Welcome back to the list! This time we’re looking at two huge WrestleManias from the mid-2000s that featured the rise of one of the biggest wrestlers in history, and the end of a legend’s decades-long career.

#4: WrestleMania 21

   WrestleMania 21 was the changing of the guard for the main event scene in WWE. The future became the present in the “City of Angels.” WrestleMania 21 took place at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.

   The show began with a battle of Tag Team Champions facing off against each other as Eddie Guerrero took on Rey Mysterio. The SmackDown Tag Team Champions wanted the match to prove to one another who was truly better. From the opening ring bell, the two showed why they are two of the best luchadores to ever grace a wrestling ring.

   The two’s array of maneuvers shocked the crowd and left the L.A. crowd in awe. There will never be two superstars like Eddie Guerrero & Rey Mysterio again. Eddie seemed to show desperation as he was not able to put Rey away. Eddie looked to be hit Rey with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker, but Rey was able to counter into a hurricanrana pin for the win. A highly contested and fast-paced matchup that was a great way to open WrestleMania.

   The next match made history as it was the first ever Money in the Bank ladder match. Six of Raw’s top stars: Edge, Chris Jericho, Christian, Chris Benoit, Shelton Benjamin & Kane, all looked to climb the ladder and secure a briefcase that would change their career. Inside the briefcase is a World Championship opportunity in which the superstar who secures it can cash in whenever they want to over the course of the next year.

   Each superstar in this match knew how much it meant to have the opportunity to shine on the biggest stage and make history of being the first winner of the Money in the Bank. Each man looked took steps climbing the ladder to reach the ultimate prize. Many tried, but it was the opportunist, Edge who was able to climb the ladder and win the Money in the Bank ladder match.

   Edge had missed the last two WrestleManias due to a neck injury and subsequent surgery. The Rated R Superstar capped off his return with an opportunity of a lifetime in his grasp.

   After Hulk Hogan came to save Eugene from an attack from Muhammad Hassan & Daivari, it was time for the next match, which was the first inter-promotional match of the night as The Undertaker put his undefeated streak on the line against “The Legend Killer” Randy Orton.

   Randy Orton had been on the rise over the last year and a half. He won the Intercontinental Championship, which led him to become the youngest World Heavyweight Champion in history. Now, he stood toe to toe to end one of the biggest legends in history. Randy was by far the biggest threat to The Undertaker’s streak.

   The two duked it out in a hellacious back and forth matchup. They countered everything in each other’s arsenal. Randy countered an Undertaker chokeslam into an RKO, which was one of the closest calls, as the streak was incredibly close to ending. Towards the end of the match, in a desperate attempt to lay The Deadman to rest, Orton attempted to hit Taker’s own Tombstone piledriver but Undertaker countered into a Tombstone of his own for the win, going 13-0 at WrestleMania.

   After Trish Stratus successfully defended the Women’s Championship against Christy Hemme, the next inter-promotional match was set to be an instant classic.

   “The Heartbreak Kid”  Shawn Michaels looked to create one more WrestleMania moment against one of the greatest technical wrestlers in history, Kurt Angle. Kurt was in the main event of WrestleMania the previous two years and looked to submit his legacy as one of the greatest defeating “Mr. WrestleMania.” When two of the greatest to lace up a set of boots step in the ring together, you know it is going to be an instant classic.

   The two tore the house down, laying it all on the line for the victory. Shawn attempted to pick up the win on Kurt, but once Angle locked in the Ankle Lock, it was all but over. Angle cinched in the Ankle Lock for what seems about forever until the pain became too much for Shawn Michaels to bare, and he submitted. Kurt Angle had already done it all in just a short time in WWE and defeating Shawn Michaels on the “Grandest Stage of them All” submitted Kurt Angle’s name in the history books as one of the greatest of all time.

   After a loud and rambunctious “Piper’s Pit” with guest Stone Cold Steve Austin, we got the first (and last) ever Sumo Match in WrestleMania history which saw Akebono defeat The Big Show. After this, it was time to make history.

   The next contest saw John Cena take on John Bradshaw Layfield for the WWE Championship. Since July the year prior, JBL had been dominating SmackDown as WWE Champion. He had gone through every opponent that stood in his way, even though some of these victories came through by underhanded tactics.

   Meanwhile, John Cena was on the rise. After winning the United States Championship at WrestleMania 20, Cena battled to be the superstar of the future, looking for the opportunity to become WWE Champion. He was the star of the people and became their voice for change. JBL had stood in the way of Cena becoming the future of the WWE.

