The 411 Wrestling Top 5 3.17.10: Week 66 – Best WrestleMania Non-Main Events

Hello everyone and welcome to 411 Wrestling’s Top 5 List. What we are going to is take a topic each week and all the writers here on 411 wrestling will have the ability to give us their Top 5 on said topic, plus up to three honorable mentions. Most of our topics will be based on recent events in the Wrestling World, looking at those events that make us think of times past.

So, on to this week’s topic…

WRESTLEMANIA NON MAIN EVENTS

At the end of the day, everyone remembers the main event of each of every Wrestlemania, or main events as in recent years. But it’s the rest of the card that truly defines how good a Wrestlemania ends up being. No bigger example of this is seen than Wrestlemania X, when not one, but two classic matches set the tone for Bret Hart’s defeat of Yokozuna in the Main Event. A great main event does not make a good Wrestlemania, but one heck of an undercard makes a great Wrestlemania. So we look back at those matches not billed as the main event for the first 25 Wrestlemanias in this week’s Top 5 in the first of our two Wrestlemania Previews.

So what did our group of writers select? Let’s find out…

Aaron Hubbard

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Shawn Michaels vs. Ric Flair, Wrestlemania XXIV – A tribute to Ric Flair and perhaps the two best performers ever facing each other on the biggest stage of them all.

Edge vs. Mick Foley, Wrestlemania 22 – The most hardcore, violent match in ‘Mania history.

Shawn Michaels vs. Kurt Angle, Wrestlemania 21 – Fantastic match that isn’t quite as good as the matches that made the list.

5.Shawn Michaels vs. Razor Ramon, Wrestlemania X – The match that turned Shawn Michaels into a superstar. The match that set the standard and built the template for an entire genre of matches. One of the greatest and most innovative matches of all time and one of two absolute classics from the tenth Wrestlemania.

4.Bret Hart vs. Owen Hart, Wrestlemania X – And this is the other one. Hart vs. Hart is wrestling perfection. The action is flawless and the storytelling is extremely compelling. It’s the best opener ever and may be the best match Bret Hart ever wrestled and that is saying something. It also made Owen’s career; a personal favorite that thankfully gets it’s due when it could easily be overlooked due to the Ladder Match on the same card.

3.Randy Savage vs. Ricky Steamboat, Wrestlemania III – Some call it the best Intercontinental Championship match ever, and some even call it the greatest match ever. I don’t agree with the second, I’m on the edge on the first, but I do know one thing. On the biggest show of all time, headlined by the biggest main event of all time, this match was so good that wrestling fans talk about it just as much as Hogan and Andre. There was no way it could still the show, but it delivered what the match couldn’t; quality wrestling action.

2.The Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels, Wrestlemania XXV – If it weren’t for the rematch being hyped even BETTER, I would be hardpressed to remember the last match that had as much hype as this one. Considering neither guy was in their physical problem, I was skeptical. On one hand, I wanted it to be a classic, but I didn’t think they could do it. How wrong of me to doubt. This exceeded my expectations and became one of the best Wrestlemania matches ever upon it’s completion; It certainly DESERVED to be the main event, but then it wouldn’t be on this list, so meh.

1.Bret Hart vs. Steve Austin, Wrestlemania 13 – If you haven’t figured it out by now, for me, if it’s eligable, it wins. For my money, it’s the greatest match in history, and I don’t see that changing anytime soon. Great wrestling, great storytelling, and one of the most iconic finishes in wrestling history. While I said that the match with Owen may be the BEST match Bret was involved in, this was the most important; the double-turn would dictate the events that led to the Attitude Era, and created a monster that would put WCW out of business. This match changed history.

THE Larry Csonka

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Shawn Michaels vs. Chris Jericho, WrestleMania X-9 – One I always wanted to see on the biggest stage of them all and was thrilled when it finally happened.

Ultimate Warrior vs. The Macho King Randy Savage, WrestleMania VII – Possibly Warrior’s best match, and of course, the reunion f Randy and Liz was the perfect ending.

