises us with the W.
Greg – Cody Rhodes – Cody wins to piss off Rock and set the table for Cena to turn back face. Crowd is behind Cena all the way through.

Tunney’s Take: Cody Rhodes – They had me until the threat of retirement. Been there. Done that. Didn’t fall in love with it back then. I love John Cena. I love this final run. John will get his 17th just not here. I expect nothing less than an absolute GEM of a match here to close WrestleMania 41. This has all been, is, and will continue to be about Cody Rhodes. WM40 defeats Roman Reigns. WM41 defeats John Cena. WM42 defeats The Rock (The Final Boss).

Chairshot Pick: John Cena 6-5

In closing I want to thank everyone on the panel for participating with their picks! You can follow each prognosticator/podcaster on X @ the handles below. We wait all year for this so remember three things… be respectful of others, comparison is the thief of joy and HAVE FUN!

AJ – @PhenomenalAJB
Andrew – @IWCWarChief
Dave – @AttitudeAgg
DJ – @TheMindlessPod
DPP – @itsmeDPP
Jason – @JediFett
Patrick – @WrestlngRealist
Rey – @itsreycash
Rob – @rbonne1
Greg – @gregdemarco44
PC – @PCTunney
TheChairshot.com – @ChairshotMedia

For the latest, greatest and up to datest in coverage, opinions, and podcasts ALWAYS #UseYourHead and visit TheCharishot.com

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CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS

Attitude Of Aggression Podcast & The Big Five Project (chronologically exploring WWE’s PPV/PLE history)

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About Chairshot Radio Network

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Classic POD is WAR

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Blog

DeMarco: Top 5 Non-Title WrestleMania Matches In WWE History

Not all WrestleMania classics had titles on the line. Dive into the top 5 non-title matches that stole the show & defined legacies. #WrestleMania #WWEHistory

Published

4 days ago

April 16, 2025

Greg DeMarco

Shawn Michaels Kurt Angle WrestleMania 21

Not all WrestleMania classics had titles on the line. Dive into the top 5 non-title matches that stole the show and defined legacies.

WrestleMania is the Showcase Of The Immortals, but it’s not always the championship matches that steal the show—or define careers. In fact, some of the most iconic, business-defining, and emotionally resonant contests at the Grandest Stage of Them All didn’t feature a title at all. These matches succeeded because of character work, in-ring execution, and the kind of storytelling that sells tickets and moves merch.

Here are the five best non-title matches in WrestleMania history—at least, according to me!

5. The Rock vs. Hulk Hogan – WrestleMania X8 (2002)

This was never going to be a five-star technical clinic—but it was always going to be the moment. “Icon vs. Icon” was a tagline, sure, but it was also the reality: the biggest star of the ‘80s vs. the biggest star of the Attitude Era. And Toronto turned it into magic. Hogan walked in a heel but walked out immortal (again), with the SkyDome shaking on every punch, every look, every gesture.

What made this work was its self-awareness. Rock and Hogan read the crowd and flipped roles mid-match—Rock became the arrogant aggressor while Hogan Hulked Up to thunderous applause. It’s not often a non-title match headlines a card emotionally the way this one did, but it dominated every headline and highlight reel.

4. Owen Hart vs. Bret Hart – WrestleMania X (1994)

Sibling rivalries don’t usually lead to technical masterpieces, but then again, this wasn’t your average family drama. Owen and Bret opened WrestleMania X with a wrestling clinic that stood tall over a night packed with title changes. Owen needed to prove he was more than Bret’s little brother, and he did it by out-wrestling the best wrestler in the company. Clean. One-two-three.

It wasn’t just a great match—it was perfect storytelling. Owen’s victory, contrasted with Bret’s later world title win, set the tone for an entire year of brother-vs-brother tension. Bret became champion, but Owen had the moral victory—and all the bragging rights. This is proof that opening matches can steal the show.

3. The Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels – WrestleMania 25 (2009)

If WrestleMania moments could be trademarked, this match would be the reason why. The Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels wasn’t about championships—it was about legacy. Michaels wanted to be the man who ended The Streak. The build was steeped in biblical imagery: light vs. dark, heaven vs. hell. And the match? Pure perfection. Each man brought everything they had—near-falls, psychology, reversals that had 70,000+ people gasping in unison.

