We’ve reached the finish line! There are two WrestleManias that are constantly competing to top other rankings, and it was a hellacious task deciding which one stands as the greatest WrestleMania of all time.
#2: WrestleMania 17
There has not been a WrestleMania with more buzz than WrestleMania 17 (X7 for those who stand on the other side of the argument). Less than a week prior, Vince McMahon purchased World Championship Wrestling, with the WWF/E becoming the sole major wrestling promotion in North America.
WrestleMania 17 was also the first WrestleMania commentated by the newly signed, Paul Heyman. Jerry “The King” Lawler left the WWF/E nearly two weeks after a situation backstage. WrestleMania 17 was also the end of one of the greatest eras in WWF/E history, the Attitude Era. And what a way to end than inside Houston’s Reliant Astrodome in front of over 60 thousand people from all over the world. WrestleMania 17 was a historic night with one of the greatest cards in history.
WrestleMania 17 kicked off with Chris Jericho defending the Intercontinental Championship against WWF/E Commissioner William Regal. Regal over the past few weeks had done all in his power to make Jericho’s life a living hell. However, the rebellious Jericho did not give in to the tyranny of William Regal.
The match was a hardnose, knockout, drag out match. Two of the best wrestlers in professional wrestling history kicked off WrestleMania 17 in the best way possible. Regal manipulated the injured shoulder of Jericho but was never able to capitalize and pick up the victory, which allowed Jericho to hit the Lionsault on Regal for the win to retain the Intercontinental Championship.
After this we saw a quick 6-man tag team match that saw Tazz & The Acolytes defeat Right to Censor after Texas’ own Bradshaw landed the Clothesline from Hell on The Goodfather for the win.
It was then time for the triple threat match for the Hardcore Championship as Raven defended against Kane & The Big Show. The match started fast from the get-go. As Big Show made his way down the ramp, Kane tossed Raven over the top rope and onto The Big Show. The three men then made it through the crowd and to the backstage area. These men used everything as an advantage over their opponents. From wooden pallets, hoses, glass windows and golf carts.
These men destroyed each other and the building around them. There was also a moment where Raven and Big Show rode on one of the golf carts, the two nearly ran over a major chord that could have cut the power from the entire building. The three men eventually made it back to the arena. Big Show lifted Raven and looked to throw him off the stage. However, Kane hit a boot on Big Show which threw men both off the stage. Then, Kane hit a massive dive onto The Big Show for the pin and the win. In one of the greatest Hardcore matches in WWF/E history, Kane was able to escape as the new Hardcore Champion.
In the next match, Test defended the European Championship against Eddie Guerrero. After a back and forth match, Eddie Guerrero was able to defeat Test to win the European Championship after interference by Dean Malenko & Perry Saturn.
It was now time for a wrestling classic between Kurt Angle and Chris Benoit. These two sought out to find out who truly is better. The two had as great of a wrestling match one can. Two of the greatest pure wrestlers to ever grace a wrestling ring stole the show. Each man knew each other’s submissions and how to escape. That is why Kurt sense Benoit going for the Crossface and was able to counter for the roll-up win.
In the next match, Ivory of Right to Censor defended the Women’s Championship against Chyna. Chyna had been with the WWF/E for nearly four years but never was able to win the WWF/E Women’s Championship. However, Chyna had been dealing with a neck injury thanks to Ivory & Right to Censor. Ivory seemed to sneak attack Chyna when the match began and target the neck.
However, once Chyna was able to get the advantage, she never looked back. Chyna was able to dominate Ivory on route to winning the WWF/E Women’s Championship, the first WWF/E Women’s Championship victory in her career.
The next contest was a family feud gone awry as Vince McMahon took on his son Shane McMahon in a street fight. Vince announced he wanted a divorce with Linda Mcmahon. Vince would go on to begin a relationship with Trish Stratus. All of the stress this caused Linda to suffer from depression. This led to Shane coming to the aid of his mother by taking out his father. Vince continued to try to one-up his son, but on the night that Vince McMahon announced his purchase of WCW, Shane purchased the company from out of nowhere.
