The Definitive Ranking Of The 31 Greatest WrestleMania Matches

With WrestleMania 31 around the corner, let's take a look back at the greatest matches held at the showcase of the immortals. Oh, and the comment section is open.

31. Hulk Hogan vs. Andre the Giant (WrestleMania 3 – March 29, 1987)

WWE/ Facebook: WrestleMania

WWE

WWE Championship Match

Winner: Hulk Hogan

Best moment: Hogan body-slamming Andre the Giant.

This match was monumental in every sense of the word. The hype for this matchup was glorious, thanks to the legendary mic work by Andre's manager Bobby "The Brain" Heenan. This match was actually quite terrible, but it wasn't about technical prowess. It was about Andre the Giant, whose health was slowly deteriorating, passing the torch to Hulk Hogan as WWE's top star. It was about Hulk Hogan body-slamming Andre in the first of many WrestleMania moments. It was about elevating Hulk Hogan to legendary status in a time when pro-wrestling was still considered "real." For all those reasons, this match worked and it's still one of the most memorable matches of all time.

30. Bret "The Hitman" Hart vs. Rowdy Roddy Piper (WrestleMania 8 – April 5, 1992)

WWE

WWE

WWE Intercontinental Championship Match

Winner: Bret "The Hitman" Hart

Best moment: Piper putting on the title on Hart and helping him out after the match.

At WrestleMania 8, we saw Rowdy Roddy Piper, known for his "brawler" style of wrestling, against Bret Hart, a wrestler known for his technical skill. At the time, Piper, the Intercontinental Champion, was near the end of his career peak. Hart, on the other hand, was an up-and-coming wrestler, going solo after being part of the Hart Foundation tag team for years. It was the young buck going up against the veteran. They told an interesting story, where we saw Piper transform from an antagonist to a protagonist. We also got a glimpse of Hart's in-ring intelligence, outsmarting Piper by turning his sleeper hold into a winning pin. Piper passed on the torch to Hart, putting him in the eyes of everyone as the next big WWE superstar.

29. Hulk Hogan vs. "Macho Man" Randy Savage (WrestleMania 5 – April 2, 1989)

WWE

WWE

WWE Championship Match

Winner: Hulk Hogan

Best moment: Hogan "hulking up" after Savage dropped the elbow from the top rope.

After Hogan helped Savage win the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 4, the two formed a tag team aptly named "The Mega Powers." The two would dominated the tag team scene for some time. Miss Elizabeth, Savage's real-life wife and manager, would accompany them to the ring and cheer them on as they took out villain after villain. But then, things got a little complicated. When Miss Elizabeth got accidentally injured during a match, Hogan picked her up and carried her to the back to seek medical attention. This infuriated Savage to no end, saying that he saw "lust in his eyes." The two would brawl backstage, which marked the end of "The Mega Powers" and Savage's return to villainy. This would lead to a match at WrestleMania 5 for Savage's WWE Championship.

The match was exciting to watch, specifically for Savage's ability to get the crowd riled up. He used perfect heel tactics, like cowardly escaping the ring when he was in trouble. He also grew increasingly brash and rude toward Miss Elizabeth, who hadn't done anything to warrant such a treatment. She was eventually told to leave the ring. Savage made Hogan look great, and it would be Hogan who would "hulk up," connect the big boot, drop the leg, and pick up the win, becoming WWE Champion for the second time.

It was a great night, and an excellent conclusion to the bitter feud between the two.

28. Edge vs. Mick Foley (WrestleMania 22 – April 2, 2006)

WWE/ Facebook: undertaker

Falls Count Anywhere Match
Winner: Edge

Best moment: Edge spearing Mick Foley through a flaming table.

Two words: sheer brutality. Edge knew exactly what he needed to do when facing off against a hardcore legend like Mick Foley. You have to give credit to the "Rated-R Superstar" for stepping up to Mick Foley's level and putting his body through so much pain. This match had it all: blood, chairs, baseball bats wrapped with barbed wire, "Mr. Socko" wrapped in barbed wire, traffic signs and thumbtacks sticking out of his back. Both superstars risked their lives when Edge speared Foley through a flaming table. Add in Joey Styles' screaming "OH MY GOD" and we had ourselves a memorable WrestleMania moment.

