Fixing WWE’s 50 Greatest Wrestlemania Matches

As we inch closer to Wrestlemania, WWE’s YouTube channel have blessed us with what they believe to be the top 50 Wrestlemania matches of all time. Day by day they have posted a Wrestlemania match on YouTube until we reach what they believe to be the best one of all time. Of course, Steve Austin vs Bret Hart from ‘Mania 13 should be positioned first. It would be mad if it wasn’t considering that match is going to be the first ‘Immortal Moment’ inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, right?

As with any ranking within wrestling, it has created a large amount of discourse. There has been plenty of praise and there has also been plenty of criticism. I think they did alright, but I disagree with their choices. So, I decided to flick through WWE’s catalogue and draft my own ranking of the 50 greatest matches. Let’s see who did it better.

Honourable Mentions

Look, there are going to be dozens of amazing matches that are omitted from this list. I struggled to wittle down a shortlist of 75 matches down to 50. There are plenty of matches deserving of a mention, but I have 2 I specifically want to mention.

First of all, the main event of Wrestlemania XX. Royal Rumble winner Chris Benoit defeated Triple H and Shawn Michaels to win the World Heavyweight Championship. It is a perfect match, a 5 star match if I have ever seen one. However, I never expected WWE to mention it because…well…yeah. I’m not going to add it to mine because it is a completely understandable decision for WWE not to mention it.

The other honourable mention is John Cena vs The Fiend in a Firefly Funhouse match. Is this a match? Is this a segment? I don’t really know but it is one of my favourite things WWE have ever done. A genius stroke in creativity and storytelling whilst adapting to the crippling effects of the 2020 pandemic. I love the Firefly Funhouse, this to me is the legacy of the late, great Bray Wyatt. I’m not going to include it here though because again, I am not sure this can qualify as an actual match. I don’t even know how to rank it against anything else on this list because it is unlike anything we have ever seen before.

With that out of the way…

wwe #50 – Cody Rhodes vs seth rollins, wrestlemania 38 (my #50 – hulk hogan vs andre the giant, wrestlemania 3)

Settle down wrestling boomers, don’t come for my Gen Z throat. If this was a list of ‘most important matches in Wrestlemania history’ this is comfortably ranking in the top 3. However, as time has progressed and the quality of wrestling has improved, this colossal main event becomes harder to watch. If I was being brutally honest, I could list 100 Wrestlemania matches that are better than this one. I cannot argue with history though. Andre vs Hogan was an absolute sports entertainment spectacle that was significant in WWE’s rise to becoming the juggernaut it is today. Speaking of significant matches…

wwe #49 – Triple h vs sting, wrestlemania 31 (my #49 – Hulk hogan & mr t vs Roddy piper & paul orndorff, wrestlemania i)

Maybe if I was an older wrestling fan I would have a stronger emotional attachment to some of these Golden Era matches. However, I am desperately clinging on to my 20s so my favourite matches are from more recent eras. That being said, like the previous entry, I can appreciate how important this match was. Vince McMahon staked the future of the WWF and his own livelihood on the success of the inaugural Wrestlemania. He relied on significant promotion and the use of celebrities to draw as many eyes to their product. It doesn’t get much more star studded than this main event.

wwe #48 – John cena vs the rock, wrestlemania 28 (my #48 – mickie james vs trish stratus, wrestlemania 22)

There isn’t going to be many women’s matches on here. Don’t blame me, women’s wrestling in WWE has only been consistently watchable for the past 10 years. In-between the hyper-sexualisation of women in the Attitude Era and the embarrassment that was the Divas Era, we got a small window of female wrestlers being treated somewhat seriously. I say somewhat, because WWE were still clueless on how to book a women’s feud without a relationship or stripping of some kind. What should have been another gross lesbian angle became one of the best women’s feuds of all time. Mickie James and Trish Stratus wrestled arguably the best WWE women’s match ever at the time. James ended Stratus’ historic 447 day reign as women’s champion, becoming a star in the eyes of the Chicago crowd.

WWE #47 – brock lesnar vs goldberg, wrestlemania 33 (I agree!)

Wrestling has such a broad spectrum of content that there really is something for everyone. Whether you crave bloody violence, gravity-defying athleticism or psychologically sound wrasslin’ you can usual find something to enjoy on the variety show that is Wrestlemania. Sometimes, all you want to see is big meaty men slapping meat. (We miss you Big E.) The Brock-Berg appeared to be cursed to underachieve, but we were treated at Wrestlemania 33 when Bork Laser finally defeated his long-term rival in one of the best 5 minute matches ever. Explosive, destructive, chaotic. These 2 mountainous men gave us the best match they possibly could and it was the tits.

wwe #46 – Hulk hogan & mr t vs roddy piper & paul orndorff, wrestlemania i (my #46 – hulk hogan vs randy savage, wrestlemania v)

It took 5 years but WWE finally delivered a high quality main event match at Wrestlemania. If this list was ‘greatest Wrestlemania builds’ then this would rank significantly higher. The Mega Powers formed when Randy Savage won his first WWF Championship at Wrestlemania IV. Over the course of a year, Randy and Hulk’s relationship would gradually sour as Savage began to trust Hogan less and less. The Macho Man grew increasingly more paranoid that Hogan was trying to steal his title and his gal, Miss Elizabeth. Eventually, Savage reached his limit and attacked Hogan backstage for abandoning him to take Elizabeth to a doctor. The Mega Powers exploded and it was great. The Macho Man being the ultimate chicken shit, opportunistic heel. Miss Elizabeth being caught in the middle of two people she cares about. Hulk Hogan still at peak popularity. Savage vs Hogan delivered the goods.

