After WrestleMania 39 put on one of the greatest shows of all time, we have a look at the best matches in WrestleMania history.
WrestleMania goes into its 40th year next year, and the show has grown in stature year after year.
From its almost humble beginnings with Hulk Hogan teaming with Mr T against Roddy Piper and Paul Orndorff all the way to Roman Reigns beating Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 39, WrestleMania has proved to be one of the best shows the WWE puts on, with some of the best matches in the company’s history.
With the current obsession in WWE for talent to have their “Wrestlemania Moment”, wrestlers go all out on the big show to pull off the best Wrestlemania matches they possible can.
A big moment on the biggest show if the year will be replayed for years to come and can etch a wrestlers name in the halls of WWE immortality forever. As Wrestlemania 38 comes up, wrestlers will be thinking of new ways to excite the crowd and impress everybody watching at home.
Someone like Shawn Michaels is remembered as “Mr WrestleMania” in WWE. Despite that name, he has a horrible record at WrestleMania, losing more times at the show than he won.
In fact, after his return from injury in 2002, he only won twice at WrestleMania. One of those matches was even against Vince McMahon, where there was literally no chance of him ever losing to the chairman.
Here we will look at the top 10 rated matches in Wrestlemania history. Using Cagematch.net, we will look at what wrestling fans voted as the top matches. This does not show what is the biggest, or most important match in Wrestlemania history.
For instance, Hogan vs Andre may be the most iconic match in WWE history. However, Andre the Giant was well past his prime and Hogan could never carry anyone to a great match.
Here are the 10 best Wrestlemania matches in WWE history, ranking from 10 to 1.
25. Cody Rhodes vs Seth Rollins (WrestleMania 38)
Cody Rhodes made his long awaited return to the WWE at WrestleMania 38, becoming the first big star to jump ship from AEW.
He wrestled Seth Rollins in an open challenge, as the crowd erupted when the words “Wrestling Has More Than One Royal Family” emanate from the arena speaker.
He defeated Rollins with a Bionic Elbow and Cross Rhodes, paying tribute to his dad (Dusty Rhodes) in one of the best WrestleMania matches ever.
24. Roman Reigns vs Brock Lesnar vs Seth Rollins (WrestleMania 31)
The main event of WrestleMania 31 is one of the best WrestleMania matches ever, purely for the incredible second half of the match.
The first half was a decent showing. Lesnar and Reigns beat the holy hell out of each other. Lesnar in particular laid into Roman Reigns, hitting him with some uncomfortable looking punches.
Reigns looked to have won the match after a series of Superman punches and spears, until Seth Rollins music it. He ran down the ramp and cashed in the Money in the Bank he had won the year prior, adding himself to the match and making it a triple threat.
After a fight between the three, Seth Rollins pinned Roman Reigns to win his first WWE Championship, in what is still one of the greatest WrestleMania moments of all time.
23. Daniel Bryan vs Batista vs Randy Orton (WrestleMania 30)
The culmination of Daniel Bryan’s year-long journey to the WWE Championship finally culminated in the main event of WrestleMania 30.
Defeating Triple H earlier that night (which is a match that features later on this list), The American Dragon earned his spot in the main event against Royal Rumble winner Batista and WWE World Heavyweight Champion Randy Orton.
The match started out as a two-on-one handicap match, with the two Evolution teammates ganging up on the smaller challenger. However, greed soon gets to them and they turn on each other, given Daniel Bryan the chance to seize his opportunity.
After a fantastic match, Daniel Bryan hit the Solid Knee Plus on Batista, before locking in the Yes Lock and forcing him to tap out, winning the WWE Championship in one of the best matches in WrestleMania history.
You can read about Daniel Bryan’s journey to WrestleMania 30 by clicking the link below.
22. Daniel Bryan vs Edge vs Roman Reigns (WrestleMania 37)
Almost a carbon copy of the circumstances surround the previous entry. Daniel Bryan joined the Royal Rumble winner (Edge) and the World Champion (Roman Reigns) in the main event of WrestleMania 37.