It was 30 minutes of generational storytelling that transcended pro wrestling. And here’s the kicker—it wasn’t even the main event. Yet it dwarfed everything that followed. Meltzer gave it 4.75 stars, fans gave it their hearts, and WWE gave it a sequel the next year. A match so good it forced the company to run it back—because lightning actually struck.

Now, if THIS MATCH is #3, what could possible be #2 and #1…

2. Bret Hart vs. “Stone Cold” Steve Austin – WrestleMania 13 (1997)

This wasn’t just a match—it was the turning point of an era. The Submission Match between Bret Hart and Steve Austin was as violent as it was poetic, with Ken Shamrock enforcing the rules and the Chicago crowd growing more frenzied by the second. The brilliance? The shift. Bret Hart, the traditionalist hero, grew darker and more self-righteous by the second, while the disrespectful anti-hero Austin refused to quit, even when drowning in his own blood. There was no title on the line, but the stakes felt bigger than gold.

The infamous double turn changed the business. Austin’s defiance turned him into the voice of a new generation of fans—blue collar, anti-authority, Attitude Era. Meanwhile, Bret would go on to lead the heel Hart Foundation. WWE didn’t need a championship to create a moment that catapulted Austin into superstardom and ignited the company’s hottest era. This match is business-first booking at its absolute best.

1. Kurt Angle vs. Shawn Michaels – WrestleMania 21 (2005)

Dream matches often disappoint. This one didn’t. At WrestleMania 21, Olympic gold medalist Kurt Angle went hold-for-hold and spot-for-spot with Mr. WrestleMania himself, and together they delivered a masterclass in in-ring psychology. Every sequence had stakes, every near-fall had meaning. It was a stylistic war: Michaels’ heart vs. Angle’s intensity.

Angle forcing Michaels to tap was a statement—it told fans that pure wrestling, not just spectacle, could still main-event caliber storytelling without any need for a title. Michaels sold the ankle lock like death, and Angle’s post-match collapse sold the moment as a hard-fought war. This is the kind of match that keeps purists up at night, smiling, and leaves the storytelling fans like myself as happy as can be!

10 Honorable Mentions (Not Honorable, Just For The Heck Of It)

Edge vs. Mick Foley – WrestleMania 22 (2006)
A hardcore war that solidified Edge as a top-tier main eventer. That flaming table spear is still played in every Edge highlight reel.
AJ Styles vs. Shane McMahon – WrestleMania 33 (2017)
Everyone expected smoke and mirrors—what they got was a surprisingly technical, high-energy opener that kicked off the show right.
The Undertaker vs. Triple H – WrestleMania 28 (2012)
“End of an Era” wasn’t just a tagline. The Hell in a Cell match, with HBK as referee, was a brutal epilogue to a generation’s legacy.
Shawn Michaels vs. Chris Jericho – WrestleMania XIX (2003)
A student-teacher battle of wills. Jericho’s low blow post-match was the perfect heel punctuation to a career-defining contest.
Randy Orton vs. Seth Rollins – WrestleMania 31 (2015)
The greatest RKO of all time. That curb stomp reversal belongs in a museum.
Floyd Mayweather vs. Big Show – WrestleMania XXIV (2008)
More sports-entertainment than wrestling, but a crossover moment that made mainstream headlines and paid off with a great finish.
Roddy Piper vs. Adrian Adonis – WrestleMania III (1987)
A retirement match with big heat, a hot crowd, and Piper walking off into the sunset (for a minute).
The Firefly Funhouse Match – John Cena vs. Bray Wyatt – WrestleMania 36 (2020)
Cinematic weirdness at its best. A meta masterstroke that broke Cena down in layers.
Bad Bunny & Damian Priest vs. The Miz & John Morrison – WrestleMania 37 (2021)
Bad Bunny stunned everyone. He didn’t just belong—he elevated the show.
Rey Mysterio vs. Dominik Mysterio – WrestleMania 39 (2023)
Father vs. son in a grudge match that played perfectly off real-life drama and Hall of Fame weekend emotions.

Some of these matches shaped legacies. Others shifted eras. But all of them proved that the most memorable moments at WrestleMania don’t need a title—they just need truth in the storytelling and fire in the execution.