Shawn Michaels vs. Ric Flair, WrestleMania XXIV – Not going to be remembered as fondly since it wasn’t Flair’s retirement.

5. Bret Hart vs. Roddy Piper, WrestleMania VIII – For those of you that only know Piper as a pale, drunk, washed up crazy man stop. Get this show, go to this match and prepare to be amazed. They battled for nearly 14-minutes in what was an odd (for the WWF match.) They really turned off the “sportz entertainment” and went out there and had an action packed, hard hitting/stiff match. This was such a great change from the normal WWF matches, Piper not only works the arm of Bret awesomely, but really worked the cut (blade job) of Bret. In the end Piper decides not to cheat, but to lock in the SLEEPER OF DESTRUCITY on Hart, only to have Bret get the walk up the ropes reversal (used on Austin later, and copied to this day) for the shocking pin. Easily the best match of the card, and it earns extra credit for not being a bit overbooked like the WWF title match on the same show.

4. Bret Hart vs. Owen Hart, WrestleMania X – Bret was always the man wanting to have the best match on the card, Owen had a lot to live up to and this was a coming out party of sorts as this was his chance to prove he was more than “Bret Hart’s brother” not only to fans, but to management as well. What they did was go out there and put on a 22-minute clinic, a “wrestling” clinic. No frills, no run-ins, no added gimmicks; just two guys that knew each other extremely well and were on the same page. That page was to have the match of the night, and on any other night there would have been no competition. No doubt about it, this was a classic.

3. Randy Savage vs. Ricky Steamboat, WrestleMania III – Funny thing, people actually get offended when I refer to Savage vs. Steamboat as “the unexpected classic.” You would think that I had pissed on their mom or something. What I mean by this is yes, I along with many others expected a good or even great match. It was Randy Savage and Ricky Steamboat, so that much was given. They took the match in a different direction, Steamboat wasn’t ruled by emotions; he never tried for full revenge by hurting Savage. No, he hurts him where it counts, his IC Title that Savage held for over a year. With the story going in, the intensity of both men, the crowd, the match…in the end it was not only a ***** match, but a match that stands out as one of the best matches of the 80’s. It was expected to be good going in, but after all was said and done, it was known as “the unexpected classic;” at least to me it was.

2. Shawn Michaels vs. Razor Ramon, WrestleMania X – HBK and Razor Ramon walked the isle that night in what was a first for WWF PPV, the ladder match. Both of their Intercontinental titles suspended above the ring and a ladder, a deadly metal weapon in there to climb, and to maim. The show started on fire with Bret vs. Owen and started to go downhill and these guys came out of the curtain and took it upon themselves to crank this bitch back up. They not only busted their asses, literally, but did things with the ladder that fans at the time had no clue could be done. In the end the “Bad Guy” walked out as the “Undisputed” IC Champion; but more importantly together HBK and Razor set the standards in which ladder matches were and still are judged by to this day. All in a nights work to make another classic.

1. Bret Hart vs. Steve Austin, WrestleMania XIII – This is not only my favorite WrestleMania match, but I feel the best WrestleMania match ever. I have been able to watch this match over and over again and never get tired of it. The early part of the match was great as Austin actually tries to use some Hart signature moves, including the sharpshooter. Austin facials are excellent as he has the most evil smirk ever. The tide really turn when Austin gets busted open huge on the floor. He would try to choke out Hart with an extension cord, but Hart would grab the ring bell and lay out Austin. This is when the sharpshooter gets locked in. The ending has to be one of the most dramatic ever, and has been often imitated but never duplicated. Hart locks in that Sharpshooter and Austin, in possibly one of the greatest visuals ever fights it off and blood just continues to pour from his head. He starts to fade and there is the puddle of blood he lays in, and they battles almost out only for Hart to relock in the hold and for Austin to pass out in his own blood. Hart wins the match, but never gets the satisfaction of Austin giving up. Bret, visibly upset tries to beat down Austin more, only for Ken Shamrock to be the bad ass and not let him. Hart then gets booed from the building. Besides the match itself being great, it also has been referred to as the “perfect double turn.” They took these two men and were able to make Hart into a heat machine as a heel and allow Austin to become the anti-authority babyface. The ending was perfect as he refused help, stunnered a ref and walked out on his own power. This was just about as perfect as you can get. I also personally loved the addition of Ken Shamrock as the special referee. They wanted a ref that wouldn’t stop the match for no reason (See WM: Hart vs. Backlund w/Piper as ref) and with his UFC background, he was seen as the ultimate bad ass that would do the job and not be afraid of either guy. I think his role is down played a lot due to how great Hart and Austin were, so Ken gets some love from me here. This was a totally awesome match here, and the only reason to watch the event in all honesty.

