TOP 50 WRESTLEMANIA MATCHES: 20-11
By Justin Henry

50-41
40-31
30-21

20. Shawn Michaels vs. Chris Jericho (WrestleMania XIX – March 30, 2003)
The most intriguing match going into WrestleMania XIX was the generational battle between “The Showstopper”, and his self-proclaimed successor, a modernized contemporary. Jericho admitted that Michaels was his big influence in wrestling, but declared now to be the time to surpass his role model.

Of equal desire to Jericho were to not only beat Michaels outright, but to taunt him with his own theatrics. Jericho kipped up at one point in the contest after having laid Michaels out, but “The Heartbreak Kid” kipped up as well, and continued the counter attack.

Jericho seemed to have victory in hand when he locked Michaels into the Walls of Jericho, but Shawn somehow hung in there, reaching the ropes after several minutes. In the end, Michaels stunned Y2J with a backroll cradle to win. Jericho displayed respect after the epic match, embracing Michaels with a hug, but ended up kicking him down low.


19. Ric Flair vs. Macho Man Randy Savage (WrestleMania VIII – April 5, 1992)
The WWF Championship was on the line, but the match was far more personal. For weeks before the match, Flair taunted Savage by claiming that Miss Elizabeth, Savage’s wife, had been with him long before she’d ever been with The Macho Man. This declaration stirred Savage up to no end, and the challenger promised vengeance.

Savage threw caution to the wind, tearing into Flair like a man possessed. The title was secondary to his regaining dignity on behalf of his wife. As the match wore on, Savage dropped an axe handle to the floor, knocking the champion into the railing, and busting him open.

Flair, along with cornerman Mr. Perfect, managed to injure Savage’s knee. After a Figure Four couldn’t make Savage give up, Flair went back on the attack, but Savage landed a thunderous strike, and rolled Flair up, pulling the tights, to win the title, as well as redemption.


18. Edge vs. Christian vs. Chris Benoit vs. Chris Jericho vs. Kane vs. Shelton Benjamin (WrestleMania XXI – April 3, 2005)
What started as a concept to get some talented midcarders onto the biggest stage in wrestling, remained such a concept

But at least it made for an exciting spectacle.

The inaugural Money in the Bank ladder match wasted no time in raising the bar for all future versions of the match. Whether it was Chris Benoit suplexing Chris Jericho, while Y2J was holding a ladder, or it was all of the participants dog-piling with dives to the outside, the crowd had ample reason to hold off on rushing to the concession stand.

Shelton Benjamin stunned viewers when he, as Jericho was about to pull down the briefcase, ran up a sloped ladder, skipping off each rung, and clotheslined Jericho to the mat.

In the end, Benoit seemed to have the match won, but an opportunistic Edge bashed him with a steel chair, climbed up, and took the goods for himself.


17. Macho Man Randy Savage vs. Hulk Hogan (WrestleMania V – April 2, 1989)
One year after becoming WWF Champion, Savage found himself remaining jealous of friend/partner Hogan. After Hogan attempted to rescue an injured Miss Elizabeth during an episode of The Main Event, Savage’s envy spilled over into accusations of coveting on The Hulkster’s part. Savage clocked Hogan with the WWF Title, and the friendship was severed.

With Savage’s woman taking a neutral corner, Savage and Hogan went right at it, with both men holding nothing back. In a telling moment, Hogan went after Savage outside the ring, and Macho Man, once heroic, pulled Elizabeth in the way as Hogan went to swing at him.

After the champion busted Hogan open, Savage largely took control of the match. Ultimately, he landed the flying elbow smash, but Hogan, somehow, managed to kick out. Savage fell victim to Hogan’s patented finish, including leg drop, and Hogan had become the WWF champion for the second time.


16. Eddie Guerrero vs. Kurt Angle (WrestleMania XX – March 14, 2004)
Guerrero’s impressive comeback from alcoholism issues led to his unlikely reign as WWE Champion. His first major task as Smackdown’s top dog in 2004 was to defend the gold against one of his fiercest rivals.

Angle did his best to outwrestle Guerrero, who had a swift counter for much of Angle’s onslaught. Angle, however, wisely worked the champ’s ankle, knowing that his ankle lock could fell men stronger than “Latino Heat”.

On three occasions, Angle had the ankle lock sunk in, but Guerrero, demonstrating iron will, refused to give in any of those times. Guerrero then loosened his wrestling boot, presumably to relieve pressure on pain and swelling. Angle, however, saw this as a sign that the ankle was softened up.

On a fourth ankle lock attempt, Guerrero kicked Angle off, with the boot slipping off as well. Guerrero then cradled a rightly surprised Angle to retain his hard-earned championship.


