Ranking WrestleMania: The Worst to the Best – Part Three

Hello, gerweck.net readers! I am back for day three of this six day column as I continue to countdown the WrestleManias from worst to best, based on my opinion. I received some criticism on yesterday’s list, but that’s alright. I welcome any and all comments, whether they agree or disagree. If you have missed the first two parts of this column, here they are:
Part One: http://www.gerweck.net/2013/04/02/ranking-wrestlemania-the-worst-to-the-best-part-one/
Part Two: http://www.gerweck.net/2013/04/03/ranking-wrestlemania-the-worst-to-the-best-part-two/

Without any further delay, let’s get started with Part Three.

18. WrestleMania 13 (March 23, 1997; Rosemont, Illinois)
Main Event: No Disqualification Match for the WWF Championship: Sycho Sid (c) vs. The Undertaker
Notable Undercard Matches: Hunter Hearst Helmsley vs. Goldust. WWF Tag Team Championship Match: Owen Hart and The British Bulldog (c) vs. Mankind and Vader. Bret Hart vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin (Submission Match)
Match of the Night: Bret Hart vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin
Show Notes: The Undertaker’s streak went to 6-0.
Overview: Here’s another example of a Mania where the undercard outshined the main event. After a throwaway opening match, Rocky Maivia vs. The Sultan, Helmsley vs. Goldust, Owen/Bulldog vs. Mankind/Vader, and Hart vs. Austin provided a great middle portion of the show. Watch those four matches and skip the rest, and you’ll be thoroughly entertained.

17. WrestleMania XXVII (April 3, 2011; Atlanta, Georgia)
Main Event: Singles Match for the WWE Championship: The Miz (c) vs. John Cena
Notable Undercard Matches: World Heavyweight Championship Match: Edge vs. Alberto Del Rio. Cody Rhodes vs. Rey Mysterio. Randy Orton vs. CM Punk. Michael Cole vs. Jerry Lawler. The Undertaker vs. Triple H (No Holds Barred Match).
Match of the Night: The Undertaker vs. Triple H
Show Notes: Jerry Lawler’s WrestleMania in-ring debut. The Undertaker’s streak went to 19-0.
Overview: Sure, the undercard for the show was really good for the most part, but the overpowering of The Rock as host and his involvement in the main event cast a dark cloud over the show. WrestleMania XXVII came and went and we were left with a “That was WrestleMania?” feeling. The opening two contests featured Edge vs. Alberto Del Rio and Cody Rhodes vs. Rey Mysterio, and they were really good openers. The show took a downward slope until Randy Orton and CM Punk had a match worth seeing and The Undertaker and Triple H had one of the best No Holds Barred matches in history. Plus, this card had Snooki perform after Taker and Triple H. Really? I would suggest watching Edge/Del Rio, Rhodes/Mysterio, Orton/Punk, and Taker/Triple H and leaving the rest of the show alone.

16. WrestleMania VIII (April 5, 1992; Indianapolis, Indiana)
Main Event: Hulk Hogan vs. Sid Justice
What Should Have Been the Main Event: Singles Match for the WWF Championship: Ric Flair (c) vs. Randy Savage
Notable Undercard Matches: Shawn Michaels vs. El Matador. WWF Intercontinental Championship Match: Roddy Piper (c) vs. Bret Hart.
Match of the Night: Ric Flair vs. Randy Savage
Show Notes: Shawn Michaels’ first singles match at WrestleMania. The Undertaker’s streak went to 2-0. The Ultimate Warrior returned to WWF.
Overview: If there were ever a match order that made you scratch your head, this would be it. The general consensus among the IWC, even all these years later, is that Savage vs. Flair should have been the main event. Nine matches were on the card, and the main event between Hogan and Justice never really clicked. Papa Shango missed was late on his run-in, and the match ended in a disqualification. The saving graces of the night were the opener between Shawn Michaels and El Matador, Bret Hart vs. Roddy Piper, and Randy Savage vs. Ric Flair, so watch those.

15. WrestleMania XXV (April 5, 2009; Houston, Texas)
Main Event: Singles Match for the WWE Championship: Triple H (c) vs. Randy Orton
Notable Undercard Matches: CM Punk/Kane/Mark Henry/Montel Vontavious Porter/Shelton Benjamin/Kofi Kingston/Christian/Finlay (Money in the Bank Ladder Match), Chris Jericho vs. Roddy Piper, Ricky Steamboat, and Jimmy Snuka (Handicap Elimination Match), Matt Hardy vs. Jeff Hardy (Extreme Rules Match), The Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels, World Heavyweight Championship Triple Threat Match: Edge (c) vs. John Cena vs. The Big Show
Match of the Night: The Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels
Show Notes: CM Punk won Money in the Bank for the second consecutive year. The Undertaker’s streak went to 17-0.
Overview: This had the potential to be one of the greatest WrestleManias of all time. In the end, it ended up being a middle-of-the-road show. The starts of the night were, by far, The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels. They were great, while everyone else was good to “Why is this on the card?” bad. (25-Diva Battle Royal, 21-second Rey Mysterio squash of JBL, and Mickey Rourke, anyone?) Money in the Bank got the crowd fired up, and the Battle Royal right after extinguished it. Jericho tried his best with the legends, and the crowd finally got back into the show for the battle of the Hardy Brothers and Taker vs. Michaels. The Triple Threat was good for what it is, and everyone was tired of the Orton/TripleH feud long before WrestleMania rolled around. Watch the Money in the Bank, Matt Hardy vs. Jeff Hardy, and The Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels if you haven’t seen the show before.

14. WrestleMania VII (March 24, 1991; Los Angeles, California)
Main Event: Singles Match for the WWF Championship: Sgt. Slaughter (c) vs. Hulk Hogan
Notable Undercard Matches: The Rockers vs. The Barbarian and Haku, WWF Tag Team Championship Match: The Hart Foundation (c) vs. The Nasty Boys, The Ultimate Warrior vs. Randy Savage (Retirement Match), WWF Intercontinental Championship Match: Mr. Perfect (c) vs. The Big Boss Man
Match of the Night: The Ultimate Warrior vs. Randy Savage
Show Notes: The Undertaker’s WrestleMania debut. Despite losing the Retirement Match, Randy Savage challenged for the WWF Championship at WrestleMania VIII. Last tag team apperances of The Rockers and The Hart Foundation. Final WrestleMania appearance for Andre the Giant
Overview: On a card with 14 matches, the good ones appeared few and far between. A good opener between The Rockers and the team of The Barbarian and Haku gave way to a lack-luster undercard that featured matches that left you wondering what they were doing on a Mania card. Two talents such as Jake Roberts and Rick Martel shouldn’t have been relegated to a Blindfold Match, but they were. The bright spots of the show were the opening match, The Hart Foundation vs. The Nasty Boys, The Ultimate Warrior vs. Randy Savage, and Mr. Perfect vs. The Big Boss Man, so watch those. Also, the feel good moment of the night took place when Savage and Miss Elizabeth reuinted.

That’s it for today. A mixture of some of the early WrestleManias and some of the newer WrestleManias made it today. As always feedback is welcome on Twitter (@TheMichaelRiba) and/or in the comment section below. Check back tomorrow as we break into the top 13 WrestleManias. And remember, it’s just my opinion.