The Piledriver Report 03.11.10: The Greatest Match in WrestleMania History Tournament- Round Two Results and the Sweet Sixteen Match-ups

Posted by Ronny Sarnecky on 03.11.2010

From HBK vs. The Undertaker to Bret Hart vs. Steve Austin and many others, which WrestleMania match stands as the supercard's greatest ever? The Piledriver Report continues its Fifth Annual Ultimate March Madness Tournament to decide...

The field is now narrowed down to the final sixteen WrestleMania matches in the tournament. Before the results are given, I would like to thank everyone who has voted thus far. I have received 266 e-mails voting on the tournament. Thank you again.

Along with the results, I will be including how many votes each wrestler received in parenthesis. Next, will come the THIRD ROUND match-up, which I will need you to vote on. I will end the column with the wrestlers I had picked to win in the second round.

PLEASE E-MAIL ME WHO YOU THINK WILL WIN THE ROUND TWO MATCHES BY MONDAY, MARCH 15th, 2009 at [e-mail] or by entering your choices in the Comments Section.

ROUND TWO RESULTS

HOUSTON REGION



1. Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels- WrestleMania XXV (127) over 8. Batista/Ric Flair/Randy Orton vs. The Rock/Mick Foley- WrestleMania XX (5)

5. Shawn Michaels vs. Chris Jericho- WrestleMania XIX (94) over 4. Undertaker vs. Edge- WrestleMania XXIV (38)

3. Randy Savage vs. Ultimate Warrior- WrestleMania VII (92) over 6. John Cena vs. Shawn Michaels- WrestleMania 23 (39)

2. Randy Savage vs. Ricky Steamboat- WrestleMania III (105) over 7. The Rock vs. Steve Austin- WrestleMania XIX (28)
CHICAGO REGION



1. Bret Hart vs. Steve Austin- WrestleMania 13 (120) over 9. Undertaker vs. Triple H- WrestleMania X-Seven (11)

4. Brock Lesnar vs. Kurt Angle- WrestleMania XIX (95) over 5. Money In The Bank: Mr. Kennedy vs. Edge vs. CM Punk vs. King Booker vs. Jeff Hardy vs. Matt Hardy vs. Finlay vs. Randy Orton- WrestleMania 23 (36)

3. Kurt Angle vs. Chris Benoit- WrestleMania X-Seven (108) over 6. Money In The Bank: Rob Van Dam vs. Shelton Benjamin vs. Ric Flair vs. Finlay vs. Matt Hardy vs. Bobby Lashley- WrestleMania 22 (22)

2. Owen Hart vs. Bret Hart- WrestleMania X (82) over 7. Hulk Hogan vs. Ultimate Warrior- WrestleMania VI (48)

NEW YORK REGION



1. Shawn Michaels vs. Razor Ramon- WrestleMania X (73) over 8. Shawn Michaels vs. Ric Flair- WrestleMania XXIV (57)

4. Shawn Michaels vs. Bret Hart- WrestleMania XII (69) over 5. Edge/Christian vs. Hardys vs. Dudleys- WrestleMania 2000 (62)

3. Steve Austin vs. The Rock- WrestleMania X-Seven (116) over 6. Undertaker vs. Batista- WrestleMania 23 (15)

2. Kurt Angle vs. Shawn Michaels- WrestleMania 21 (119) over 7. Davey Boy Smith/Dynamite Kid vs. Brutus Beefcake/Greg Valentine- WrestleMania 2 (12)

TORONTO REGION



1. Edge/Christian vs. Hardys vs. Dudleys- WrestleMania X-Seven (121) over 8. John Cena vs. Triple H- WrestleMania 22 (9)

4. Randy Savage vs. Ric Flair- WrestleMania VIII (97) over 12. Money in the Bank: CM Punk vs. Shelton Benjamin vs. Chris Jericho vs. Carlito vs. MVP vs. Mr. Kennedy vs. John Morrison- WrestleMania XXIV (33)

6. Edge vs. Mick Foley- WrestleMania 22 (79) over 3. Money in the Bank: Edge vs. Chris Jericho vs. Shelton Benjamin vs. Chris Benoit vs. Christian vs.Kane- WrestleMania 21 (51)

2. Chris Benoit vs. Triple H vs. Shawn Michaels- WrestleMania XX (113) over 7. Eddie Guerrero vs. Kurt Angle- WrestleMania XX (16)

