Key Takeaways
- WrestleMania 42 will be held on April 19-20 2026, in Las Vegas. It is considered the most important event of the WWE calendar and has been home to some of the greatest wrestling matches of all time
- Stone Cold Steve Austin,The Rock, John Cena, The Undertaker, and Hulk Hogan have all had some of the most important WWE matches at WrestleMania.
- This year, Cody Rhodes is defending his WWE Undisputed Championship against his former mentor Randy Orton, and Roman Reigns is challenging CM Punk for the World Heavyweight Championship.
- The first Wrestlemania was held on March 31, 1985 at Madison Square Garden
WrestleMania is the one weekend each year that you don’t have to pretend you stopped watching pro wrestling in junior high. The WWE calls it “The Showcase of the Immortals,” and while that’s a bit much, it’s a big deal — WrestleMania 41 reportedly generated a $215 million economic boost for Las Vegas, while also breaking the record for the biggest gate in pro wrestling history with over $66 million in ticket sales.
But WrestleMania is more than just a moneymaker. Every wrestling fan knows that the best WWE matches of all time tend to take place on the biggest stage — and this year features a stacked card with undercard matches designed to steal the show (Seth Rollins vs. Gunther, anyone?) alongside two blockbuster main events.
What makes a WrestleMania great match isn’t just the in-ring performance, it’s the story. The build-up. The anticipation. The spectacle. And this year’s main events have it all. On Saturday night, Cody Rhodes will defend the WWE Undisputed Championship against his former mentor Randy Orton. What should have been a straightforward build (Rhodes broke onto the main roster in June 2008 as part of Orton’s Legacy faction), has instead devolved to include Jelly Roll and Pat McAfee, and debates about the direction of the territory. Not ideal. But Orton and Rhodes can still deliver a classic WrestleMania match that plays into the Viper’s recent heel turn and the American Nightmare’s renewed aggressiveness.
Roman Reigns and CM Punk will then close Sunday’s show in a battle for Punk’s WWE World Heavyweight Championship. Over the last two months, they’ve progressed from electrifying promo showdowns built on long-standing animosity to pull-apart brawls, and created one of the most anticipated (and hard to predict) main events in recent WrestleMania history.
This year, WrestleMania will take place on April 19-20 from Las Vegas with Yungblud’s remake of the Aerosmith classic “Back in the Saddle” serving as the theme song for the event.
So before we find out how WrestleMania 42 stacks up, let’s run through the top-tier classics that brought us here. These are the Best WrestleMania Matches of All Time, Ranked.
This article was originally published in April 2025 and has since been updated.
Kurt Angle vs. Chris Benoit, WrestleMania X-Seven
Date: April 1, 2001
Location: Houston, TX
The story was simple: Benoit made Angle tap out to the Crippler Crossface, and Angle wanted to prove it was just a fluke.
As expected with Angle, the match kicks off with some solid amateur wrestling, but the real magic happens in the counters and reversals—ankle-lock to ankle-lock, Crippler Crossface to Crippler Crossface. It’s technical brilliance on display. The finish comes with Angle pulling off a sneaky school-boy roll-up at 14:02, but it’s the back-and-forth that makes this one of the greatest WrestleMania matches of all time. — Thomas Golianopoulos
Bayley vs. Iyo Sky, WrestleMania XL
Date: April 7, 2024
Location: Philadelphia, PA
For a star who had given so much to wrestling, it was almost surprising that Bayley hadn’t yet achieved a true WrestleMania moment. Three years after missing out on WrestleMania entirely, Bayley won the Royal Rumble, catapulting herself into a world championship shot. After forming Damage CTRL in July 2022, Bayley would see the entire faction — including WWE Women’s champion, Iyo Sky — turn on her ahead of their WrestleMania showdown.
It set up perfectly for Bayley to have her WrestleMania moment in a well-balanced match between two equals, with the challenger wrestling like someone who refused to let the moment pass her by. Bayley controlled the early portion of the match, with momentum built from months of escalating tension. Sky refused to back down as the champion determined to keep her throne, and eventually it was Bayley concluding her moment in the spotlight with a pivotal championship win. —Raj Prashad
Cody Rhodes vs. Seth Rollins, WrestleMania 38
Date: April 2, 2022
Location: Arlington, TX
Perhaps no WWE return has been as successful as Cody Rhodes’ homecoming in the spring of 2022. Fresh off co-founding and building All Elite Wrestling, Rhodes’ arrival was the worst kept secret in pro wrestling but there was tremendous intrigue concerning his look and entrance music. Which version of the American Nightmare fans would get?
