The top 40 greatest WWE WrestleMania matches in history (part four)

With WWE Wrestlemania 38 approaching, I decided to create a list of my favorite Wrestlemania matches from over the years. The rankings have been determined from my own personal opinions but I took various factors into consideration including match quality, storyline, and overall impact.

Here is part four…

10. Hulk Hogan vs. Andre the Giant (WrestleMania 3)

Was this technically a good match? Absolutely not. However, it was one of the most important matches in the history of the business and had that iconic moment with Hogan slamming Andre. It was two of the biggest, larger-than-life personalities clashing, drawing a massive crowd to the Pontiac Silverdome. Hulkamania was in serious jeopardy, and that’s what made the match dramatic to watch.

9. Steve Austin vs. The Rock (WrestleMania 15)

WWE was red-hot in 1999, with Austin at the peak of his popularity and The Rock’s star continuing to rise. For several months, Mr. McMahon did everything possible to keep the WWE Title away from Austin. In this match, Austin finally overcame the odds and reclaimed his title. For Austin fans, this was the moment of revenge they had been waiting for.

8. Ricky Steamboat vs. Randy Savage (WrestleMania 3)

While Hogan vs. Andre was the main event of WrestleMania 3, it was Savage vs. Steamboat that stole the show. This match was way ahead of its time in terms of pacing and near-falls, especially compared to what WWE typically offered during that era. The finish—with Steamboat getting revenge after Savage’s brutal attack months earlier—was the perfect payoff.

7. The Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels (WrestleMania 26)

This was a rematch from WrestleMania 25, and while I personally prefer that one, this match had added stakes with Michaels’ career on the line. Michaels gave everything he had, but it wasn’t enough, and his career ended that night. The finish—with Michaels slapping The Undertaker in one final act of defiance, followed by a jumping tombstone—was perfect.

6. The Rock vs. Hulk Hogan (WrestleMania 18)

This match was truly a magical moment in wrestling history—a dream scenario that actually played out before our eyes. Despite being a heel, Hogan received thunderous nostalgia-fueled cheers as he returned to the Toronto SkyDome, where he had battled the Ultimate Warrior over a decade earlier. No matter what Hogan and Rock did in the ring, the crowd ate up every second.

5. Razor Ramon vs. Shawn Michaels (WrestleMania 10)

To settle a dispute over who the “real” Intercontinental Champion was, a ladder match was booked, with the winner grabbing both titles. As the first WWE ladder match on a PPV, this bout set the standard for future ladder matches. Razor had his shining moment, while Michaels proved he was the future of WWE in a match that still holds up today.

4. Steve Austin vs. The Rock (WrestleMania 17)

This was the main event of what many consider the greatest WrestleMania of all time. Like their other encounters, this was a fantastic battle between two of wrestling’s biggest icons. While I wasn’t a fan of the Austin heel turn, the ending symbolized the close of the “Attitude Era” as WWE prepared to move forward after acquiring WCW and ECW.

3. The Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels (WrestleMania 25)

I remember watching WrestleMania 25 and being underwhelmed—until this match started. Suddenly, it felt like WrestleMania. Undertaker and Michaels didn’t rely on flashy moves, but everything they did had meaning. Big or small, every moment was perfectly executed. This match was in-ring storytelling at its finest.

2. Roman Reigns vs. Cody Rhodes (WrestleMania 40)

WrestleMania 40 marked the culmination of Cody’s “finish the story” journey and the end of Reigns’ long reign as Undisputed WWE Universal Champion. As a Tribal Combat match, it featured unforgettable moments, including an appearance from The Undertaker. Seth Rollins acting as “The Shield” for Cody and helping him dethrone Reigns was deeply satisfying.

1. Bret Hart vs. Steve Austin (WrestleMania 13)

To this day, this is still my all-time favorite match and one of the most historically significant performances ever. Everything about it felt real—I believed these two men legitimately hated each other. Hart and Austin pulled off the best double turn in wrestling history, with Austin passing out in a pool of his own blood and Hart attacking him after the match. That moment launched Austin into superstardom and ushered in the Attitude Era.

Click here for part one.