Our team come up with their favourite moments from 31 years of WrestleMania in our special WrestleMania Countdown week.
WIth the biggest Pay-Per-View of the year, WrestleMania, imminent we here at TWM would ike to take this time to look back at some of the things that make Mania so special for Wrestling fans. We tasked our team with coming up with their “Favourite Five” WrestleMania Moments for our WrestleMania Countdown week and they certainly didn’t disappoint. The following pages showcase the diversity of writing styles that we have at TWM so sit back and relax as the team bring you their favourite WrestleMania Moments.
For my five moments I’m not picking the moments that made it special for the world at large or the promotion’s history (so no Hulk slamming Andre for me as that was three years before my first Mania) . I’m picking the five moments that meant most to me as a fan…for better or worse.
THE ULTIMATE CHALLENGE (WrestleMania VI)
This is here simply because this is where WWF wrestling started for me. I was a big fan of British wrestling, as seen on ITV on Saturday lunchtimes. American Wrestling wasn’t on my radar. Until New Year’s Eve 1990, and me and my dad where at home watching TV, with my mum on a night shift. I stayed up late and Sky Television were showing a replay of WrestleMania VI. I don’t know if it was the whole show or just highlights. But my dad switched on and it was Hogan vs Warrior. It’s no exaggeration to say that it blew my mind. The spectacle, the crowd, the atmosphere. It was a world away from Big Daddy wrestling another fat guy in front of 200 people in a local town hall. I probably would have discovered American Wrestling in due course, if only because it was the only game in town really, but I often wonder if it was fate that night that changed the channels and hooked me on the world of “Sports Entertainment” for life.
THE REUNION (WrestleMania VII)
I’m not even that sure that if in early 1991 I was completely aware of the long history between Macho Man Randy Savage and Miss Elizabeth. It was years later before I knew that they were married in real life long before SummerSlam ’91 (and the idea when I was 10 years old that Savage and Liz could be on opposite sides on TV but together in real life would have been beyond my comprehension). And yet at this, my first “real-time” Mania the emotional bond between the two was simply spellbinding. And I had to tell my mother off for crying when Macho and Liz hugged in the ring. It sowed the seeds in my brain though that wrestling was not just about entertainment. It could be about real-life emotions too. Without that kind of pull, there’s a chance that the magic of wrestling could have been lost to me forever when I found out it was two people in tight Lycra pretending to fight…
BOYHOOD DREAM REALISED (WrestleMania XII)
Although “smarter” to the business in 1996 than I was five years earlier, I was still at a stage where there was doubt in my mind as to whether or not Shawn Michaels could defeated Bret Hart in the Iron Man Match to finally become the WWF Champion. My belief in Shawn had been dented the year before when he’d failed to unseat then champion Diesel, but I was hoping that my favourite wrestler could finally get the job done this time around. I probably fell for the over-time tease, thinking that Bret had survived even though I also distinctly remember being annoyed with Bret for his whinge that he didn’t expect the match to continue after the hour was up as even I knew there “had to be a winner”. But to see Shawn on his knees in the centre of the ring, cradling the WWF title belt was one of those rare moments in wrestling that someone you really like gets the accolade they deserve, in the manner in which they deserve it. The Boyhood Dream……has come true…..for SHAWN MICHAELS!
HULK HOGAN RETURNS (WrestleMania X8)
Realising the dream to finally make it to a WrestleMania LIVE, me and my mates found ourselves in Toronto in 2002 and if I’m being honest I don’t actually recall how I felt when I learned that Hulk Hogan was returning to the company. I don’t think it dawned on me just what a moment it would be for the Hulkster to be back at Mania. The day before Mania it hit me when we stepped out of the lift into the hotel lobby and there he was, THE biggest star that wrestling had ever known…Hulk Hogan. Although he was clearly short on time, he happily posed for a picture, pressed the flesh and offered to make my near 6 feet tall mate his tag team partner.
But it was the next night that was the real killer. It was a thrill simply to be at a Mania, even if it hadn’t lived up to the level of in-ring action of the year before. But when that music kicked in it was like all my hopes and dreams and years as a wrestling fan had culminated in that moment. For the next twenty minutes or so we were on the ride of our lives, and no matter how cool The Rock undoubtedly was we were all Hulkamaniac’s again.
“I’M SORRY. I LOVE YOU” (WrestleMania 24)
Retirement stipulations in wrestling are worthless. We all know that (barring the odd exception). And it was perhaps clear in hindsight that Ric Flair’s retirement at WrestleMania 24 was never going to be one of those exceptions. The man loves the spotlight too much. But still, even though we knew it was coming and that it would inevitably not be adhered to, you could allow yourself to believe that this really was it, not least because he was in there with one of the greatest ever, Shawn Michaels. He made you believe this was the end and that he was determined to send Flair out on a high. He also made you believe that he really didn’t want to do it. He didn’t want to send his idol packing. And those whispered words moments before the super-kick said it all. “I’m sorry. I love you.” If wrestling is about suspension of disbelief, that spot nailed it. I’m not ashamed to say there was a tear in my eye. What happened since with Flair in no way lessens the greatness of that spot on the night.