Luckily, once again they managed to put on one of the best WrestleMania matches of all time.
The match was as action packed as they came, and at times you believed any man could walk out of the arena with the WWE Championship. However, despite fan opinion being divided between Edge and Bryan to win, it was Roman Reigns who won the match and retained the title.
He pinned both men at once, stacking them on top of each other and getting the three count to continue his dominance over the WWE. All three men in the match were brilliant wrestlers and showcased it well in this match. It certainly deserves a spot on Edge’s best matches in WWE.
This match was also one of Edge’s best matches in his career;
21. Edge vs The Undertaker (WrestleMania 24)
The main event of WrestleMania 24 pitted World Heavyweight Champion Edge against his most formidable challenge yet.
He defended his title against The Undertaker, one of the greatest wrestlers in WWE history. The Deadman fought off Edge and the entirety of La Familia to defeat the champion and walk out of the show as the new top star on Smackdown.
While many thought that Batista vs John Cena, or Ric Flair vs Shawn Michaels, should have main-evented the show, the two legends put on a hell of a match to earn themselves the accolade of the 21st best match in WrestleMania history.
20. The First Money In The Bank (WrestleMania 21)
At WrestleMania 21, WWE introduced a brand-new match type – The Money In The Bank Ladder Match. Created by Chris Jericho, the match saw six men compete in a ladder match to win a briefcase containing a contract, owing the winner a WWE title match.
The first match is still considered one of the best matches at WrestleMania. It featured many former WWE champions and legends, including;
- Chris Jericho
- Chris Benoit
- Christian Cage
- Edge
- Kane
- Shelton Benjamin
It was an innovative match for it’s time, with many spots and moments from the match being used in ladder matches for years to come.
It was so successful that the Money in the Bank ladder match was later given it’s own pay per view.
19. Daniel Bryan vs Triple H (WrestleMania 30)
As we previously mentioned, Daniel Bryan had to beat Triple H at WrestleMania 30 to earn a shot at the main event, later in the night.
He did just that, replacing the CM Punk vs Triple H match that was originally planned for the show, until Punk walked out of the WWE following the 2014 Royal Rumble.
The match combined the best of both men’s styles, featuring some technical wrestling and some explosive moves, that ended in Bryan pinning The Game after a running knee earned him a WWE Championship match later in the show.
18. Sami Zayn & Kevin Owens vs The Usos (WrestleMania 39)
The first tag team title match to main event WrestleMania saw the culmination of Sami Zayn’s feud with the Bloodline.
He teamed with long-time friend Kevin Owens at WrestleMania, winning the tag team titles for the first time in their WWE careers.
This match was an emotional match, which called back to their long careers together.
17. Shawn Michaels vs John Cena (WrestleMania 23)
Despite calls for Undertaker and Batista to go on last at WrestleMania 23, Vince McMahon made the call to have John Cena vs Shawn Michaels as the main event of the show.
He made the right call, as the two huge stars put on one of the best WrestleMania match of all time.
John Cena put his WWE Championship on the line against WWE Hall of Famer Shawn Michaels, who was aiming for his first WWE Championship since losing to Steve Austin a decade prior.
The match was a back-and-forth classic, and showed the crowd for the first time that John Cena could hang with the best wrestlers in the world.
16. CM Punk vs The Undertaker (WrestleMania 29)
The incredible canon of the Undertaker is proved by the fact that this match is only his eighth best match. CM Punk vs The Undertaker is one of the greatest WWE matches in the past ten years and the last great match from the Undertaker.
CM Punk had a chip on his shoulder coming into this match and it showed. He worked this match at 100 miles per hour, not letting the Deadman breath as he dominated the man twice his size.
Angry at missing out on the WrestleMania 29 main event, CM Punk made it his mission to drag the Undertaker to a match of the year candidate that showed Vince who really should have been the main event.
