411Mania’s Countdown to WrestleMania XXVI 03.17.10: From the Vault - Mania Dream Cards

Posted by Aaron Hubbard on 03.17.2010

There have been many great matches at Wrestlemania, but very rarely is there ever a full card worth watching. But if you could go diving into the Wrestlemania Vault and make a dream card of the best matches, showcasing the biggest stars and the grandest moments from different eras, what would you select? Three men took the challenge; see what they came up with, and see if you can outdo them!


Graphic By Meehan

Last year, one of 411's readers issued a challenge to many of the writers: put together an "Ultimate Wrestlemania" comprised of past Wrestlemania matches. While it was largely ignored, I was rather fond of the concept, and it actually ties into what I do come Wrestlemania season. While some people have the tradition of watching every Wrestlemania on the days leading up to it, I prefer to watch different matches from different 'Manias, showcasing different wrestlers working different styles in different eras. I find it to be a great showcase of everything that makes Wrestlemania special, a run through "The Wrestlemania Vault". So, how does one create a list of the best Wrestlemania matches?

Initially, I figured it would be easy to make this imaginary super-card of sorts. However, as I started looking, it became more and more and more difficult: how could I choose between Bret Hart vs. Owen Hart and Bret Hart vs. Steve Austin? Was The Rock's greatest Wrestlemania Match with Hulk Hogan at X-8 or with Steve Austin the year before? And how on earth do you pick just ONE Shawn Michaels match out of the many classics he has had at the show?

Turns out, an easy solution presented itself: create more than one card! And why should I keep it to myself? I went wandering through the internet, found out that 411's Smackdown Reviewer Michael Uphoff wasn't doing much, and neither was his brother Kenneth Uphoff. Since we are all proud wrestling nerds with nothing to do on a Saturday Night (I keed, I keed), we put our heads together, and decided that each of us would put together our own super card. In the spirit of competition, and in the interest of showcasing thirty of the best Wrestlemania matches, we decided not to use each other's matches.

Actually, part of that is a lie; I talked to Kenneth first and he gave me his card, and then I talked to Mike and he couldn't use Kenneth's matches: I chose to put the most pressure on myself, as I cannot use matches from either man's list. If I would have been SMART, we would have done a draft, but alas....maybe next year.

HERE ARE THE RULES!!!:

Because everything is more fun with rules! So, here they are.

Rule Numero Uno: Each person shall create a Wrestlemania Card of exactly ten matches.
Rule Numero Dos: No wrestler may be used twice, even under a different gimmick. However, a wrestler may interfere in one match and still be used in another one (such as Vince McMahon interfering in Austin vs. Rock II).
Rule Numero Tres: No more than one match from any given Wrestlemania may be used.
Rule Numero Quatro: Each card MUST have the following wrestlers: Hulk Hogan, Steve Austin, The Undertaker, Shawn Michaels, Bret Hart and The Rock.
Rule Numero Cinco: Each card MUST have two "World Title" Matches: either the WWF Championship, the WWE Championship, or the World Heavyweight Championship.
Rule Numero The Next One: No title may be used more than once, including appearances by a champion in a non-title match (such as Shelton Benjamin in the first Money in the Bank; he was the Intercontinental Champion, and so no other Intercontinental Champion should be on the show). The one exception is that the WWF and WWE Champions are considered separate titles, due to the limited number of matches for the WHC and generation gap.
Rule Numero The Last: The opening match MUST be a legitimate opener from one of the Wrestlemanias.

Got all that? With that in mind, here is the card that Kenneth Uphoff came up with.

