Ranking WrestleMania: The Worst to the Best – Part One

Apr 2, 2013 - by Michael Riba

Over the next six days here on gerweck.net, I will be writing a series of columns entitled “Ranking WrestleMania: The Worst to the Best.” Here’s an idea of how it will go:
Tuesday, April 2nd: WrestleManias ranked 24-28
Wednesday, April 3rd: WrestleManias ranked 19-23
Thursday, April 4th: WrestleManias ranked 14-18
Friday, April 5th: WrestleManias ranked 9-13
Saturday, April 6th: WrestleManias ranked 4-8
Sunday, April 7th: WrestleManias ranked 1-3

Having seen every WrestleMania event numerous times, I will critique the shows, while listing the main event, what should have been the main event (if different from the main event), as well as notable undercard matches from the shows. I will consider every match not the main event as undercard for these columns, even if they are billed as “main events” on the show, and will also list what I feel was the Match of the Night. I will include show notes as well as a final overview of each show. I will put five shows in each column, until Sunday, April 7th, where I will list the top three WrestleManias. These columns are strictly my opinion, and you may feel free to respond accordingly in the comment section below, whether you agree or disagree. I look forward to hearing from our readers! Without any further delay, here is the first entry of “Ranking WrestleMania: The Worst to the Best.”

28. WrestleMania 2 (April 7, 1986; Uniondale, New York, Rosemont, Illinois, Los Angeles, California)
Main Event: Steel Cage Match for the WWF Championship: Hulk Hogan (c) vs. King Kong Bundy
Notable Undercard Matches: Mr. T vs. Roddy Piper (Boxing Match), 20-Man Battle Royal featuring WWF wrestlers and NFL players, WWF Tag Team Championship Match: Greg Valentine and Brutus Beefcake (c) vs. The British Bulldogs
Match of the Night: Greg Valentine and Brutus Beefcake vs. The British Bulldogs
Show notes: Held in three different cities: Uniondale, NY, Rosemont, IL, and Los Angeles, CA. Only WrestleMania to be held on Monday.
Overview: If there were ever a WrestleMania that didn’t deserve the title “WrestleMania,” this would be the one. Poor match quality from top to bottom littered this show. Two of the three main events did not live up to the hype (T/Piper and Hogan/Bundy), while the undercard did nothing to make this show watchable. Almost two dozen celebrities were used in some capacity, most of them in the Battle Royal. If you have seen this show, you know why this show is regarded by some as the worst WrestleMania of all time. If you haven’t, I suggest you watch Valentine and Beefcake vs. The British Bulldogs and really nothing else.

27. WrestleMania IX (April 4, 1993; Las Vegas, Nevada)
Main Event: Singles Match for the WWF Championship: Yokozuna (c) vs. Hulk Hogan
What Should Have Been the Main Event: Singles Match for the WWF Championship: Bret Hart (c) vs. Yokozuna
Notable Undercard Matches: WWF Intercontinental Championship Match: Shawn Michaels (c) vs. Tatanka, The Steiner Brothers vs. The Headshrinkers, WWF Tag Team Championship Match: Money, Inc. vs. Hulk Hogan and Brutus Beefcake
Match of the Night: Shawn Michaels vs. Tatanka
Show Notes: Jim Ross made his on-camera debut. Only time that The Undertaker did not win by pin-fall or submission at a WrestleMania in which he competed (streak went to 3-0). Debut of Lex Luger.
Overview: The only reason I have WrestleMania IX ranked above WrestleMania 2 is because of the opening two contests. Those two matches (Michaels/Tatanka and Steiners/Headshrinkers) helped this show, but didn’t help it enough. Poor booking and ill-conceived finishes to matches littered the show. Also, this show featured Giant Gonzalez suffocating The Undertaker with chloroform and Hulk Hogan squashing Yokozuna in 22 seconds. If you have seen this show, you know why this is a bad example of a WrestleMania. If you haven’t, watch Shawn Michaels vs. Tatanka, The Steiner Brothers vs. The Headshrinkers, and maybe Money Inc. vs. Brutus Beefcake and Hulk Hogan.