Rob Mcnew

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Shawn Michaels vs. Razor Ramon: Wrestlemania X – The original ladder match still holds up as a classic today.

Money in the Bank Ladder Match: Wrestlemania 23-Most people prefer the original, but I’m not most people.

Dudley Boyz vs. Hardy Boyz vs. Edge & Christian: Wrestlemania 2000-I’ve always preferred this to the TLC II match from the following year.

5.Randy Savage vs. Ricky Steamboat: Wrestlemania III – This original show stealer this one took a lot of the spotlight off what was at the time, and possibly still is, the biggest match of all time. Steamboat and Savage culminated their feud with a technical wrestling clinics the likes of which just were not seen in that era of the WWF. This is still considered by many to be the greatest WWF match of all time, and with good reason.

4.Shawn Michaels vs. Kurt Angle: Wrestlemania 21 – This match pretty much just boiled down to Shawn and Kurt saying eff it we’re the best in the business and we’re going to tear the house down. That’s exactly what they did for nearly thirty minutes of non-stop action. Angle and Michaels gave us a nearly perfect wrestling match, and one that the two main events had no chance of following.

3.Bret Hart vs. Owen Hart: Wrestlemania X – Easily the greatest opening match in Wrestlemania history, and this battle isn’t even close. Arguably the greatest opening match in pro wrestling history. The two brothers locked up in a wrestling clinic that put Owen over huge on what turned out to be Bret’s best day. Bret took his little brother from jobber to the stars to top of the card heel in one feud that culminated in this classic bout.

2.Shawn Michaels vs. The Undertaker; Wrestlemania XXV -Not sure what more could be said about this match that hasn’t already been said in the past year. Some said they were too old, or that we already knew who was going to win. They said there was no way they could top their series of matches in 1997. Funny that some of the same complaints are being uttered this year. Likely by the same people. Just one year ago two of the greatest WWE performers of all time locked up in what was one of the most thrilling 30 minutes in the history of the event. Every near fall left you breathless, and for my money the tombstone kickout by Shawn may be my favorite Wrestlemania moment ever. In the end Taker went to 17-0, but Shawn cemented his legacy as Mr. Wrestlemania. Now can they top it?

1.Steve Austin vs. Bret Hart: Wrestlemania 13 – Greatest non-main event match in Wrestlemania history. Greatest match in Wrestlemania history. Greatest match in WWE history. Greatest match in wrestling history. No matter what the list this one is going to be on top. It had everything you could ever want. Longtime babyface Bret Hart turns heel and longtime heel Steve Austin turns right along with him. The image of Austin in the sharpshooter with blood running down his face is one of the most iconic images in wrestling history. Right there with Hulk slamming Andre. This catapulted Austin to Hoganlike levels of stardom, and is a classic example of being put over in a loss.

Robert S. Leighty Jr

HONORABLE MENTIONS

IC Title: Ladder Match (WrestleMania X) – Without this match you don’t have the later TLC matches or the Money in the Bank Matches at WrestleMania.

Money in the Bank I (WrestleMania 21) – The first MITB is still the best as it told a great story, showcased the crazy antics of Shelton Benjamin for the first time, and was the start of Edge’s push to the Main Event.

Hardcore: Edge vs Mick Foley – Just another step along the way of Edge’s push as a player in the WWE and he earned his spot with this brutal encounter with Foley. Plus the crazy bastard dove head first into a flaming table while spearing Foley.