In the end, his presentation was identical to what it was in AEW — the red, white, and blue garb, bleached blond hair, and walking out to “Kingdom.” His respect gained from his run on the indies, in New Japan and AEW accompanied him to WWE, and Rhodes was instantly treated like a main eventer. He owned the pace and dominated the beginning of his tilt with Seth Rollins. As Rollins began to turn the tables, Rhodes stayed composed, eventually hitting multiple Cross Rhodes, an homage to his father, Dusty, with a bionic elbow, and another Cross Rhodes to finish off Rollins and earn a victory in his return. —Raj Prashad
John Cena vs. Shawn Michaels, WrestleMania XXIII
Date: April 1, 2007
Location: Detroit, MI
The storyline was simple: Michaels won a triple threat to become the No. 1 contender.
The match? Classic Shawn Michaels — he sold like a champ and covered for his opponents’ shortcomings, making it look effortless. Cena eventually won with an STF at 28:22, but this felt like one of those times where the wrong guy went over. Still, it was a hell of a performance from HBK, even if the ending didn’t quite hit the mark. — Thomas Golianopoulos
The Undertaker vs. CM Punk, WrestleMania 29
Date: April 7, 2013
Location: East Rutherford, NJ
In the build up to WrestleMania 29, CM Punk went from holding the WWE championship for 434 days to dropping the title to The Rock to add further stakes to his rematch with John Cena in the WrestleMania main event. Instead, Punk pivoted to The Undertaker, setting his sights on the unbeaten streak. That shift put a clear chip on Punk’s shoulder, elevating himself into an ultra villain and using Paul Bearer’s death as fuel for a storyline fans that added greater texture to the match other than, Can-Punk-end-the-streak?
Unlike the typical ‘Taker build, Punk was portrayed as dangerous, willing to win by any means necessary. The storytelling was immaculate, with Punk taking a page out of the ‘90s playbook with a heavy emphasis on Bearer’s urn. Undertaker and Punk took turns in control and there were some close near-falls for both men, until the Deadman caught Punk with a tombstone for the victory. —Raj Prashad
Roman Reigns vs. Daniel Bryan vs. Edge, WrestleMania 37
Reigns entered WrestleMania 37 — the first WWE event in front of live fans in over a year — looking unstoppable. After returning from his pandemic-related hiatus, he claimed the Universal title, turned heel, aligned with Paul Heyman, won PLE matches over The Fiend and Braun Strowman, Jey Uso (twice), Drew McIntyre, Kevin Owens, and Daniel Bryan (twice), and recruited Jey into Bloodline 1.0. He was presented and received as the monster heel he was destined to be following his previous ill-received singles pushes. The question lurked: Could anyone stop him?
Enter 2021 Royal Rumble winner Edge, and Daniel Bryan, who, despite losing consecutive PLE matches to Reigns, was shoehorned into the main event. The result: a great WrestleMania title match that featured creative spots (such as Edge and Bryan’s dueling submission on Reigns), and a clear, dominant finish. Adhering to his pre-Mania pledge, Reigns smashed ‘em, stacked ‘em, and pinned both of his opponents like they were a pair of freakin’ Jabronis. —Thomas Golianopoulos
Undertaker vs. Triple H, WrestleMania XXVII
Date: April 3, 2011
Location: Atlanta, GA
Having conquered everything in WWE, Triple H set his sights on ending The Undertaker’s legendary unbeaten streak at WrestleMania.
At 29:25, The Undertaker sealed the win with his Hell's Gate chokehold. The match aimed for “epic,” clearly trying to surpass his legendary bouts with Shawn Michaels, but it never quite hit that level. A little too much happened too soon — within the first two minutes, announcer tables were getting destroyed and rest spots were being set up. Still, despite its flaws, the match was an entertaining brawl with an ending that reminded fans of Undertaker's vulnerability. After all, even the undead have expiration dates. — Thomas Golianopoulos
Bianca Belair vs. Sasha Banks, WrestleMania 37
Date: April 10, 2021
Location: Tampa, FL
The defining moment of Bianca Belair’s ascent, the EST’s very first WWE championship arrived with an onslaught of emotion as she and Sasha Banks made history by becoming the first Black women to main event WrestleMania. Before the action could even begin, the two paused and soaked in the moment while sharing a tearful and meaningful exchange before diving into the match.
Banks played the established veteran, with Belair in the role of the powerful but unproven challenger, and the match was structured perfectly around that 1988 Flair-Luger dynamic. Banks was the perfect dance partner for Belair, who gave her ample opportunities to show off her unbelievable strength, including pressing Banks above her head on the outside, walking up the stairs, and throwing her into the ring. Belair’s hair whip was iconic, and the finish with a clean pin over Banks, cemented Belair as a future face of the company. —Raj Prashad
Undertaker vs. Edge, WrestleMania XXIV
Date: March 30, 2008
Location: Orlando, FL
Edge had taken down The Undertaker twice over the last year, but things really heated up after ‘Taker earned the No. 1 contender spot at the Elimination Chamber.