wwe #45 – the Undertaker vs batista, wrestlemania 23 (my #45 – John cena vs The rock, wrestlemania 28)

I initially had The Undertaker vs Batista shortlisted, but it ultimately did not make my final top 50. Sorry lads, but there are a lot of great Undertaker matches I just couldn’t have them all. Although storytelling is arguably the most important component of a major wrestling match, sometimes all you need are two of the most recognisable names in all of wrestling and bash them together like a snotty brat playing with their Mattel Elite Collection action figures. That is what happened in the main event of Wrestlemania 28. The Rock wrestled his first Wrestlemania in 8 years and proved he is still The Great One. Their personal back and forth seemingly had no end until John Cena let his ego get the better of him, going for the People’s Elbow but running right into the path of a Rock Bottom.

wwe #44 – Seth rollins vs triple h, wrestlemania 33 (my #44 – steve austin vs kevin owens, wrestlemania 38)

Why on earth is Daddy Trips vs his disgraced step-son on this list? Don’t get me wrong, it is a good match, but top 50 of all time? That is a questionable take. Steve Austin’s in-ring return still feels unreal almost 3 years later. After a history of serious neck and knee injuries, Steve Austin wrestled his last match at Wrestlemania XIX against The Rock and seemingly retired for good. Ahead of Wrestlemania 38, Kevin Owens repeatedly insulted Texas and all of their habitants. Uh oh, you done fucked up son. An impromptu No Holds Barred match saw the Texan and the Canadian have an absolute brawl, reminiscent of the coveted Attitude Era. At 57 years old and nearly 20 years away from the ring, Austin proved why he is the GOAT by wrestling one last banger in front of his home state.

wwe #43 – john cena vs shawn michaels, wrestlemania 23 (my #43 – Hulk hogan vs the ultimate warrior, wrestlemania vi)

Another entry that is bound to upset someone who loves the Golden Era of wrestling. Just like John Cena vs The Rock, this was a match built on star power rather than storytelling. The Ultimate Warrior was on the rise as the dominant, incomprehensible Intercontinental champion and appeared to be the destined successor to WWF Champion Hulk Hogan. The Ultimate Challenge was made with both titles on the line. Although the passing of the torch did not work out long term for the Warrior, at least we got this match. The match itself is pretty basic, but the booking of them going move for move to a stalemate was captivating viewing. Warrior won the WWF championship, becoming the first man to pin Hogan clean since 1981 and the first to hold both titles simultaneously. One of his best matches, but not his best, that would be…

wwe #42 – Edge vs Mick foley, wrestlemania 22 (my #42 – the ultimate warrior vs randy savage, wrestlemania vii

If anyone can be relied on to help Warrior to a match even better than his one with Hogan, the Macho King is the guy. After the Warrior refused to defend his WWF championship against Savage, the latter and his new valet Queen Sherri got involved in Warrior’s match with Sgt Slaughter, costing him the world title. The Warrior challenged Savage to a retirement match at Wrestlemania VII. Of course, neither man would end up retiring, because wrestling. There is an awesome piece of storytelling when Savage kicks out of the Ultimate Splash, Warrior questions if he can even win, maybe it is his destiny to lose. He teases getting himself counted out, but he eventually defeats Randy Savage clean. The match was a great one, but the whole segment was elevated when Miss Elizabeth emerged from the crowd to wipe out Queen Sherri and reunite with her beloved. One of the most beautiful moments in wrestling history.

wwe #41 The undertaker vs Aj styles, wrestlemania 36 (i agree!)

AJ Styles got punked by The Undertaker at Super ShowDown 2020 who made a surprise appearance in the Tuwaiq Mountain Trophy Gauntlet. Remember the Tuwaiq Trophy? It looked like a monolith made of frozen piss. Undertaker squashed Styles to win the Pineapple Jello Trophy which he doesn’t even take with him. Styles proceeds to scorch The Undertaker for still wrestling at his age, taking personal shots at his wife Michelle McCool. The global pandemic lead to Undertaker challenged Styles to a special Boneyard match. This match was silly bollocks and I loved it. Taker driving a motorbike whilst Metallica played, fighting undead druids and throwing Luke Gallows off a roof and seemingly killed him. This cinematic match featured fantastic storytelling, great action and ended Taker’s career on a high. Most importantly, it created a meme template that will live forever.

wwe #40 – brock lesnar vs roman reigns, wrestlemania 31 (my #40 – shawn michaels vs bret hart, wrestlemania XII)

HBK vs Hart, a tale as old as time. This is regarded as a ‘marmite’ match, you either love it or you hate it. I personally love it, but I understand why it is such a polarising match. This would be the first ever Iron Man match in WWE and what should have been a thrilling back and forth contest ended up being a 60 minute stalemate. 60 minutes with no falls, Shawn won the first and only fall in sudden death to win his first WWF championship. Whilst the match isn’t what it could or should have been, I think this is such a feat of stamina and endurance that paces itself well enough to not lose the audience. I got a Shawn Michaels DVD in a magazine as a kid, so I have watched this match A LOT. I love it, but it’s polarising reception prevents this from being rated too high.

