WrestleMania has had some of the greatest matches in wrestling history. I have compiled this list based on several factors. Was the match considered great at the time? Did the match stand the test of time? Was there a great interest in the match prior to it happening? Did it meet those expectations? Did the match change the business in any way? Did it create any special WrestleMania moments? All of the matches on this list have met several of these criteria and a few have met them all.
1. Submission Match: Bret Hart vs Steve Austin – WM 13
These men had been feuding for several months with Bret as the face and Austin as the heel. After this match, the roles of both men had become reversed. This was an incredibly brutal contest which saw Steve suffer a major cut at a time when bleeding was relatively unseen in the wrestling business. Even in a loss, Austin’s performance was so impressive that this match turned Steve Austin into the number one star in the WWF.2. I-C Title: Ricky Steamboat vs Randy Savage – WM 3
On the night that the main event featured the most anticipated match ever, these two men stole the show. This match is arguably the greatest in the career of Randy Savage and without a doubt the best match Steamboat had in the WWF. A few months prior to the match, Savage injured Steamboat’s throat by using the ring bell on it. Steamboat came out for revenge and figured the best way to get Savage back was to take his title.3. WWF Title: Hulk Hogan vs Andre the Giant – WM 3
This was the most anticipated match in wrestling history. Over 90,000 fans packed the Pontiac Silverdome to witness this event and this match is generally considered one of the events that helped to create the PPV industry. The “undefeated” Andre almost won the match a few seconds into it. The match ended after Hulk body slammed Andre, a move that most fans had never believed was possible to do.4. Shawn Michaels vs. The Undertaker - WM 25
Unlike the prior 3 matches, this wasn't about a title or a personal vendetta. As a matter of fact, the two barely touched each other in the weeks leading up to the show. All this match featured was two of the all-time best putting on a match that somehow surpassed everyone's expectations. Shawn Michaels lived up to his name of Mr. WrestleMania as one of his matches once again stole the show. As far as the Undertaker goes, he continued his winning ways at WrestleMania as he increased his undefeated WrestleMania winning streak to 17. These two future Hall of Famers put on the greatest non-title/non-stipulation match I have ever seen.5. Career Threatening Match: Ric Flair vs Shawn Michaels – WM 24
The night before this show, Ric Flair was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. However, his celebration didn't last long because if he lost to Shawn then his career would be over. In a sport that usually does a bad job at ending careers with a fitting finale, this match provided the greatest ending to the career of arguably the greatest professional wrestler. The most famous moment of this match was the ending when Shawn mouthed the words: "I'm Sorry. I Love You." before ending the career of one of his idols.6. I-C Title Ladder Match: Razor Ramon vs Shawn Michaels – WM 10
Very rarely can one say that a match changed the wrestling business but this one did just that. This ladder match was so entertaining that a whole new style of wrestling was created that has seen wrestlers take unbelievable risks with their bodies. The story of this match was that Shawn was stripped of the I-C title and Razor wound up winning the vacant title. Both men claimed to be the real champ and this match would determine who was right.7. TLC Match: Edge & Christian vs The Dudley Boyz vs The Hardy Boyz - WM 17
This match represents the pinnacle of the movement that the previous match started. These same teams fought the year before in just a ladder match. This match saw the addition of ladders and chairs and each team had a person interfering for them in this match. Edge hitting the spear off the top rope on D-Von Dudley who was dangling in midair is the single most visually stunning move in the history of the event.8. WWF Title & I-C Title: The Ultimate Warrior vs Hulk Hogan – WM 6
This match was the first time in the Hulkamania era that Hogan lost a match cleanly. Both men entered and left the ring as fan favorites that day. This match was the passing of the torch from the era of Hulkamania to the era of the Warrior. While the era of the Warrior didn’t last long, the memories of this match will live forever for anyone who saw this match when it happened.9. Retirement Match: The Ultimate Warrior vs Randy Savage – WM 7
The Warrior era ended due to the interference of Randy Savage in his title match a few months earlier. Both men put their careers on the line in this match. This was a great match and no one could tell who would win this match. As great as this match was, the events that unfolded after this match were even better. After being apart for two years, Randy Savage and Miss Elizabeth reunited.10. Owen Hart vs Bret Hart – WM 10
Without a doubt, this is the greatest opening match in WrestleMania history. A few months earlier, Owen attacked his injured brother. After this match, Bret would be in a title match against either Yokozuna or Lex Luger. No one thought that Bret would lose this match, but he did. This match elevated Owen into the main event and later in the evening, Bret became the WWE Champ. The rematches between these brothers would main event arenas throughout the world for the next several months.