5.Retirement Match: Randy Savage vs The Ultimate Warrior (WrestleMania VII) – This is probably my second favorite match of all time, and the ending with Savage and Liz only adds to the epic feel of this one. The match itself was quite awesome as both men told a great story and had the crowd eating out of their hands. Savage was the perfect dick heel and Sherri played her role well. Everyone remembers the 5 Fyling Elbows, and then Warrior reducing Savage to putty after multiple shoulder tackles. Then you get the emotional ending with Liz and Randy. Nothing but awesomeness here.

4.The Undertaker vs Shawn Michaels (WrestleMania XXV) – I was there live for this and that probably factors into my ranking, but still, this was just a mind blowing match. Everyone knew this would be the best match at WM XXV and they sure delivered. The story told and the execution of that story was insane. The crowd was literally losing it during the ride that Shawn and Taker were taking everybody.

3.Kurt Angle vs Shawn Michaels (WrestleMania 21) – This was the first one on one meeting and there was a lot of hype heading tino this match. Most were afraid this would be Perfect/Shawn from SummerSlam in terms of hype with no delivery, but that didn’t happen here. Angle and Michaels stole the show with one of the greatest wrestling matches you will ever see. The sad part is these guys were a little past their primes due to injuries or Lord knows what they could have done.

2.Submission Match: Bret Hart vs Steve Austin (WrestleMania 13) – This is the match that made Steve Austin, and he didn’t even win the match. Austin has admited this is the best match of his career and it’s really had to argue. Just a hated filled blood bath between two guys that were made to fight each other.

1.Intercontinental Title: Randy Savage vs Ricky Steamboat (WrestleMania III) – Simply my favorite match of all time, and the match that I still give the nod to for greatest match ever. This match is nearly 26 years old, and yet it still holds up today thanks to the break neck pace of both men. This match is responsible for a lot of wrestlers getting into the business, and that alone makes it worthy of being on this list.

Chad Nevett

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Ric Flair vs. Shawn Michaels, WrestleMania XXIV – Great match that’s lost something with Flair returning to the ring…

Shawn Michaels vs. Chris Jericho, WrestleMania XIX – Great feud, great match, great post-match finish, but outdone by their 2008 work.

Razor Ramon vs. Shawn Michaels, WrestleMania X – This set the standard for ladder matches, but like a lot of innovative stuff, there are rough spots and things that didn’t work.

5.Ricky Steamboat vs. Randy Savage, WrestleMania III – Two fantastic wrestlers putting on a somewhat cat-and-mouse kind of match and using Miss Elizabeth and George ‘The Animal’ Steele to heighten the in-ring work. Steamboat and Steele using Elizabeth against Savage is done effectively, but it plays more like Savage uses Elizabeth against himself. However, even that almost isn’t enough to give Steamboat the victory as Savage displays his trademark quick-paced offence, while Steamboat counters with solid technical work and, still, the best hip tosses in wrestling. Steamboat’s win is huge as everything in the match makes you want him to win, but you always get the feeling that, somehow, Savage will walk away with the belt. Even when watching it again, I half-fool myself into thinking that Steamboat can’t possibly beat the Macho Man.

4.Kurt Angle vs. Shawn Michaels, WrestleMania 21 – This is a very well-constructed match. The slow build at the beginning with Michaels frustrating Angle by using a mat-based style that completely catches Angle off guard. From there, it builds to bigger spots as Michaels changes to his normal style and we get the expected match. What follows is exactly as good as you expect it to be, but what makes it so great is the foundation laid in the first ten minutes as Michaels tries to throw Angle off his game and nearly does so, but Angle perseveres and manages to make Michaels tap. The tap, as well, is done very well by Michaels as he teases it out just long enough, selling it with body language.