Edge played the part of the "Ultimate Opportunist" perfectly, working a smart match and countering ‘Taker's signature moves. But in the end, it was the Deadman who turned Edge’s spear into a Hell's Gate submission to claim victory. — Thomas Golianopoulos
Kurt Angle vs. Brock Lesnar, WrestleMania XIX
Date: March 30, 2003
Location: Seattle, WA
The fact this match even happened is kind of wild. Kurt Angle’s neck was hanging on by a thread, but he put off surgery just to make it to WrestleMania—and still managed to put on a great WrestleMania title match.
Classic Kurt stuff here: reversals, chain wrestling, crisp timing, with Lesnar matching Angle move-for-move. But this match is best remembered for its botched finish as Lesnar whiffed on a Shooting Star Press, landing on his head. It looked bad — like, career-ending bad. Somehow, he stood up, dazed and clearly concussed, and still managed to hit the F5 and win the match. — Thomas Golianopoulos
Randy Savage vs. Ric Flair, WrestleMania VIII
Date: April 5, 1992
Location: Indianapolis, IN
This should have been the big Hogan vs. Flair showdown, but Vince McMahon fumbled it, allowing WCW to cash in later on. Luckily, Savage and Flair stepped up. So the story went like this: Flair pulled a classic scumbag move and claimed he had receipts — doctored photos, of course — of Miss Elizabeth cozying up with the Nature Boy himself. Savage didn’t take that well. At all.
It’s a wild one — full of drama, great selling, and Savage, unhinged and out for blood in full rage mode. Yeah, it’s a little overbooked, and the rollup finish comes out of nowhere, but it still one of the best WrestleMania title matches. — Thomas Golianopoulos
Seth Rollins vs. Roman Reigns vs. CM Punk, WrestleMania 41
The story here is that three of the territory’s biggest stars, all boxed out of the World Title picture, and all with long-standing personal and professional beefs with each other battle it out for supremacy. . . and the services of Paul Heyman? Though the pre-match build and finish revolved a little too much around a manager, this triple threat delivered a great WrestleMania main event. From the opening bell, they all worked at an intense pace, brawling into the crowd before bringing it into the ring for a series of finisher reversals, near falls, and high drama. As expected, Heyman got involved but he turned on Punk and Reigns to align with Rollins, who took advantage of a Heyman low blow and curb stomped Reigns for the pin. —Thomas Golianopoulos
Chris Jericho vs. Chris Benoit vs. Christian vs. Shelton Benjamin vs. Edge vs. Kane, WrestleMania XXI
Date: April 3, 2005
Location: Los Angeles, CA
The storyline? Six men, a ton of ladders, and a briefcase hanging from the rafters with the winner earning a world title shot within the year.
Edge snatched the win with a briefcase retrieval at 15:17, but it’s the chaos of the match that stands out. While these Money in the Bank ladder matches have been a staple ever since, the original is still the best. It's a total car crash of a match, filled with brutal bumps, insane spots, and an astonishing performance from Shelton Benjamin. — Thomas Golianopoulos
Shawn Michaels vs. Undertaker, WrestleMania XXVI
Date: March 28, 2010
Location: Phoenix, AZ
It was one of the best WrestleMania matches ever, and it was bigger than any title match at that time. The Streak vs. Shawn Michaels’ career.
The two legendary performers played all the hits, with drama tightly packed into false finishes and a desperate Michaels yearning to win however he could. The pacing of the match gave the audience time to breathe, flexing between eager anticipation and a total frenzy. As the duo wobbled, standing in front of each other on their last legs, it genuinely felt like anything could happen. In a nice parallel to his match with Ric Flair, Michaels refuses Undertaker’s mercy and then gets tombstoned into retirement. — Raj Prashad
Eddie Guerrero vs. Kurt Angle, WrestleMania XX
Date: March 14, 2004
Location: New York, NY
As an Olympic Gold Medalist and American Hero, Angle thought Guerrero wasn't worthy of his title because of his past drug addiction (pot, meet kettle) and lying, cheating, and stealing ways. Truly a great storyline because the best heels are convinced they're doing the right thing. The match was what you'd expect from these two wrestling machines: clean mat-wrestling to start that progresses to crisp moves — Guerrero's triple vertical suplexes deserve their own wing in the Hall of Fame — and exquisite storytelling. And what a clever finish! After escaping an ankle lock, Guerrero unties his wrestling boots and plays possum. Angle goes for the move again and instead rips off Eddie's boot. Stunned, he's prey for a Guerrero small package and the pin. — Thomas Golianopoulos
Shawn Michaels vs. Ric Flair, WrestleMania XXIV
Date: March 30, 2008
Location: Orlando, FL
First off: Flair’s robe? Absolutely majestic. This wasn’t about five-star workrate or perfect execution (though, yeah, there’s a rough botch on a bridge spot). This was all about the feels.