Match 1: Edge vs. Jeff Hardy vs. Mr. Kennedy vs. King Booker vs. Randy Orton vs. Matt Hardy vs. CM Punk vs. Finlay, Money in the Bank Ladder Match - Wrestlemania XXII
Out of the many ladder matches that have graced the screens of us all at Wrestlemania, few I deem have been underappreciated as this match has become. Yea verily, it is not the best one (MITB I), however it led off a Wrestlemania and set the tone for that PPV. The RKO off the ladder to Punk. A missed Kenton Bomb on a ladder followed up by a Swanton Bomb. Jeff Hardy taking Edge and himself out through a propped up ladder outside. And my personal favorite, a Green Bay Plunge on Hornswoggle from the top of the ladder. This was an 8-man I liked the match for the interesting stories inside it. Rated-RKO both inside the match, as well as the Hardy Boyz. Matt Hardy's well-documented feud with Edge. Mr. Kennedy's evolving tweener-type character. The epic King Booker gimmick. Not only did the stories and gimmicks help, but the spots were awesome as well. Punk's spinning ladder tribute to Terry Funk. The RKO off the top of the ladder, The Bookend off the top of the ladder, Jeff Hardy taking Edge and himself out of the match through the ladder, and my personal favorite, the Green Bay Plunge to Hornswoggle from the top of the ladder. MIDGET VIOLENCE! This was the first MITB match to have more than 6 people, which it made a bit more difficult to run smoothly, and that's why it's special.

Match 2: Mr. Perfect vs. The Blue Blazer - Wrestlemania V
Ok, first off, so the match is only like 6 minutes long. So what? I was told this was a match I should see not for the time length, but the work involved. So watch it I did, and enjoy it I did. This match is a six-minute wrestling exhibition between Owen Hart and Mr. Perfect. It never slows down, never feels like time is wasted. It contains great chain wrestling and mat work for its time. Oh yeah, and the two wrestlers are Owen Hart and Mr. Perfect. Next.

Match 3: Bret Hart vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin, No Disqualification Submission Match - Wrestlemania 13
This match, to me, kicked off the Attitude Era with the double turn of Bret and Austin. It was a great match, an epic match, between two guys who people thought weren't going to put on a good match at Wrestlemania. Fact is, this match saved Wrestlemania 13 from Wrestlemania 9-land. It featured great psychology, great storytelling, and come on, Stone Cold bleeding and suffering from the Sharpshooter? That's an iconic moment, just like Hogan slamming Andre and Stone Cold aligning with Vince McMahon. Or Montreal. I love this match because, to me, it kicks off the greatest era of pro wrestling. I could write a veritable litany of words on this match, but suffice it to say that this match kick-started the greatest era of pro-wrestling, saved a tepid Wrestlemania, and pretty much morphed some guy named Stone Cold Steve Austin's career into a main-event icon. Not bad for one match, if I do say so myself.

Match 4: Ricky Steamboat vs. Randy Savage, Intercontinental Championship - Wrestlemania III
Ok, I'm going to keep this really simple. This match is the greatest Intercontinental Championship match of all time. Bar none. Forget the two Ladder Matches between Hall and HBK. This match stands above them. The two workers in this match alone bring this match to a hallowed level. Steamboat and Savage, in their time, put on an all-time classic in the throes of psychology, mat wrestling, and high-flying ability. I still mark out for the finish, the small package counter out of a scoop slam. Simple, but so effective after being worn down. Add in the fact that it was in front of almost 100,000 fans on the grandest stage of them all, and you have your reasons why it is on here.

Match 5: Hulk Hogan vs. The Rock- Wrestlemania X-8
Ok, to be painfully honest, I don't like this match. At all. I've never been a fan of Hogan, and I actually rooted for Vince to beat him at Wrestlemania 19, so I'd never have to see him again. If only. Hatred of Hogan aside, the match itself is on here because of one thing: atmosphere. The star of the 80s, Hogan, versus the star of the 90s, The Rock, one-on-one at Mania. While the in-ring work was nothing to die for, it nonetheless was solid in-ring work that told a good story. But the spectacle, the atmosphere, the environment, was what made this match great. I could do without ever watching it again, but when I do watch it, I marvel at the crowd and how into the match they are. No one is bored, no one is making snarky comments (that I could hear), everyone was drawn to this match. Plus, it's not like Hogan hasn't had worse matches than this at Wrestlemania. Overall, few matches had an impact on the crowd and the industry like this match did. That is why it deserves to be on here.

