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It's hard to believe that it's been 33 years since Wrestlemania I. Over the years, Wrestlemania has grown by leaps and bounds. A large part of that growth can be attributed to marquee match-ups that lived up to or, in many cases, exceeded the fans' expectations. Here are my five greatest Wrestlemania matches of all time.
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#5 The Undertaker vs Shawn Michaels at Wrestlemania 25
The buzz around this match was whether the Undertaker's streak of 16 straight Wrestlemania wins would continue or not. Fans wondered why Shawn Michaels, rather than another younger opponent, was accorded the privilege of being the challenger.
While there was the expectation of a surprise in store, also, there were lingering doubts on whether these two aging legends were still capable of delivering a Wrestlemania mania event worth performance.
What followed was a grueling thirty-minute war that kept the fans on the edge of their seats. There were high-quality maneuvers, big hitting and swift moves that awed the audience. In the end, the result was as most people expected, or rather, as most fans had hoped for- an Undertaker win.
The respect for these two legends, at the end of that match, had risen another notch in the eyes of their fans. For this reason, this match makes it to #5 of my greatest of all time matches.
#4 "The Macho Man" vs Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat at Wrestlemania 3
This match-up for the Intercontinental Championship in Wrestlemania 3 is one of the most revered and remembered contests. It was built to be a revenge match. Randy Savage had nearly ended Ricky Steamboat's career in their previous match-up just a few months ago.
In that match, Steamboat had suffered a crushed larynx and had to be carted out of the arena on a stretcher. The fact that Ricky Steamboat had recovered to even make it back to the ring was a miracle of sorts. Going into Wrestlemania 3, Randy Savage had held the Intercontinental title for over 400 days.
The crowd was clearly cheering for Steamboat. The match was a memorable exhibition of athleticism and stamina. It was a closely fought and a see-saw match that finally ended in just under 15 minutes.
This was a perfect "good-guy" beating the "bad-guy" contest. Ricky Steamboat's remarkable story of coming back from a devastating injury to claim the Intercontinental Championship was the classic build-up that helped elevate this match to an all time greatest status.
#3 Hulk Hogan vs Andre The Giant at Wrestlemania 3
The Andre vs Hogan main event at Wrestlemania III was, really, a dream match-up. Ninety-thousand people filled the Silverdome to witness this epic encounter between two titans. One put his 15-year unbeaten streak on the line and the other staked his WWF championship belt, which he'd held for three years.
Actually, really, what the two were fighting for was for the status of being the biggest star in professional wrestling. The unique part of this encounter was that the two competitors did not have an acrimonious history. It was a fight between two heroes that were revered by millions of WWF fans.
The incredible marketing machine of Vince Mcmahon and the WWF, leading up to the match, had helped raise the expectation and anticipation fervor for this event like never before. Hogan and Andre did their part in the ring. They presented, to the fans, an epic fight, in the ring, that exceeded every expectation.
The early failed body slam by Hogan, to the body squeeze applied by Andre, to the final successful body slam by Hulk Hogan are highlights of this epic match that remain etched in our memories to this day.
#2 Triple H vs The Undertaker at Wrestlemania 28
The Triple H vs The Undertaker match-up in Wrestlemania XXVIII was a re-match of their encounter in Wrestlemania XXVII. To succeed, this contest had to compare favorably to the previous year's match-up, differentiate from the previous year's contest and provide a sense of fulfillment to the fans' high expectations.
It delivered on all three counts. The Undertaker's eventual victory had a sense of finality to it, the story-line appeared fresh and not re-hashed, and the performances of both Triple H and The Undertaker were convincing.
This encounter is memorable as much for the theatrics in the ring as for WWE's planning, organizing, and execution of its strategy outside the ring.
#1 Hulk Hogan vs The Ultimate Warrior at Wrestlemania 6
This Wrestlemania 6 main event is the greatest match of all time. It was a contest between the Hulkamaniacs vs the Warriors. It was a great match between two very popular crowd-pullers.
In a sense, it was an even match. There was no loser, even though Hulk Hogan technically lost the match. The match symbolized the end of Hogan's dominance as a winner. It was the first time that he lost clean. That meant something. It was an attempt by WWE to place another icon on the top pedestal next to the Hulk.
The match was a huge hit with the fans; it was choreographed very delicately to ensure that the loser of the match didn't lose his dignity. Both Hogan and the Warrior did what they did best- entertain. And, to this day, that match stays in the wrestling fans' mind as a match between two equals, two heroes, two larger-than-life individuals, two dignified personalities, and two ambassadors of wrestling that got together to present to the world the greatest match of all time!
What's your favourite WrestleMania match of all time? Let us know in the comments section below.
