(4.) WWE WrestleMania 31: Roman Reigns vs. Brock Lesnar vs. Seth Rollins (2015)
Back in 2015, WWE’s desire to make Roman Reigns the next top star was clear as day. At the time, many fans still liked The Big Dog; WWE hadn’t completely pushed him down their throats yet. Heading into WrestleMania 31, WWE obviously wanted to make Reign the new WWE World Heavyweight Champion at the Super Bowl of Sports Entertainment. But The Big Dog wasn’t ready yet and WWE faced a predicament because a clean loss could have derailed either Reigns or the reigning champion, Brock Lesnar.
Enter Seth Rollins. At the height of a relatively brutal match between Reigns and Lesnar, Mr. Money in the Bank Seth Rollins shockingly sprinted to the ring and cashed in his contract in the middle of this WrestleMania main event. The decision stunned many fans, given its unconventionality. Even those who saw it coming had to appreciate it. A creative finish to the match, in which Reigns speared Lesnar and Rollins Curb Stomped The Big Dog to win the bout, helped end WrestleMania on a riveting note.
3. WWE WrestleMania 26: Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels (Streak vs. Career) (2010)
Both times The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels clashed at WrestleMania, they stole the show. Many fans consider their match at WrestleMania 25 one of the best WrestleMania matchesof all time. It’s hard to judge sequels on their own merit, but it’s fair to argue that the Undertaker/Michaels match the following year was even better than the original.
The Streak vs. Career match was more meaningful because The Heartbreak Kid’s career was on the line. Michaels’ desperation was apparent from the get go; he threw absolutely everything he had into the match. He flew around the ring in ways fans hadn’t seen in years, like when he did a moonsault through a broadcast table. Without a shadow of a doubt, Michaels showed why he’s one of the greatest of all time. The Undertaker’s performance was also phenomenal; Michaels complemented the Deadman’s strengths and both masterful storytellers put on a match that exceeded fans’ lofty expectations. The match-clinching Tombstone, and Michael Cole saying, “Shawn Michaels’ career…is over” gave fans one of the most memorable WrestleMania endings in recent memory.
Next page: Iconic moments
