best and worst wrestlemania matches part 1 (2000-2012)

Best and Worst wrestlemania main events part 1 (2000-2012)

Hello every one Julian cannon is here again for another article ..this will be a 3 part post of the best and worst main events in wrestlemania history. This will be part 1 and it will be from the years 2000-2012

also email me @ juliancannon70@yahoo.com for your feedback

Here are some of the best

1.the rock vs Steve Austin (wrestlemania 19)

The 3 matches they had at wrestlemania were epic but their final match I considered the best of the 3. In 2002, Steve Austin left the wwe due to creative differences and the rock was part of the smackdown brand until his loss at summerslam. 8 months later Steve Austin returned and feuded with Eric bischoff and around this time also,the rock returned to feud with hulk Hogan..there was an amount of time left for these two active wrestlers to clash one final time..the rock was a heel this time due to the heat he started to get from the fans for him choosing hollywood over wwe.going into the match, Austin was already hurt and his neck injury got to him again and many thought that he wouldn’t be able to compete. But the “rattle snake” pulled it off and him and the rock had a battle. From the rock using the stunner and to Austin using the rock bottom, and the amount of kickouts, from start to finish this match had great story telling and the fans and me brought it..the attitude era finished 2 years before this match but many fans believe that this was the real closure. The rock picked up the win on this one and this would be the last time we would see Steve Austin in a match…or is it…

2.Hardy boys vs Dudley boys vs edge and Christian (tlc II,wrestlemania 17)

I was in the 5th grade in 2001 and the whole month me and my friends were talking about this match..and the week before it,I predicted that edge and Christian would win..there was so much anticipation for this match and it delivered..every one in that match including lita, rhyno and spike Dudley were made huge stars in this match and we have seen some of the most dangerous “spots” since the closure of ecw one month before..the moat infamous spot that is often shown in wwe videos or YouTube, is when while Jeff Hardy was hanging on to the belts in the air,edge did a spear which would have both of them crashing down into the ring from 15 feet in the air..the fans roared with “holy shit” chants like it was an ecw event..after we seen Bubba ray and Matt Hardy go through 4 tables,I knew edge and Christian would get the win..this match would steal the show of the event and it got te match of the year award from the pro wrestling illustrated magazine.

Triple h vs Batista (wrestlemania 21)

In 2002, the ruthless aggression era in the wwe was born..everyone in this era wanted to make an impact and stand out with the rest..guys like Randy orton, rvd, Christian, Chris beniot and many others burst into the scene but no body other than Batista and john cena would become the biggest stars of the 2000-2010 decade.. Batista was already on smackdown in his first year but quickly moved to raw to join the newly formed evolution stable that dominated wwe raw for 2 years..Ric flair was the best of the past,triple h was the best of that time and orton and Batista was going to be the future ..in 2005,Batista became the royal rumble winner and choose to stay on raw to go against triple h for the world heavyweight championship ..I expected Batista to win but this match was an absolute war..triple h tried all that he could to take Batista down but he wouldn’t give up..even with the help of ric flair,it still didn’t help at all. Batista gave triple h a beating I wanted to see for a while and I got it. After a Batista bomb the war was over between the student and the teacher and Batista would be world heavyweight champion for the next 9 months..john cena also won the wwe championship..this ppv was the peak of the ruthless aggression era because nobody thought that these two would become champions but they proved every body wrong.

4.Chris beniot vs Shawn Michaels vs triple h (wrestlemania 20)

To me out of every wrestling promotion before styles vs Joe vs Daniels match in 2005,I considered this to be the best triple threat match of all time..beniot won the royal rumble in 2004 and he moved from smackdown to raw to face triple h and Shawn Michaels at wrestlemania ..for the first time at wrestlemania, the world championship would be on the line in a triple threat match..triple h is a ring general with brawlers antics ..Shawn michaels mixes high flying with technical mat wrestling ..and Chris beniot is a mix of 3 of those styles along with his submission style so this match was a clash of 3 worlds in one ring..beniot and Shawn had the upper hand in the beginning then triple h kept fighting back..then beniot had the fighting spirit that we knew he had..well along with those concussions he had with those diving headbutts..after Shawn hit sweet chin music I really thought the match was over..until beniot hit the crossface forcing triple h to tap out. Beniot gets the victory and celebrates with Eddie Guerrero ..those two deserved it because they came a very long way since the early 90’s

5.cm punk vs Rey mysterio (wrestlemania 26)

In 2010,the straightedge society took in full effect on smackdown..cm punk along with Luke gallows and Serena feuded with Rey mysterio.. to add insult to injury, on an episode of smackdown, Rey brought out his family and it was his daughters birthday..then the straightedge society made their way to the ring and sang the happy birthday song while the group got Rey to not attack punk..some fans thought it was disturbing but hey that is what heels do.this was pink’s first singles match at wrestlemania and these two did not disappointed anybody ..Rey came out with an avatar themed attire while cm punk came out with an GIJOE Themed attire as well.
But now to the match, punk took most of the offense until Rey made a few counters but punk came back with more counters as well..when punk was going for the GTS I thought it was over until Rey countered it..Rey went for the win for this one and Rey stated in a 2012 edition of the wwe magazine that this was his favorite match of that year.