ROUND THREE MATCH-UPS

HOUSTON REGION



1. Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels- WrestleMania XXV
VS.
5. Shawn Michaels vs. Chris Jericho- WrestleMania XIX

3. Randy Savage vs. Ultimate Warrior- WrestleMania VII
VS.
2. Randy Savage vs. Ricky Steamboat- WrestleMania III

CHICAGO REGION



1. Bret Hart vs. Steve Austin- WrestleMania 13
VS.
4. Brock Lesnar vs. Kurt Angle- WrestleMania XIX

3. Kurt Angle vs. Chris Benoit- WrestleMania X-Seven
VS.
2. Owen Hart vs. Bret Hart- WrestleMania X

NEW YORK REGION



1. Shawn Michaels vs. Razor Ramon- WrestleMania X
VS.
4. Shawn Michaels vs. Bret Hart- WrestleMania XII

3. Steve Austin vs. The Rock- WrestleMania X-Seven
VS.
2. Kurt Angle vs. Shawn Michaels- WrestleMania 21

TORONTO REGION



1. Edge/Christian vs. Hardys vs. Dudleys- WrestleMania X-Seven
VS.
4. Randy Savage vs. Ric Flair- WrestleMania VIII

6. Edge vs. Mick Foley- WrestleMania 22
VS.
2. Chris Benoit vs. Triple H vs. Shawn Michaels- WrestleMania XX

MY SECOND ROUND PICKS

HOUSTON REGION



1. Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels- WrestleMania XXV over 8. Batista/Ric Flair/Randy Orton vs. The Rock/Mick Foley- WrestleMania XX

4. Undertaker vs. Edge- WrestleMania XXIV over 12. Christian vs. Chris Jericho- WrestleMania XX

3. Randy Savage vs. Ultimate Warrior- WrestleMania VII over 6. John Cena vs. Shawn Michaels- WrestleMania 23

2. Randy Savage vs. Ricky Steamboat- WrestleMania III over 7. The Rock vs. Steve Austin- WrestleMania XIX

CHICAGO REGION



1. Bret Hart vs. Steve Austin- WrestleMania 13 over 8. Money In The Bank: CM Punk vs. Kane vs. Mark Henry vs. MVP vs. Shelton Benjamin vs. Kofi Kingston vs. Christian vs.Finlay- WrestleMania XXV

4. Brock Lesnar vs. Kurt Angle- WrestleMania XIX over 5. Money In The Bank: Mr. Kennedy vs. Edge vs. CM Punk vs. King Booker vs. Jeff Hardy vs. Matt Hardy vs. Finlay vs. Randy Orton- WrestleMania 23

3. Kurt Angle vs. Chris Benoit- WrestleMania X-Seven over 6. Money In The Bank: Rob Van Dam vs. Shelton Benjamin vs. Ric Flair vs. Finlay vs. Matt Hardy vs. Bobby Lashley- WrestleMania 22

2. Owen Hart vs. Bret Hart- WrestleMania X over 7. Hulk Hogan vs. Ultimate Warrior- WrestleMania VI

NEW YORK REGION



1. Shawn Michaels vs. Razor Ramon- WrestleMania X over 8. Shawn Michaels vs. Ric Flair- WrestleMania XXIV

4. Shawn Michaels vs. Bret Hart- WrestleMania XII over 5. Edge/Christian vs. Hardys vs. Dudleys- WrestleMania 2000

3. Steve Austin vs. The Rock- WrestleMania X-Seven over 6. Undertaker vs. Batista- WrestleMania 23

2. Kurt Angle vs. Shawn Michaels- WrestleMania 21 over 7. Davey Boy Smith/Dynamite Kid vs. Brutus Beefcake/Greg Valentine- WrestleMania 2

TORONTO REGION



1. Edge/Christian vs. Hardys vs. Dudleys- WrestleMania X-Seven over 8. John Cena vs. Triple H- WrestleMania 22

4. Randy Savage vs. Ric Flair- WrestleMania VIII over 12. Money in the Bank: CM Punk vs. Shelton Benjamin vs. Chris Jericho vs. Carlito vs. MVP vs. Mr. Kennedy vs. John Morrison- WrestleMania XXIV

3. Money in the Bank: Edge vs. Chris Jericho vs. Shelton Benjamin vs. Chris Benoit vs. Christian vs.Kane- WrestleMania 21 over 6. Edge vs. Mick Foley- WrestleMania 22

2. Chris Benoit vs. Triple H vs. Shawn Michaels- WrestleMania XX over 7. Eddie Guerrero vs. Kurt Angle- WrestleMania XX

THE PARTICIPANTS

Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels- WrestleMania XXV: One of only three five star matches in WrestleMania history. Won the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Pro Wrestling Illustrated, and WWE Match of the Year in 2009. This match featured the Undertaker's undefeated streak against Shawn Michaels' self-proclaimed "Mr. WrestleMania" moniker.

