The question of what makes a WrestleMania main event truly great is a complex one. It’s not just about the in-ring action or the athleticism on display, but about the shared experience of everyone watching. When you feel every moment with thousands of other fans or millions at home, magic truly happens.
The 10 main events listed below are some of the most memorable in WrestleMania history, but opinions on the best will vary from person to person. However, these matches are widely regarded as some of the greatest of all time, and for good reason.
WrestleMania Main Event Rankings – The 10 Worst WrestleMania Main Events
- #10 – Kurt Angle vs. Brock Lesnar for the WWE Championship – WrestleMania 19
- #9 – Shawn Michaels vs. Steve Austin for the WWF Championship – WrestleMania 14
- #8 – Randy Orton vs. Batista vs. Daniel Bryan for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship – WrestleMania 30
- #7 – Randy Savage vs. Hulk Hogan for the WWF Championship – WrestleMania 5
- #6 – Triple H vs. Shawn Michaels vs. Chris Benoit for the World Heavyweight Championship – WrestleMania 20
This match was an athletic showcase the likes of which WWE rarely displayed. Angle and Lesnar were proving themselves to be more than up for the challenge. For about 20 minutes, the best athletes the WrestleMania main event had ever seen plotted a course through a technically brilliant match. It was a state-of-the-art showcase, and a stylistic pivot – closer to wrestling’s future in the next 20 years than its Attitude Era-esque past.
However, the match ended on a sour note, with Lesnar’s Shooting Star Press falling short and becoming the enduring image of this match.
WrestleMania Main Event Rankings – The 15 most mid WrestleMania Main Events
- #14 – AJ Styles vs. John Cena for the WWE Championship – WrestleMania 33
- #13 – Kevin Owens vs. AJ Styles for the WWE Championship – WrestleMania 33
- #12 – Seth Rollins vs. Dean Ambrose for the WWE Intercontinental Championship – WrestleMania 32
- #11 – Randy Orton vs. Bray Wyatt for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship – WrestleMania 33
- #10 – Brock Lesnar vs. Dean Ambrose for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship – WrestleMania 32
These matches were enjoyable, but lacked a certain level of excitement or significance.
WrestleMania Main Event Rankings – The 10 good but not great WrestleMania Main Events
- #9 – Seth Rollins vs. Roman Reigns for the WWE Championship – WrestleMania 35
- #8 – Randy Orton vs. Rusev for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship – WrestleMania 32
- #7 – Brock Lesnar vs. Roman Reigns for the WWE Championship – WrestleMania 31
- #6 – Roman Reigns vs. Randy Orton for the WWE Championship – WrestleMania 33
- #5 – The New Day vs. The Usos for the WWE SmackDown Tag Team Championship – WrestleMania 31
- #4 – The New Day vs. The Usos for the WWE SmackDown Tag Team Championship – WrestleMania 32
- #3 – Finn Bálor vs. Seth Rollins for the WWE Universal Championship – WrestleMania 33
- #2 – Roman Reigns vs. Brock Lesnar for the WWE Championship – WrestleMania 31
- #1 – Roman Reigns vs. Brock Lesnar for the WWE Championship – WrestleMania 31
These matches were enjoyable, but lacked a certain level of excitement or significance.
Ranking the Top 10 WrestleMania Main Events
The question of what makes a WrestleMania main event truly great is a complex one. When you feel every moment with thousands of other fans or millions at home, magic truly happens.
The following 10 main events are widely regarded as some of the greatest of all time, and for good reason.
| #1 | Brock Lesnar vs. Roman Reigns vs. Seth Rollins for the WWE Championship – WrestleMania 31 |
| #2 | Sasha Banks vs. Bianca Belair for the Smackdown Women’s Championship – WrestleMania 37, Night 1 |
| #3 | Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels – WrestleMania 26 |
| #4 | The Rock vs. Steve Austin in a No Disqualification match for the WWF Championship – WrestleMania 17 |
| #5 | Jey Uso and Jimmy Uso vs. Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn for the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship – WrestleMania 39, Night 1 |
| #6 | Randy Orton vs. Daniel Bryan for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship – WrestleMania 30 |
| #7 | Randy Savage vs. Hulk Hogan for the WWF Championship – WrestleMania 5 |
| #8 | Triple H vs. Chris Benoit for the World Heavyweight Championship – WrestleMania 20 |
| #9 | Shawn Michaels vs. Steve Austin for the WWF Championship – WrestleMania 14 |
| #10 | Kurt Angle vs. Brock Lesnar for the WWE Championship – WrestleMania 19 |
This match was an athletic showcase the likes of which WWE rarely displayed. It was a state-of-the-art showcase, and a stylistic pivot – closer to wrestling’s future in the next 20 years than its Attitude Era-esque past.
However, the match ended on a sour note, with Lesnar’s Shooting Star Press falling short and becoming the enduring image of this match.
Other notable mentions include the following matches:
- AJ Styles vs. Dean Ambrose for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship – WrestleMania 32
These matches were enjoyable, but lacked a certain level of excitement or significance.
But there’s something special about these top 10 main events. They’re not just great matches – they’re memorable moments that capture the essence of what makes WrestleMania truly great. They’re the culmination of a year’s worth of build-up, the culmination of a story that has been unfolding for months, and the culmination of a match that has been years in the making.
And they’re the perfect example of why WrestleMania is the most iconic event in sports entertainment.
The Legacy of WrestleMania
WrestleMania is more than just a wrestling event – it’s a cultural phenomenon. It’s a spectacle that brings together thousands of fans from around the world, all united by their love of professional wrestling.
From its humble beginnings in 1985 to its current status as a global brand, WrestleMania has evolved into one of the most iconic events in sports entertainment. It’s a testament to the power of storytelling, the athleticism of the performers, and the magic of the shared experience.
But what makes a WrestleMania main event truly great? Is it the stadium? Is it the crowd? Is it the gravity of the moment being felt by everyone at once? The answer, as we’ve seen, is a little bit of everything.
The 10 main events listed above are a testament to the enduring legacy of WrestleMania. They’re a reminder that, no matter how many years go by, the magic of WrestleMania remains unparalleled.
And as we look to the future, we can’t help but wonder what next year’s WrestleMania will bring.
Will it be a repeat of last year’s success, or will it be something entirely new?