wwe #39 – Gunther vs sheamus vs drew mcintyre, wrestlemania 39 (my #39 – Eddie guerrero vs kurt angle, Wrestlemania XX)

I nearly did not included this match but it did not feel right talking about great matches and not include Eddie Guerrero. God rest his soul. Guerrero won the WWE championship from Brock Lesnar at No Way Out, whilst Angle won a number 1 contender match. Their feud got personal when Angle mocked Eddie for his past issues with drug addiction, then bludgeoning the handcuffed Latino heat with his own title belt. Guerrero and Angle are 2 of the greatest wrestlers of all time. Of course putting them together on the Grandest Stage of Them All was going to result in an all-timer. The match is fantastic, but the finish is even better. Kurt locks in the Ankle Lock, Guerrero loosened his bootlaces and slipped his foot out. A confused Angle is caught in a leverage small package by Guerrero, retaining the WWE championship. Eddie lied, cheated and stole the heart of millions.

wwe #38 – eddie guerrero vs kurt angle, wrestlemania xx (my #38 – charlotte flair vs becky lynch vs sasha banks, wrestlemania 32)

After 8 years of the goddamn pink & silver butterfly, we finally got a new women’s championship. Ever since Trish Stratus retired, it was made very clear that WWE did not care about the division at all. The Divas Era saw PlayBoy Bunny matches, love triangles and hiring models to become wrestlers. Eventually the likes of AJ Lee and Paige helped gain fan interest in the women’s division but WWE still did not invest. The hashtag #GiveDivasAChance started trending in early 2015 and eventually, WWE listened. In July 2015, Stephanie McMahon re-invented women’s wrestling by bringing Flair, Lynch and Banks up to the main roster as part of the “Divas Revolution”. As cliché the Divas Revolution became, it was exactly what was happening. Come Wrestlemania 32, the Divas Title was retired in favour of a new Women’s Championship. Lynch, Flair and Banks wrestled an awesome match on a card that was severely lacking awesome matches. For the first time EVER, the WWE women’s division was being taken seriously and the future of the division looked in good hands.

wwe #37 – Triple h vs The undertaker, Wrestlemania XXVII (my #37 – Randy savage vs ric flair, wrestlemania VIII)

Vince McMahon sniffed a pile of laxatives and completely shit the bed for Wrestlemania VIII, deciding to book Hulk Hogan vs Sid Justice in the main event instead of the biggest wrestling match possible, Hogan vs Flair. Well, as they say “one brother’s loss, is another dude’s gain, brother.” Randy Savage was given the honour to wrestle Flair at Wrestlemania and it was a doozey. Flair and Savage got into a personal feud over Miss Elizabeth, Ric tried to style and profile his way into her DM’s, or whatever was around in 1992. AOL I guess? This results in an absolute barn burner of a match between them over the world title. Flair infamously bladed, in a time when intentional bleeding was banned in the WWF and he was fined thousands of dollars. Thanks to this match, and another we will talk about soon, Wrestlemania VIII was not a complete waste of time.

wwe #36 – Bianca belair vs becky lynch, wrestlemania 38 (my #36 – The rock vs hulk hogan, Wrestlemania x8)

This might be another controversial low entry for some readers. I understand, but hear me out. The Rock vs Hulk Hogan would make the top 5 in a ‘biggest Wrestlemania moments’ for sure. However, as a match this is far from the greatest match in Wrestlemania history. That does not matter though because this match is more about match quality. This is Icon vs Icon. Era vs Era. The most famous man of wrestling past vs the most famous man of wrestling present. Going into Mania at the SkyDome, Hogan was the heel and Rock was the face, but not for long. The Canadian fans were HOT for the Hulkster, more hot than they were for The Rock. Hogan and Rock changed their match on the fly and played to the crowds thunderous reactions. They played all of their hits, The Rock ending the match with the People’s Elbow. Hogan’s credibility in wrestling was tarnished after the brutal downfall of WCW, but within 2 months back in the WWE his image was repaired. That didn’t last very long.

wwe #35 – kofi kingston vs daniel bryan, wrestlemania 35 (my #35 – edge vs mick foley, wrestlemania 22)

It is fair to say that there is not a single WWE Superstar who was willing to subject themselves to more punishment than the lovable sock puppeteer Mick Foley. If I stub my toe on the leg of a table, I am ruled out for 3-5 business days. Foley is a mad man and I just cannot get enough of his hardcore antics. Foley had an amazing career with amazing highlights and some of his best work happened in the twilight of his WWE career. Mrs Foley’s baby boy became a springboard for rising stars in the early 2000s with hardcore matches. First Triple H and later Randy Orton, but most famously is this slice of violence against Edge. This gruesome battle featured a barbed wire bat, thumbtacks and a barbed wire wrapped Mr Socko. Of course the most iconic moment is the spear by Edge through a table that is ON FUCKING FIRE, crashing to the outside in a blaze of smoke and seared skin.

wwe #34 – Ric Flair vs shawn michaels, wrestlemania XXIV (I agree!)

“I’m sorry, I love you.” The heart-breaking words spoken by the Heartbreak Kid as he nails Ric Flair with the final Sweet Chin Music to retire Ric Flair for good. What’s that you’re saying? He wrestled 17 more matches after this one? He wrestled a 26 minute tag match in 2022? Let’s just ignore all of that. This was Ric’s last match in my eyes. Flair had been wrestling for 35 years by the time Wrestlemania XXIV came around. Whenever he next lost a match, he would be forced to retire. This was an absolute gem of a match, a 20 minute love letter to the career of the ‘Nature Boy’. Dave Meltzer only gave this match 3.5 stars which should be enough to tell you that his opinion isn’t fact. HBK vs Flair was a beautiful send off to one of wrestling’s greatest wrestlers. Then, TNA came calling waving an irresistible cheque book.