Shawn Michaels vs. Chris Jericho- WrestleMania XIX: This was the WrestleMania in-ring return of Shawn Michael after missing the previous four Manias (in-ring) due to a career threatening back injury. Chris Jericho was fighting his boyhood hero in a match that proved that Shawn Michaels still had "it."

Randy Savage vs. Ultimate Warrior- WrestleMania VII: The Ultimate Warrior/Randy Savage rivalry started to take shape in the winter of 1990 during a house show run where the "Macho King" tried to win the WWF World title from the painted warrior. The feud intensified at the 1991 Royal Rumble when Savage's interference cost the Ultimate Warrior the title in his match against Sgt. Slaughter. The WWF signed Randy Savage vs. the Ultimate Warrior to take place at WrestleMania VII, with a special stipulation. The loser of the match would be forced to retire from wrestling. Both men pulled out all of the stops in this match. A Savage/Miss Elizabeth reunion put the icing on the cake. This WrestleMania contest was probably the greatest in-ring performance of the Warrior's career. In ranking this match amongst the greatest WrestleManias of the first decade of the super show, Savage vs. Warrior is easily in the top five. The WrestleMania VII Savage/Warrior match ranks as one of the WWE's Top 24 Matches in WrestleMania history, according to wwe.com.

Randy Savage vs. Ricky Steamboat- WrestleMania III: In the early years of WrestleMania, the Savage/Steamboat WrestleMania III classic was the match that all other great WrestleMania matches were judged by. This match had everything. There was a hot grudge between two wrestlers that needed to be settled. A major championship was at stake. Two of the greatest workers in the industry were facing each other in the peak of their careers. The stars were all lined up for the two men to have the match to end all matches. It was great. The work rate was awesome. The near falls had you at the edge of your seat during a time when kayfabe was still on its last legs. This match won that year's "Pro Wrestling Illustrated" and "Wrestling Observer Newsletter" Match of the Year, as well as one of wwe.com's Top 24 WrestleMania matches of all-time.

Bret Hart vs. Steve Austin- WrestleMania 13: While the King of the Ring "Austin 3:16" promo, helped launch the WWF career of Steve Austin, his WrestleMania 13 match-up against Bret Hart raised "Stone Cold" into another stratosphere. Their "I Quit" match help turn Steve Austin into a mega face, and turn Bret Hart into the top heel in the company in a role reversal angle. This match was only the second five star match in WrestleMania history up to this point. The match won both the "Wrestling Observer Newsletter" and the "Pro Wrestling Illustrated's" Match of the Year. It was also named one of wwe.com's Top 24 Matches in WrestleMania history.

Brock Lesnar vs. Kurt Angle- WrestleMania XIX: This was a true wrestling dream match. Both men were skilled amateur wrestling champions, each having won an NCAA wrestling championship during their collegiate years. The match-up between Angle and Lesnar was as close to "real" as you can get in professional wrestling. The match is probably best remembered for Brock Lesnar's botched shooting star press in the final moments of the contest. It was a mistake that could have cost Lesnar his pro wrestling career, or even later his MMA career. Thankfully, all it left in the end was an image of Brock Lesnar showing the world he had the guts to try anything.

Kurt Angle vs. Chris Benoit- WrestleMania X-Seven: This match pitted arguably the two best technical wrestlers in the world against one another. The early portion of the contest gave the fans something they weren't used to seeing; mat wrestling. It was a nice change of pace until the standard pro wrestling match broke out. Of course, when it comes to Chris Benoit and Kurt Angle, their "standard" wrestling match is so much more. This was a great match that was worthy of being held on the greatest WrestleMania card of all time. Angle vs. Benoit was voted as one of wwe.com's Top 24 WrestleMania matches of all-time.

Owen Hart vs. Bret Hart- WrestleMania X: Owen Hart vs. Bret Hart from WrestleMania X is quite possibly the greatest opening match in WrestleMania, if not pay per view, history. At the time, Bret and Owen were two of the top in-ring performers. Their match at WrestleMania X was a classic. The surprise ending of a clean Owen Hart victory made the match even better. This match was voted as one of wwe.com's Top 24 greatest matches in WrestleMania history.

