When they promote a pro wrestling event, most promotions put the emphasis on the main fights and the stars in them. Although there have been a number of events where the main fights are easily overshadowed by some great undercards, we’ve decided to make a list of 5 great shows with amazing main events. Take a look at what we’ve got and see if you agree with our choice.
Wrestlemania X-Seven
We’ll start off with the beloved Wrestlemania, which is one of the most iconic wrestling events in the world. The first one on our list is Wrestlemania X-Seven, which aired on the first of April 2001. Regardless of the date, this event was no joke. The colossal Triple H taking on the frightening Undertaker and angry Shane McMahon challenging his father Vince were just undercards to the epic main event that featured Steve Austin and the Rock fighting for the WWF championship title. However, considering their long-lasting feud (which also included Austin’s wife Debra reluctantly becoming Rock’s manager), the match promised a lot and really delivered. The blood, the off-ring savagery and Austin ultimately becoming a heel champion truly marked 17th Wrestlemania that many consider to be the best one.
Summerslam 2002
The 2002 Summerslam event that featured both Raw and Smackdown brands was among the most memorable ones, mostly because of the legends it included. On the Smackdown side of the Summerslam, the main event put together Rock and Brock Lesnar, two of the most beloved athletes in wrestling history. Unfortunately for Rock, Lesnar was in great shape and determined to win the match, so with a swift F5 he threw him and pin him down, realizing himself as a winner. On the other hand, in the Raw brand, we had a chance to see the agile Shawn Michaels wipe the floor with Triple H in one great, excitement-filled match. Although the undercards included some big names like the Undertaker, Kurt Angle, Rey Mysterio and Chris Benoit, it is those main events that remained in everyone’s head.
Royal Rumble 2000
Now, what makes Royal Rumble 2000 so great? Well, simply the fact that the main match, the eponymous rumble included 30 wrestlers who gave their best in the ring. The undercards were more than great with the Triple H fighting Mick Foley’s Cactus Jack, New Age Outlaws defending their tag team championship title, as well as Kurt Angle reaffirming himself as the heel in a fight against Tazz who put him down. Besides all that, there was also the magnificent Miss Rumble 2000 swimsuit contest with Mae Young becoming an unexpected winner. As for the rumble, it was everything you could have imagined. A number of great athletes going against the odds to try and be the last ones standing. The final four in the match were X-Pac, Kane, Big Show and, of course, the Rock. Needless to say, everyone’s favorite, The Rock, managed to throw Big Show off the ring and become a champion.
King of the Ring 1998
Next up is the WWF’s 1998 event by the name of King of the Ring. The undercard included the popular tag team the New Age Outlaws, Billy Gunn and Road Dogg, taking on the New Midnight Express and successfully preserving the title. The second undercard saw Ken Shamrock defeating the rising star the Rock in an exciting and unpredictable match. However, what really stole the show were the two main events. The first one was a First Blood match with Kane fighting Steve Austin and, ultimately, making him bleed. The second match was the famous Hell in a Cell match where the Undertaker fought Mankind, iconically dropping him from 16 feet onto the judges’ table. This infamous match generated a lot of controversy, but that is probably why the fans love it so much.
Wrestlemania XXVI
While it is arguable whether it’s really the best wrestling event ever, Wrestlemania XXVI was truly one of the most memorable ones. This is probably because the event featured 3 main matches and 2 undercards that were equally amazing. The two side events included Bret Hart fighting Mr. McMahon, as well as the Money in the Bank ladder match, while the main events gave the audience some of the biggest stars in pro wrestling history. The first main match saw the bone-chilling Undertaker destroy Shawn Michaels in the ring and continue his amazing streak of 18 consecutive Wrestlemania wins. In the second match, John Cena continued reign as a face after defeating the venomous Batista to the obvious excitement of the crowd. As for the third match, Chris Jericho showed the wrestling world that his heavyweight champion title belongs to him by defeating overly eager Edge. The event was quite the spectacle.
What was your most memorable main event in pro wrestling? Share your thoughts with us.