15. Hulk Hogan vs. Ultimate Warrior (WrestleMania VI – April 1, 1990)
Never before had two heroes the caliber of Hogan and Warrior faced off in such an important match. For that matter, with both belts, the WWF World and Intercontinental titles, respectively, on the line, perhaps no match had more significance.

Warrior and Hogan engaged in a test of strength early, with both men getting advantages at different points. Hogan, for his part, showed a new kind of aggression, wrenching Warrior with a chinlock and spiking his knees into Warrior’s back for extra torment.

After referee Earl Hebner took a spill, both men, concurrently, had the other man pinned. Since the fall didn’t count either time, the match resumed. Warrior landed the gorilla press and splash on Hogan, who kicked out. Hogan went into his finishing routine, but missed the leg drop. Warrior then landed a second splash to claim both belts, an upset victory, and an endorsement handshake from Hulk.


14. John Cena vs. Shawn Michaels (WrestleMania XXIII – April 1, 2007)
Two years after becoming WWE Champion for the first time, Cena was turning into a fixture of landmark main events, so who better to face off with than Mr. WrestleMania himself at WrestleMania?

Michaels, in an attempt to deconstruct the champ, worked the knee tightly try and take the FU out of the equation. Cena responded by casting Michaels into the ring post, opening a nasty gusher on the challenger’s head.

Michaels, however, wouldn’t be outdone in the anarchy department, as he separated the ring steps and piledrove Cena onto them, splitting the top of his head open. However, even that couldn’t keep Cena down.

With both men rapidly weakening, an exchange of finishers still wasn’t enough to finish. Finally, Cena latched onto Michaels with his STFU, and Shawn held on as best he could, before finally tapping out. Cena attempted a handshake, but a proud Michaels blew him off.


13. Bret Hart vs. Shawn Michaels (WrestleMania XII – March 31, 1996)
For many fans, it’s a slow-paced exchange of holds that can’t get a grip on their attention. But for others, it’s a masterpiece of technical wrestling that very few wrestlers have the ability, or endurance, to duplicate.

Michaels tried to outwrestle the WWF’s resident master technician, spending the early portion of this Iron Man match for the WWF Championship by working Hart’s arm. After mat exchanges, the fight spilled outside, where Michaels would inadvertently give Sweet Chin Music to Tony Chimel, a then-ring attendant.

With the match deadlocked at 0-0 with the minutes ticking by, both men began to get desperate. Michaels threw his body around, while Hart continued to work Shawn’s back. In the final minute, Hart snared a Sharpshooter, and Michaels held on until the bell rang. The match went to overtime, where Michaels, two Sweet Chin Musics later, pinned Hart and realized his dream of being champion.


12. Ultimate Warrior vs. Macho King Randy Savage (WrestleMania VII – March 24, 1991)
After Warrior refused to grant a title match to Savage, the crazed Macho King cost Warrior his WWF Title at the 1991 Royal Rumble. Both men then agreed to face off in a match where the loser had to retire.

Warrior worked more conservatively as usual, slowing down his normal pace to merely try and overpower Savage. For Savage’s part, Queen Sherri interfered like mad to try and save her meal ticket’s job.

Late in the match, Savage hit five flying elbows, but still couldn’t win. Warrior then landed his finishing sequence, and couldn’t win either. After Savage took a hard landing into the railing, Warrior landed some hard shoulder blocks and pinned Savage to cost him his career.

As Sherri berated a wounded Savage for losing, Miss Elizabeth (in the crowd) jumped the rail to throw Sherri out. Savage and Elizabeth would then reunite in a tearful, beautiful moment.


11. Hulk Hogan vs. Andre the Giant (WrestleMania III – March 29, 1987)
No, it wasn’t a technical classic, but who cares? Money-wise, hype-wise, it’s the biggest match to have ever taken place in the annals of professional wrestling.

Andre, allegedly undefeated for over 15 years, turned on Hogan and hired Bobby Heenan to be his manager. Hogan accepted Andre’s callous challenge for the WWF Title, and the match filled the Pontiac Silverdome.

Hogan couldn’t take Andre off his feet, and the big Frenchman wore Hogan down with slams, clubs, and an extended bear hug. Hogan, however, wasn’t going away lightly.

Hogan caught a break when Andre smacked his own head into the ringpost. That was the opening Hulk needed as, late in the match, Hogan charged into the Giant and took him off his feet, to the shock and awe of the world. And then it happened: Hogan slammed Andre to the canvas, landed his leg drop, and scored the monumental victory.


(Justin Henry is a freelance writer whose interests are rooted in NFL, MLB, NBA, wrestling, MMA, and entertainment. He can be found on Twitter at https://twitter.com/cynicjrh and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/notoriousjrh so check him out)