Shawn Michaels vs. Razor Ramon- WrestleMania X: The first WWF ladder matches took place a couple of years earlier when Bret Hart was defending his Intercontinental championship against Shawn Michaels. This time Shawn Michaels was going up against Razor Ramon in a ladder match at WrestleMania X. It was a first for the WWF's biggest event. Shawn and Razor did not disappoint. The Shawn/Razor match set the standard for what ladder matches should be. Michaels vs. Razor won the "Wrestling Observer Newsletter" and "Pro Wrestling Illustrated's" Match of the Year. They were also voted as one of wwe.com's 24 Greatest WrestleMania matches of all-time. The Shawn/Razor match earned the first five star rating in WrestleMania history.

Shawn Michaels vs. Bret Hart- WrestleMania XII: The Michaels vs. Bret "Iron Man" match was the first, and only WrestleMania match to go over one hour. At the time, Shawn Michaels and Bret Hart were the top two performers in the company, if not all of wrestling. The "Iron Man" match was the culmination of Shawn Michaels capturing his "boyhood dream." It is a match that will live in the annals of WrestleMania history. Michaels vs. Bret won the PWI Match of the Year, and was named one of the Top 24 WrestleMania matches of all-time by wwe.com.

Steve Austin vs. The Rock- WrestleMania X-Seven: This was the second of the three Austin/Rock WrestleMania matches. Many believe that this was the best Rock/Austin match of the three. The climax of the match featured "Stone Cold" Steve Austin turning heel, and joining Mr. McMahon and Triple H. The match was voted one of the Top 24 Matches in WrestleMania history by wwe.com.

Kurt Angle vs. Shawn Michaels- WrestleMania 21: Angle vs. Michaels was what WrestleMania is all about. When you think of WrestleMania, especially in the early days, you though of dream matches. After all, WrestleMania always provided you with unique matches. Shawn Michaels was arguably the best wrestler of the nineties. Kurt Angle was arguably the greatest wrestler of the new millennium. While Kurt Angle was in his prime, Shawn Michaels was still near the top of his game as well. The match didn't disappoint as it was named "Pro Wrestling Illustrated's" Match of the Year, as well as being voted one of the Top 24 Matches in WrestleMania history by wwe.com.

Edge/Christian vs. Hardys vs. Dudleys- WrestleMania X-Seven: Arguably the greatest ladder match in the history of the gimmick. If the previous year's ladder match put tag teams on the map during the WWF's "Attitude Era," this match cemented the three teams place in WrestleMania history. However, in order to up the ante, the WrestleMania tag team triple threat rematch was more then just a ladder match. This was billed as a "tables, ladders, and chairs" match. Everything was legal, and everything was used in this edge of your seat match. The match was named "Pro Wrestling Illustrated's" Match of the Year, as well as being voted one of the Top 24 Matches in WrestleMania history by wwe.com.

Randy Savage vs. Ric Flair- WrestleMania VIII: The best worker in the WWF during the late eighties versus the best worker in the NWA/WCW of the late eighties finally clashed at WrestleMania VIII. It was worth the wait, as both men put on an entertaining match. Savage vs. Flair was the best match of WrestleMania VIII, and earned a spot on the wwe.com's Top 24 Matches in WrestleMania history list.

Edge vs. Mick Foley- WrestleMania 22: For all he accomplished in the WWE, Mick Foley never had a "WrestleMania moment." He won the tag team titles. He refereed a match. He even wrestled in the main event. However, he never had that one memorable moment, until now. Edge and Mick Foley fought each other in a hardcore battle that saw Edge move up to another level as a performer (despite already holding the WWE World title). Thanks to being driven through a flaming table, Foley had his "moment." The fans got to realize that Mick really is crazy.

Chris Benoit vs. Triple H vs. Shawn Michaels- WrestleMania XX: The main event of the 20th WrestleMania featured arguably the greatest Triple Threat match in the history of the promotion. All three men performed brilliantly that night giving Chris Benoit the kind of night in wrestling that his misused talent always deserved. The sight of Benoit and Eddie Guerrero embracing in the middle of the ring, as streamers came sailing down from the sky, was perhaps the greatest moment in WrestleMania history. At least until you know what happened. The match was named "Pro Wrestling Illustrated's" Match of the Year, as well as being voted one of the Top 24 Matches in WrestleMania history by wwe.com.