– By Matthew Roberts | @IWFICON
I’ve decided to tackle this task from a slightly different perspective than perhaps the rest of team TWM have approached it from. Rather than just listing several popular moments in the context of the “WWE Universe” – as in what we’ve been conditioned over 25 years to believe is a WrestleMania moment, I’ll instead look back on MY time as a fan and list things that have happened at a WrestleMania and for whatever reason I still get a kick out of now; Happy that I was able to enjoy these moments as they happened and still remember them with fondness today.
1.) “Arriba” McEntire, Heenan’s commentary and HBK arrives – WrestleMania VIII
WrestleMania should always kick off with a hearty piece of flag waving and generic patriotism from our American cousins, so that’s exactly how I’m starting my list. Nowadays we’re bombarded with gloriously OTT video montages featuring soldiers hugging kids or a golden eagle perched atop the stars and stripes or whatever but in the earlier days things were a bit more understated. Country music superstar Reba McEntire’s rendition of “Star Spangled Banner” to kick of WM8 was about as close to moving as another nation’s anthem could be to a non-native and the seamless transition from pre-show patriotism into the in ring action here all combines as definitely one of my fave WrestleMania memories, thanks in no small part to Bobby Heenan on commentary. Here he was wisecracking like a boss, referring to McEntire as “Tito’s sister” as the arriba-man made his entrance before going into full-on hype mode, continually putting over Shawn Michaels during his first major singles match. HBK’s ring introduction here is pretty bloody iconic, strutting to the ring as the original version of “Sexy Boy” with Sherri’s vocals all over it booms around the massive Hoosierdome. Awesome stuff all around at what was in my opinion definitely one of the most underrated WrestleManias.
2.) Salt ‘n Pepa at WrestleMania XI
In the realms of naff WrestleManias, XI was a pretty weak show. On paper the line-up really is quite piss-poor and it came during perhaps the most uninspiring period in WWF/E history, yet for me it still holds more entertainment value than 50% of the other shows in the WrestleMania archive thanks to its outrageously naff pop-culture value because of the abundance of 1990’s American celebrities involved. And for me, that’s a big part of what WrestleMania is all about. You can have the greatest card of matches and in-ring action ever put together but unless there are familiar faces from other areas of entertainment to add a bit of zing, WrestleMania becomes basically just another wrestling show. Celebrities and celebrity interaction make WrestleMania what it is and on that criteria WM11 does actually score quite highly what with NFL players galore, TV stars and top class bintage like the unbelievably smoking-hot Jenny McCarthy overshadowing even Pamela Anderson. But it’s Salt ‘n Pepa’s awesome live performance of “Whatta Man” with customized Lawrence Taylor lyrics before the main event, that really stands out as a cool WrestleMania celebrity moment for me. Live music and WrestleMania go hand in hand and there’s no denying this ranks right up there as one of the best.
3.) Stone Cold vs Bret Hart – WrestleMania XIII
Surely everyone knows how great this match was. Not only that, also how significant it is in the timeline of the WWF/WWE. If Austin’s “3:16” speech at KotR ’96 was the birth of the Stone Cold character after his initial gestation period as The Ringmaster, WM13 opposite Bret Hart was when the Austin phenomenon came of age, hit adulthood and started smoking, drinking and shagging everything in its path. The WrestleMania moment here is much more than just that iconic image of Stone Cold’s bloodied face or the crimson-covered canvas featured in the last 5 minutes of the match, its this entire 22:04 classic and the post-match double-turn which is the real WrestleMania moment. An absolute scorcher from start to finish and 17 years later still my favourite wrestling match ever. A fact I even acknowledged at the time by standing up and giving a genuine round of applause at 2:00am, in my living room with just my older brother.
4.) Rock/Hogan – WrestleMania XVIII
I could write a essay on this match. I was there live in Toronto’s Skydome as these two icons stood toe-to-toe in front of 70,000 fans. That should tell you everything you need to know about its significance to me. About as perfect a WrestleMania moment as you can have. A memory I treasure and will continue to do so for the rest of my days. Enough said.
