With this week being WrestleMania week, I know I and many other wrestling fans will be digging out tapes and DVDs and searching the internet for old WrestleMania matches over this week and during the weekend in order to get hyped up for the big show on Sunday night.

So with that in mind, I thought it would be a good idea to go through the past WrestleMania’s and come up with some suggested viewing for your WrestleMania week, in addition of course to the go-home editions of RAW, Friday Night SmackDown, ECW on Sci-Fi and Saturday’s Hall Of Fame induction ceremony (both the wwe.com and USA Network versions).

I warn that the list will be biased towards my time watching as a fan, so the early WrestleManias only really the famous matches interest me as far as having major re-watch value where the more recent Manias have a lot more.

WrestleMania I - Although it’s the show that started it all, the only thing worth watching is the main event. Hulk Hogan & Mr T v. Roddy Piper & Paul Orndorff with Jimmy Snuka and Bob Orton in the respective corners and Muhammad Ali as outside enforcer really gave Mania the big event feel as a celebrity event and an extravaganza of entertainment, rather than just another “rasslin” show. The fact that it’s an incredibly heated and well worked match with Hogan and Piper incredibly over in their roles helps a lot, of course.

WrestleMania 2 - Nothing.

WrestleMania III - It’s all about Hulk Hogan v. Andre The Giant and Randy Savage v. Ricky Steamboat here. The main event is the first “WrestleMania main event is bigger than life” deal, and Savage/Steamboat is just a great match at the end of a great angle. Roddy Piper’s win over Adrian Adonis and Alice Cooper’s appearance with Jake Roberts are also great but not essential.

WrestleMania IV - Maybe Randy Savage v. Ted DiBiase if you’re from the generation that grew up with Macho and want to see him win the title, and it sets up next year.

WrestleMania V - Hulk Hogan v. Randy Savage. It’s the culmination of a year-plus angle, the kind of payoff to long term planning that you just don’t see these days.

WrestleMania VI - Hulk Hogan v. Ultimate Warrior. It’s the two biggest heroes of the time squaring off, it’s Mania returning to the huge arena setting after a couple of years in the tepid atmosphere of the Trump Plaza, and again it’s the defining match for fans of a certain era.

WrestleMania VII - Randy Savage v. Ultimate Warrior is everything a great WrestleMania match should be and more. A great story, a gigantically popular babyface against an evil heel, with consequences and a huge stipulation, this being a retirement match. Shockingly, the work was unbelievable and the drama was off the charts amazing.

If you twist my arm and catch me on the right day you might even be able to convince me that it’s the greatest WWE match ever. It’s certainly one of the most emotional as Elizabeth reunited with Savage at the end, proving the old adage that WrestleMania is the “happy ending show” where the big storylines of the year are paid off.

Hulk Hogan v. Sgt. Slaughter in the main event is also shockingly good, if you can look past the tasteless storyline as the WWE exploited the Gulf War to try to get PPV buys.

WrestleMania VIII – WHAT THE HELL – USE THE BELL~! Bret Hart v. Roddy Piper is one of the matches from my childhood that made me realise wrestling is one of the greatest things in the world when it’s done right, and every time I watch it I’m transplanted back to being a 10 year old mark, it’s brilliant performances from both men. Ric Flair v. Randy Savage was another excellent match, and both those bouts were made better by 1992 being the absolute peak of Bobby Heenan and Gorilla Monsoon’s commentary team.

Also, Ultimate Warrior’s run in at the end of the Hulk Hogan v. Sid Justice match would be played up far more as one of Mania’s biggest moments if Warrior, Hogan and Sid were on better terms with the WWE today. The crowd was electric for that.

WrestleMania IX - Nothing, unless you want to watch some wrestlecrap or know how to not book a show.

WrestleMania X - It’s a two match show. Fortunately those two matches, Shawn Michaels v. Razor Ramon in a ladder match and Bret Hart v. Owen Hart, were so fantastic that it becomes a thumbs up show. Also, these matches have such an influence on younger wrestlers in the business right now that they’ve almost become even greater with time, to the point where both bouts are truly legendary.

