Top 10 WWE WrestleMania matches for the Hall of Fame (Rule: no same wrestler in multiple matches)

So, WWE decided to honor matches in the Hall of Fame, which I think is a great idea, as it gives us fans a chance to celebrate some of the greatest matches in WrestleMania history and honor those who took part in them.

My only concern with this is that I fear it will always honor the same people, as many of the greatest matches seem to involve the same wrestlers. So, I decided to create my own top 10 matches that I would induct into the Hall of Fame.

My Rules

The only rule I had was that I couldn’t have the same wrestler in multiple matches. For example, Shawn Michaels had four matches that I believe are Hall of Fame-worthy, but I will only pick one of them to allow two more performers to be included.

Also, while not a strict rule, I’m stopping my selections at WrestleMania 30. While I do think Hall of Fame-worthy matches have taken place in the last ten years, I feel that matches involving active wrestlers shouldn’t be inducted yet.

Without further ado, here’s my top 10 WrestleMania matches:

10. Tito Santana vs. The Executioner – WrestleMania 1

There’s not a lot to say about this match, as it was a basic wrestling contest, but I’m including it mainly for its historical significance. This was the very first match in WrestleMania history, and while it may not have been the greatest, it still deserves to be remembered.

9. Demolition vs. The Colossal Connection – WrestleMania 6

WrestleMania 6 is remembered for two things: the main event and André the Giant turning on Bobby Heenan. But before André turned on Heenan, there was this tag team match. Demolition was at the peak of their popularity, and you could see how beloved they were by the crowd. The match itself was essentially Demolition vs. Haku, as André could barely move at this point, but they did their best to make it a strong contest.

The ending was well done—André tried to interfere but got kicked in the face by Haku, causing him to get tangled in the ropes. Demolition then attacked Haku and hit their finisher for the win. A really strong tag match, capped off with André turning on Heenan, which became a great WrestleMania moment.

8. Rick Martel vs. Jake “The Snake” Roberts – WrestleMania 7

You may wonder why I included this blindfold match in the top 10. I chose it as an example of how you can tell a compelling story even with a silly gimmick. Jake and Martel knew exactly how to work within the limitations of the match, delivering a mix of comedy and drama while keeping the crowd engaged throughout.

7. Daniel Bryan vs. Batista vs. Randy Orton – WrestleMania 30

No matter how WWE ended up booking this match, they made the right decision in the end. Bryan was red hot at the time and essentially saved what would have been a flat main event otherwise. This was a great example of storytelling, as it perfectly framed Bryan as the ultimate underdog. It worked so well that when Bryan won, the crowd erupted in joy, making it one of the most memorable moments in WWE history.

6. Brock Lesnar vs. Kurt Angle – WrestleMania 19

This match made my list mainly due to my self-imposed rule of not including the same wrestler multiple times. This was a fantastic match, and the fact that Angle wrestled it while injured made it even more impressive. The ending, which had to be improvised after Lesnar knocked himself out on a botched Shooting Star Press, showcased Angle’s greatness—he was able to call an audible and guide Lesnar to finish the match properly.

5. Ultimate Warrior vs. Hulk Hogan – WrestleMania 6

I would have ranked this higher for sentimental reasons, but I wanted to be objective. At the time, it was rare to see two top babyfaces wrestle each other, making this a highly anticipated match.

Despite their limited move sets, they told an excellent story. The finish was shocking, as Hogan losing clean was almost unheard of. When Warrior pinned him, it felt like a true passing-of-the-torch moment. The aftermath, with Hogan handing Warrior the title, added to the emotional impact.

4. Edge vs. Mick Foley – WrestleMania 22

This was an incredible hardcore match with great storytelling. It proved that Foley could still go and that Edge was crazy enough to follow him into the madness. The finish, with Edge spearing Foley through a flaming table, was both dangerous and visually stunning, making for a great WrestleMania moment.

3. Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat vs. “Macho Man” Randy Savage – WrestleMania 3

This was a wrestling clinic that put both Savage and Steamboat on the map. For 15 minutes, they went move for move, delivering a match that is still talked about decades later. The finish was perfect—George “The Animal” Steele pushed Savage off the top rope, leading to Steamboat pinning him with a small package. Just an all-time great match.

2. The Undertaker vs. Triple H – WrestleMania 17

While I think their WrestleMania 28 match was better, I went with this one due to my rule about not including the same wrestlers multiple times. Despite not having a deep storyline leading into it, they stole the show. These two absolutely beat the hell out of each other, ensuring the fans were entertained from start to finish.

Honorable Mentions

These are matches I would have included if not for my rule about duplicate performers:

– Hulk Hogan vs. André the Giant – WrestleMania 3
– Ultimate Warrior vs. Randy Savage – WrestleMania 7
– Shawn Michaels vs. Razor Ramon – WrestleMania 10
– Bret Hart vs. Owen Hart – WrestleMania 10
– Shawn Michaels vs. Bret Hart – WrestleMania 12
– Diesel vs. The Undertaker – WrestleMania 12
– Stone Cold Steve Austin vs. The Rock – WrestleMania 17
– Edge & Christian vs. The Dudley Boyz vs. The Hardy Boyz – WrestleMania 17
– Shawn Michaels vs. Chris Jericho – WrestleMania 19
– Shawn Michaels vs. John Cena – WrestleMania 23
– Shawn Michaels vs. The Undertaker – WrestleMania 26
– The Undertaker vs. Triple H – WrestleMania 28

And now, my number one match in WrestleMania history:

1. Shawn Michaels vs. Ric Flair – WrestleMania 24

Out of all the great matches Shawn Michaels had during his comeback, I chose Ric Flair’s “retirement match” at WrestleMania 24. This match showed how incredible Shawn was, as he made Flair look like the Ric Flair of the ’80s and ’90s, giving us one last great performance from the legend.

The finish was an absolute masterpiece—Shawn saying, “I’m sorry, I love you” before delivering the final Sweet Chin Music was an emotional gut punch for fans. At the time, we all believed this was Flair’s farewell, making it a perfect send-off. Unfortunately, Flair would go on to wrestle again in TNA in 2010 and later in that disastrous final match in 2022. But back then, this was a beautiful farewell to one of the greatest of all time.

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This was a really difficult exercise, especially with the restrictions I placed on myself. But it was a fun challenge to select matches that I feel are worthy of induction while avoiding repeat performers.