This was one of the best WrestleMania matches ever, and just one of the classic bouts CM Punk had in his final run with the WWE.
15. Daniel Bryan vs Kofi Kingston (WrestleMania 34)
One of the most emotional matches in WrestleMania history saw Kofi Kingston win the WWE Championship for the first time, over a decade after his debut in the company.
Having been held down over his career, the WWE booked a carefully crafted story exploring that fact. Factoring in this like racial injustice, and Daniel Bryan mimicking his own feud with the Authority (calling Kofi a B+ player), the rivalry was one of the greatest in history.
After an emotional rollercoaster of a match, Byron Saxton had the honour of calling the biggest win in Kofi’s career, which as you’d expect with Daniel Bryan at the helm, was an all-time great bout in the history of WrestleMania.
14. Ric Flair vs Shawn Michaels (WrestleMania 24)
At the end (well…) of his legendary career, Ric Flair pulled out an all-time performance in his battle with another GOAT contender.
Hit with a stipulation where he would be forced to retire if he lost, Ric Flair made it all the way to WrestleMania 24 undefeated, claiming scalps from stars like Carlito, Vince McMahon and Triple H.
Here, he was met with Shawn Michaels. The pair wrestled a story-heavy match, with explored all the greatest hits of Flair’s career, ending with the most emotional finish in wrestling history.
“I’m sorry. I love you”.
13. Randy Savage vs Ricky Steamboat (WrestleMania 3)
The Ricky Steamboat vs. Randy Savage match at WrestleMania III is widely regarded as one of the greatest wrestling matches of all time. These two ring technicians put on a display of athleticism, storytelling, and in-ring psychology that left the audience in awe. From the opening bell, Steamboat and Savage captivated the crowd with their fluidity and precision in executing high-flying maneuvers and technical holds.
The match had a perfect blend of high spots and grounded action, with both competitors showcasing their distinct styles. Steamboat’s agility and technical prowess complemented Savage’s aggressive and calculated approach. The near falls and dramatic moments had the crowd on the edge of their seats, as every move seemed to build towards an epic climax.
What truly set this match apart was the masterful storytelling. Steamboat’s underdog journey and Savage’s villainous tactics created a gripping narrative that resonated with the audience. The chemistry between the two was palpable, and their seamless execution of sequences made every moment feel organic and intense.
In the end, Ricky Steamboat’s victory and the match itself became a legendary moment in wrestling history. It stands as a shining example of what professional wrestling can achieve when two talented performers are given the platform to create magic in the ring.
12. Dudley Boys vs Hardy Boyz vs Edge & Christian (WrestleMania X7)
The best tag team match in WrestleMania history was the absolute bonkers TLC match at WrestleMania X7.
There of the top teams in the world (Hardy Boyz, Dudley Boys and Edge & Christian) but their lives on the line in the first ever TLC match.
It “stole the show” at Wrestlemania X7 according to the man who main evented the show, Stone Cold Steve Austin. This was a testament to it’s quality, as each man took ridiculous bumps in order to entertain the crowd.
The highlight was Edge’s incredible spear onto Jeff Hardy from a ladder, a spot which is still shown in hype packages in WWE to this day.
11. GUNTHER vs Sheamus vs Drew McIntyre (WrestleMania 39)
On the second night of WrestleMania 39, one of the best matches in WWE history took place between three giants of European wrestling.
Intercontinental Champion GUNTHER defended his title against former WWE Champions’ Sheamus and Drew McIntyre, in what turned out to be the match of the night.
That match was awarded five stars, the first of Sheamus career. Now McIntyre has joined the five star club, with the second five star match on an incredible WrestleMania 39.
10. The Undertaker vs Triple H – Wrestlemania 28
The first match on this list of the best Wrestlemania matches involves Shawn Michaels, but as a referee rather than a wrestler. He refereed the Hell in a Cell match between rival The Undertaker and best friend Triple H. The pair met inside a Hell in a Cell match, after the Undertaker narrowly defeated Triple H the year prior at Wrestlemania.