WWE #33 – Ric Flair vs Randy Savage, Wrestlemania VIII (My #33 – Bret Hart vs Roddy Piper, Wrestlemania VIII)

Like I mentioned earlier, thanks to this match and Savage vs Flair, Wrestlemania VIII was saved from being a total wash. This rare face vs face match was one that Piper initially wasn’t sold on doing because he respected Bret so much. However, Bret made it clear how much the title and the match meant for him, so Piper agreed. This wrestling classic also saw a blade job, but unlike Flair, Bret got away with it. Hart convinced McMahon that he did in fact collide with the ring post and the cut was a shoot. Bret was weakened by the blood loss, but he came up with a smart counter for the sleeper hold and managed to pin Piper. The only time Piper was ever pinned on WWF programming. An excellent match that was integral to the rise of Bret ‘The Hitman’ Hart.

WWE #32 – Daniel Bryan vs Randy Orton vs batista, Wrestlemania xxx (My #32 – Money In The Bank, Wrestlemania 21)

There are a number of ladder matches that made my shortlist. The IC ladder matches at Wrestlemania 31 and 32 are both amazing. The Tag Team Ladder Match at ’33 saw the exhilerating return of the Hardy Boyz. However, I chose to include a concept that was created 20 years ago and very quickly became one of the most exciting matches in WWE’s calendar year. Initially conceived as a one-time special match called ‘The Hollywood Dream’ match, this multi-man ladder war saw Y2J compete with Christian, Chris Benoit, Kane, Shelton Benjamin and eventual winner Edge. This match was so well received, it became an annual tradition until 2010 when it became its own PPV format. Now, Money in the Bank is considered part of the “Big 5” PPVs of the year for WWE. The legacy of the MITB match begins at Wrestlemania 21 and it is arguably the best one they ever did.

WWE #31 – Charlotte Flair vs Sasha Banks vs Becky Lynch, Wrestlemania 32 (My #31 – The Undertaker vs Edge, Wrestlemania XXIV)

I didn’t watch this match until I was an adult. However, I did read this match. I would receive a WWE Annual every year for Christmas which would show highlights of the show through pictures and text. Watching Raw/Smackdown re-runs, episodes of WWE Experience and reading Wrestlemania Annuals were the only access to WWE programming I had as a wee lad. Even on paper though, I knew that this must have been awesome to watch. In Undertaker’s first Wrestlemania main event in 11 years, he and Edge put everything they had into this match. Undertaker countering Edge’s Tombstone Piledriver into his own getting a 2 count is an underrated near fall. One of the best. Edge came closer than anyone to breaking the streak. He nailed Taker with multiple spears, but he is caught in Taker’s Hells Gate submission and Edge submits.

WWE #30 – The Uso’s vs Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn, Wrestlemania 39 (My #30 – Roman Reigns & The Rock vs Cody Rhodes & Seth Rollins, Wrestlemania XL)

After WWE spent over a year talking about Cody Rhodes finishing the story, they tried to delay it even further by having The Rock step in and challenge Roman Reigns at Wrestlemania XL. This went down about was as you could expect which was *checks notes” VERY BADLY. The fans were livid at the decision and within a couple of weeks the creative plans were retconned, we got what we wanted and Cody got what he deserved. Not only that, but we also got The Final Boss version of The Rock which was awesome, even if it has lost its shine the last few times we have seen him. The Rock instead teamed up with the Tribal Chief to take on Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins. This star studded main event was amazing even if it went 45 PISSING MINUTES. A touch too long but full of great action and storyline progression. The Rock looked just as good in the ring as he always has done.

WWE #29 – The Undertaker vs Edge, Wrestlemania XXIV (My #29 – Bianca Belair vs Becky Lynch, Wrestlemania 38)

Boy, weren’t we all pissed the hell off when Becky Lynch returned and crushed Bianca Belair in 26 seconds at Summerslam 2021. I certainly was, but luckily it was another one of those rare moments when WWE can say “I told you so.” Bianca Belair rose to super stardom very quickly and what appeared to be a burial was actually a long term plan to cement Bianca Belair as a main eventer. With the path to redemption cleared and the WWE universe on her side, Bianca Belair was ready to prove to ‘The Man’ that she was ready to be the champion. Bianca and Becky wrestled a show stealer. The seasoned veteran using her experience until the younger but now more educated star overcome her final hurdle on the route to being champion once more. Sometimes, you have to let WWE cook and they certainly did here.

WWE #28 – Daniel Bryan vs Triple H, Wrestlemania XXX (My #28 – Kurt Angle vs Brock Lesnar, Wrestlemania XIX)

This one might get me crucified but Kurt Angle vs Brock Lesnar does not deserve to be rated much higher than this. Why? Because it features one of the most infamous botches in wrestling history. When you think of this match, what is the first thing that comes to mind? Is it the fact this is the only Wrestlemania main event between 2 wrestlers using their real name? No, it is the muscular whale that is Brick Longer and his attempt at a Shooting Star Press. I’m glad he managed to not murder himself on that. It is a real shame because if he executed the move we could be talking about a top 10 all-time WWE match here. I’ll give it credit though because what we saw before hand was wrestling excellence. This is the first in a trilogy of classics between Lesnar and Angle. Whilst their Iron Man match on Smackdown is remembered as the best Iron Man match ever, their clash at Wrestlemania 19 deserves all the praise it gets.