27. Hulk Hogan vs. The Ultimate Warrior (WrestleMania 6 – April 1, 1990)

WWE

Title vs. Title Match
Winner: The Ultimate Warrior

Best moment: Warrior lifting Hulk Hogan in the air in a gorilla press.

By 1990, WWE Champion Hulk Hogan had cemented himself as the No. 1 star of WWE. At the same time, the Ultimate Warrior, who was the Intercontinental Champion, gained huge popularity with his colorful face paint and armbands, and his utterly insane but glorious promos. His popularity eventually rivaled that of Hulk Hogan. You were either on Team Hogan or Team Warrior. By the time WrestleMania 6 came around, WWE did the obvious: pit the two fan favorites against each other in a title vs. title match labeled "The Ultimate Challenge." The match, while not the most technically sound, delivered excitement and passion. We saw Warrior leave as double champion, and a handshake between the two at the end of the match put smiles on everyone's faces.

26. Eddie Guerrero vs. Kurt Angle (WrestleMania 20 – March 14, 2004)

WWE

WWE Championship Match
Winner: Eddie Guerrero

Best moment: The straightforward wrestling in the first half of the match.

In this match, we saw the late Eddie Guerrero in his only title match at WrestleMania against the legit Olympic gold medalist Kurt Angle. The match began as a straightforward grappling session, the two exchanging beautiful wrestling holds, counters, and submission maneuvers. It was a real treat for pure wrestling fans, who saw the two athletes try to outwrestle each other. The match would eventually evolve into a brawl, leading Guerrero to famously escape Kurt Angle's ankle lock by removing his own boot. The match was intense, with a fun and upbeat vibe to the whole thing, thanks to Guerrero's comical and charismatic "Latino Heat" persona.

25. Hardy Boyz vs. The Dudley Boyz vs. Edge and Christian (WrestleMania 2000 – April 2, 2000)

WWE

Triangle Ladder Match for the WWE Tag Team Titles
Winners: Edge and Christian

Best moments: Jeff Hardy performing a Swanton bomb off a 20-foot ladder onto Bubba Ray Dudley.

After almost a year of feuding among the three teams, Vince McMahon thought it would be best to put the titles up in the air, and have the three teams compete in a first ever "Triangle" ladder match. All six men involved put their bodies on the line, using the endless amount of ladders in extreme, creative ways. While Edge and Christian picked up the win, all the teams received a standing ovation. It was by far the best match at WrestleMania 2000.

24. CM Punk vs. John Morrison vs. Chris Jericho vs. Mr. Kennedy vs. Carlito vs. Shelton Benjamin vs. MVP (WrestleMania 24 – March 30, 2008)

WWE

"Money in the Bank" Ladder Match
Winner: CM Punk

Best moment: Shelton Benjamin crashing through a ladder after being tipped over a 20-foot ladder by Carlito and Mr. Kennedy.

When you have a bunch of young and up-and-coming stars in WWE, what's the best way to get them noticed? Put them in a "Money in the Bank" ladder match. While veteran Chris Jericho was in the mix, it was great to see all these new superstars make their marks on the grandest stage of them all, performing maneuvers that had never been seen before. Shelton Benjamin and John Morrison took the craziest bumps of the night, but everyone put on one hell of a show. The in-ring action was enough to garner a "holy shit" and "this is awesome" chants from the Orlando crowd.

23. "Stone Cold" Steve Austin vs. The Rock (WrestleMania 19 – March 30, 2003)

WWE

WWE

WWE

Singles Match
Winner: The Rock

Best moments: The Rock performing three Rock Bottoms on Austin before winning via pinfall; Austin's farewell from in-ring competition.

Storyline wise, this match was built on the Rock's desire to defeat Austin at WrestleMania. The two had met in the main event at WrestleMania 15 and 17, and the Rock failed to defeat the Texas Rattlesnake both times. Fresh off a brief stint in Hollywood, the Rock returned to WWE, as a bad guy, and faced off against Austin for a third time at WrestleMania 19 in order to prove to the world that he can actually defeat him.