Match 6: Shane McMahon vs. Vince McMahon, Street Fight - Wrestlemania X-Seven
This match is a guilty favorite of mine. It's nothing that someone will remember the next day when they think of the PPV, but it's just one of those hardcore-type matches that will make you go "DAMN" every so often. That being said, I endorse Ron Simmons for the WWE Hall of Fame. Getting back on topic, this match had a decent storyline with Linda and Vince and Shane defending his mother. And come on, who in a kayfabe sense didn't enjoy Linda straight jacking Vince in the jewels in the middle of the ring at Wrestlemania? I laughed so hard when I first saw that, soda shot out my nose. That didn't tickle. The best part was Shane-O-Mac debuting the Van Terminator, the coast-to-coast dropkick with a trashcan. Sure, the match is nothing special, but it imbues us all with one fact: There is no length to which Vince will go to make sure we enjoy Wrestlemania. He will publicly humiliate himself at his greatest creation, time in, time out, in order to placate the fans. What other boss do you know who would do something like that again and again?

Match 7: The Undertaker vs. Kane - Wrestlemania XIV
This match is underappreciated in my book. It's a great big man match, though not in psychology so much as storytelling. Kane was built as the first man who could ever beat Taker at will. Even people didn't think he could beat Kane at Wrestlemania. Not to mention the mere fact that it took 3 Tombstone Piledrivers to put Kane down for a 3 count, which he kicked out at. And after that, Kane Tombstoned Taker on a chair! This was unheard of. Taker dominated people at Mania, he always had the last laugh. Kane didn't let him get that, letting Taker know their feud was far from over. Kane made Taker go to new heights in this match in order to get the win. He made Taker work harder, act more desperate, and pull out anything to win, in kayfabe sense. That's why this match is special, because for the first time Taker looked like he BARELY won at Wrestlemania, and it looked like more trouble was on the horizon.

Match 8: Kurt Angle vs. Brock Lesnar, WWE Championship - Wrestlemania XIX
I'm not really sure why this match has become a forgotten classic, but it has. Two great mat wrestlers, a great storyline, and an epic buildup. What's to forget? Obviously, Brock nearly killing himself on the SSP didn't help matters, but that is not what this match should be remembered for. This match featured mat wrestling, power, suplexes galore, and intensity off the charts. Plus, Lesnar dragging Angle halfway across the ring in the Anklelock is always a cool visual. Also the fact that Angle kicked out of the F5 was cool, since Brock virtually destroyed the world according to WWE with that move. This match didn't have any high-flying action to woo people in, but it was chock full of great mat work and wrestling strategy. Plus Brock nearly killing himself with the SSP is kinda fun to watch, albeit in a Michael Myers sense. You know what's going to happen, but you can't look away. This match main-evented one of the best overall Wrestlemanias and should be remembered as such.

Match 9: Mickie James vs. Trish Stratus, Women's Championship - Wrestlemania 22
Ok, part of the reason I picked this match was because I wanted a Women's Title match on here, and this was the only good one I could think of. Mickie's lesbian psycho-stalker character was killer and the male fanbase was behind her, judging by the sounds of the crowd. This match was given good time, and featured good psychology and storytelling. Mickie's vaginal claw on Trish was a decent touch to her psycho character. She also was working over Trish's knee, which explained why she couldn't finish her Stratusfaction attempt. Sadly, WWE edited that part out of the DVD, and the finish comes out of nowhere as Mickie hits the Mick Kick on Trish for the title. The entire match was one-of-a-kind, but memorable as it ushered in a new day in women's wrestling in the WWE. Trish would leave at Unforgiven, and Lita would leave at Survivor Series of that same year, leaving Mickie to take the mantle of the division. This was as close as we were going to get to a passing of the torch. As to why I like this match? Mickie's hot, Trish is hot. And they wrestle. I win. Everyone wins.

Match 10: Triple H vs. Shawn Michaels vs. Chris Benoit, World Heavyweight Championship - Wrestlemania XX
First off, to the people who are offended by Benoit still, shut up. Move on. Second, this match is probably the most epic match of any Wrestlemania. Chris Benoit trying to win his big one, while HBK and HHH had unfinished business. The match itself is stellar, with great in-ring work and psychology. The counters are nice, like HBK giving Benoit a German Suplex and then Benoit gives him three in exchange. Benoit being put through the table was good too, as it gave HBK and HHH a chance to tell their side of the story in the context of the match. The spots of this match were nice too. Benoit BARELY breaking up the pin after HHH hits the Pedigree on a bloodied HBK and everyone thinking HHH was retaining. Benoit locking HHH in the Sharpshooter, and being cracked with Sweet Chin Music. Benoit locking HHH in the Crossface one final time, with that final rollthrough, HHH getting trapped in the middle of the ring and being forced to tap out to relinquish his title. And Eddie running down after the match and posing with Benoit to end the show. This match culminated a great odyssey for Benoit, finally winning his long-awaited championship. Of course, more recent events have had us look at Benoit differently, and that's fine. But on this night, Benoit was the best, and this was the best match ever at Wrestlemania, and it deserves to be the main event of an Ultimate Wrestlemania.