WWE #27 – Hulk Hogan vs Randy Savage, Wrestlemania V (MY #27 – Shawn Michaels vs John Cena, Wrestlemania 23)

John Cena had been the chewing gum caught under the Doc Marten boot of the wrestling community for quite some time, but somewhere around 2015 opinions slowly began to turn. Now, it is pretty undeniable that John Cena is indeed one of the greatest of all time, even if right now he is being a mean pissy piss boy. He hasn’t had many Wrestlemania classics though. Sure the Firefly Funhouse is a masterpiece, we’ve talked about his match with The Rock and he does have good matches at the Show of Shows. He does not boast a Wrestlemania CV quite like Shawn Michaels does. This match right here though, is Cena’s best in-ring showing at Wrestlemania. Although this was another case of Cena being built as Superman, this first time singles encounter was an epic that did not disappoint.

WWE #26 – The Undertaker vs Shawn Michaels, Wrestlemania XXVI (My #26 – Brock Lesnar vs Roman Reigns, Wrestlemania 31)

Back in 2015, WWE really really really wanted us to like Roman Reigns. However, we really really really liked Daniel Bryan. How did WWE react? They brought Bryan back from injury just before the Rumble and had him eliminated from the match like a jobber. The backlash tarnished Roman Reign’s WWE career for the next 5 years. The first half of this match is an absolute murder. Brute Logroll absolutely pummels the ‘Big Dog’ to loud cheers from the crowd. Reigns finally starts making his comeback and the fans start to groan as it seems like the reign of Roman is inevitable. But then, out comes Seth Rollins to cash-in the Money in the Bank contract at Wrestlemania for the first time ever. Rollins takes advantage of the situation, pinning his former Shield brother Roman Reigns to complete ‘the heist of the century’. No one had any expectations for this match to be good. The build was dreadful and had zero fan investment because WWE were forcing Roman Reigns down our throats. Seth Rollins saved the show ending with a bad taste in all of our mouths.

WWE #25 – Roddy Piper vs Bret Hart, Wrestlemania VIII (My #25 – Kurt Angle & Ronda Rousey vs Triple H & Stephanie McMahon, Wrestlemania 34)

Talking of the unexpected, who would have thought this match would have been better than AJ Styles vs Shinsuke Nakamura? Fucking nobody that’s who. Angle’s first Wrestlemania in 12 years and although it was clear he was not the wrestling machine he once was, he still possessed the superior wrestling psychology that is lacking in modern wrestling today. Triple H was in top form as you would expect. Ronda wrestled effortlessly, she did not look like a rookie in what could be considered the greatest wrestling debut of all time. However, props must also go to Stephanie McMahon. She played the ultimate chicken shit heel throughout the match, only getting sneaky shots in on Ronda until she screwed up. After YEARS of being an on-screen authority and not getting her proper comeuppance, Stephanie falls at the mercy of the former UFC world champion, to joy of wrestling fans everywhere.

WWE #24 – Steve Austin vs Kevin Owens, Wrestlemania 38 (My #24 – Bayley vs Iyo Sky, Wrestlemania XL)

I think WWE could have and should have handled Damage CTRL better than they did. However, at least we got this. Bayley returned from a serious injury at Summerslam 2022, bringing Iyo Sky from NXT and a recently released Dakota Kai along with her to form Damage CTRL. They became the top female faction in WWE and had several high profile feuds, reaching its climax with Iyo Sky winning the WWE Women’s Championship via Money in the Bank cash-in. After Asuka and a returning Kairi Sane joined the group, Bayley began to feel like an outcast, even when she won the 2024 Royal Rumble. Eventually, Bayley is ousted from the group and she chose Iyo to be her opponent at Wrestlemania. Bayley finally gets a singles match at Wrestlemania and they had an absolute scorcher. If it wasn’t for the blockbuster main event, this was the best match of the Sunday. A dramatic conclusion to the Bayley era of the Damage CTRL story.

WWE #23 – CM Punk vs The Undertaker, Wrestlemania 29 (I Agree!)

Spook Spookem will deservingly go down as one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time, not only as a performer but as a character and a man dedicated to the art of the sport. He has always been capable of having great matches, however from Wrestlemania 23 until 29 the Deadman reliably was putting on the best matches of the show. Meanwhile, an injured and burnt out CM Punk is fresh off his monumental run as WWE champion. Punk at his physical worst was still one of WWE’s best. He went ultra heel, using the very real death of Undertaker’s former manager Paul Bearer, making this Undertaker’s most intense Wrestlemania feud since Wrestlemania 21. The match saw Punk stealing Undertaker’s offence, elbow dropping him through the announce table and using the stolen urn to bash Mean Mark over the skull. No matter what the Second City Saint threw, the Undertaker withstood the punishment and won one final match before his streak would be broken.