It was the closest the Undertaker came to losing the Streak until he faced Brock Lesnar at Wrestlemania XXX. Triple H brought the violence to Undertaker like never before at Wrestlemania.
Fans were sure the Streak was over when Undertaker was hit with a Sweet Chin Music/Pedigree combo, but the Deadman somehow managed to kick out. He won the match with a Tombstone Piledriver, keeping the Streak in alive in this “End of an Era” match.
Did you know The Undertaker vs Wade Barrett at Wrestlemania 27 was planned?
9. Chris Jericho vs Shawn Michaels – Wrestlemania 19
Number nine of the best Wrestlemania matches is the first to involve Shawn Michaels as a competitor, but nowhere near his last. In his first Wrestlemania match back after returning from injury, he took on young Canadian star Chris Jericho in the highest rated match on the card that year.
The pair battles a fast paced, technical match with tons of drama for over 22 minutes. HBK would hit the superkick on Jericho for the win, but a grovelling Jericho would get his revenge over Michaels with a huge shot to the nuts after the match.
8. Edge vs Mick Foley – Wrestlemania 22
The most violet match on this list is the hardcore match between Mick Foley and Edge. It was one of the most brutal matches in Wrestlemania history, involving chairs, bats, thumbtacks, barbed wire and even a flaming table. It took both men to the edge of their limits and produced a historic match both men can be proud of.
The match came about because Mick Foley lamented not having his own “Wrestlemania moment”. Thanks to the goading of Edge and his girlfriend Lita, he lit a fire under Foley that brought him to the deepest, darkest pits of his mind to think up some a violent and exciting match type.
7. Shawn Michaels vs Razor Ramon – Wrestlemania 10
The first ladder match in WWE history was also the first five-star rated match in the companies history. Dave Meltzer rated this match as a five star bout after seeing Shawn Michaels take on Razor Ramon at Wrestlemania 10 to determine who was the true Intercontinental Champion.
The ladder match had been brought to WWE by Bret Hart. Hart had competed in ladder matches in Stampede Wrestling in Canada in his fathers promotion. He introduced the stipulation to Vince, who liked it and immediately booked Ramon vs Michaels for Wrestlemania.
Their Wrestlemania 10 bout was the best in the show and the sixth best Wrestlemania match in history. The pair thought up many innovative ways to use the ladders as weapons, even climbing and falling off ladders for some horrific bumps. It was a match ahead of it’s time and helped propel both men to the main event scene, especially in Shawn Michaels case.
6. Shawn Michaels vs Kurt Angle – Wrestlemania 21
Shawn Michaels continues to dominate this list as he appears again, with one of the best Wrestlemania matches of all time. At Wrestlemania 21, the Showstopper was embroiled in a feud with Kurt Angle, and faced the Olympic Gold Medallist in a dream match. Both men were two of the best wrestlers in the world at the time, and the match came at the perfect time to showcase their immense talent.
Fans were excited for the match, and expected the world from this match between two of the all time greats. Somehow, they managed to match and even exceed those lofty expectations to pull out a five star classic.
In a technical, fast paced encounter, Angle caught Michaels and beat him to win the bout. The pair battled back and forth for over twenty minutes, with Angle locking in the Angle Lock, forcing the Heart Break Kid to tap out in another Wrestlemania classic.
5. Shawn Michaels vs The Undertaker – Wrestlemania 26
Michaels truly earned his moniker of “Mr Wrestlemania”. He has dominated this list and shows no sign of stopping. In his second consecutive year, Shawn Michaels took on the Undertaker at Wrestlemania to try and break the legendary Streak. Despite being one of the most talented men in WWE history, breaking the Streak was one thing that evaded him. And it would continue to as Wrestlemania 26.