Not a bad Wrestlemania if I do say so myself, although a little crowded. I can't imagine having time to breathe watching Bret-Austin, Savage-Steamboat, and Rock-Hogan one after the other, but it's still an excellent card and he made good use of his "first come, first serve" advantage. Could his brother Mike Uphoff possibly top it?

Match 1: Bret Hart vs. Owen Hart - Wrestlemania X
For me, this is the greatest opener in Wrestlemania history. Nothing even comes close. It is perhaps the ultimate sibling rivalry match, and being a twin, it makes this match even greater in my mind. No one ever thought Owen would win, especially with Bret facing Yokozuna in the main event. This is why I chose this as my opener.

Match 2: Rob Van Dam vs. William Regal, Intercontinental Championship - Wrestlemania X-8
This is an under-appreciated match for me that saw one of the most talented workers go up against a fast rising star in the WWE. Regal brought the technical wrestling and RVD brought the flashiness, and the two mixed well in my opinion. Not the greatest IC title match at Wrestlemania, but nothing to sneeze at either. Two hard workers put on a good match, and that's why I chose it.

Match 3: Chris Benoit vs. Montel Vontavious Porter, United States Championship - Wrestlemania 23
While it seemed that Benoit had lost some of his fire, MVP more than brought his working boots for this match. This featured Benoit's technical ability and trying to get MVP to tap out versus MVP's resourcefulness in being able to effectively counter both the Crossface and the Sharpshooter every time Benoit tried to lock them in. Benoit was forced to utilize German suplexes and the diving headbutt to get the pinfall, but this match showed that the wily veteran had to use all his tricks to outsmart the young gun who did his homework. This match showcased MVP as a legitimate upper mid-carder, and that is why I chose it.

Match 4: Edge & Christian vs. The Dudley Boyz vs. The Hardy Boyz, WWF Tag Team Championship Triangle Ladder Match - Wrestlemania 2000
In my mind, this match is greater than TLC II at Wrestlemania X-Seven. Not by much, but this is the match where it all started. Tables, ladders, and chairs oh my! This match set the bar for all TLC matches that would follow this. While this isn't a TLC match, this match first introduced tag teams that would come to be known for being in TLC matches: The Dudley Boys, the Hardy Boyz, and Edge & Christian. This match made them famous, and set the bar for the TLC matches that would come. Insane spots and just a bunch of fun all around make this a no-brainer for the Ultimate Wrestlemania.

Match 5: Hulk Hogan vs. Vince McMahon, Street Fight - Wrestlemania XIX
Admit it. You loved it when Vince got his ass kicked. As did I. However, that is not the reason that I picked this match. I picked this match because of Rowdy Roddy Piper interfering and hitting Hulk Hogan with a lead pipe. I marked out for that huge! Remembering all the way back to the main event of the first Wrestlemania, and how eighteen years later, the WWE could still play off of that made me appreciate this match even more. Sure, it's not a great match, but it's Vince getting his ass kicked at Wrestlemania, which is what he does best. That's why it's on my list.

Match 6: The Big Show vs. Floyd "Money" Mayweather - Wrestlemania XXIV
I never thought that this match had any potential. However, after seeing it, I could see that both athletes worked hard to sell this match. Big Show had some great promos for this match, and Mayweather worked his ASS off to get anyone and everyone to care by going on all sorts of talk shows and media sources promoting his match. I knew who was going to win, but I didn't care. The wrestler vs. boxer mentality was kinda hard to get through at first, but both men performed admirably. At a Wrestlemania, you need to have a match that is going to draw other people besides wrestling fans to see your PPV. This was a special attraction match that worked out better than anyone dreamed it would, and that is why it was chosen.