Flair, chasing one last WrestleMania Moment, put it all on the line against Shawn Michaels. And Michaels? He didn’t want to pull the trigger — but knew he had to. The final scene plays like the end of an old Western. HBK, standing over a defiant Flair, mouths “I’m sorry. I love you,” then hits Sweet Chin Music to send Natch into retirement. (And then Flair un-retired and ended up in TNA, but let’s just not talk about that part.) — Thomas Golianopoulos
Roman Reigns vs. Brock Lesnar (vs. Seth Rollins), WrestleMania 31
The most shocking ending to a WrestleMania began as a traditional one-on-one hoss fight between challenger Roman Reigns and the dominant World Heavyweight Champion, Brock Lesnar. At first, this unfolded like the typical Lesnar match with Reigns, who had something to prove following the tepid reaction to his Royal Rumble win, standing toe-to-toe with the Beast. They traded stiff blows until both men were sporting bruises and Lesnar was bloodied. But just when it looked like Lesnar would retain, Rollins sprinted down the ramp and cashed in his Money in the Bank briefcase. Then Reigns hit Lesnar with a spear, before eating a curb stomp from Rollins for the finish in what came to be known as the Heist of the Century. —Thomas Golianopoulos
Hulk Hogan vs. Randy Savage, WrestleMania V
Date: April 2, 1989
Location: Atlantic City, NJ
The Mega Powers blew up in the most soap-operatic way possible. What started as the ultimate tag team — Hogan and Savage, best bros with matching bandanas — crumbled fast when Savage got jealous over Hogan’s not-so-subtle interest in Miss Elizabeth. Title? Sure. But Liz was the real spark.
She tried not to play favorites, even posted up in a “neutral corner,” but got dragged into the drama almost immediately — literally blocking Hogan from smashing Savage into a steel post. Savage responded by scolding her and the ref eventually gave her the boot.
But let’s give it up: both guys showed up to work. Savage was dialed in. Hogan sold like a champ. The comeback was vintage Hulk — hulking up, finger wagging, and of course, the atomic leg drop. One, two, three. Mega Powers, officially exploded. — Thomas Golianopoulos
Daniel Bryan vs. Batista vs. Randy Orton, WrestleMania XXX
Date: April 6, 2014
Location: New Orleans, LA
In the months leading up to WrestleMania 30, it felt like the moment had passed Daniel Bryan by. Bryan seemed destined to be sequestered off into a program with the Wyatt Family or featured in a bout against Triple H. Instead, he opened and closed the show, battling Triple H to earn his way into the main event against WWE’s chosen champion, Randy Orton, and Batista, who’d returned after nearly four years away to win the Royal Rumble.
From the opening bell, the storytelling was beautiful. As fans reeled from watching The Undertaker’s streak end earlier in the evening, Bryan brought hope and energy to the Superdome. Bryan found a way out at every roadblock and seemed destined to end the night with championship gold. Triple H and his sledgehammer couldn’t stop Bryan. Neither could a devastating Batista Bomb-RKO combination through an announce table. False finishes followed, with Orton and Batista teasing ruining Bryan’s big moment. As Batista’s hand eventually slapped the mat in submission to Bryan, one of the greatest underdog stories in WWE history had been completed on its grandest stage. — Raj Prashad
Bret Hart vs. Roddy Piper, WrestleMania VIII
Date: April 5, 1992
Location: Indianapolis, IN
Bret Hart vs. Roddy Piper was part technical showcase, part bar fight, and somehow it all worked. The backstory made it personal — Piper was a longtime family friend, Hart was banged up and trying to bounce back after losing the IC title, and both had something to prove.
Things got real when the ref went down. Piper grabbed the ring bell —classic heel move loading — but then had a moment of internal crisis. Old Rowdy might’ve cracked Hart’s skull in another life, but here? He dropped it and went for the sleeper instead. That’s when Bret pushed off the ropes, rolled Piper up, and stole the win.
It’s gritty, emotional, and way more layered than people remember. One of Bret’s most underrated gems. — Thomas Golianopoulos
Steve Austin vs. The Rock, WrestleMania XIX
Date: March 30, 2003
Location: Seattle, WA
With one foot already in Hollywood, The Rock made his return to WWE to finally achieve what had eluded him — beating Austin at WrestleMania.
The match ended at 17:53 with The Rock securing the win via his signature Rock Bottom. Though both stars were past their prime and Austin was physically worn down, the two most bankable names in the history of the business delivered one last memorable moment, with The Rock getting his win and sending Austin off into retirement. — Thomas Golianopoulos
Rhea Ripley vs. Charlotte Flair, WrestleMania 39
Date: April 1, 2023
Location: Inglewood, CA
A career-defining match for both Rhea Ripley and Charlotte Flair, these women put on an absolute show in Hollywood. A follow up to their pandemic-era tilt at WrestleMania 36, Ripley and Flair put everything they had into stealing the spotlight in a match that easily could have (and likely should have) main evented WrestleMania.