26. WrestleMania XI (April 2, 1995; Hartford, Connecticut)
Main Event: Bam Bam Bigelow vs. Lawrence Taylor
What Should Have Been the Main Event: Singles Match for the WWF Championship: Diesel (c) vs. Shawn Michaels
Notable Undercard Matches: WWF Intercontinental Championship Match: Jeff Jarrett (c) vs. Razor Ramon, WWF Tag Team Championship Match: The Smoking Gunns (c) vs. Owen Hart and Yokozuna
Match of the Night: Diesel vs. Shawn Michaels
Show Notes: Referee strike caused three matches to have guest referees. Undertaker’s streak went to 4-0 against King Kong Bundy.
Overview: While this show wasn’t a bad one, it didn’t feel special enough to be a WrestleMania. It didn’t have any of that pomp and circumstance and the huge buzz that is supposed to surround Mania. Lawrence Taylor’s performance in the main event was good, and it was clear he trained and took his match with Bigelow seriously, and Shawn Michaels shined bright on an otherwise lack-luster show. If you haven’t seen it, watch Razor Ramon vs. Jeff Jarrett, Diesel vs. Shawn Michaels, and Lawrence Taylor vs. Bam Bam Bigelow.

25. WrestleMania (March 31, 1985; New York, New York)
Main Event: Hulk Hogan and Mr. T vs. Roddy Piper and Paul Orndorff
Notable Undercard Matches: WWF Tag Team Championship Match: The U.S. Express (c) vs. Nikolai Volkoff and The Iron Sheik, Andre the Giant vs. Big John Studd ($15,000 Body Slam Challenge)
Match of the Night: Hulk Hogan and Mr. T vs. Roddy Piper and Paul Orndorff
Show Notes: The first of only two WrestleMania appearances for Bruno Sammartino.
Overview: The show where it all began was one for the ages. At least in 1985. This is one of the most historically significant shows in WWF history. This show created a legacy. While none of the matches on the card should ever be on anyone’s “Greatest WrestleMania Matches of All Time” list, the show needs to be watched by anyone who calls themselves a wrestling fan, if nothing more for just the nostalgia.

24. WrestleMania IV (March 27, 1988; Atlantic City, New Jersey)
Main Event: WWF Championship Tournament Final Match: Randy Savage vs. Ted DiBiase
Notable Undercard Matches: 20-Man Battle Royal, Greg Valentine vs. Ricky Steamboat, Rick Rude vs. Jake Roberts, The Islanders and Bobby Heenan vs. The British Bulldogs and Koko B. Ware, WWF Tag Team Championship Match: Strike Force (c) vs. Demolition
Match of the Night: Strike Force vs. Demolition
Show Notes: Highest number of matches on any WrestleMania card. Only time the WWF/E Championship was decided in a Tournament at a WrestleMania. WrestleMania debut of The Ultimate Warrior.
Overview: Sometimes, too much is not a good thing. This was the case at WrestleMania IV. Sixteen matches were on the card, eleven of which were tournament matches for the vacant WWF Championship. The quality of the matches on the card was severly hurt due to the amount of time each match had. This goes to show that WrestleMania doesn’t need to have double-digit matches in order to be a show worth paying for, as sometimes too many matches is overkill. If you haven’t seen this show, watch Demolition vs. Strike Force and Randy Savage vs. Ted DiBiase.

There you have it: the five worst WrestleManias of all time, in my opinion. Is your opinion the same? Is it different? I would love to hear from our readers! Talk to me on Twitter (@TheMichaelRiba) or in the comment box below. Also, remember to check the site again tomorrow for Part Two, which will feature the five WrestleManias that are one step above the worst…in my opinion.



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