WrestleMania XI - Lawrence Taylor v. Bam Bam Bigelow. I know, I know, it’s a **3/4 match at best, something that wouldn’t be match of the night on even the worst PPVs today. But putting a celebrity, a legitimate sports star, in a PPV main event is something that is just so “WrestleMania” that it’s worth watching. You can’t imagine it being on any other monthly PPV, but for Mania somehow it works.

WrestleMania XII - For comedy purposes, Ultimate Warrior returning and squashing midcarder Hunter Hearst Helmsley (now perennial main eventer Triple H) is fun to see today. But this is all about the Bret Hart v. Shawn Michaels Iron Man match. It’s something that many people have put down now, and while it’s true the match does drag at times, again like Hogan/Warrior it’s the two top babyfaces of the time in a highly anticipated dream match, and the last 20 minutes of near falls are absolutely phenomenal if you can sit through the slow build to that.

WrestleMania 13 - Steve Austin v. Bret Hart. They pulled off a double-turn successfully, and Austin left this show well on the way to becoming the biggest star of all time. You know how it seems like every month you see somebody in a WWE show locked in a submission hold, usually a main eventer and more often than not HHH, and he powers out to show how he’s fighting the hold? Watch it done so it means something in this match. You know how people in ECW and garbage Indies today indiscriminately bleed for little or no reason in almost every match? Watch it done in a way that draws money and creates a star in this match.

It’s also a match that, without fail, at the same point in the match, gives me Goosebumps every time I watch it. Austin gives Bret a chair shot to send him crashing off the top rope to the mat. Then follows that up with a chair shot to the back as Jerry Lawler exclaims “ITS WRESTLEMANIA, BABY!” – Just that moment can get me hyped up for Mania and expecting it to be awesome. Hell I’ve actually got chills just typing it here.

WrestleMania XIV - Steve Austin v. Shawn Michaels put the Attitude Era into overdrive, and the addition of Mike Tyson added a fantastic dynamic. Undertaker v. Kane might be seen as a bad match today but I don’t care, the “babyface unwilling to fight his brother until pushed completely over the edge and ready to get some major payback” angle is a timeless classic (which WWE are really not doing all that great a job at with Jeff and Matt Hardy this year).

Sable & Marc Mero v. Goldust & Luna is worth watching just because it’s so shocking today that a woman could be as over as Sable was back then. And The Rock’s interview with Gennifer Flowers was yet another early example of a guy who was coming into his own as the most entertaining talker wrestling had ever seen.

WrestleMania XV - The “HHH and Chyna reunite only to both turn on X-Pac” angle that took place in the HHH v. Kane and X-Pac v. Shane McMahon matches was a brilliant inter-show angle that changed HHH from an incredibly over midcard babyface to a top heel at the beginning of a non-stop 10 year main event push. It was done really well, actually playing off the “WrestleMania is the happy ending show” ideal, because they swerved the fans (yes, Vince Russo was booking at this time if anyone was wondering) into thinking they’d got their happy ending only to yank it away from them an hour later.

Steve Austin v. The Rock in the main event is probably the least of their high profile matches, but its Austin and Rock and they had such chemistry that you can’t really go wrong.

WrestleMania 2000 - Edge & Christian v. The Hardy Boyz v. The Dudley Boyz took crazy ladder and table stunt fests to a different level, and even if it might have lost its effect today it’s still interesting to watch because of what it led to.

WrestleMania X-7 - There’s a SHITLOAD here. Edge & Christian v. The Hardy Boyz v. The Dudley Boyz took the previous ladder and table related stunt fests and added a new dimension to them by adding Rhino, Lita and Spike Dudley to the mix which allowed them to be creative and do different things rather than just repeating the same spots.

Shane McMahon v. Vince McMahon was GREAT, with Vince getting his payback as Trish Stratus, Mick Foley, Linda McMahon and Shane McMahon all take turns humiliating him and getting their revenge for him being a complete bastard to them. The pop when Linda rises up out of her chair has to be seen to be believed.