Match 7: Ultimate Warrior vs. Randy Savage, Retirement Match - Wrestlemania VII
This match did not look pretty on paper, but it delivered in two ways. Number one, Warrior and Savage had a hell of a match that was great. Warrior looked like a beast ending the career of the Macho Man, and the Macho Man looked great in defeat. The other way it delivered was the reuniting of Savage and Miss Elizabeth. Savage realizing that she had saved him from a beatdown by Sherri Martel and then hugging her and then lifting her up on his shoulders, and then opening the ring ropes for her is one of the greatest moments in wrestling history. For those two moments, this match deserves to be on everyone's ultimate Wrestlemania card.

Match 8: Kurt Angle vs. Eddie Guerrero, WWE Championship - Wrestlemania XX
This match featured two of the greatest mat workers in the business. This was a great WWE Championship match that featured a lot of counters and great amounts of technical mat wrestling. Kurt Angle's ability to wrestle was evenly matched by an underrated Guerrero, and the best part was Eddie doing his usual thing at the end of the match. Angle had the Anklelock locked in, and Eddie made the ropes. He then lied, cheated, and stole the WWE Championship, and that is what the crowd loved about him. This remains one of the greatest WWE Championship matches in history, and that is why it is on the card.

Match 9: The Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels- Wrestlemania XXV
This match is not overrated at all in my book. It isn't 5 stars, but it's damn close. Both of these men, who were 43 and 44 respectively, put on an absolute wrestling clinic. This match was spectacular from start to finish, and while there were two botches in the match, this match was an absolute classic in every sense of the word. The look on Taker's face when HBK kicked out of the first Tombstone Piledriver was EPIC. This match deserves to be on all Ultimate Wrestlemania cards as a tribute to over 40 wrestlers showing everyone else how to get it done.

Match 10: Stone Cold Steve Austin vs. The Rock, WWF Championship - Wrestlemania X-Seven
This match was truly epic in every sense of the word. This was in Houston, Texas, less than an hour away from Stone Cold Steve Austin's hometown. The crowd was MOLTEN. This was a great wrestling match that saw Austin try to do anything and everything to desperately win the title that he needed more than anything. Rock was his usual awesome self at this time. The heel turn by Austin at the end of the match when he joined forces with McMahon was great, but it didn't really work, because they were so close to Austin's hometown that nothing he could do would make the crowd hate him. The crowd was molten for anything he did, and that made this match what it is today. That is why this match is the main event of my Ultimate Wrestlemania.


Now THAT is a card I would gladly pay sixty or seventy dollars to see. Now, the challenge: how do *I*, respected columnist extroadinaire (coughcough) top the brothers Uphoff?

Match 1: Eddie Guerrero vs. Rey Mysterio - Wrestlemania 21
What kind of wrestling fan would I be if I didn't have my all-time favorite professional wrestler on the card? Fortunately, Eddie Guerrero was involved in one of the best openers in Wrestlemania history with his good friend, great rival, and fellow tag team champion at the time. While not up to the very high standards of their Halloween Havoc classic, it was a very good match. Eddie in particular was on point throughout and put on a wrestling clinic at Mysterio's expense, but in the end, the masked marvel won with a surprise roll-up for a mild upset over the former WWE Champion.

Match 2: Ax & Smash of Demolition vs. Haku & Andre the Giant, WWF Tag Team Championship - Wrestlemania VI
While I can't begrudge either brother for excluding Andre the Giant vs. Hulk Hogan from their lists (something which I also chose not to do), I felt it would be a crime for Andre not to show up once on these list. He is one of great legends of professional wrestling, and I was more than happy to save a spot on the card for this match. In reality, Andre the Giant isn't involved much in the actual match, as Haku carries the action against Demolition, but after the match Andre turns his back on Bobby Heenan at his last major show. The match isn't half-bad, all things considered, but the moment in the sun for The Giant is what gets this match on my card.

Match 3: Mick Foley vs. Edge, Hardcore Match - Wrestlemania 22
Ladders? Who needs ladders? We got chairs, baseball bats, barbwire, thumbtacks and flaming tables! Proving that there was more than one-way to have a "Wrestlemania Carcrash" match, Foley and Edge stole the show at Wrestlemania 22. The final spot is one of the most memorable in 'Mania history, as Edge spear Foley off the apron, diving headfirst into a flaming table to deliver the move. This was Foley's finest performance at 'Mania (granted, there's not much competition) and one of the highlights of Edge's career as well.