In reality, this would be Austin's final match. After a series of injuries, a deteriorating neck, and a scary trip to the ER one day prior to the match, Austin knew this would be his last go-around. It was never announced that this was Austin's final match. But after the Rock left Austin alone in the ring after picking up the victory, everyone in the arena and at home knew this was the last time we'd see Austin in his black trunks and black boots. It was a bittersweet moment that marked the end of the Attitude Era, the most successful period in the company's history.

22. Chris Benoit vs. Kurt Angle (WrestleMania 17 – April 1, 2001)

WWE Network

Singles Match

Winner: Kurt Angle

Best moment: The amateur-style wrestling in the early part of the match.

This was a match between one of the greatest technical wrestlers, Chris Benoit, against the Olympic gold medalist Kurt Angle, the "Wrestling Machine." It's always a treat to see a match start with some old-school Greco-Roman wrestling in a WWE ring. While the two would break out into a brawl, they kept the intensity building every passing minute, eventually exchanging submission maneuvers on one another. While the ending was a bit lackluster, it wouldn't be the last time we'd see these two go at it. This would be the first of many matches in an awesome feud between Benoit and Angle.

21. The Undertaker vs. Triple H (WrestleMania 27 – April 03, 2011)

WWE/ Facebook: undertaker

No Holds Barred Match

Winner: The Undertaker

Best moment: Undertaker locking in the Hell's Gate and making Triple H tap.

By the time 2011 rolled around, Triple H had pretty much done everything he needed to do in WWE. He had collected almost every accolade possible, but there was one thing he hadn't done yet: beat The Undertaker's streak (FYI, this is something that will come up frequently). After his best friend Shawn Michaels failed to do so for two WrestleManias prior, Triple H stepped up to the plate and we saw two legends go head to head in an intense and violent match, that went beyond the confines of WWE's TV-PG rating.

Triple H had a good showing, and dominated for most of the match, but after Taker locked in the Hell's Gate, even Triple H's sledgehammer couldn't help him. It wouldn't be the last time these two would meet...

20. Razor Ramon vs. Shawn Michaels (WrestleMania 10 – March 20, 1994)

WWE/ Facebook: shawn.michaels.2014

Ladder Match for the WWE Intercontinental Championship
Winner: Razor Ramon

Best moment: Shawn Michaels diving off the ladder, splashing Razor Ramon.

It's amazing what two men could do with one ladder. Before there were TLC or "Money in the Bank" ladder matches, there was THE ladder match.

When it was announced that Razor Ramon and Shawn Michaels would compete in a ladder match for the undisputed Intercontinental Championship, many people scratched their heads. In 1994, no one had ever heard, let alone seen, such a match. But Michaels and Razor did not disappoint, putting their bodies through extreme pain to deliver one of the greatest matches of the night. This match was voted by fans as Pro Wrestling Illustrated's Match of the Year and Dave Meltzer gave this match a prestigious five-star rating. It also showcased the Hall of Fame futures of Shawn Michaels and Razor Ramon.

19. Daniel Bryan vs. Triple H (WrestleMania 30 – April 6, 2014)

WWE/ Facebook: 322398166570

Qualifying Match for the WWE Championship Main Event

Winner: Daniel Bryan

Best moment: Knocking out Triple H with the Flying Knee for the win.

2014 was the year of Daniel Bryan, and the fans wouldn't accept anyone but Daniel Bryan competing in the main event for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania. When Batista won the 2014 Royal Rumble, fans booed the superstar, even though WWE had expected him to be treated as a hero. "YES!" chants filled arenas everywhere, and the chant would go on to be a phenomenon. With WrestleMania being the first PPV to be shown on the WWE Network, WWE could not afford to turn off its fan base. It was clear that Daniel Bryan, somehow, needed to be an integral part of WrestleMania.