3.Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels, WrestleMania XXV – I haven’t actually rewatched this match since it happened. I’ve purposely been putting it off since the experience of watching this match was so great and highlighted what was so great about it. Sure, there were flaws (or so people tell me, I don’t remember that many… aside from the Undertaker nearly killing himself on top of Sim Snuka), but I have never seen a match affect people the way this did. I watched WrestleMania XXV like I’ve watched most PPVs in recent years: in a local bar. WrestleMania always draws a larger crowd since more casual fans like to come out and see the biggest show of the year. This match had everyone in the place absolutely captivated and emotionally involved. People were cheering and groaning and reacting to every move by the end. The finishers, the kick-outs, the comebacks, the counters… everything was getting big reactions. I’ve never seen anything like it, before or since. This match is great because Michaels and the Undertaker made people care, even people who don’t normally care.

2.Bret Hart vs. Steve Austin, WrestleMania 13 – I don’t know what I can add that hasn’t been said above already. What comes through when I rewatch this match is the passion. Both Hart and Austin play their characters well, genuinely seeming like they’re trying to beat the shit out of one another. I’m surprised how well this works with a guest ref since that usually drags a match down, but Ken Shamrock’s involvement is handled perfectly. The blood comes at the exact right moment to highlight just how brutal Hart is and to set up the finish where Austin passes out. Throw in a lot of good in-ring technique and psychology, as well as the effect this match had on the coming years, and it’s easy to see why this is praised so highly.

1.Owen Hart vs. Bret Hart, WrestleMania X – I’m going to have to break from the pack with my number one choice. While I love Hart/Austin, nothing tops this battle of the brothers. The build-up to this match was great, Owen Hart struggling to prove himself against his brother, show that he’s more than just Bret Hart’s little brother, and, in this match, he did it. The beginning with Owen countering Bret’s offence and hamming it up for the audience is great, and causes Bret to focus more and bring it to Owen harder, which catches Owen off guard for a bit. The eventual back-and-forth style is exactly what you’d expect from two guys who are both so good in the same style. Owen’s working of Bret’s leg comes naturally out of the action and plays off the idea that Bret has another match later in the card for the WWF Championship, making Owen not only seem petty and jealous, but sadistic — if he doesn’t win this match, he may wind up costing Bret the title by inflicting so much damage. The teases with the sharpshooters raise the tension as it looks like Owen may beat Bret with his own finisher before Bret reverses it… The finish is absolutely brilliant as it’s a simple counter that puts Owen on top for the 1-2-3. So much of the match was these two knowing what the other was going to do that Owen managing to pull off that ultimate counter to win is the only way it could have ended. Fantastic technical wrestling and storytelling.

Julian Bond

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Michaels vs Flair/Angle/Jericho – TIE – I first thought that this Top 5 would be easy since it was about the best Wrestlemania matches that WEREN’T main-events…that is until I realized that a good amount of the main events here weren’t as good as their undercards. So this was hard as holy hell to pick just a few…awesome bouts such Hogan/Rock, Taker/HHH, Angle/Benoit, Warrior/Savage, the Triangle Ladder Match, Austin/Rock III, and the 1st Money In The Bank, were painfully left off and because of this, I had to cheat a tiny bit here. So instead of sticking with one awesome ass match from Mr. Wrestlemania himself, Shawn Michaels, I wanted to give honorable mentions to his matches with Ric Flair (classic), Kurt Angle (intense), AND Chris Jericho (awesome storytelling and personally one of my favorite matches of all time).

Bret Hart vs Owen Hart – Wrestlemania X – Last year, I like many others were so sad that the Hardy brothers failed to rekindle the same magic of this perfectly-built brother vs brother feud between the Harts had originally created…but it also reminds me of how freakin’ good this match-up was between the two great mat technicians.

Foley vs Edge – Wrestlemania 22 – Still to this day, I honestly can’t believe that a match as sickly violent as this one here (not counting the tame in comparison “hardcore” matches or the less bloddy ladder bouts) was actually allowed to take place at a mainstream event such as Wrestlemania. So simply put, this was one of the best not just because of the in-ring action but because of the fact that it happened here on a HUGE stage and resulted in seeing things such as flaming tables on a massive worldwide level.