With the Undertaker refusing Michaels challenge for a second Wrestlemania match, Michaels sought other ways to face the Deadman. He tried, and failed, to win the 2010 Royal Rumble, and did the same inside the Elimination Chamber. In the end, he attacked the Undertaker and cost him his Championships, forcing the Undertaker to teach HBK a lesson at Wrestlemania.
However, it came at a cost. If Michaels lost, he had to retire. This upped the stakes to even greater and produced on the of the most emotional Wrestlemania bouts of all time. The match failed to exceed the original, but told a fantastic story on it’s own and was a fantastic bookend to Shawn Michael’s legendary career.
He would later come out of retirement for one of the worst WWE matches of all time, but we don’t talk about that.
4. Bret Hart vs Owen Hart – Wrestlemania 10
One of the first five star matches in WWE came in this incredible brother-vs-brother match. Bret Hart, in his first of two matches of the night, faced off with his younger brother Owen Hart at Wrestlemania X. The feud pitted the jealous sibling against his brother Bret who was set to battle for the WWE Championship later that night, intent on stopping his brother from winning the gold.
Owen and Bret Hart pulled out a technical masterpiece that was 30 years ahead of it’s time. The pair showed incredible chemistry, pulling out spots at lightning quick speed and showing incredible in-ring psychology.
Owen worked over the knee of Bret during the match, intent on ruining his chances of winning the WWE Championship later that night. He even pinned Bret Hart to win the match, shocking everybody in attendance and making a name for himself on the biggest stage with one of the greatest Wrestlemania matches of all time.
3. Chris Benoit vs Triple H vs Shawn Michaels – Wrestlemania 20
While this match will never be on a WWE list of best matches, it simply is. Due to Chris Benoit’s unfortunate double-murder suicide of his family in 2007, his career will forever be tarnished and never looked at the same way again. However, this match is incredible despite his future transgressions.
Benoit won the 2004 Royal Rumble, lasting from number one to winning the match by eliminating the Big Show. He challenged World Heavyweight Champion Triple H for his Championship in the main event of Wrestlemania, but was joined by Shawn Michaels. The Heart Break Kid had been feuding with Triple H since his return, and would make the main event of Wrestlemania a Triple Threat Match.
All three men tore the house down, pulling out all the stops to pull off a legendary Wrestlemania match. Chris Benoit, one of the greatest Canadian wrestlers of all time, fought valiantly against the larger men, who’s rivalry spilled out in droves during this match. However, hatred for each other tore them apart, and allowed Benoit to use his incredible wrestling ability to make Triple H tap out and win his only World Championship in WWE.
2. Shawn Michaels vs The Undertaker – Wrestlemania 25
Many fans choose this as their favourite wrestling match of all times. Sadly, it only clocks in as the second best Wrestlemania match of all time, but it more than earns such a high spot on the list. The match was the first of the two Undertaker vs Shawn Michaels matches at Wrestlemania, and was as close to the perfect match as either man was ever going to get.
Two of the all time great, arguably at their peak, battling it out at the biggest stage of them all. The match had superb psychology and everything was done at the exact right time in the exact right way. The Undertaker countered HBK’s moonsault into a Tombstone Piledriver to win the match and keep the Streak alive for one more year.
1. Bret Hart vs Steve Austin – Wrestlemania 13
Not only is this match the best match in Wrestlemania history, it is also voted as the greatest match in WWE history. It also tops our list of the best Stone Cold Steve Austin matches of all time. This classic match was a submission match between two of WWE’s best wrestlers, and had been building up over the past year for this blockbuster match.
The match was a technical masterpiece as well as veering off into a long, bloody affair. The everlasting image of the matches ends lives long is the memories of anyone who saw. Steve Austin, blood pouring down his face and locked in Bret Hart’s Sharpshooter was defiant until the end. He hung on as long as he could, passing out in a pool of his own blood as Hart was declared the winner
Do you think Steve Austin vs Bret Hart should have topped the best Wrestlemania matches list? Let us know who you think is best in the comments or click below to keep reading