Flair and Ripley exchanged heavy shots throughout, with even the most basic of exchanges sounding devastating. Flair got turned inside out on a german suplex from the top rope, Flair reversed the Riptide into a stunning DDT, and Ripley hit an avalanche Riptide in a surreal finish. The pace from start to end made this one of the greatest women’s matches in WrestleMania and WWE history. —Raj Prashad
Ultimate Warrior vs. Hulk Hogan, WrestleMania VI
Date: April 1, 1990
Location: Toronto, Canada
This was less a wrestling match and more a clash of mythological forces. Hulkamania vs. The Power of the Warrior. Who had the stronger brand of cosmic energy and unhinged screaming?
Warrior showed up with a wild airbrushed chest tattoo and perfectly feathered hair, looking like a He-Man fever dream. Both guys were gassed by minute five, but somehow powered through, hitting big move after big move in a match that shouldn’t have worked — but totally did. In the end, Hogan did the unthinkable: he lost clean and handed the reins to Warrior.
Of course, the “passing of the torch” didn’t exactly pan out. But for one night? Warrior stood tall. — Thomas Golianopoulos
Kofi Kingston vs Daniel Bryan, WrestleMania 35
Date: April 7, 2019
Location: East Rutherford, NJ
There’s another universe where Kofi Kingston’s sudden rise to the WrestleMania spotlight doesn’t materialize. Mustafa Ali was earmarked for a push, slated for the upcoming Elimination Chamber before an injury opened the door for Kingston’s last-minute substitution. His performance in the gauntlet match to determine who would enter the Chamber last would precede a Daniel Bryan-esque run to the title that felt like destiny.
The match played out exactly like the story in the build to ‘Mania, with Kingston struggling to build any momentum. A sudden SOS felt like a momentum shift and Bryan would become desperate, throwing everything he could to stop Kingston. But Kingston was relentless, surviving near-falls and Bryan’s brutal offense to land Trouble in Paradise and earn the clean pin in one of the greatest WrestleMania matches of all time. —Raj Prashad
Edge vs. Mick Foley, WrestleMania XXII
Date: April 2, 2006
Location: Chicago, IL
A brutal hardcore match with blood, barbed wire, and a flaming table — what more could you want? This one didn’t just steal the show, it gave Mick Foley the WrestleMania Moment he’d been chasing his whole career.
Foley is one of the greatest to ever do it, no question. But up until this point, he didn’t have that one iconic Mania match to hang his flannel on. Sure, he’d had main event appearances, but nothing that truly stood the test of time. Enter: Edge. The Rated R Superstar stepped up to the plate and helped deliver the chaos.
Foley came out of retirement for this one, and together, he and Edge went to war. It was violent, it was unhinged, it had all the greatest hits — and then some. The image of Edge spearing Foley through the ropes and into a flaming table is forever burned (literally) into wrestling history. Neither guy held anything back. Foley didn’t win the match, but he walked away with something better: his name etched into WrestleMania legend. — Jamie Iovine
Ultimate Warrior vs. Randy Savage, WrestleMania VII
Date: March 24, 1991
Location: Los Angeles, CA
This one had everything you want in a great WrestleMania match — stakes, spectacle, and a full-blown emotional rollercoaster. Warrior kicked out of five top-rope elbow drops like it was nothing. Savage somehow survived Warrior’s press slam/splash combo. And then Warrior, in peak ‘90s action figure mode, pinned Macho Man with one foot on his chest like a damn final boss.
But the real moment — the one that stuck — came after the bell. Sensational Sherri turned on Savage, stomping him while he was still laid out. And just when it looked like no one was coming to help, out came Elizabeth from the crowd. She hadn't been alongside Macho for years, but she still loved him. She threw Sherri out of the ring, and Savage, broken and humbled, embraced her like it was the only thing that mattered. The crowd lost it. Grown men cried. The reunion was pure magic — soap opera wrestling at its absolute best. — Thomas Golianopoulos
Gunther vs. Drew McIntyre vs. Sheamus, WrestleMania 39
Date: April 2, 2023
Location: Inglewood, CA
A pivotal moment in the rise of Gunther came with his colossal showdown against Drew McIntyre and Sheamus. Gunther had already established himself during his run in NXT, but this match really solidified his ability to hang with two former world champions.
It was brutal from the opening bell, with the trio exchanging heavy blows, chest slaps, and feats of strength that left the crowd roaring and Michael Cole in awe on commentary. Sheamus battle-rammed McIntyre’s chest until he crumbled off the apron and McIntyre balanced strength and agility in ways only he can. When it came time to go to the finish, Gunther used Sheamus as a weapon to powerbomb him onto a fallen McIntyre, then powerbombing McIntyre for good measure was the perfect close to a lengthy brawl between three super heavyweights. Fight Night, indeed. —Raj Prashad
The Rock vs. Hulk Hogan, WrestleMania X8
Date: March 17, 2002
Location: Toronto, Canada
The storyline? Icon vs. Icon. After eight years away from WWE, Hulk Hogan made his return, kicking things off by picking a fight with The Rock — he hit him with a hammer, rammed an 18-wheeler into Rock’s ambulance, and even grew out his evil black beard.
