Wrestlemania has been the diamond of WWE for 39 years. Created in 1985, the Showcase of the Immortals is the biggest show of the year and WWE puts all its weight behind it. They bring out the best matches and biggest celebrities to give the audience a big night feel, one that they will never forget.
On average, WWE has a great track record with their show of shows, but there are always going to be some that get a reputation. There have been a few, however, that get hated on that shouldn’t. There are Wrestlemania’s out there that, despite their reputation, are better than your average show. Below we will look at 5 Wrestlemania’s that deserve a second chance and a second look!
Wrestlemania V
The Golden Era of wrestling was not known for its mat classics. It was more pomp and circumstance than anything, but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t an incredibly entertaining time. This is exactly why Wrestlemania V should be looked on more fondly than it is.
Hulk Hogan taking on World Champion Randy Savage is the stand-out match from the show. The build-up was fantastic, and the match was easily one of the best of Hogans career. It was a fitting end to Wrestlemania V, but it was not the only match of note on the card.
Jake Roberts v Andre was a fun little match. Andre’s fear of snakes was hilarious and Big John Studd, as the referee, added more drama to the match. Then there was a fantastic match for the IC title. Rick Rude and The Ultimate Warrior showcased some impressive technical skill that ended in a surprise win for The Ravishing One.
Outside of those great matches there was a smattering of other entertaining contests. Add to that a great Pipers Pit segment and you had a much better than advertised Wrestlemania.
Wrestlemania 25
Billed as the 25th Anniversary of Wrestlemania, which we all know is a lie, this was a show that has gotten a ton of hate over the years. It makes little sense for the haters to rip into this PPV as much as they do.
Naturally, HBK and The Undertakers instant classic will be the most talked about match. Both veterans put on a clinic of professional wrestling.
Y2J taking on the team of Ricky Steamboat, Roddy Piper and Jimmy Snuka could have been a disaster if not for a tremendous 8 minutes from Steamboat. He showed that he still had some left in the tank and gave the fans the perfect Wrestlemania moment.
Then we had a great Money in the Bank match to open the show and an underrated Extreme Rules match between the brothers Hardy. They were both great showcases and offered a different look to the evening from other mat classics.
The main event gets some flack, and understandably so, but it isn’t as bad as many think. From top to bottom this was an entertaining night that should be looked on fondly.
Wrestlemania XV
At the height of the Attitude Era and most PPV’s were overbooked messes. This was the norm at the time and when done well can still be one heck of a good watch. Wrestlemania XV was the best example of this.
The main event between Austin and The Rock was as advertised. It was a great brawl that saw both men tearing the arena apart. There wasn’t much to the match but that doesn’t matter when its Austin and The Rock.
Outside of that match there other very entertaining Attitude Era matches. The Hardcore Triple Threat Match was a train wreck and highlighted every way in which the Hardcore Division was a hidden gem. The European title match was a sprint that saw Shane McMahon surprise many.
Then we had the great double-turn by HHH and Chyna that took up multiple matches. It was a great mini-story and one that no one saw coming. And of course, Pete Rose and Kane’s continuing feud was a hilarious addition to the night.
Wrestlemania XV was exactly why the Attitude Era was great. It was a mess and confusing and overbooked, but it was exciting and you couldn’t take your eyes off it. It was memorable and one that should be considered better than it is.
Wrestlemania 36 (Night One)
The pandemic forced major changes to Wrestlemania 36. Moving the show to the performance center without an audience was a necessary move. It was also a move that caused many to shy away from the show. Which is a shame because the first night of Wrestlemania was a damn entertaining night and one that, while only taking place a few years ago, is forgotten in many a mind.
Night One of Wrestlemania 36 had a slew of great matches on the card. The cinematic main event, The Undertakers final match, was unique in all the right ways. The action was heavy and WWE did a great job of adding supernatural elements to the match without making it seem too out there.
Then there were some great matches including a banger between Seth Rollins and Kevin Owens and a fantastic ladder match for the tag team titles. Both were stand outs on the card.
There was also a great opener for the Women’s Tag Titles. Alexa Bliss, Nikki A.S.H and the Kabuki Warriors were given plenty of time to tell a great story, and they delivered one of the best Women’s tag matches in recent memory.
Covid ruined a lot of things for a lot of people. Wrestlemania should not be considered a failure because of no fans but should be applauded for putting on a great Night One that gets forgotten too quickly.
Wrestlemania 29
Twice in a Lifetime will be the cloud that hangs over Wrestlemania 29. The second meeting between John Cena and The Rock was a massive disappointment but it should not cast that shadow over the entire card.
CM Punk taking on the undefeated streak of The Undertaker was great. It was a fantastic match that included all the drama and suspense that one would expect out of a match between these two.
The No Holds Barred Match pitting HHH against Brock was the perfect amount of car wreck. It was gritty and sloppy and delivered on the violence. The match for the World Heavyweight Championship was better than it had any business being. Del Rio and Swagger deserve more credit for their work in that match.
This was also the first Wrestlemania appearance of the Shield. Their six-man tag opposite The Big Show, Randy Orton and Sheamus was a fast-paced slug fest that was a great way to get the crowd hot.
There was more to the show than just the main event. It deserves a second look by the wrestling world.