Match 4: Kurt Angle vs. Kane – Wrestlemania X-8
This is one of my two "filler matches", I suppose, but it's a match that always gets overlooked, partially because Wrestlemania X-8 as a whole was average, Kane is pretty much synonymous with The Undertaker at 'Mania and Angle has had better matches. However, I'm a sucker for hidden gems, and these guys had some pretty amazing chemistry. The highlight of the match is Kane hitting his awesome enzugiri to counter the Ankle Lock, but the whole match is pretty freaking sweet.

Match 5: Chris Jericho vs. Christian - Wrestlemania XX
Hey, Jericho deserves some love! And so does Christian for that matter. While Wrestlemania is most remembered for it's two title matches and The Undertaker's return, one of my favorite Wrestlemania moments was in this match, a beautiful swerve to the months long romance story between Jericho and Trish Stratus, which bled into an in-ring feud with Jericho's partner Christian, and ended with Trish joining Christian. This was Christian's coming out party as a singles performer, the beginning of Trish's awesome heel character, and cemented Jericho's face turn. Plus, the match was great. Everything a midcard 'Mania match should be.

Match 6: Bret Hart vs. "Rowdy" Roddy Piper - Wrestlemania VIII
With Savage-Steamboat out of the running, there were only two choices for an Intercontinental Championship Match in my eyes; the Ladder Match with Razor, and this match. Well, HBK had more great matches left than Bret did, so I went with Bret. And that's just fine with me; Roddy Piper ends up on my card, AND I get one of my favorite Wrestlemania matches to boot. The storytelling in this is just great and really elevates it, and the finish where Bret climbs the turnbuckles while in Piper's sleeper hold before rolling into a pin is one of the more iconic finishes in 'Mania history. Definitely an underrated gem of a match.

Match 7: The Undertaker vs. Triple H – Wrestlemania X-Seven
Picking one match from Wrestlemania X-Seven is pretty hard, but this one is one of the best on the card, and one of the best 'Mania matches for both participants. This was a wild, fun brawl where Undertaker basically got to punish Triple H for giving the WWF fans and it's top babyfaces Hell for the last year plus. 'Taker gave a great performance in front of his hometown crowd and Triple H was a machine at this point, so a good match was virtually guaranteed.

Match 8: Stone Cold Steve Austin vs. The Rock- Wrestlemania XIX
The last match of one of the greatest wrestlers of all time. The end of an era, really. While I'm generally against rematches at Wrestlemania, there is a poetic justice in Austin's last match being at the biggest show of them all and losing to The Rock, who he pretty much screwed over two years prior in his vanity quest for the title. While not as good as the second one or even the first, it is still an excellent contest between two of the three biggest names in pro-wrestling history. A fitting addition to my card.

Match 9: John Cena vs. Shawn Michaels, WWE Championship Match – Wrestlemania XIII
I felt that it was an injustice not having John Cena on this card somewhere, since he is now one THE top guy in wrestling. His match with Shawn Michaels, while not the amazing all-time classic WWE tries to hail it as, was a spectacle with big-match feel. There is something very satisfying in seeing a rejuvenated veteran, possibly the best of all time, go one-on-one with WWE's poster boy in the main event of Wrestlemania. A terrific main event and probably one you weren't expected, but I have no shame in including it.

Match 10: Hulk Hogan vs. Randy Savage, WWF Championship - Wrestlemania V
Well hey, I've done nothing but loudly sing this match's praises, so here it is, main eventing my card. This is the classic Wrestlemania main event, two huge stars, a babyface defeating a heel for the title. It's probably Hogan's best match from a technical standpoint, largely due to The Macho Man being awesome. It also has the love-triangle involving Elizabeth, which manages to add to the match without overwhelming it. While the result was never in doubt, this was "truly what the words 'Main Event' were meant for". Just ask Jesse Ventura.


Well, that's all from me folks. So, here's the challenge; with all Wrestlemania matches available to you, and the rules given above, put my card, Mike's card, and Kenneth's card to shame!