5.) Christian/Chris Jericho/Trish– WrestleMania XX
Slightly more abstract I know, and no doubt a match and moment many people have forgotten about but hey, it’s my list so I’m gonna run with it. I just absolutely loved the whole soap-opera nature of this storyline and indeed the Trish heel turn at the conclusion of the match where she laid a great big smacker on Christian was brilliantly played out. Going into the card, this was one of those matches that felt like a bit of an afterthought and merely a way to get two popular wrestlers on the card without them stealing too much spotlight. Looking back on it now though and the considerable build-up which started the previous December, this remains a classic example of slow-burn booking and how to make the most of a situation as these guys certainly did just that. We don’t see enough of this type of twisting, turning storyline these days though.
– By Dave Green
I’ve decided to tackle this based on moments that have special meaning to me personally, rather than those that most general wrestling fans would expect to be typical “WrestleMania Moments”, though I would imagine one or two of them might be your personal favourites aswell.
THE ULTIMATE CHALLENGE – WrestleMania VI
The first WrestleMania I ever got to witness as a wrestling fan. I actually only saw this in late 1991, which obviously was even after WrestleMania VII had aired. My first ever wrestling event me and my dad rented from the video store was Survivor Series 1990. This was the second. I’d already fallen in love with Warrior and Hogan as characters from Survivor Series, and after seeing the amazing video cover for this I had to see what would happen when these two behemoths collided. The ultimate moment for me in this match was the pyro going off behind the Warrior as he hoisted both the Intercontinental and WWF Championship belts up high.
ZIPLINING INTO STARDOM – WrestleMania XII
This being moments and not matches and all that, I chose WrestleMania XII as being one of my favourite WrestleMania moments not because of the iron man match itself, but the scene of Shawn Michaels ziplining into the Anaheim Pond. A scene that has been played over many a WrestleMania intro video and DVD but a moment that always sticks in my head because even as an 8 year old child at the time, I just knew Shawn Michaels was going to win. The cry of Vince McMahon of “OH MY LOOK AT THAT” as he made his way into the kliq in the crowd makes this moment even better. A scene that resonates with me just as much as the famous “Boyhood dream has come true” line from Vince.
INTRO – WrestleMania X-Seven
WrestleMania X-Seven is one of the greatest WrestleMania’s of all-time. Up until 2001, WrestleMania had always been seen as the grandest stage of them all, but had never had a defining introduction video telling the amazing story of WrestleMania. WrestleMania was always great, but for me, X-Seven was a sort of rebirth or WrestleMania jumping into a league entirely on it’s own. WCW was dead, and WWF was now the only game in town, and so they had every right to celebrate. And celebrate they did with this amazing introduction video that thanks to the WWE Network, I can go back and watch any time I want to. The opening line of “It is an entralling legacy” says it all. I still get chills every time I watch this back. WrestleMania X8’s intro video was fantastic too, but this is better.
THE STAREDOWN – WrestleMania X8
In all my time as a wrestling fan I never in a million years thought I would get to see Hulk Hogan vs. The Rock. The icon of the past vs. The icon of now. A match that still sends a chill up and down my spine every time I watch it. Far from a scientific wrestling classic, the reaction of the fans and both combatants make this my 2nd favourite WrestleMania moment of all-time. The moment where Jim Ross proclaims himself to be honoured to see the moment, Jerry Lawler says he has chills and both The Rock and Hogan staring each other down as 67,000 fans go nuts. The best part for me is when each of them looks in the opposite direction. They face off again, and both look the other way. Just as this happens, the camera shoots to a guy in the crowd who is doing the Hogan listening motion, hand to ear, and the guy behind him clearly having tears in his eyes. Just an amazing moment, and for 11 years was my favourite of all time. Until…
UNDERTAKER’S ENTRANCE IN PERSON – WrestleMania 29
…I had the pleasure of attending a WrestleMania myself for the very first time. As biased as I am, even I can’t kid myself into believing this WrestleMania was great, because it wasn’t. However the match between CM Punk and The Undertaker certainly was. I just can’t put into words just how amazing that feeling is when you enter the stadium and you see the WrestleMania set-up for the very first time. It stopped me dead in my tracks, and I just stared for a good few minutes. I took my seat, and even then it didn’t hit me until just before, that I would actually see The Undertaker’s WrestleMania entrance for the very first time. When that first gong hit I felt energy through my body like I’d never felt before. A chill down my spine that gets replicated as I type this. Anybody who’s experience this in person can tell you when that music hits, you DO feel cold, you ARE in awe.
I’m not ashamed to admit that when he made his iconic pose at the corner of the ring, and the lights came up and the pyro went off around the arena, I had a tear in my eyes. After watching WrestleMania from home for 23 long years, I was here. In the New York area nonetheless. A place I’d always dreamed of going to. That feeling was second only to stepping into the hallowed halls of Madison Square Garden. But that’s another story for another time.
– By Dean Puckering | @TWMDean