WWE #22 – Kurt Angle vs Shawn Michaels, Wrestlemania 21 (My #22 – Kofi Kingston vs Daniel Bryan, Wrestlemania 35)

The Yes! Movement back in 2014 felt like a unique ‘lightning in a bottle’ moment when the fans forced WWE to change their plans and crown Daniel Bryan as the world champion. It felt unique, until lightning was caught again 5 years later in the form of KofiMania. Whilst these 2 fan movements are similar, WWE were far more receptive to KofiMania thanks to their mistakes with Daniel Bryan. Kofi Kingston put in a career-making performance at Elimination Chamber and it made fans realise that Kofi had paid his dues in WWE for over 10 years and he deserved to win a world championship. Although the booking of KofiMania was mediocre, the payoff made up for it. Daniel Bryan being the heel champion was a perfect extra layer on top of this. Kofi and Bryan wrestled an emotional contest, the New Day star became the first world champion from African descent and celebrated with his best friends and family.

WWE #21 – Kurt Angle & Ronda Rousey vs Triple H & Stephanie McMahon, Wrestlemania 34 (MY #21 – Daniel Bryan vs Triple H, Wrestlemania XXX)

Speaking of the Yes! Movement, here is part 1 of Daniel Bryan’s quest to become WWE champion once again. Despite what WWE tell you and how perfect the story appeared to play out, this was not the plan. The Evolution triple threat main event was definitely the plan. Before we get to the main event though, the face of the people went up against the face of the Authority. The already injured Daniel Bryan manages to overcome the Cerebral Assassin in a stellar opening match, but Triple H continued the assault after the match to cast more doubt on Bryan’s chances of winning in the main event. The further stacking of the odds made the eventual moment even greater. Bryan gave Triple H one of the best matches in his career, but not his best Wrestlemania match. That would be…

WWE #20 – Roman Reigns & The Rock vs Cody Rhodes & Seth Rollins, Wrestlemania XL (My #20 – The Undertaker vs Triple H, Wrestlemania XXVIII)

“The End of an Era” they said. THE END. Why did Crown Jewel 2018 happen then?! Just like the first Joker movie, this match did not need a sequel. This was a perfect bow on the story between Triple H, The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels. A 4 year story that saw the retirement of Shawn Michaels culminates with a barbaric Hell in a Cell match. A love letter to the Attitude Era, Trips & Taker take each other to hell whilst Shawn Michaels watches in horror as guest referee. The Sweet Chin Music into the Pedigree might be the greatest near fall in WWE history. After securing the win and extending his streak to 20-0, Undertaker and Michaels help Triple H up and out of the ring. The 3 men stand on the stage as an era of wrestling comes to a conclusion. Fuck you Saudi Vision.

WWE #19 – Bianca Belair vs Sasha Banks, Wrestlemania 37 (My #19 – Cody Rhodes vs Seth Rollins, Wrestlemania 38)

WWE really undersold just how amazing this match was. Sure, Cody Rhodes’ WWE return was barely a surprise, but what was a surprise was how willing WWE were to portray him like such a big deal. The former AEW EVP returned to WWE with his own licensed music and immediately felt like a mega star. Then, he proceeded to wrestle his first WWE match in 6 years and it stole the entire weekend. Rollins was a perfect choice for his opponent, they wrestled a well-paced encounter that demonstrated that Rhodes is far from the Stardust we last saw him as. He is the American Nightmare and the future face of the company.

WWE #18 – The Undertaker vs Triple H, Wrestlemania XXVIII (My #18 – Shawn Michaels vs Razor Ramon, Wrestlemania X)

This ladder match is one of the most ground-breaking matches that cemented the stipulation as a mainstay in the WWE. However, due to the rise of wrestling ability and athleticism, more modern ladder matches have significantly enhanced the bar for what is considered a great ladder match. Insane spots and bumps galore. However, one thing that is missing in a lot of modern ladder matches is selling and storytelling. Those two things are demonstrated perfectly by Michaels and Ramon. They used the ladder in creative ways and they both take some pretty brutal bumps. This hasn’t aged as well as some other classic matches, but this is still a spectacular watch and laid out the blueprint for all future ladder matches in WWE.

WWE #17 – Kurt Angle vs Brock Lesnar, Wrestlemania XIX (My #17 – Sami Zayn vs Gunther, Wrestlemania XL)

I might be biased because I attended Wrestlemania XL, but there were some absolute bangers in Philly that absolutely deserve to be part of the top 50. I was in awe at this match. Sami Zayn channelled his inner Rocky as he went to war against the most dominant Intercontinental champion of all time. Gunther decimated Zayn, but he could not keep him down. Zayn had to bust out a rare Super Brainbuster, dropping Gunther head first on the top turnbuckle on route to winning the championship. It is one of Sami Zayn’s best matches in WWE and it happened on the biggest possible stage. Imagine, that could have been El Generico if he made the right decisions.

WWE #16 – Rhea Ripley vs Charlotte Flair, Wrestlemania 39 (My #16 – Chris Jericho vs Shawn Michaels, Wrestlemania XIX)

Growing up my two favourites were Shawn Michaels and Chris Jericho, I always dreamed of seeing them go head to head. Then I watched them have a series of matches in 2008 and I thought it was awesome. Back then, I did not even realise that they had crossed paths years earlier at Wrestlemania XIX. Jericho vs Michaels had high expectations and it absolutely achieved them. This was HBK’s first Wrestlemania match in 5 years and the story followed his struggle to keep up with the younger and faster Jericho. Y2J once idolised HBK, he claims to have surpassed the future Hall of Famer but he did not foresee a flash pinfall by the crafty Heartbreak Kid.