   The two squared off to see who truly would take the WWE into the future. Cena would try to mount offense, but the power of JBl stopped anything being thrown. However, one miss by JBL led to Cena to hit the Attitude Adjustment on him for the pin and the win. John Cena had realized his dream and won his first WWE Championship. As Cena’s song states, “My Time is Now.” The future was indeed now and led by the former Doctor of Thuganomics.

   It was now time for the main event. Triple H defended the World Heavyweight Championship against the winner of the Royal Rumble, Batista. Over the past three years, Raw was dominated by one man, Triple H, winning and holding the World Heavyweight Championship for most of the three years. Triple H also formed one of the most dominant factions in history, Evolution.

   Alongside Ric Flair, Randy Orton and Batista, they dominated Monday Night Raw. Triple H groomed the future of WWE under his wing with Randy Orton & Batista. Randy defected from Evolution but was unsuccessful at dethroning Triple H’s dominance. However, it was time for Batista to stand alone to try to dethrone Triple H. The two powerhouses laid it all on the line to be the World Heavyweight Champion.

   Triple H’s experience in the main event nearly became too much for Batista. However, it was time for evolution to take control. Batista was able to lay out The Game and hit him with a Batista Bomb for the pin and the win. Batista ended the long reign of Triple H on Raw once and for all.

   WrestleMania 21 was the time for change. The faces that would define the Ruthless Aggression Era became the top stars of the WWE all led by the two new faces of the WWE, Batista & John Cena.

#3: WrestleMania 24

   This was the first WrestleMania held in the “Sunshine State.” WrestleMania took place at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Florida and this by far was one of the most emotional nights in WWE history.

   WrestleMania began with a slobberknocker between two of the most hard-hitting men to lace up a pair of boots, Finlay & John Bradshaw Layfield. The storyline going into the match centered around the fact that Hornswoggle was Vince McMahon’s illegitimate son. However, JBL did not believe that to be true, as Finlay came to the aid of Hornswoggle.

   To settle this issue once and for all, the two fought each other in a Belfast Brawl. The two men set out to destroy each other with anything in their path. Finlay did everything to settle the score, however, JBL stopped that from happening and picked up the victory.

   The next match was the fourth Money in the Bank ladder match which involved CM Punk, Chris Jericho, Mr. Kennedy, Montel Vontavious Porter (MVP), John Morrison, Carlito & Shelton Benjamin. Each man except two would end up becoming a World Champion, meaning that the landscape of the WWE could change with the winner of this match.

   Ladder matches at WrestleMania tend to be very exciting and ends up in carnage. This match was no different. At the end of the carnage, it was CM Punk who was able to outlast all the superstars to climb the ladder to win the Money in the Bank. Punk was fairly new to the WWE and had instantly become a star of the future. He earned an opportunity of a lifetime in his hands that he could cash in at any time.

   In the first inter-promotional match, SmackDown’s Batista took on Raw’s Umaga. In a hard-hitting match between two heavyweight powerhouses, Batista was able to lift the over 300 lbs. Samoan Bulldozer for the Batista Bomb for the win.

   The next match was history in the making, as the ECW Championship was defended for the first time in WrestleMania history. Chavo Guerrero defended the ECW Championship against “The Big Red Machine,” Kane. Kane had won a battle royal before WrestleMania began to earn his title shot. As Chavo waited in the ring for Kane, the monster came from behind and chokeslammed Chavo, winning the ECW Championship in a record eight seconds.

   From one historic moment to another, it was time for one of the biggest matches in WrestleMania history as Shawn Michaels took on Ric Flair. Flair had fought for his career over the past few months because the next time he lost, he had to retire. That is why at WrestleMania, Ric Flair chose “Mr. WrestleMania” Shawn Michaels to be his possible last opponent. Michaels knew the immensely high stakes going into the match; the thought of possibly ending the greatest career in professional wrestling history.

   As the two entered the ring, they were ready to put on an instant classic. The two put on a match worthy of the stage of WrestleMania. These two legends put everything into this one match, going back and forth and not leaving anything to the imagination. Shawn finally saw an opening to win the match with Sweet Chin Music, but he hesitated. However, Ric Flair asked for his last moment. As Shawn said the words, “I’m Sorry. I love you”, he hit Sweet Chin Music for the pin and the win.