Undertaker v. Triple H is a good brawl and really the start of the WWE pushing and making it part of the storylines that Taker is undefeated at Mania.

Then Stone Cold Steve Austin v. The Rock is the end of the attitude era, as arguably the two biggest stars of all time face off in a GREAT match, where both guys had charisma to burn, the pace never slowed, the near falls were fantastic and there was a memorable (if ultimately bad for business) twist at the finish. Kurt Angle v. Chris Benoit is a great match, but firstly I can’t personally bring myself to watch Benoit matches anymore, plus while it’s a great match, it’s not a match that HAD to happen at WrestleMania, they could’ve done the match at any other PPV, whereas Shane v. Vince or Austin v. Rock really had to be done at Mania and are quintessential WrestleMania moments.

I’d also be remiss if I didn’t mention the Gimmick Battle Royale, which although it’s a horrifically bad match, it’s a great nostalgia trip to see those old gimmicks, and particularly to see Bobby Heenan on commentary one last time.

WrestleMania X-8 - This PPV is all about Hulk Hogan v. The Rock. I couldn’t give a fuck that Hogan was old and broken down at this point, and the fact that the match may not have been a technical masterpiece. Wrestling isn’t about perfect execution of moves, it’s about telling stories in the ring based on emotion, drama and back-story, and if the crowd buys into all of that as strongly as they do for this match, you’re in for something really special.

This really is the kind of match that couldn’t have been done at any other PPV, and was a once-in-a-lifetime event that won’t ever be duplicated, where WrestleMania truly lived up to its “showcase of the immortals” moniker. Ric Flair v. The Undertaker was an excellent match too, and the pop for Arn Anderson’s run in and spinebuster would’ve been the crowd reaction of the night on 99% of other shows.

WrestleMania XIX - We’re really now moving into the era where people went all out to steal the show and that lead to WrestleMania having several great matches rather than one or possibly two clear focal points like the early years. For a WrestleMania countdown, Vince McMahon v. Hulk Hogan is essential viewing as it truly is the two men most responsible for the early success and national expansion of the company.

The Rock v. Steve Austin part III is essential viewing as it’s the two biggest stars of the second WWE boom period that made McMahon a billionaire, and it’s also Austin’s last ever match, a legacy that thankfully he’s not tarnishing this year. Kurt Angle v. Brock Lesnar is a match that felt truly worthy of main evening WrestleMania at the time, and could’ve signalled a sea change in the style of main event WWE wrestling, but now six years later it’s clear that didn’t happen for different reasons. Seeing Brock nearly kill himself from a shooting star press is still shocking today.

Chris Jericho v. Shawn Michaels was a huge deal at the time because it was Shawn proving he’s “still got it” and delivering a great match on the big stage once more and Jericho was the perfect opponent.

WrestleMania XX - Chris Benoit v. Triple H v. Shawn Michaels is a great match, and one that at the time was very emotional, yet for obvious reasons doesn’t have the resonance it once had. If I did watch this again, seeing Benoit hugging and kissing Nancy and Daniel afterwards is something I’d find especially creepy.

The Rock N Sock Connection making their return to face Evolution in a 2 on 3 handicap match was a great fun match with an incredible atmosphere. Christian v. Chris Jericho, with Trish Stratus turning on Jericho was almost the reverse Savage/Liz from Mania VII in that it was the payoff to a long term story yet here the woman left with the heel.

Also needed is the Hall of Fame induction speech of Bobby “The Brain” Heenan from the ceremony held the night before, which is some of the funniest and most emotional television the WWE has ever put together. The majority of his speech was funnier than most stand-up comedy shows, and then I’ll admit to getting a little choked up when Heenan said his only regret was that he wishes the late great Gorilla Monsoon was there.