WWE #15 – Hulk Hogan vs The Ultimate Warrior, Wrestlemania VI (My #15 – Roman Reigns vs Edge vs Daniel Bryan, Wrestlemania 37)

I love this photo. Roman looks like he is trying to do his best ahegao face. (If you don’t know what that means, congratulations you have survived the internet with your purity in tact.) This was a shocking omission from WWE’s top 50 matches, it is one of the best triple threat matches in WWE history. Bryan shows up as one of the best wrestlers in the world. Edge initiated some big spots and added a lot to the match with his facial expressions. Roman Reigns was in God Mode, his selling was fantastic and managed to come out of this looking unstoppable by smashing and stacking both of his opponents to win.

WWE #14 – Bret Hart vs Shawn Michaels, Wrestlemania XII (My #14 – Randy Savage vs Ricky Steamboat, Wrestlemania III)

Because of my age, a lot of the matches higher up on this list are far more recent. I have grown up watching or reading about a lot of these matches so they have a closer place in my heart. However, there are some matches that are so undeniably brilliant that it does not matter if you have an emotional attachment to it or not. This match is one of those matches to me. In 1987, Randy Savage and Ricky Steamboat wrestled a classic over the Intercontinental championship that would stand the rest of time. This epic still holds up almost 40 years later and massively influenced the future of mainstream wrestling. Ground-breaking, historic and special.

WWE #13 – The Rock vs Steve Austin, Wrestlemania XIX (My #13 – Bianca Belair vs Sasha Banks, Wrestlemania 37)

Remember when Sasha Banks/Mercedes Mone was consistently one of the best female wrestlers in the world? Sure she has had some great matches since leaving WWE, but she is yet to have a match that can topple this one as her best piece in-ring work. This was an emotional and historical match for both of these women, proudly representing their heritage in the first ever all African-American Wrestlemania main event. The EST and The Boss wrestled a banger that featured a shotgun blast hair whip that .

WWE #12 – Shawn Michaels vs Razor Ramon, Wrestlemania X (My #12 – Daniel Bryan vs Randy Orton vs Batista, Wrestlemania XXX)

During the final 20 years of the Vince McMahon regime, giving the fans what they want felt like a chore to the multi-millionaire. Whether that is Vince losing touch with the product, or generally hating us wrestling fans is up for debate. However, in the lead up to Wrestlemania 30 in 2014, the fans had enough and they DEMANDED to get what they want. We don’t want Blue-Tista and we don’t want the Evolution triple threat. We want Daniel Bryan winning the WWE championship. After the devastating end of the streak for The Undertaker, Daniel Bryan’s main event victory ended the event on a euphoric high.

WWE #11 – Owen Hart vs Bret Hart, Wrestlemania X (My #11 – The Uso’s vs Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn, Wrestlemania 39)

The main event of Wrestlemania 39 Night 1 might indeed go down as the greatest tag team match in WWE history. The first tag main event at the show since the inaugural event is not just chock full of action, but it is absolutely dripping with story. The Bloodline story was at it’s hottest after 2 years of cooking, whilst the long history between Sami & Kevin can be dated back to 2015 within the WWE sphere. Mirroring the many Owens vs Zayn matches, Sami drops his once good friend Jey Uso with the Helluva kick and catches him in his arms. This contest was a perfect capitalisation on WWE’s biggest story in the longest time.

WWE #10 – Ronda Rousey vs Becky Lynch vs Charlotte Flair, Wrestlemania 35 (TLC II, Wrestlemania X-Seven)

I understand that the first women’s Wrestlemania main event was a historic moment in WWE history, but the match itself was a bit disappointing. It doesn’t help that it main evented a 7 HOUR LONG SHOW. 2019 WWE was bloody mental. What else is bloody mental, but in a far better way, are the 3 teams that invented the TLC match. Edge, Christian, The Hardys and The Dudleys began their foray with furniture at Wrestlemania 2000 in a Triangle Ladder match. Then, they upped the ante at Summerslam with the first ever TLC match. Then, somehow, they managed to top their performance here with TLC II. This is arguably the best of its kind, 6 dudes willing to kill each other for our entertainment.

WWE #9 – Randy Savage vs The Ultimate Warrior, Wrestlemania VII (My #9 – Gunther vs Sheamus vs Drew McIntyre, Wrestlemania 39)

The best triple threat match of all time. I said it. These 3 beefy brutes chopped, punched and kicked THE SHIT out of each other in a physical contest rarely seen in the WWE product. Top tier action mixed with an unpredictable result truly makes this an all-time wrestling match.

WWE #8 – Hulk Hogan vs Andre the Giant, Wrestlemania III (My #8 – Charlotte Flair vs Rhea Ripley, Wrestlemania 39)

Not only did the best triple threat match in WWE history take place at Wrestlemania 39, but their best women’s match did as well. It is common practice to hate on Charlotte Flair in 2025. Her generic character has been stale for years and her antics inside and outside the ring have made it easier for the fans to sour on her. Nonetheless, Flair is undoubtedly one of the best female wrestlers on the planet. After Flair defeated a young NXT champion Rhea Ripley at Wrestlemania 36, the Eradicator got her revenge in an epic battle that cemented the Aussie as the top woman in WWE.