In Toronto, the crowd refused to boo Hogan, making the match an intriguing back-and-forth with both guys playing heel and babyface at different times. By this point, Hogan was downright prehistoric in the ring and moved like a T. Rex, yet this is still one of the best WrestleMania matches of all time. The Rock eventually wins with the People’s Elbow at 16:23. But Hogan and Rock’s ability to feel the crowd’s energy and react is what made this special. — Thomas Golianopoulos
Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn vs. The Usos, WrestleMania 39
Date: April 1, 2023
Location: Inglewood, CA
One of the most emotionally-driven main events in recent memory, WWE’s artful storytelling gave fans everything they wanted between the quartet of Sami Zayn, Kevin Owens, and the Usos.
The match dove deep into Owens’ battle against the Bloodline and his long, complicated friendship with Zayn, which was only twisted further by Zayn’s acceptance into the Bloodline and his eventual departure. The match unfolded identical to the story, with Zayn isolated, Owens offering support, Owens paying for it by getting slammed through a table, and Zayn finishing his story. The stalemate after near-falls was sublime, the Usos almost finishing Owens was exceptional, and Zayn putting down Jey Uso with three Helluva Kicks resulted in an eruption from the 67,000 in attendance. This was WWE Bloodline storytelling at its peak. —Raj Prashad
Iyo Sky vs. Rhea Ripley vs. Bianca Belair, WrestleMania 41
Date: April 20, 2025
Location: Las Vegas, NV
One of the best triple-threat matches in WWE history, this one wasn’t just about three women at the top of their game delivering an all-time classic. It also felt like a challenge to the rest of the roster: top this.
The prevailing story played out exactly as it had in the build to WrestleMania, with Rhea Ripley and Bianca Belair consistently attempting to one-up each other, while Iyo Sky, who, oh by the way, was the defending champion, forced herself into each exchange. The match was a non-traditional triple threat, as the trio never really took breathers away from the action. It was non-stop energy, with each of them topping the others, and the finish perfectly fit into the story they were telling. As Ripley and Belair focused on each other, it was Sky who stole the spotlight and the surprising win. —Raj Prashad
Razor Ramon vs. Shawn Michaels, WrestleMania X
Date: March 20, 1994
Location: New York, NY
The ladder match that made ladder matches a thing in the United States. Razor Ramon vs. Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania X wasn’t just about who the real Intercontinental Champ was — it was about who could turn a metal ladder into a storytelling weapon.
Both guys went all in. HBK bounced off steel like a crash test dummy. Razor used the ladder like a battering ram. Every spot felt fresh, every bump meant something. It wasn’t just chaos for chaos’ sake — it was smart, violent, creative, and way ahead of its time. This was the blueprint for the spot-heavy, stunt-show style that would come to define a whole era of pro wrestling. And yeah, the image of Michaels getting tangled in the ropes while Razor climbs up to grab the gold? Still iconic. — Thomas Golianopoulos
Cody Rhodes vs. Roman Reigns, WrestleMania XL
For 1,316 days, the Tribal Chief had been World Champion, the longest reign in over four decades and the third-longest in WWE history behind just Bruno Sammartino and Bob Backlund. His opponent: The American Nightmare Cody Rhodes, desperate to Finish His Story after coming up short at the previous WrestleMania. A night earlier, Reigns and The Rock defeated Rhodes and Seth Rollins, ensuring that this would take place under Bloodline Rules, meaning no disqualification, telegraphing the inevitable interference that marked Reigns’ Bloodline-era matches.
Though not as fast-paced as Cody-Roman I, the rematch is the perfect distillation of Sports Entertainment: a blend of long-term booking, emotional storytelling, flashy presentation, and capital-M Moments. The WWE equivalent of Avengers: Endgame featured interference from Jimmy Uso, Jey Uso, Solo Sikoa, John Cena, The Rock, The Undertaker, and Seth Rollins in Shield gear, leading to the big finish: Cody slaying the Big Bad with a trio of Cross Rhodes to send the fans home happy. —Thomas Golianopoulos
Edge and Christian vs. The Hardy Boyz vs. The Dudley Boyz, WrestleMania X-Seven
Date: April 1, 2001
Location: Houston, TX
The storyline? All three teams had been battling and swapping belts for the past year, and now they were adding tables, ladders, and chairs into the mix.