WrestleMania 21 - Batista v. Triple H was a big-time main event that paid off Batista’s babyface turn perfectly as he vanquished Hunter and took the belt. It also has the Piper’s Pit segment with Steve Austin, and it was such a shame they came from different eras and were both old and broken down at this point, because honestly at the moment Piper said “welcome to Piper’s Pit” and slapped Austin, and Austin responded with “thank you for having me you little son of a bitch” and slapped Piper back, I swear to God you could’ve put that on the main event of the next PPV and you were guaranteed my money. It was truly brilliant promo work from two absolute masters.

Edge winning the first Money In The Bank match, and probably the best Money In The Bank match, was a huge moment in his career and also kick-started something that has become a great WrestleMania tradition, but the fact that Chris Benoit is so heavily featured in that match again may make it hard to watch for some.

Shawn Michaels v. Kurt Angle is a great match. The Hall Of Fame inductions of Hulk Hogan, for the crowd appreciation of him, and The Iron Sheik, for his hilarious insanity, are also must-see.

WrestleMania 22 - John Cena v. Triple H is the match that put Cena over the top as the #1 star in the company. OK he’d been WWE Champion already, but like Hogan beating Andre, this cemented Cena as the man. I know some have derided their entrances, with HHH coming out on a throne dressed as Conan The Barbarian, and Cena coming out in a 1930s car after a Mafia inspired video, but that over the top theatrics are a big part of what makes WrestleMania for me.

This show also had Mick Foley v. Edge, where Foley got his big WrestleMania moment as Edge speared him through a flaming table at the end of a bloody hardcore war, and Mickie James v. Trish Stratus in the best women’s match, culminating the best women’s storyline, the WWE has ever done.

But for me the highlight of this WrestleMania weekend was Bret Hart’s Hall Of Fame induction speech. Bret was my favourite wrestler growing up, and to see him get the chance to say goodbye to his fans and talk about his career was great. Sherri Martel’s induction was also fantastic, with her totally heeling on the smarkish assholes in the crowd. Eddie Guerrero was also inducted and while that was really emotional, you know who is involved in inducting him.

WrestleMania 23 - The battle of the billionaires with Vince McMahon losing his hair when Umaga lost to Donald Trump’s representative, Bobby Lashley, was the catalyst for this show drawing the largest PPV buyrate in WWE history, and the match itself was ridiculously fun.

The two World Title matches, Undertaker v. Batista and Shawn Michaels v. John Cena, are the best combination of two World Title matches on a WrestleMania since the brand split, two fantastic matches where all four men clearly wanted to steal the show and be THE match people remember.

Dusty Rhodes was inducted into the Hall Of Fame here, and it was classic Dusty, putting over the right people, playing to the crowd, and just generally being completely awesome.

WrestleMania 24 - Ric Flair v. Shawn Michaels in Flair’s last ever match was the perfect end to the career of the greatest wrestler of all time, one of the most emotional matches in recent years and a match that encapsulates what WrestleMania is all about. I just hope Flair stays retired and doesn’t cheapen its legacy.

Flair was also inducted into the Hall Of Fame the night before, and that was essential viewing, as was his farewell ceremony the night after Mania. It’s essentially a three day goodbye to The Man.

The Hall of Fame also featured The Rock making an appearance, inducting both his father Rocky Johnson and his grandfather, High Chief Peter Maivia. He was hilarious when “roasting” – not in a Kieron Dyer way – the WWE roster, and respectful when inducting his family. Rock’s mother clearly showed where Rock inherited his charisma when talking about her father and husband, and with that plus his father’s athleticism, Rock was totally destined to be a complete megastar.

Edge v. The Undertaker was a great match, worthy of being the closing match on this show, and Floyd Mayweather v. The Big Show is the blueprint by which all celebrity matches should follow. I can’t believe some of the stuff Mayweather allowed Show to do to him, and Mayweather showed great natural heel instincts in the ring in a wild match.

With all that, sit back, relax, read all the preview coverage and special features on ifight365.com over the rest of WrestleMania week, and enjoy!

Mark Bright
mark@ifight365.com