WWE #7 – TLC II, Wrestlemania X-Seven (My #7 – Owen Hart vs Bret Hart, Wrestlemania X)

The New Generation Era of WWE is often remembered for its hokey gimmicks, terrible creative, and Diesel’s never-ending disappointment of a WWE title reign. That being said, let us not forget the man who tried his best to steer a sinking ship, Bret Hart. Bret has had many memorable moments in his career but none of them top his magnum opus, Wrestlemania X. He opens to show with this technical masterclass with his brother Owen Hart, a criminally underrated wrestler who deserved better during his time in WWE. Bret puts over his baby bro before wrestling again in the main event to be crowned WWE champion a second time.

WWE #6 – Roman Reigns vs Cody Rhodes, Wrestlemania XL (My #6 – Steve Austin vs The Rock, Wrestlemania X-Seven)

This match is legendary for many reasons. It is possibly the best wrestling match of the Attitude Era and arguably it is the last match of the Attitude Era. WWE’s two biggest stars and rivals Rock & Austin go to war over the WWE championship and the Rattlesnake is willing to do ANYTHING to be champion again…including turn heel in his home state and align with Mr McMahon. Was the decision the wrong one? Possibly and that’s why it won’t cracked the top 5 but this is an era defining match that backed up why these 2 are the most recognisable stars in WWE history.

WWE #5 – Steve Austin vs The Rock, Wrestlemania X-Seven (My #5 – Shawn Michaels vs The Undertaker, Wrestlemania 25)

I have dropped a number of controversial opinions on this post, but having this match at number 6 might be my most controversial. There isn’t much left to say about this that hasn’t been said a million times before. It is one of the best wrestling matches of all time. However, there are 4 other matches that I value a little more than this.

WWE #4 – Randy Savage vs Ricky Steamboat, Wrestlemania III (My #4 – Shawn Michaels vs Kurt Angle, Wrestlemania 21)

I previously mentioned how Dave Meltzer’s star ratings are subjective opinions that shouldn’t hold too much weight. Nothing is more evident of that than his ratings for Kurt Angle, who has never received the coveted 5 star grade for any of his matches. That is insane. Out of all of his matches, if there was ever one that deserved one, it is this right here. Shawn Michaels and Kurt Angle had a battle over who is the best professional wrestler at Wrestlemania 21 and it was a show stealer. Michaels resorting to cheap tactics in an attempt to topple the superior athlete but it was all in vain. Angle locked him in the Ankle Lock for the finish in one of the greatest submission spots I have ever seen. Incredible selling from both men. On top of the excellent match, this feud had an incredible build around Angle doing everything Shawn did, but better. That includes winning a ladder match, beating Marty Jannetty and bringing back Sensational Sherri for a rendition of “Sexy Kurt”. He did indeed make Shawn’s ankle hurt.

WWE #3 – The rock vs hulk hogan, Wrestlemania x8 (My #3 – Cody Rhodes vs Roman Reigns, Wrestlemania XL)

This match is the definition of sports entertainment. A year-long feud between Rhodes and Reigns, which is part of a 4 year long Bloodline storyline, that also saw the end of an 8-year journey for Cody to go from undesirable to undeniable. That is a lot of story but it never felt like too much. The same can be said for the match. It had A LOT going on. A 33 minute match full of action and spots but even more run-ins. Jimmy Uso, Jey Uso, Solo Sikoa, John Cena, The Rock, Seth Rollins and The Undertaker all made their presence known in this match but it never felt like too much. Sometimes more is more. I saw this match live in Philadelphia and it was one of the greatest experiences of my life. The funniest part was when The Shield’s music played and for a split second we all thought Dean Ambrose was coming back.

WWE #2 – Steve Austin vs Bret Hart, Wrestlemania 13 (My #2 – Shawn Michaels vs The Undertaker, Wrestlemania XXVI)

Not only does this match have a more sentimental value for me, but I genuinely think this is a better match to watch. The drama of the streak and the career being on the line elevates it over their Wrestlemania 25 encounter. I remember seeing this match as a kid and I knew that I had fallen in love with wrestling. I was enjoying wrestling before this, but watching my childhood favourite wrestler Shawn Michaels be retired was devastating yet I enjoyed it. It felt like even back then that I knew this was a perfect send-off for the Heartbreak Kid and we never ever saw him wrestling again. NEVER. This match is probably the reason why I am writing about it today, so thanks Uncle Dread of the Dead and The Breaker of Hearts. I owe ya’ll.

WWE #1 – Shawn Michaels vs The Undertaker, Wrestlemania 25 (My #1 – Steve Austin vs Bret Hart, Wrestlemania 13)

How the hell did WWE botch this? They’re inducting Bret Hart vs Steve Austin into the Hall of Fame, the first match to ever receive a HOF induction yet they DON’T RANK IT AT NUMBER 1? WWE YouTube, are you on crack? The term ‘greatest of all time’ is completely subjective, you could reorganise this list a million ways and it could be true. However, with Austin vs Hart being inducted into the HOF this year, I think it might have finally settled the debate to be the greatest wrestling match ever. A nearly 30 year old match that is utterly timeless. A match that kickstarted the rise of Steve Austin and the Attitude Era which saved WWE from itself. A match that incorporated a legendary double turn, Bret going on to do some of the best character work of his career. Former UFC champion Ken Shamrock as the referee, giving this fight legitimacy and introducing the MMA star to his future audience. There has never been a match in WWE history with an equal amount of significance, quality and history. Steve Austin vs Bret Hart is truly the greatest Wrestlemania match of all time.

Side by Side Comparison

I have just finished rebooking every Wrestlemania of all time. Go check out the collection here!