And so, Triple H laced up his boots and challenged Daniel Bryan to a match at WrestleMania 30. The winner would go on to participate in the main event match that same night against Batista and WWE Champion Randy Orton. Even though "YES!" chants filled the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, it was clear that Triple H had his supporters. But as impressive as it was for Triple H to still go at the age of 44, It was more impressive to see Daniel Bryan cleanly defeat "The Game" at the grandest stage of them all.

18. Shawn Michaels vs. Kurt Angle (WrestleMania 21 – April 3, 2005)

WWE

Singles Match
Winner: Kurt Angle

Best moment: Shawn Michaels delivering a Sweet Chin Music out of nowhere.

The reason why Shawn Michaels is one of the greatest superstars of all time is because he knows how to adapt to every wrestling style possible. While he may be known for his brawling antics and his high flying maneuvers, many were eager to see how he would match up against the Olympic gold medalist Kurt Angle, who's known for his more traditional grappling style. Lo and behold, he adapted beautifully, taking Angle to task and showcasing his own grappling skills, using a side headlock as his principle hold. Michaels dominated Angle for the first half of the match. But in the end, Angle would win by making Michaels tap out to the ankle lock submission maneuver.

Even though the L.A. crowd was divided between the two superstars, they both received a standing ovation at the end of the match.

17. The Undertaker vs. Triple H (WrestleMania 28 – April 1, 2012)

WWE/ Facebook: undertaker

Hell in the Cell Match

Winner: The Undertaker

Best moment: Undertaker getting hit with a Sweet Chin Music and a Pedigree and STILL kicking out of a pin.

Three times the charm? Triple H certainly hoped so. After their match at WrestleMania 27, the two superstars wouldn't compete in a match for a whole year. Triple H challenged the Dead Man to a third match at WrestleMania, only this time, it would be a Hell in the Cell match. To add intrigue to the whole thing, Triple H's best friend Shawn Michaels was made the special guest referee. This was interesting: Would Michaels help out his friend to beat the streak? Or would Michaels get in the way of his friend from achieving something he couldn't do himself?

The match started off like a regular brawl, only for Triple H to turn up the viciousness with the use of a steel chair. And then, from out of nowhere, Shawn Michaels delivered a Sweet Chin Music to the Undertaker. Triple H took advantage and delivered a pedigree, and for a split second, EVERYONE thought the streak was finally over. But Undertaker STILL. KICKED. OUT. If that didn't stop Taker, nothing would.

Undertaker would dominate Triple H for the rest of the match. Triple H would perform one last "SUCK IT" taunt before Taker clocked him with a sledgehammer and ended the match with a Tombstone.

Despite the brutality the two men displayed in the ring, the three walked out together, embracing one another. It was a beautiful ending to the trilogy between Triple H and the Undertaker.

16. Chris Benoit vs. Chris Jericho vs. Kane vs. Shelton Benjamin vs. Edge vs. Christian (WrestleMania 21 – April 03, 2005)

WWE

"Money in the Bank" Ladder Match

Winner: Edge

Best moment: Shelton Benjamin sprinting up a ladder to deliver a clothesline to Chris Jericho.

This match was all about ruthless aggression. Every participant was just a little more violent than they had to be, whether it was Kane smashing Benoit's arm repeatedly with a ladder, Benoit headbutting Kane from 16 feet in the air, or Edge swinging a chair at Benoit's arm for the win. While everyone had impressive moments in this match, Shelton Benjamin stood out above the rest. His athleticism delivered some of the most jaw-dropping moments of the match.

15. Chris Jericho vs. Shawn Michaels (WrestleMania 19 – March 30, 2003)

WWE

WWE

WWE

Singles Match

Winner: Shawn Michaels

Best moment: Jericho performing the Sweet Chin Music on Michaels.

There once was time where Jericho wanted to be a wrestler, just so he could be like Shawn Michaels. He emulated Michael's look and style, and was often referred to as the next Shawn Michaels. In essence, Jericho considered Michaels a man he idolized and looked up to. But there came a time where Jericho wanted to be his own man. He wanted to shed the idea of "The Next Shawn Michaels" and be instead "The First Chris Jericho." And so, he made it his mission to destroy and end Michaels' career at WrestleMania.