   As the bell rang, it marked the end for a three-decade career of arguably the greatest of all time, “The Nature Boy” Ric Flair. The 16 time World Champion and now WWE Hall of Famer said goodbye to the wrestling ring and said goodbye to the WWE Universe. As he hugged and kissed his family, the entire Citrus Bowl thanked the limousine ridin’, jet flyin’, kiss stealin’, wheelin’ dealin’, son of a gun one last time.

   After this was a Playboy BunnyMania tag team match that saw Beth Phoenix & Melina defeat Ashley and Maria. This match also involved the lights going dark in the arena and Snoop Dogg kissing Maria Kanellis.

   It was then time for the first World Championship match as Randy Orton defended the WWE Championship against John Cena and Triple H. Triple H went through an intense year. After missing the previous year’s WrestleMania due to injury, he set out to get back to the main event the next year and did not let anything stop him. 

   John Cena had to overcome an injury himself, as he tore his pectoral muscle which forced him to relinquish the WWE Championship. Many thought the injury would take him out for months and cause him to miss WrestleMania. However, John Cena shocked the world and returned only three months after surgery by entering at no. 30 and winning the 2008 Royal Rumble match.

   Randy Orton, on the other hand, is just beginning the Age of Orton. Randy won the WWE Championship at No Mercy the previous October over Triple H and had been running roughshod over Monday Night Raw. At the time, Orton had not reached a lot of success in big matches at WrestleMania. All three men needed to leave this match as Champion.

   Each man slugged out every shot in their arsenal. Triple H seemed to be closing in on the WWE Championship as he hit the Pedigree on John Cena. However, Randy delivered the punt kick to Triple H and then covered Cena for the win. Randy Orton walked into WrestleMania as an underdog, but defeated two of the biggest stars in the WWE and walked out as the WWE Champion.

   It was now time for a fight heard around the world as The Big Show took on Floyd Mayweather Jr. The undefeated boxing phenom stepped into the WWE ring on the biggest stage to take on the “World Largest Athlete” in a No Disqualification Match. After weeks of mind games and fists, it was time to settle the score.

   Floyd was severely outmatched compared to the seven foot tall, Big Show. However, Mayweather was able to chop down the Big Show using a steel chair, which led to Mayweather stealing a pair of brass knuckles that one of his entourage was wearing and leveled Big Show. Mayweather knocked out the Big Show and left him laying in the ring for the win. Floyd Mayweather remained undefeated as he slew the largest athlete in the world.

   It was now time for the main event as Edge defended the World Heavyweight Championship against The Undertaker. Over the past year, Edge has done everything in his power to keep the World Heavyweight Championship away from Undertaker. Edge won Mr. Kennedy’s Money in the Bank briefcase and then immediately cashed in on The Undertaker. Undertaker had just competed in a steel cage match against Batista and then was attacked by “The World’s Strongest Man” Mark Henry, which was the perfect opportunity for Edge to cash in to win the World Heavyweight Championship.

   However, Edge had to relinquish the Championship due to injury. But, as Undertaker chased the World Heavyweight Championship, Edge returned to make sure that Undertaker did not capture the gold. Edge then began a relationship with SmackDown General Manager Vickie Guerrero which led him to win the World Heavyweight Championship at Armageddon in December with an assist from Curt Hawkins and Zack Ryder, the Edgeheads.

   The Undertaker finally got his opportunity to compete for the title by winning an Elimination Chamber match. The Undertaker put his streak on the line against Edge who was also undefeated at WrestleMania. The two slugged it out, but Edge continued to use the numbers game of La Familia against The Undertaker. Edge speared Undertaker but ended up getting caught in Hell’s Gate which led to the submission victory for the victory.

   The Undertaker’s undefeated streak was still intact and the climb back to the top was complete. The Undertaker went through hell but finally got back the World Heavyweight Championship.

   WrestleMania 24 ended the historic and storied career of Ric Flair. It also started the launch to stardom of CM Punk. Plus, it was the WrestleMania that made Randy Orton a credible main event star after he defeated the Triple H & John Cena. Then, one of the best main events of all time between The Undertaker & Edge capped off one of the greatest WrestleManias of all time. However, there are still two that were just that much better.

Come back tomorrow, as we finish the countdown! We pit two classic WrestleMania events against each other, and it’s gonna make you mad! Which wrestling extravaganza will make it to the top of the list? Stay tuned!

David Jacobus
Staff Writer