While this one wasn’t the first TLC match, it was most likely the best. A mix of chaotic action and incredible spots (such as Edge’s spear on Jeff Hardy), this match between the three best teams of the Attitude Era set the template for every Money in the Bank Ladder match in the future. In the end, Edge and Christian snatched the win with the belt retrieval at 15:53 thanks to an assist from their associate Rhyno. — Thomas Golianopoulos
The Undertaker vs. Triple H, WrestleMania XXVIII
Date: April 1, 2012
Location: Miami Gardens, FL
This match truly was something to behold. The physicality, the drama, the legacy all combined into one must-see match for the ages. At the time, the Undertaker’s WrestleMania streak was still intact. Many had tried and failed to beat The Deadman at the show of shows, and so far none had succeeded. The legendary Shawn Michaels had failed twice, ultimately retiring from in-ring competition. Michaels’ best friend Triple H also attempted and fell victim to the Taker of Souls at both Wrestlemania 17 and 28.
Still determined to end the Streak, Taker and the Cerebral Assassin decided to have one last match inside the dreaded Hell in A Cell. Throw in the added caveat of Shawn Michaels as the special guest referee, and this was one of the last times we saw three legends of the infamous Attitude Era do what they do best. And man, did they deliver.
Taker and Triple H brutalized each other in the cell, where Michaels had to watch his best friend, and an opponent he had the utmost respect for, tear each other to pieces, hoping that each move would be the last. A beautiful swan song of sorts for these legends. An end of an era, indeed — Jamie Iovine
Owen Hart vs. Bret Hart, WrestleMania X
Date: March 20, 1994
Location: New York, NY
Bret Hart, the shining star of wrestling’s royal family, the Harts, more than lived up to his moniker: “The Best There Is, The Best There Was, And The Best There Ever Will Be.” People used to say Bret could have a good match with a broomstick — and during his prime, he pretty much did. A true technician, a ring general of the highest order, there weren’t many who could hang with him. But one of the few who could? His younger brother, Owen.
Owen Hart was the real deal too — an insanely skilled wrestler who carved out his own path, even while living in Bret’s shadow. The two teamed up plenty of times, but eventually, Owen’s jealousy boiled over. He turned on big bro, which led to their match at WrestleMania X — a straight-up five-star classic and the best opener in WrestleMania history.
Behind the scenes, both guys knew this was their moment. Bret wanted to make sure Owen got to shine on the biggest stage of them all, and man, did they deliver. The chemistry, the storytelling, the pacing — it all clicked. Bret vs. Owen didn’t just set the tone for the night; it raised the bar for what a WrestleMania match could be. — Jamie Iovine
Shawn Michaels vs. Kurt Angle, WrestleMania XXI
Date: April 3, 2005
Location: Los Angeles, CA
This was a match driven entirely by ego. A first-time showdown between Kurt Angle and "Mr. WrestleMania" himself, Shawn Michaels — two legends whose paths hadn’t crossed until the 2005 Royal Rumble. Angle is a flashy, Hollywood-styled wrestler on one side, theatrical and explosive. On the other hand, Michaels is methodical, precise, almost surgical in his execution. Their contrasting performance styles weren’t just personal signatures — they represented opposing ideologies within the WWE itself.
It was a story told between the lines: two men who believed their approach to wrestling was the right one. Rather than shying away from the narratives built around them in WWE, they embraced them. They wanted the weight of it all and, more importantly, to be remembered.
The match reflected that. No steel chairs or blood-soaked drama, this was about pacing, control, and tension. It unfolded like a dance. The dramatics came in the form of restraint: holds and releases, a slow build that kept the audience on the edge of their seats and didn't let go even when Angle finally secured the Ankle Lock. Michaels reached for the ropes, nearly breaking free more than once. But in the end, he tapped. — Tiana Randall
The Rock vs. Steve Austin, WrestleMania X-Seven
Date: Apil 1, 2001
Location: Houston, TX
For some lore, at this time in the year 2001, The Rock was the clear maverick of the WWE. But one person possibly stood in the way of that clear competition — and it was Stone Cold Steve Austin. It was the peak of the Attitude Era. This was a highly anticipated and coveted rematch that happened after their first WrestleMania clash, and it not only signified their hatred for each other but also Steve Austin's hatred for the authority and institution that was the WWF, as The Rock was the poster boy of it at that time.
So for Austin, the ability to retain his title was not a want, but a need, driving him to almost unthinkable lengths to win it. And because of that, this match was a violent one.
Steve Austin’s desperation was so apparent that he teamed up with longtime nemesis Vince McMahon. In a heel turn that no one saw coming (and, in retrospect, didn’t work), Austin accepted a steel chair from McMahon and used it to bludgeon The Rock 16 times.