The match was great for a number of reasons. Jericho proved just how much of a charismatic villain he could be. He also proved that he could go toe to toe with a wrestling legend like Shawn Michaels. The match had an ebb and flow that worked real well, thanks to the fact that their wrestling styles were almost identical. The match had a perfect build, leading to Michael's defeating Jericho with a beautiful roll-up pin.

After the match, a tearful Jericho hugged Michaels in a heartwarming display of sportsmanship, only to kick him in the balls, like a genuine heel. This was only the beginning of a long feud between these two.

14. Shawn Michaels vs. Ric Flair (WrestleMania 24 – March 30, 2008)

WWE/ Facebook: 8021824641

Retirement Match
Winner: Shawn Michaels

Best moment: "I'm sorry. I love you."

Flair, at almost 59 years old, faced off against Shawn Michaels in a "retirement" match. While Flair was visibly at the end of his career, he still delivered a spectacular and highly emotional match. Michaels, who considered Flair his biggest inspiration, would be the one to defeat Flair with three Sweet Chin Music superkicks. Just before delivering the last kick, we could audibly hear Michaels tell Flair, "I'm sorry. I love you." After winning the match, Michaels kissed Flair on the forehead and exited the ring, leaving Flair alone in the ring to enjoy a standing ovation with his family sitting ringside. It was a beautiful and bittersweet moment.

This would be the Flair's final match for WWE.

13. The Undertaker vs. CM Punk (WrestleMania 29 – April 7, 2013)

WWE/ Facebook: WrestleMania

Singles Match

Winner: The Undertaker

Best moment: Undertaker no-selling Punk's Anaconda Vice.

Punk, fresh off his loss against The Rock at Elimination Chamber, won the opportunity to face the Undertaker after winning a Fatal Four-Way match on Raw. The build and the excitement for this match started from there. And then, the tragic real-life death of Paul Bearer, Undertaker's longtime manager, threw the story into a whirlwind. Instead of trying to avoid mentioning Bearer at all, WWE chose to use his death (with the blessing from Bearer's sons) as the focal point of this matchup. CM Punk would steal the famous urn and taunt the Undertaker, making him one of the most hated superstars in WWE. You wanted to see the Undertaker punish this man.

At WrestleMania 29, the two put on the greatest match of the night. The two worked well together, incorporating elements of MMA into their matchup. While many fans felt that Punk should've ended the Undertaker's streak, it just wasn't meant to be. It was a great match dedicated to the one and only Paul Bearer.

12. Kurt Angle vs. Brock Lesnar (WrestleMania 19 – March 30, 2003)

WWE

WWE/ Facebook: undertaker

WWE

WWE Championship Match
Winner: Brock Lesnar

Best/Worst moment: Lesnar failing to execute the Shooting Star Press.

Lesnar and Angle tested their limits in the main event at WrestleMania X8. Angle worked this match with a real-life neck injury and still put on one of the greatest matches ever. Lesnar's physical endurance and stamina is something to behold given his monster size. The two put their careers on the line and it was magical. It was rare to see Lesnar play the good guy but it worked. Angle played the villain brilliantly, using cowardly heel tactics like continuously attacking Lesnar's injured ribs.

And then, there was the greatest botch in WrestleMania history. Lesnar attempted to do a Shooting Star Press off the top rope, but he missed his mark and landed square on his head. A collective shriek was heard in the arena followed by moments of genuine concern. This move could've paralyzed Lesnar, but he instead soldiered on through a concussion and finished the match with an F-5.

Lesnar tried to create the greatest WrestleMania moment ever, and failed. But he gained the respect and admiration of fans that night for at least trying such an incredible feat. And that botch by no means take away from the gloriousness of this match.

11. Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels (WrestleMania 26 – March 28, 2010)

WWE/ Facebook: undertaker

Career vs. Streak Match

Winner: The Undertaker

Best moment: The last Tombstone on Shawn Michaels.

After an in-ring career that lasted over 25 years, Shawn Michaels was willing to put it all on the line for the opportunity to break the Undertaker's streak. The two had a near-perfect match one year earlier at WrestleMania 25, in a match unanimously considered one of the greatest of all time. It only made sense to see a rematch.

