Opening a show, setting the tone, is one of the most important jobs given to a wrestler or thought of by creative. The main event, sending the crowd home happy is perhaps the MOST important job, but if your opening course leaves an unwelcome sour taste in your mouth, an uphill battle begins to win you back.
With Wrestlemania today, let’s look at 10 of the best matches to ever open the show.
There are a few different options to put here at 10, so it came down to preference and I prefer to watch two heavyweights beat the shit out of each other until only one is left standing. That’s what we got here. Lashley and Drew really pushed each other to the limits in a stiff and brutal war. This match was also the first match to be in front of fans in a long long time, so there’s some added excitement there. Lashley came out the winner but both men were hurting after this match.
I know this match isn’t long but boy is it fun and it started the show with a bang, lasting not even 3 minutes, we immediately gave the fans something to cheer for. As typical Brock matches go, everyone has all their finishing moves stored up and then a ref bump or distraction is added and boom, you got your match. This match plays out like an action scene in a movie and for that, ‘Ive got it at number 9.
These 3 men put together an instant classic in this triple threat. It felt, despite being champion, this was a Seth Rollins vs Finn Balor match. Miz was just in the way. But Miz held his own and was a more than welcome threat. All the near falls and the counters. This is everything I want in a wrestling ring, 3 men just putting together an absolute banger.
The first of many ladder matches to make the list because WWE knows these matches are foolproof at Wrestlemania. A great field with Kevin Owen, Sami Zayn, Sin Cara and the winner on this night, Zack Ryder. This match gave WWE fans the chance to see the amazing work KO and Sami could do with ladder, and Zack Ryder getting the title at the end was a great pop for the fans. This match is probably the only memorable moment from Wrestlemania 32.
A match that nobody gave a chance, so the expectations were low, but these guys had amazing chemistry and put together a hell of a match. AJ Styles playing the cocky heel to start the match gave Shane the chance to prove himself, and that was very important in the first half of the contest. Shane, using Ju-Jitsu style offense, worked great for him against AJs speed and aerial offense. In the end, what transpired was a brilliant match no one expected, but the crowd gave them their props. A ‘ This is Awesome ‘ chant in this match was great to see and well-earned. Probably AJ’s best WrestleMania match, so far.
Ladder matches at Wrestlemania just work. This match, like its Wrestlemania 32 counterpart, has a stacked field. I feel this match is a little more fun and exciting as 32. Big brawl to start the match, Luke Harper with the ladder cyclone, Ambrose getting power bombed through a ladder, and the sequence of headbutts between Daniel Bryan and Dolph Ziggler ending in a Daniel Bryan win is an amazing feel good moment. Please can we have more multi man ladder matches at Wrestlemania?
I fucking love this match. WWE putting forward there two of their biggest stars, the 2 biggest women wrestlers in the past decade to collide and undoubtedly they put on an incredible match. Going into the match, the result could’ve gone either way. In the end, Rhea, the heel on this day, won in what felt like a passing of the torch from Becky to Rhea. Now, Rhea is the biggest babyface the company has, and it was this match that WWE made it clear they’ve decided she was going to be just that.
This was WWEs third go at Money in the Bank match, and it’s just about perfect. CM Punk putting in a star making performance, Jeff Hardy and Edge putting on a spot in only ever seen in a video game, I truly thought someone was gonna die. I think it was inevitable Matt Hardy’s eagerness to hurt Edge that led to Jeff losing this match and sacrificing himself. Anyway, It’s great to get so many guys on the card who didn’t have anything else going into Wrestlemania. Mr. Kennedys win was exciting at the time but we all know how that ended.
The top 2 are easily interchangeable. This is where I landed, and this match was pro wrestling perfection. WWE’s first bookend story at Wrestlemania. Both men having the same finisher, desperate to lock it in but knowing each other so well made this match very tense and interesting. Owen happy to cheat and Bret deciding how much he really wants to hurt his own flesh and blood because of this. The match serves as a great opening to the show, having Bret lose here puts a wrinkle in the main event, where Bret would go on to fight for the world title.
Maybe it’s the biased fan in me, maybe it’s just the ‘Monster’ hype video, but it’s no shock that No.1 and No.2 are both matches that serve to book-end both their Wrestlemania’s. It’s just great storytelling.
This match just had a little extra. The underdog fighting against authority, an injured babyface fighting through the pain and the whole story going into the event. The match itself delivers as well.
Triple H is doing some of his best heel work in this match, picking Bryan apart, and when Bryan finally pins Hunter, the crowd erupts, not just for the win but knowing now we have a triple threat in the main event.
You must be logged in to post a comment.