Opinions

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

Aaron Rift

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 three…

20. Edge and Christian vs. The Dudley Boyz vs. The Hardy Boyz (WrestleMania 17)

The WrestleMania 16 ladder match with these three teams was incredible, and somehow they managed to top it with their TLC match at WrestleMania 17. There were countless unforgettable moments, with Edge’s mid-air spear to Jeff Hardy becoming one of the most iconic moments in WrestleMania history.

19. Hulk Hogan vs. Mr. McMahon (WrestleMania 19)

Hogan vs. McMahon felt surreal—it was a match that seemed impossible during the height of Hulkamania or the peak of the Monday Night War. The two wrestling icons delivered a better match than expected, and Roddy Piper’s surprise appearance added a nostalgic touch.

18. Seth Rollins vs. Brock Lesnar vs. Roman Reigns (WrestleMania 31)

The match began with Royal Rumble winner Reigns challenging Lesnar for the WWE Title. Despite negative fan anticipation, the in-ring action was strong. Rollins cashing in his Money in the Bank contract mid-match and walking out as champion created one of the loudest reactions I’ve ever experienced live—truly one of the most epic WrestleMania endings.

17. Stone Cold Steve Austin vs. Shawn Michaels (WrestleMania 14)

Michaels was in rough shape going into this match, and while it wasn’t his best performance, it was one of the most historically significant WrestleMania matches. With Mike Tyson as the special referee, Michaels passed the torch to Austin, ushering in a new era of WWE with The Texas Rattlesnake at the helm.

16. The Ultimate Warrior vs. Randy Savage (WrestleMania 7)

While Warrior’s WWE Title win over Hogan was his biggest moment, this match against Savage was his best. With both men’s careers on the line, Savage threw everything he had at Warrior but ultimately fell short. After the match, Sensational Sherri turned on Savage, leading to an emotional reunion with Miss Elizabeth that brought fans to tears.

15. Cody Rhodes vs. Seth Rollins (WrestleMania 38)

After helping launch AEW, Cody made his triumphant return to WWE and delivered an excellent match against Rollins. Not only was his “surprise” appearance incredibly climactic, but the match itself kept fans on the edge of their seats. Rollins did an amazing job making Cody look like a top-tier star.

14. Daniel Bryan vs. Batista vs. Randy Orton (WrestleMania 30)

Bryan’s journey to the WWE Title at WrestleMania 30 is one of the best underdog stories the company has ever told. Though the crowd was a bit burned out by the main event, the match still delivered the satisfying conclusion fans were hoping for. Bryan overcame every obstacle, fulfilling the dream of the “Yes Movement.”

13. Stone Cold Steve Austin vs. The Rock (WrestleMania 19)

Austin was arguably the biggest star in WWE history, and this would be his final match before retirement. In the third match of their trilogy, The Rock finally defeated his long-time rival in another classic showdown between two of the greatest ever.

12. Daniel Bryan vs. Triple H (WrestleMania 30)

To earn a spot in the main event for the WWE Title, Bryan had to defeat Triple H to open WrestleMania 30. This was a phenomenal match and a strong contender for the best opening bout in WrestleMania history. Even though it seemed likely that Bryan would win, the uncertainty made it all the more thrilling.

11. Owen Hart vs. Bret Hart (WrestleMania 10)

The feud between the Hart brothers was probably the strongest storyline in WWE during the New Generation era. I give this match the slight edge over Bryan vs. Triple H for the best opening match in WrestleMania history, just because of how much it elevated Owen. It was technically as good as it gets. Owen beating Bret and then having to watch his brother win the WWE Title at the end of the show was top-tier storytelling.

Click here for part four.