This match was great. All the stops were pulled and both men proved why they're legends in their own right. By the end, we saw a weak Shawn Michaels, desperately grasping onto the dominant Undertaker. The man would simply not give up, even though his body was breaking down. When Undertaker delivered the last Tombstone on Shawn Michaels, it was like watching a man putting his oldest dog to sleep. It was an emotional ending to a match and wrestling veteran's career. While it didn't top the masterpiece match they had one year earlier, it was still a great way to cap off Shawn Michaels' career.

10. Bret "The Hitman" Hart vs. Owen Hart (WrestleMania 10 – March 20, 1992)

WWE

Singles Match
Winner: Owen Hart

Best moment: Owen Hart actually winning.

This brother vs. brother encounter delivered one of the best opening matches at WrestleMania. The story was simple: Owen Hart wanted to step out of the shadow of his older brother Bret and gain the recognition he felt he deserved. This match was a wrestling clinic. The beautiful back-and-forth between the two left you on the edge of your seat. The amount of wrestling moves applied in this match alone is astounding, and elevated the Hart family name to legendary status.

Also, Owen picking up the win in this match was a victory for younger siblings everywhere.

9. The Hardy Boyz vs. The Dudley Boyz vs. Edge and Christian (WrestleMania 17 –April 1, 2001)

WWE/ Facebook: undertaker

Tables, Ladders, and Chairs (TLC) match
Winners: Edge and Christian

Best moments: Edge spearing Jeff Hardy off a 20-foot ladder.

When it was announced that The Hardys, The Dudleys, and Edge and Christian were going to compete in a TLC match at WrestleMania X7, no one knew if they could top their memorable performance at WrestleMania 2000. The Triangle Ladder match a year earlier had raised the bar so high that it would be hard for the superstars to replicate the magic of that night. The expectations were extremely high and the pressure was on all six men to put on a great show... and they did. All six men put their lives on the line, falling off ladders, crashing through tables, and using their bodies like crash dummies. With the additional run-ins of Rhyno, Spike Dudley, and Lita, the TLC match was born and, to date, has never been topped.

8. Randy "Macho Man" Savage vs. Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat (WrestleMania 3 – March 29, 1987)

WWE

WWE

WWE Intercontinental Championship Match
Winner: Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat

Best moments: All the near pinfalls.

While all the hype leading to WrestleMania 3 was based around the Hogan–Andre the Giant match, it was the Intercontinental Championship match that stole the show. In the land of WWE giants, Savage and Steamboat proved that smaller guys could put on a show. The fast pacing, the storytelling, the high-flying maneuvers, and the overall technical display between the two gave us one of the most memorable matches, from beginning to end. It would also elevate the Macho Man to main event status.

7. Bret "The Hitman" Hart vs. Shawn Michaels (WrestleMania 12 – March 31, 1996)

WWE

One-Hour Iron Man Match for the WWE Championship
Winner: Shawn Michaels

Best moment: Shawn Michaels performing the Sweet Chin Music on Bret Hart to pick up the win.

Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels have one of the greatest rivalries in wrestling history. The two had a bitter feud, that carried on in real life and behind the scenes. But what made them consummate performers was that they would take the negative energy they had for each other, and use it to put on a great wrestling match.

The two put on one-hour "Iron Man" match, showcasing a masterpiece in technical wrestling. Yes, it was long, but the match was perfect and kept the excitement up for the duration of the match. Neither one could get a pinfall within the hour. And so, "President" Gorilla Monsoon ordered the match to go to sudden death, where the first person to score a pinfall won. The win would go to Shawn Michaels, after he performed the Sweet Chin Music on Bret, and he became WWE Champion for the first time ever.

It was a monumental moment for Michaels that elevated him to legendary status.

6. The Rock vs. "Stone Cold" Steve Austin (WrestleMania 17 – April 1, 2001)

WWE

WWE Championship Match
Winner: "Stone Cold" Steve Austin

Best moment: Both superstars kicking out of each other's finishers.