5.TLC 2 – Wrestlemania X-7 – One of the sickest ladder matches EVER + the biggest stage of them all in Wrestlemania x the second generation innovators of ladder violent with the Dudleys, Hardys, and Edge and Christian = my #5

4.Shawn Michaels vs Razor Ramon – Wrestlemania X – Arguably the BEST and groundbreaking ladder matches EVER + the biggest stage of them all in Wrestlemania x the quoted innovators of ladder violent with Michaels and Ramon = my #4

3.Ricky Steamboat vs Randy Savage – Wrestlemania III – I think that myself and the Top 5 crew must have written SO many mentions about this classic match that it isn’t even funny! Great match, sick atomsphere (go Detroit!!), and near-perfect action. Would have been higher if it only had the sick technical moves and insane tension that my top two picks had.

2.Bret Hart vs Stone Cold – Wrestlemania 13 – With everyone who mentioned this above as their #1 pick, I totally agree with them…for the most part. Awesome technical wrestling. Near-perfect storytelling. High significance with the double face/heel turn and the rise of Stone Cold. And it had one of the most memorable endings in wrestling history with the image of Stone Cold bleeding his brains out while in Hart’s Sharpshooter. BUT…and this is a huge BUT…this great awesome bout isn’t my absolute number one pick here because of the main fact (that not too many people talk about) with the winner being highly predictable! If you think about it when first watching the match, a smart (or even casual) wrestling fan cannot deny that they would automatically assume that in a freakin’ SUBMISSION MATCH (no matter if it’s DQ or not) that the man who pioneered, perfected, and made the submission hold of the Sharpshooter a household name would be predicted to win here. Sure Stone Cold put up a hell of a fight and kick Hart’s ass to kingdom come. But when I was first watching it, I knew that Austin wasn’t particuarly known to be a submission-type wrestler and…besides the Million Dollar Dream (!)…didn’t have any known submission moves at his disposal. Again, I don’t think that this fact makes this match any less sweet than it really is, but that significant lack of suspense to who would win the match is the only reason why I put this #2 and why I picked this match as my #1….

1.Shawn Michaels vs Undertaker – Wrestlemania 25 – I’ve watched this match like 3 times in the last year to convince myself of how good it really was compared to the first time around and to also see if it was in fact as some have stated actually “overhyped”. So after viewing it again and again, I stick to my original thought of believing that this one of the best Wrestlemania matches of all time and definitely the best of the bunch that wasn’t an actual main event. On a technical standpoint, the Austin/Hart bout was a better match than this…BUT what that match lacked was a huge hype around it that played out before and during the match. Hell if one looks at it this way, the match here was in a weird way “16 Wrestlemanias in the making” with Taker’s streak of 16-0 on the line against, without a shadow of a doubt, the best Wrestlemania performer EVER in Shawn Michaels. So the tension and the suspense behind it was off the freakin’ charts to the point where the match could had gone either way to Taker or Michaels (which wasn’t so much the case with Austin/Hart), especially with the oh-so-classic moment of when Michaels shockingly kicked out of Taker’s Tombstone (the move where NO ONE…without counting super-human destroyer at the time Kane….kicks out of!!!). In my wrestling-watching had I never been so damn glued to my TV screen just itching to see who the living hell would win such a highly-debated on contest between two living legends. So damn the claims of this being overhyped cause this to me is a bonifide new-age classic.

Jeremy Thomas

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Shawn Michaels vs. Ric Flair, WrestleMania XXIV – I hate it when people call this match overrated. It was absolutely the best match of ‘Mania XXIV and, in my opinion, the best match of that year. The story was absolutely amazing, and I still love watching it.

Edge vs. Mick Foley, WrestleMania 22 – This match was sick, brutal, and violent, and was one of the things that helped get Edge over big-time. This really stole the show at ‘Mania 22 as far as I’m concerned and while I cringe watching it I love doing so. Four words: Spear Through Flaming Table. I need say no more.

The Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels, WrestleMania XXV – Some will argue it’s too soon, and that may well be the case. No matter how you feel though, you can’t help but love this match with two of the best in the WWE’s and WrestleMania history doing battle.