6.undertaker vs Shawn michaels (wrestlemania 25).

Of all the undertaker’s opponents at wrestlemania, nobody has ever came close or got in the head of taker than Shawn michaels. Shawn defeated Vladimir kozlof in a match to determine who will face the undertaker at wrestlemania. The promos from Shawn michaels were the best I have ever seen..Shawn is also known as the Showstopper and Mr. Wrestlemania and since 2002 ,the undertaker’s streak has become very important..for Shawn michaels entrance, he had on a white suit and white hat,coming from the heaven, while undertaker entrance rises from hell..from the start of the match, those two went back and fourth with the usual punches and reverse moves.Shawn attempted a sweet chin music while undertaker attempted a tombstone early on through the midway of the match..then undertaker did a dive from the ring to Shawn but Shawn pushed the camera man into undertaker..the action goes back into the ring and Shawn hits the super kick but taker ticked out..the emotion begins here and I was staring into the screen..taker goes for the tombstone…1…2… kickout!!! This had everyone in the arena and home gasping at that kickout and undertaker looked shocked as well..taker goes for hells gate and hbk gets out,taker goes for tombstone again to end the match..I felt the story telling and the atmosphere of the match..and as soon as it finished, I knew it would get the match of the year vote

7.edge vs Mick Foley (hardcore match,wrestlemania 22)

When this match was building up to wrestlemania, I had no clue to who to choose for the win..at the time of 2006,edge was on a roll..he also brought up the fact that he has never lost at wrestlemania. Mick Foley the hardcore icon has had matches at wrestlemania but he stated that he has never had a wrestlemania moment.. this was the stage for him to have a moment. These two went back and fourth in the beginning of the match until the bared wire baseball bat came into play..then edge took a numb on thumbtacks, not as bad as orton took thumbtacks 2 years earlier when you saw the look on his face like he got stabbed. Lita got in the match as well and Mick used the sock wrapped in barbed wire and she was hardcore for taking it..the final spot took place where hedge speared Foley through a flaming table,which led Joey styles to shout out his famous “ohh myy God!!!!” Line back in ecw on commentary ..fans then stood up for the “holy shit” chant and edge went for the 3 count..this was clearly the best match of the show and Mick Foley finally has a wrestlemania moment.

7.Kurt angle vs Brock lesnar (wrestlemania 19).

The winner of the 2003 royal rumble was Brock lesnar and from right there, the best feud of 2003 started to kick off ..Kurt Angle was the wwe champion and these two former amateur wrestlers that turned pro, would clash in the ring for the first time..I had a gut feeling that this match would close the show and it did..match started with chain wrestling and Matt takedowns..after Brock pulled off a German suplex, the match got physical right there. Angle made sure he gave lesnar all he got..including the angle slam and moonsault..as soon ss he went for the ankle lock and lesnar reversed it,angle was trying to sell the reverse but he got injured on his neck..lesnar goes for the f-5 but angle kicks out..then lesnar goes for the shooting star press but Kurt moved out the way even though the distance was too far,which resulted in Brock landing on his head and he gets injured as well..so we have 2 injured wrestlers trying to finish the match now as lesnar hits the f-5 a.d gets the 3 count..great sportsmanship for these two and they went all out for the fans to see the conclusion even though they both got hurt very badly

Trish Stratus vs Mickey James (wrestlemania 22)

I rank this as the best divas match in wrestlemania history ..but the best divas match in history was lita vs Trish in a November 2004 episode of raw(also the only time ever on raw that the main event was for the women’s championship) . Mickey James only debuted a few months earlier, got the attention of many fans. Including Trish Stratus herself. 5 minutes into the match the crowd was not dead at all because these two women were going all out with an array of moves..looking back at this match, it was like a mirror match because they clicked too well that it was like they both wrestled eachother for years even though it was their first match. The match itself is self explanatory because they both pulled it off and when Mickey got the pin,the fans were all shocked including me because nobody would have thought that a divas match at wrestlemania would be a 5 star quality match

Honorable mentions

Triple h vs the undertaker hell in a cell match (wrestlemania 28)

