WrestleMania and Starrcade were the two biggest events of the year for WWE and WCW, respectively.
These were the events where the biggest matches happened, and year-long angles would finally draw to a climactic end.
While they did not always go to plan (Hogan vs Sting and Roman Reigns vs anybody come to mind), it is always a prestigious honor to be going on last at the biggest show of the year.
Only a select few men can boast main eventing both WrestleMania and Starrcade. Six legendary wrestlers hold that honor, and we will go through each one for you right here!.
Randy Savage (Starrcade 1995, WrestleMania IV, V & VI)
Starrcade Main Events: 1995
WrestleMania Main Events: IV & V
Randy Savage is one of the six men to main event both WrestleMania and Starrcade.
He wrestled in the main event of two-consecutive WrestleMania main events, doing so at WrestleMania IV and V
These saw him do battle with three very different opponents, fighting Ted DiBiase, Ric Flair and Hulk Hogan in three fantastic matches.
He redid his WrestleMania V match at Starrcade 1995, defending the WCW World Heavyweight Championship against Ric Flair in the main event of the event.
Hulk Hogan (Starrcade 1994, 1996 & 1997, Various WrestleMania
Starrcade Main Events: 1994, 1996, 1997
WrestleMania Main Events: I, II, III, V, VI, VII, VIII, XI
Coming in with nine WrestleMania main events, it seems obvious that Hulk Hogan would be on this list.
His most famous match was the bout with Andre The Giant in the main event of WrestleMania III, although he had the last match in nine of the first ten WrestleManias.
Hogan also main evented three Starrcades, in 1994, 1996 and 1997. His match against Sting in 1997 is seen as one of the biggest matches of all time, although Hogan used his creative control to ruin the match, and WCW, forever.
Roddy Piper
Starrcade Main Events: 1996
WrestleMania Main Events: I
Roddy Piper is only man to wrestle in the main event of only one WrestleMania, and one Starrcade.
Piper battled alongside Paul Orndorff in the main event of WrestleMania I, taking on the duo of Hulk Hogan and Mr T in a huge tag team match.
He also faced off with Hogan at Starrcade 1996, coming into the company as a massive babyface against his long-time rival for a long-awaited rematch.
Sycho Sid
Starrcade Main Events: 2000
WrestleMania Main Events: VIII, XIII
Sycho Sid (or Sid Vicious) has an impressive WrestleMania record. He only wrestled twice at the event, but both times were in the main event.
Sid battled Hulk Hogan in the main event of WrestleMania VIII, before taking on The Undertaker for his streak and the WWE Championship five years later, at WrestleMania XIII.
Nearly a decade later, Sid faced Scott Steiner for the WCW World Championship at Starrcade 2000, where he was forced to tap out of the Steiner Recliner.
Bret Hart
Starrcade Main Events: 1999
WrestleMania Main Events: X, XII
Wrestling in two (should be three, but wasn’t thanks to Hulk Hogan) WrestleMania main events, Bret Hart’s largely forgetten WCW run means he does make it on this list.
The Hitman went on last at Starrcade 1999, battling Goldberg for the WCW Championship.
This was the match where Goldberg kicked Bret Hart in the head, giving him a concussion that would lead to his retirement, and cause the stroke that almost killed him in a motorcycle accident.
He also wrestled against Shawn Michaels in the main event of WrestleMania XII, in the legendary one-hour Iron Man match.
Kevin Owens
Starrcade Main Events:
WrestleMania Main Events:
While Kevin’s Owens’ WrestleMania or Starrcade main events weren’t as traditional as others, the history books have him main eventing both.
Owens main evented his first WrestleMania at WrestleMania 38. On the first night of the 2022 edition of the show, Kevin Owens goaded “Stone Cold” Steve Austin out of retirement for one last match.
Owens lost that match, but would come back the next year to main event once again. He teamed with Sami Zayn to win the WWE Tag Team Titles, defeating The Usos.
He also wrestled in the main event of a version of Starrcade. WWE brought back the show as a non-televised live event in 2017, lasting only three years before being decommisioned again.
In 2019, Kevin Owens wrestled against Bobby Lashley in the main event of Starrcade, becoming the only current WWE star to main event both WrestleMania and Starrcade.