This brought us to WrestleMania. The two McMahons beat each other to a pulp. Then, once Trish brought Linda to ringside things began to go haywire. After Trish brought the sedated Linda to ringside, Trish slapped Vince and then brawled with Stephanie McMahon. Vince then attacked special referee Mick Foley who attempted to get Linda out of the carnage.
But, Vince made sure to put Linda in the ring to watch him beat down his own son. However, once Vince looked to bash in Shane with a trash can, Linda rose to watch Shane and Mick beat down Vince and hit one of the biggest dives in history. Shane hit a coast to coast on Vince for the win.
From one hellacious match to another, it was now time for the second Tables, Ladders & Chairs match for the WWF/E Tag Team Championships. Three teams: The Hardy Boyz, The Dudley Boyz and Edge & Christian went to do battle to cap off one of the greatest trilogies in wrestling history.
The three teams over the last year had revolutionized the ladder match. Each time they squared off against one another, these teams found new ways to steal the show. It was now time to do it one more time on the biggest stage of WrestleMania. Calling this a painful match would be an understatement. This match involved huge dives from ladders, tables leaving bodies lying and chairs crushing bodies. Each team looked to climb the ladder and claim the Tag Team Championships.
However, as Jeff Hardy attempted to climb, the ladder was taken from underneath him which led to Edge hitting the biggest spear in wrestling history from off a ladder. After all the carnage and destruction, Edge & Christian was able to climb the ladder to reclaim the Tag Team Championships. Capping off this legendary tag team trilogy, Edge & Christian were able to become seven time Tag Team Champions and submit their legacies as one of the greatest tag teams in history.
After The Iron Sheik won a gimmick battle royal which saw “Mean” Gene Okerlund and Bobby “The Brain” Heenan return to the WWF/E to commentate. It was time for a fight from two of the baddest S.O.Bs in professional wrestling.
For the first time at WrestleMania, Triple H went toe to toe with The Undertaker. Triple H had beaten everyone there is to beat in the WWF/E; Except there was one man he never defeated, The Undertaker. The two brawled all over the area, looking for ways to defeat one another. After the referee was knocked down, the two went fighting into the crowd, which led to Undertaker giving a Chokeslam off a scaffold and onto the floor. Triple H seemingly disappeared into the crowd of the Astrodome.
Once the two re-entered the ring, things began to heat up. The Undertaker seemed to be closing in on the victory, but Triple H countered the Last Ride by leveling The Undertaker with a sledgehammer. However, it was not enough. The Undertaker was successful the second time around and hit the Last Ride on Triple H for the pin and the win. The Undertaker kept his undefeated streak at WrestleMania alive in one of the most physical matches of the night.
It was now time for the main event of WrestleMania with the two biggest names in the WWF/E as The Rock defended the WWF/E Championship against Stone Cold Steve Austin. Stone Cold had gone through a year of hell to get to this moment. After being sidelined with a neck injury, Stone Cold had to climb back to the top. He got his shot by winning the Royal Rumble.
While Stone Cold was sidelined, The Rock had carried the WWF/E becoming its biggest star. What a way to culminate the Attitude Era than with the two men who helped carry the WWF/E past WCW and the arguably the two biggest stars in WWF/E history.
With one of the biggest pops in WrestleMania history, Stone Cold returned home to Texas and looked to reclaim the WWF/E Championship. From the opening bell, the two beat each other to a pulp since before the match, it was announced as a No Disqualification match. The two used their environment to their advantage all to try to be the WWF/E Champion. These two gave everything in their heart to put on a main event worthy of WrestleMania. The world was fully involved in this one match.
Towards the end of the match, Mr. McMahon made his way down to the ring. The Rock looked to close in on victory, but Mr. McMahon cost him the match. Mr. McMahon handed a steel chair to Stone Cold which he would use to beat down The Rock for the victory.
Stone Cold did everything in his power to make sure he was WWF/E Champion, even siding with the rival that continuously stood in his way. Stone Cold and Mr. McMahon were bitter enemies during the entire Attitude Era, but now, once the two shook hands at the end of WrestleMania 17. This was a moment that no wrestling fans would ever dream of seeing. And thus ended one of the greatest eras in professional wrestling history.