5.Edge & Christian vs. The Dudley Boyz vs. The Hardy Boys, WrestleMania XVII – I absolutely understand when people put the Triangle Ladder Match higher than this one, but for me this takes the cake. If you had to press me for why, it would be that I just felt the overall booking for this one was more fun. These three teams had innovated matches like these and this, the second official TLC match, was where they got it just perfect. The wrestling in the match the year before may have been a hair better, but I loved the chaos here. This was an example of when overbooking goes right, as the run-ins from Rhyno, Lita and Spike Dudley hit the perfect notes. This is three of the best tag teams of the modern era at their absolute peak, and the best tag team match in WrestleMania history.

4.Bret Hart vs. Owen Hart, WrestleMania X – It’s tough to rate this match this far down the list, but that says a lot about the matches above it. Bret vs. Owen was one of the top matches in the first ten years of WrestleMania, and for damn good reason. The feud between the brothers had been nicely carried off, and when this match came on they just went out there and delivered big-time. This is probably the best pure wrestling match on this list, as I can’t think of a single moment that was anything less than perfect. The win by Owen is also a bonus, as it was a match that made him and any time you can put someone over on the Grandest Stage of them All and have it stick, that’s a great thing. This match…definitely a great thing.

3.Shawn Michaels vs. Chris Jericho, WrestleMania XIX – A lot of people may question me placing this as high as it is, but there is one simple reason for it: personal experience. I was at WrestleMania XIX, and this was the match I was giddy as hell to see. Watching my wrestling idol HBK do battle with the guy who was essentially his successor in terms of exciting matches in his style was a dream come true, and these two didn’t disappoint. The story of the feud was great; Chris Jericho grew up wanting to be Shawn Michaels, and now wants to be better than him. The match played out wonderfully and even though the Showstopper got the win, Jericho had the moment of the night as he shook Shawn’s hand and hugged him, only to give him a low blow. Great stuff, and something I’m proud to have been able to witness.

2.Bret Hart vs. Steve Austin, WrestleMania XIII – It was a very tough choice between this and the match that got the #1 spot for me. Honestly, I can go with one or the other on a list like this at any moment depending on my mood and inclinations. I’ve spoken about this match in previous Top 5’s, much like many of my fellow writers here have, and I don’t really know what else I can say. This match unfolded so beautifully in terms of the wrestling, the booking and everything else that you can’t help but love it. I also can (and do) watch this match again and again without any loss of enjoyment, because it’s all about seeing two of the best in the business at that time doing exactly what they do best. It gave us an iconic image of Stone Cold, blood dripping down his face and refusing to quit. It helped to usher in the era of Austin. It has historical impact as well as being an incredible match in and of itself. In terms of matches, you can’t do much (if any) better than this.

1.Randy Savage vs. Ricky Steamboat, WrestleMania III – This is not only the greatest non-Main Event match at WrestleMania, this is one of the greatest matches I’ve ever seen. I’ve always hated that this match took place at ‘Mania III, because it is forever overshadowed by the epic moment of Hogan slamming Andre. While I don’t take anything away from that moment, I think that it is a disservice to this match and it gets hurt in losing some recognition. This was a match that took me by surprise, as Savage and Steamboat went out there and put on an absolute wrestling classic. Rarely have I been enthralled by a match in terms of both work rate and storyline as I have been here. Everything comes together beautifully into this package of near-perfection, and it made for something truly special. To make a long story short (too late), I love this match.

Ryan Byers

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Edge vs. Mick Foley (Wrestlemania XXII) – Unless you count the ladder matches, Wrestlemania was really missing an epic “hardcore” battle prior to this point in time. Edge and Foley gave the event that epic hardcore match, and it’s one which will be difficult if not impossible to top.

Kurt Angle vs. Chris Benoit (Wrestlemania XVII) – Wrestlemania XVII is probably the greatest installment of the show of all time, though it can’t get much love on this year because the quality is primarily due to matches that you would have to consider main events. Angle/Benoit is really the only standout from the undercard.