This was one of the rare WWE matches where they pit two fan favorites against each other. There were no bad guys going into this match. You were either an Austin or a Rock fan. This match alone, along with the beautiful hype video set to Limp Bizkit's "My Way" sold the entire Pay-Per-View. You wanted to see these two superstars, who were at the peak of their careers go one-on-one in the ring. It was a near-perfect match. Plenty of near-falls to keep you on the edge of your seat, biting on your nails. You saw Austin kick out of the Rock Bottom, and the Rock kick out of a Stone Cold Stunner, which was UNHEARD of at the time.

Everything about this match was beautiful...until the end. When we saw Austin turn into a villain and align himself with his longtime nemesis Mr. McMahon, it didn't feel right. When we saw Austin use multiple chairshots to win the match, it threw the energy of that magical night right out the window. To this day, Austin says the ending of that match was one of the biggest mistakes of his career. Nevertheless, the match still stands as one of the greatest of all time.

5. Chris Benoit vs. Shawn Michaels vs. Triple H (WrestleMania 20 – March 14, 2004)

WWE

WWE

WWE

Triple Threat Match for the World Heavyweight Championship

Winner: Chris Benoit

Best moment: Triple H tapping to the Crippler Crossface.

When Benoit won the 2004 Royal Rumble, he was given the option to challenge either SmackDown's WWE Champion Brock Lesnar or Raw's World Heavyweight Champion Triple H at WrestleMania. He chose Triple H, who at the time was involved in a heated feud with Shawn Michaels. Michaels wanted to challenge Triple H for the title at WrestleMania, so he pleaded with Benoit to change his mind. Benoit refused and so Michaels began feuding with Benoit as well. It was eventually decided that the match at WrestleMania 20 would be a Triple Threat Match for the World Heavyweight Championship.

This match was highly physical and bloody. It was total nonstop action the second the bell rang, and all three competitors pulled out every move in their arsenal. Benoit was the clear underdog in this match — a newcomer who had to battle two WWE veterans. But because of this, the crowd at Madison Square Garden got firmly behind Benoit. When Triple H and Michaels suplexed Benoit through a table, many thought it was over for the Rabid Wolverine. But instead, he willed himself from the wreckage, and picked up the win after making Triple H submit to the Crippler Crossface.

WrestleMania 20 saw Chris Benoit and Eddie Guerrero win the World Heavyweight Championship and the WWE Championship, respectively. They embraced each other at the end of the night in the middle of the ring, as confetti dropped from the ceiling.

Sadly, both wrestlers would be dead within four years.

4. The Rock vs. Hulk Hogan (WrestleMania 18 – March 17, 2002)

WWE

Singles Match

Winner: The Rock

Best moment: The fans turning on The Rock and cheering for the villainous Hollywood Hogan.

When Hulk Hogan jumped to WCW in 1994, he was front and center of the company that actively tried to put WWE out of business. His relationship with Vince McMahon soured, after he called out his ex-boss in a steroid scandal that rocked WWE. He shed his all-American, "eat your vitamins and say your prayers" persona to became a bad guy, who called himself Hollywood Hogan, and took the reigns of the NWO, a villainous stable that dominated WCW for the rest of its existence. Hogan was the king in WCW, and he had no problem taking out the company that made him a star.

That is until WWE bought WCW.

McMahon, always one to bury the hatchet for the sake of business, brought back Hogan to WWE in 2002, in his black-and-white NWO gear. He was presented to to the WWE fans as a villain, and he made it his mission to take out one of the most popular superstars at that time: The Rock. The match was set for WrestleMania X8, and as much as everyone wanted to cheer for the Rock and boo the hell out of Hogan, they couldn't. The nostalgia of seeing Hogan wrestle in a WWE ring again, after nine years, was overwhelming. And so, the fans booed the Rock, and cheered, not for Hollywood Hogan, but for the all-American "eat your vitamins and say your prayers" Hulk Hogan who hooked every fan into wrestling all those years ago.

The proceeded to shake hands at the end of the match, making it one of the most powerful pro-wrestling moments ever.