What else more can I say about WrestleMania 17? This show from start to finish was one of the greatest shows in WWF/E history. It is a show that continues to be talked about today. There is not a WrestleMania to this date that has had more moments and more history behind it like 17. WrestleMania 17 became the greatest WrestleMania of all time and it was the perfect way to end the Attitude Era.
However, one WrestleMania managed to top even this event.
#1: WrestleMania 19
This was the WrestleMania that ushered in the Ruthless Aggression Era in WWE. WrestleMania 19 changed the landscape of WWE for years to come. From Safeco Field in Seattle, Washington, this is WrestleMania 19.
The show kicked off with Matt Hardy defending the Cruiserweight Championship against Rey Mysterio. Matt Hardy over the past few months had found his “Mattitude” which led him to the Cruiserweight Championship. He went into WrestleMania to face the human highlight reel, Rey Mysterio. This opening match was fast paced with tons of maneuvers and counters. This was an excellent way to open WrestleMania.
Rey Mysterio looked to be closing in on the Championship, but Matt Hardy countered Rey Mysterio’s offense for a rollup and with an assist from the bottom rope, Matt Hardy retained the Cruiserweight Championship.
The next match saw The Undertaker put his streak on the line in a handicap match against The Big Show & A-Train. The Undertaker was going to be teaming with Nathan Jones, but he was taken out during the pre-show so Undertaker was forced to go solo.
The Big Show & A-Train attempted to use the numbers game, but the experience of Undertaker was too good. The Big Show and A-Train used their combined size to wear down The Deadman. Big Show & A-Train seemed to have the win in sight, until Nathan Jones made his way to ringside and took out The Big Show and then booted A-Train, which set up The Undertaker to hit a massive Tombstone Piledriver on A-Train for the win. The streak was still alive.
The next match was a Triple Threat match for the Women’s Championship as Victoria defended against Trish Stratus & Jazz. These three women have dominated the Women’s Division on Raw over the last year and what a way to culminate this rivalry than at WrestleMania. This match was very competitive with three of the best women to ever grace a wrestling ring. Each woman had their shot to win this contest, but it was Trish Stratus who was able to pick up the win by hitting the Chick Kick on Victoria to win the Women’s Championship.
The next contest was for the SmackDown Tag Team Championships as Team Angle (Charlie Haas & Shelton Benjamin) defended against Chris Benoit & Rhyno and Los Guerreros (Chavo & Eddie). The tag team division on SmackDown was must-see at the time. Each team knew each other so well and the chemistry between the partners would make any tag team contest one of the best matches on the card. This match was no different.
If you love tag team wrestling and non stop action, this match is for you. Each team gave it all to try to be the SmackDown Tag Team Champions. Rhyno looked to be closing in on winning for his team after he hit the Gore on Chavo, but after he hit the Gore, Eddie dragged him out which allowed the legal man Shelton Benjamin to pin Chavo to retain the Tag Team Championships for Team Angle.
It was now time for a match that many people wanted to see, Shawn Michaels versus Chris Jericho. Many marked Chris Jericho as the next Shawn Michaels. His flamboyant attitude and his in-ring ability were very similar to Shawn Michaels. While Shawn Michaels was making his return to WrestleMania. “Mr. WrestleMania” was making his return to the big stage to take on the ego driven Chris Jericho.
This match was arguably one of the best of the show. These two went back and forth for the entire match. Nobody seemed to have an edge over one another, as each man showed why they belong in the category of greatest of all time. Chris Jericho seemed to be closing in on the win, but Shawn was able to roll up Jericho for the win. Shawn Michaels returned to WrestleMania a victor.
After the match, Chris Jericho hugged his childhood hero right before hitting Shawn with a low blow. This is the match that showed that Chris Jericho as a main event contender.
After a concert by “WWE’s favorite band in the entire world” Limp Bizkit and a catfight by the Miller Light Catfight Girls, Stacy Keibler & Torrie Wilson, it was time for the first World Championship match of the night.
Triple H defended the World Heavyweight Championship against Booker T. Booker T over the past year had gone through hell to become a worthy challenger to dethrone Triple H as World Champion. Booker T had learned from his demons and past to get to the opportunity to challenge Triple H for the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania.