This match wasn’t just a turning point for WrestleMania; it ended the story that Stone Cold had been building since his industry-shifting promo at the 1996 King of the Ring. — Tiana Randall
Roman Reigns vs. CM Punk, WrestleMania 42, Night Two
Date: April 19, 2026
Location: Las Vegas, NV
An old fashioned grudge match between two stars who hate each other in storyline (and maybe IRL) with no shenanigans, no Bloodline interference, and no Pat McAfee. For 34 minutes, Punk and Reigns delivered a classic WrestleMania main event full of physical storyline and rich character beats. Reigns, in his 11th WrestleMania main event, set out to prove he can do more than just cinema and that his part-time schedule didn’t detract from his greatness. Punk, meanwhile, played the savvy vet, who knew there was a finite amount of gas left in his tank. The ending sequence was masterfully done. Punk distracts the ref, low blows Reigns, and seems to have the match won until his back gives out on a second GTS attempt. Reigns then takes advantage. Two spears later he pins a defiant Punk to capture his seventh world title. —TG
Chris Benoit vs. Triple H vs. Shawn Michaels, WrestleMania XX
Date: March 14, 2004
Location: New York, NY
Triple Threats can get messy fast — usually just a game of musical chairs where two guys go at it while the third recovers off-camera. But this one? This one clicked. Every transition felt smooth, every combo hit hard, and the chaos was balanced in the best way. One second you’ve got Benoit trading holds with Michaels, the next you’ve got HHH and HBK suplexing Benoit from one announce table through another.
The finish here was electric: Michaels gets dumped, Benoit slaps the Crippler Crossface on HHH, and the crowd goes nuclear when Hunter taps. It was the crowning moment of Benoit’s career, and the image of Eddie Guerrero walking out to hug his best friend — both of them world champions — felt like the culmination of years of hard-fought grind.
But it’s impossible to discuss this match without acknowledging what came next. Guerrero passed away less than two years later. And in 2007, Benoit took the lives of his wife and son before taking his own. It’s a dark chapter that will forever change how one of the best matches in WrestleMania history is remembered. — Thomas Golianopoulos
Ricky Steamboat vs. Randy Savage, WrestleMania III
Date: March 29, 1987
Location: Pontiac, MI
When discussing the “perfect match,” this one from WrestleMania III is almost certain to be at the forefront of the conversation. Randy Savage, the reigning Intercontinental Champion, was challenged by Ricky The Dragon Steamboat after Savage almost ended his career.
Wrestlemania III was headlined by a blockbuster main event where WWE Champion Hulk Hogan was challenged by Andre The Giant. But determined to steal the show, and being an extreme perfectionist, Savage concocted what he considered a sure-fire five-star match. Steamboat would later reveal that Savage had laid out every beat of the match from second to second, and both competitors committed it to memory.
Being the in-ring savant that he is, The Macho Man delivered along with a great dancing partner in Ricky Steamboat. From bell to bell, it was a hard-hitting, athletically demanding match that saw each competitor leave it all in the ring while telling an incredible story of the babyface challenger overcoming obstacle after obstacle to best his long-time rival. Wrestlers and fans alike go back to this match as a study of how to be a professional wrestler, for good reason. — Jamie Iovine
Shawn Michaels vs. Undertaker, WrestleMania XXV
Date: April 5, 2009
Location: Houston, TX
This was the first of their two back-to-back classics, and while the sequel hits more emotional beats what with Michaels’ career being on the line, this one topped it from an entertainment standpoint. HBK came in knowing he couldn’t outpower The Deadman, so he played it smart — quick strikes, aerial attacks, even tried to sneak a count-out win. (That sly move deserved a chef’s kiss.)
Michaels sold like a madman, flying all over the place, and Taker’s reactions — those dead-eyed stares, the “I can’t believe this guy won’t stay down” energy — were pitch-perfect. Flawless, top-tier pro wrestling that should’ve headlined the show. — Thomas Golianopoulos
Steve Austin vs. Bret Hart, WrestleMania XIII
Date: 3/29/1997
Location: Chicago, IL
Widely considered one of the greatest matches of all time, both for its in-ring performance and storytelling, Bret Hart vs. "Stone Cold" Steve Austin at WrestleMania 13 is wrestling perfection. And now, it's officially getting its flowers: At the Hall of Fame ceremony prior to WrestleMania 41, it became the first match ever to receive the “WWE Immortal Moment” award.
Heading into the bout, Hart had grown disillusioned with the WWE Universe. Once the company’s top babyface, The Hitman suddenly found himself in a world he didn’t recognize. Clean-cut good guys were out, and a new kind of star was on the rise — one who didn’t care about vitamins or catchphrases. In the wake of this cultural shift, the beer-swilling, trash-talking antihero Stone Cold Steve Austin, initially cast as a heel, was becoming the voice of a fed-up fanbase.
What followed was a mat classic. Both men came in with something to prove and gave each other nothing — just stiff shots, technical brilliance, and raw emotion. The tide of public opinion turned mid-match: Hart, growing increasingly desperate, leaned into underhanded tactics, while Austin —bloody, defiant, and refusing to quit — fought through the pain. When Hart locked in the Sharpshooter, Austin didn’t tap. He passed out.
It’s one of the most iconic visuals in WWE history: Austin, face drenched in blood, unconscious but unbroken. Hart won the match, but Austin walked out the hero. This was the double turn to end all double turns. The moment a legend was born. And the best WrestleMania match of all time. — Jamie Iovine