3. Randy "Macho Man" Savage vs. The Ultimate Warrior (WrestleMania 7 – March 24, 1991)

WWE

"Retirement" Match

Winner: The Ultimate Warrior

Best moment: Randy Savage and Miss Elizabeth reunite.

Reminder: While athleticism and skill is extremely important in pro wrestling, without a good story, it's all kaput.

When Savage won the 1989 King of the Ring, he became an asshole. He rechristened himself as Macho King, threw his beloved wife Miss Elizabeth under the bus, opting instead for the evil Sherrie Martel. A new villainous reign commenced for Randy Savage, who liked to use a scepter to beat up his opponents. When WWE Champion Ultimate Warrior refused Savage a shot at the title, Savage interfered in Warrior's match at the Royal Rumble, costing him the title.

The two faced off at WrestleMania 7 in a "career-ending" match. Before the match began, we saw Miss Elizabeth sitting in the crowd, to the surprise of many. The match itself was a work of a beauty, as Savage worked the match in a way that made Warrior look great. The action flowed beautifully, with Sherrie getting in a few cheap shots on Warrior. In the end, Warrior won the match after delivering four powerful body tackles to Savage.

After the match, Sherrie blew up at Savage for losing and kicked him repeatedly while he laid injured on the ground. That's when Miss Elizabeth sprang into action, running down the aisle to defend her man. She grabbed Sherrie by the hair and threw her out of the ring. When Savage came to his senses, he stared at Miss Elizabeth, the woman he split with back in 1989. They looked at each other for a long time before finally embracing in a loving hug, all set to Savage's theme song "Pomp and Circumstance." Grown men and women were crying out of joy in the crowd.

WrestleMania 7 was the culmination of the greatest love story that WWE has ever told.

2. The Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels (WrestleMania 25 – April 5, 2009)

WWE

Singles Match

Winner: The Undertaker

Best moment: Shawn Michaels kicking out of Undertaker's Tombstone.

This was a monumental match, headlined by two bonafide legends.

While both men were fan favorites back in 2009, Michaels was more of the aggressor, trying to prove to the world that Undertaker was not a god-like entity, but a mere man, who could be broken. Michaels was not afraid or intimidated by Undertaker's dark persona and he set his sights on breaking his undefeated streak at WrestleMania.

The match was a work of beauty. The two kept the audience on the edge of their seats, as they risked life and limb to put on an intense match. Undertaker dove over the top rope and landed square on his head. Michaels kicked out of multiple Undertaker finishers, to the surprise of everyone, even the Dead Man himself. The Houstonian crowd was split down the middle, chanting either for Undertaker or Michaels. In the end, Michaels made one mistake: He performed a backflip that was turned into a Tombstone by the Undertaker, allowing him to pick up the win.

After the match was over, the fans and even the commentators were physically drained of all their energy. No one cared about the WWE Championship match that followed. That night will forever go down as the night that Undertaker and Shawn Michaels stole the show, and had one of the greatest matches in all of pro wrestling.

1. "Stone Cold" Steve Austin vs. Bret "The Hitman" Hart (WrestleMania 13 – March 23, 1997)

WWE/ Facebook: 8021824641

"I Quit" Match
Winner: Bret "The Hitman" Hart

Best moment: Austin screaming while blood trickles down his face.

At WrestleMania 13, for the first time ever, we saw a story told that went beyond the confines of a WWE ring. It was more than a great wrestling match. It was great piece of live theater, telling a story written for the ages. This match at WrestleMania 13 told the story of a hero (Hart) who fell from grace, consumed by his own ego and frustration; A hero who lost himself and his moral compass for the sake of victory.

At the same time, we saw a villain (Austin), hated by many, win over the hearts and minds of those rooting against him, while getting his back broken in a pool of his own blood. We saw a villain turn into a hero, because no matter how cold hearted he might have been, he stayed true to himself and he never said, "I quit."

It was a beautiful Shakespearean story, told by two of the greatest wrestlers of all time. This match wasn't just a legendary WrestleMania match. It was an artistic masterpiece that will forever stand the test of time.