Despite overcoming his demons, Booker T was unsuccessful at dethroning Triple H of the World Heavyweight Championship. After hitting the Pedigree on Booker, Triple H was able to crawl to the cover to pin Booker T to retain the World Heavyweight Championship.
The next contest was 20 years in the making as Hulk Hogan challenged Mr. McMahon to a Street Fight. Who truly made WrestleMania what it was today, Mr. McMahon or Hulk Hogan? Mr. McMahon built WrestleMania and without his risk, there would be no WrestleMania and possibly there would be no WWE.
Hulk Hogan, however, gained an enormous following with Hulkamania. Hulk Hogan was the face of WWE for over a decade and helped put WWE on the map. The tension between these two began when Hulk left the WWF/E in 1993. Once Hulk returned to the WWE, Vince made a vow to kill Hulkamania. At WrestleMania, these two men destroyed one another to a hellacious, bloody and brutal match.
Mr. McMahon attempted to use every underhanded tactic in his playbook, but it was to no avail. Hulk Hogan was able to hit his Leg Drop for the win over Mr. McMahon to keep Hulkamania alive. These two are older, but that does not mean that they did not put on one hell of a fight worthy of WrestleMania.
From one personal rivalry conclusion to another as The Rock challenged Stone Cold Steve Austin. Both times these two squared off on the “Grandest Stage,” Stone Cold had always walked out the victor. The fact that Rock had never beaten Stone Cold ate at him. When The Rock went to Hollywood, he had one goal in mind and it was to get back to the WWE and finally to defeat Stone Cold at WrestleMania.
Once the smoke cleared and the mind games were put to the side, it was time for two of the all-time greats to stand toe-to-toe one last time at WrestleMania. These two legends stole the show. From the opening bell to the final pin, the two put on an amazing conclusion to one of the greatest trilogies in history.
In the end however, The Rock finally defeated Austin after not one, not two, but three Rock Bottoms. The Rock can finally say that he defeated Stone Cold at WrestleMania. After the match, The Rock and the Seattle Crowd thanked Stone Cold as this would be his final wrestling match in his illustrious career. Arguably the greatest of all time saluted the Seattle crowd as he walked back up the ramp for the final time.
It was now time for the Main Event as Kurt Angle defended the WWE Championship against Brock Lesnar. No one has had a rookie year like Brock Lesnar. He became the youngest WWE Champion in WWE history, he walked into Hell in a Cell with The Undertaker and won the Royal Rumble Match in 2003. His opponent, Kurt Angle was one of few that carried the SmackDown brand to make it what it became.
Kurt Angle, however, won the WWE Championship underhandedly and did everything in his power to make sure Brock did not become WWE Champion again. However, the games and tricks were over. Two of the best technical wrestlers in history squared off in the main event of WrestleMania.
The two would go on to have arguably the greatest WrestleMania main event of all time. The two stopped at nothing to try to defeat one another. In an effort to seal the deal, the monstrous Brock Lesnar went to the top rope to (barely) hit a Shooting Star Press from across the ring, which led to the finish as Brock was able to hit his 3rd F5 of the match for the win. In his first WrestleMania Brock Lesnar was able to win back the WWE Championship in the main event. An instant classic to conclude a classic pay-per-view.
WrestleMania 19 will go down as the greatest WrestleMania of all time. This WrestleMania was full of WrestleMania worthy moments; once in a lifetime matches like Michaels v. Jericho and McMahon v. Hogan. Plus it ended arguably one of the greatest careers in WWE history in Stone Cold Steve Austin. In addition, it had arguably the greatest main event in WrestleMania history with Lesnar v. Angle. What a fantastic WrestleMania start to finish.
#?: WrestleMania 35
Now we are weeks away from WrestleMania 35 where history will be made once again with the first ever Women’s Main Event in history. Also the farewell match of Kurt Angle. Where will this year’s WrestleMania rank compared to these greats?
Do you agree with the list? Which WrestleMania is your favorite? We’d love to hear your comments. Thank you for following us on this journey, and here’s to a great WrestleMania weekend!
David Jacobus
Staff Writer