The Undertaker vs. Ric Flair (Wrestlemania XVIII) – Some people will probably try to tell me I’m overrating this, and, if you agree with that, I will kindly ask you to f-off while I go watch Arn Anderson’s AWESOME spinebuster fifty times on a loop.

5.Kurt Angle vs. Shawn Michaels (Wrestlemania XXI) – This is the first time that I recall a Shawn Michaels Wrestlemania match being built up almost solely around the promise of it being a bloody awesome match. We’re used to that these days after his battles with John Cena and the Undertaker, but it was a novel concept at the time. Not surprisingly, Angle and HBK delivered such an epic contest that really started to establish Shawn’s role as “Mr. Wrestlemania” after his long hiatus and allowed the company to sell prior Michaels bouts without a real, heated feud behind them just on the promise that they will be insanely good in between the ropes.

4.Shawn Michaels vs. Razor Ramon (Wrestlemania X) – Speaking of Shawn Michaels . . . this wasn’t his first Wrestlemania match, but it was his first Wrestlemania CLASSIC. The Hearbreak Kid, with some assistance from his good friend Scott Hall, had an encounter which took a rather obscure gimmick match and turned it into a standard which would draw tons of cash for the promotion for years to come. When you’re defining a entire genre of match with one performance, it absolutely deserves to be remembered as one of the greatest undercard matches in Wrestlemania history.

3.Bret Hart vs. Owen Hart (Wrestlemania X) – This isn’t just a legitimate ***** star match, but it’s also a personal favorite of mine. It’s the popular thing to say it after his tragic death, but I legitimately was a big Owen Hart fan from the day that I first started watching professional wrestling, digging him in the goofy High Energy pants and sticking with him even after he turned heel. As a result, when I saw him reverse a victory roll in order to pin his older brother Bret after a beautiful back and forth professional wrestling match, I nearly hit the ceiling with joy. I didn’t know it at the time, but this was made all the better by the fact that it would set up Owen winning the 1994 King of the Ring and engaging in a classic feud with the Hitman that woudl stretch throughout the entire summer.

2.Bret Hart vs. Steve Austin (Wrestlemania XIII) – A lot of people point to the speech after King of the Ring 1996 as the moment that Steve Austin’s career was “made.” However, as much as the coining of the phrase Austin 3:16 helped Stone Cold become a major player, I think that his undercard match against Bret Hart at Wrestlemania XIII helped him a thousnd times more. It’s one thing to be a guy who has a cute catchphrase that all of the fans can repeat, but, when you get clearly established as somebody who can hang with a top star at the level of Bret Hart, you’re going to have legs for many years to come. Combine it with the fact that the bout contained the official babyface turn of Austin that people had been begging for for several months, and you’ve got all the makings of a true classic that stole the show from the card’s true main event.

1.Ricky Steamboat vs. Randy Savage (Wrestlemania III) – People have been talking about how awesome this match is for twenty-five years, and they’ve been talking about it for twenty-five years in spite of the fact that it shared the card with a Hulk Hogan/Andre the Giant match that by all rights should have been significantly better remembered. That alone should be a testament to how truly great Savage-Steamboat is, even if there is a growing contingent of younger, smarkier fans complaining about the fact that it “would have been perfect if it didn’t have a run in at the finish.” Those guys don’t know what they’re talking about. The match is perfect, even with the run-in. Period.

And guess what… for the first time in months… here is the OVERALL 411 WRESTLING TOP 5!!
Overall Top 5 based on the following point system:

#1 Choice – 5 points
#2 Choice – 4 points
#3 choice – 3 points
#4 Choice – 2 points
#5 Choice – 1 point
In the event of a tie, the most votes win.

5. Shawn Michaels vs. Razor Ramon – IC Title Ladder Match at Wrestlemania X (9 Points)

4. Bret Hart vs. Owen Hart – Opening Match at Wrestlemania X (17 Points)

3. Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels – Wrestlemania XXV (18 Points)

2. Randy Savage vs. Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat – IC Title Match at Wrestlemania III (26 Points)

1. Bret Hart vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin – I Quit Match at Wrestlemania 13 (35 Points)