Chairshot Top 5: WWE WrestleMania Main Events

It takes a special kind of match to close our WWE WrestleMania, and not every one delivers. But these matches? They all delivered in a big way.

WrestleMania main events aren’t always about being the best match on the card, but being the right match to close the show. That means delivering stakes, emotion, business impact, and a finish that actually feels like WrestleMania

Plenty of matches have been great, and some proved to be unworthy of the main event spot. But when a match closes the show the way they were supposed to? That’s a moment.

Here is our list of the Top 5 WWE WrestleMania Main Event Matches!

5. WrestleMania 3 — WWF World Heavyweight Championship – Andre the Giant vs. Hulk Hogan (c)

Sometimes the job of the main event isn’t to be a great match—it’s to be a great moment. WrestleMania III didn’t need a technical masterpiece; it needed something iconic, and Hogan vs. Andre delivered exactly that. In front of a record-setting crowd, this match helped define what WrestleMania would become: larger than life, culturally relevant, and built around moments that transcend the ring.

4. WrestleMania 37 (Night 1) — WWE SmackDown Women’s Championship – Bianca Belair vs. Sasha Banks (c)

This wasn’t just a main event—it was a statement. Bianca Belair vs. Sasha Banks closed Night 1 of WrestleMania 37 and delivered on every level: emotion, execution, and historical significance. It was the first WrestleMania main event featuring two Black women, and it felt like it mattered from the moment they stepped into the ring. The match didn’t just meet expectations—it justified its placement.

Honorable Mention – WrestleMania 26 — The Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels

From an in-ring standpoint, this might be the best match on the list. The Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels delivered drama, storytelling, and a career-ending stipulation that elevated everything. It didn’t just close the show—it gave it emotional weight that carried beyond the bell. The one caveat is that many consider their match from the year prior to be the better match of the two.

3. WrestleMania 30 — WWE World Heavyweight Championship – Daniel Bryan vs. Batista vs. Randy Orton (c)

This is what WrestleMania is supposed to feel like. Daniel Bryan’s journey culminated in a triple threat main event that had everything—story, crowd investment, and payoff. It wasn’t just about winning a title; it was about WWE aligning with what the audience had been demanding for months. Bryan standing tall at the end wasn’t just a result—it was a moment that defined the entire show.

2. WrestleMania 17 — WWF Championship –  Steve Austin vs. The Rock (c)

If WrestleMania is about closing the show with something that feels massive, this is the blueprint. Austin vs. Rock at WrestleMania 17 delivered intensity, stakes, and a finish that people still talk about. The heel turn may have been controversial, but it made the moment unforgettable. This wasn’t just a main event—it was the peak of an era.

Honorable Mention – WrestleMania 31 — WWE World Heavyweight Championship – Brock Lesnar vs. Roman Reigns (vs. Seth Rollins)

The hardest match to leave off of this list. This match redefined unpredictability in a WrestleMania main event. What started as a one-on-one title match turned into a triple threat when Seth Rollins cashed in his Money in the Bank contract mid-match—something that had never been done before. The result was one of the most memorable finishes in WrestleMania history.

1. WrestleMania 40 (Night 2) — WWE Universal Championship – Cody Rhodes vs. Roman Reigns (c)

This is what a modern WrestleMania main event looks like when everything clicks. Cody Rhodes vs. Roman Reigns wasn’t just about a championship—it was about finishing a story that had been building for years. The stakes were clear, the crowd was fully invested, and the payoff delivered exactly what WrestleMania is supposed to deliver: closure, emotion, and a defining moment.

Others receiving serious consideration:

• WrestleMania 12 – 60-Minute Iron Man Match for the WWF Championship – Shawn Michaels vs. Bret Hart (c)
• WrestleMania 19 – WWE Championship – Brock Lesnar vs. Kurt Angle (c)
• WrestleMania 37 (Night 2) – WWE Universal Championship – Edge vs. Daniel Bryan vs. Roman Reigns (c)
• WrestleMania 39 (Night 1) – Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship – Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn vs. The Usos (c)

WrestleMania main events don’t all age the same. Some look great on paper, some deliver in the moment…and a select few manage to do both.

The ones on this list didn’t just check the boxes, they instead closed the show the way WrestleMania needs to be closed. And that’s the difference between a great match and a great WrestleMania main event.