The rock vs hulk Hogan (wrestlemania 18)

Team angle vs Chris beniot and rhyno vs Los Guerreros(wrestlemania 19)

Ric flair vs Shawn michaels (wrestlemania 24)

John cena vs Shawn michaels (wrestlemania 23)

Kurt angle vs Chris beniot (wrestlemania 17)

Shawn Michaels vs Chris Jericho (wrestlemania 19)

 

now lets go through the worst now. bear with me readers lol

1.Daniel Bryan vs shaemus (wrestlemania 28)

This match from last year’s wrestlemania that opened the show with an 18 second win outraged the fans at the arenas and home .. people paid good money for tickets and ppv to not get ripped off..these 2 wrestlers Daniel Bryan and shaemus are two world class athletes with different styles so the match would have been very interesting..what makes this worse is that throughout the year of 2012,shaemus would use the 18 seconds on a lot of his promos for a cheap pop..Daniel did not deserve to drop the belt in that way..the crowd was entirely behind him at wrestlemania and this was a slap in the face to everyone who saw it.

Rey mysterio vs Eddie Guerrero (wrestlemania 21)

I wouldn’t say that this match was bad but it could have been a lot better ..for these two, you would expected a lot more in this match..the beginning was solid up until when Rey mysterio’s mask was out of place 7 minutes into the match..from there on,it just got sloppy Like it was two unprofessional high school kids doing backyard wrestling..kudos for at least trying but it failed to meet expectations..

The rock vs triple h vs big show vs mankind (wrestlemania 16/2000)

This has to be the most odd wrestlemania main event in the attitude era..here is the story..the rock wins the royal rumble, big show shows footage of both the rocks feet touching the ground first..then triple h defeats cactus Jack..in no way out, the big show defeated the rock with the help of Shane McMahon to get the rock’s spot at wrestlemania ..at the same ppv,triple h defeated Mick Foley inside hell in a cell to end Foley’s career..the rock then earned his spot back by defeating big show on raw with the help of Vince McMahon .so now at mania, its a triple threat match..however, Linda McMahon brought in Mic Foley to make it a fatal 4 way.. along with every McMahon on ringside. On paper it sounds like a good idea since there is a 75% chance that the title will change hands..but to me the match didn’t work at all..for some reason every body did not click in with eachother at this match with too many messed spots and big show should have not been in this match in the first place. Triple h got the win on this match but it didn’t matter because the triangle ladder match stole the show earlier that night and this main event was rarely ever mentioned on wwe television again

Bret Hart vs Mr.McMahon (Wrestlemania 26)

10 years later we get another great rivalry but another horrible match..Bret Hart made his wwe return in 2010 to bury the hatchet with Shawn michaels and to start his rivalry with Vince McMahon ..it was built on the Montreal screwjob back at survivor series 1997.as soon as Bert’s music played and he entered the ring with his t-shirt band blue shorts,every body was thinking, “where in the hell is the pink and black attack “..it was like he just finished drinking coffee and was told his match is next..but anyways,other than Vince trying to get Hart’s family to turn on him, Bret repeatedly his Vince with the crowbar and then he went for the sharpshooter forcing McMahon to submit …I had the mindset to go over there to Arizona to punch both of them in the face..no disrespect to the legendary Bret Hart who is one of my favorites..but this match was booked like it was a Wcw show and I understand that he had a stroke years ago,but be should have not done this match in the first place.

John cena vs the miz(wrestlemania 27)

I can say that 2010-2011 was the year of the miz. He has improve a lot since teaming with john Morrison..him becoming wwe champion in the end of 2010 got me more interested in this Guy.. now for his match at wrestlemania against arguably the biggest star of the wrestling world today john cena had me puzzled about who would win..the match started very slow and the fans were not buying that the miz were to beat cena. A few botches threw me off for this match And the spot where the match ended in a double count out was not well received by everyone ..so the rock..oh wait Dwayne Johnson who was the host of the show cones out and says that the match will be restarted .. Dwayne then gives cena the rock bottom and miz goes for the pin..this was the weakest finish in wrestlemania since wrestlemania 9 and Dwayne making that run in just didn’t make the cut at all

Goldberg vs Brock lesnar (wrestlemania 20)

I cannot lie..the moment when Brock and Goldberg had that face to face standoff, I knew something big was going to happen..the feud leading into this match was great and adding in Steve Austin as the referee made the match huge..the week before wrestlemania, it was leaked from wrestling websites that Brock lesnar is leaving after wrestlemania to go to the NFL..a few days later,it was also leaked that Goldberg is leaving too..this angered the fans and when the match started, both Brock lesnar and Goldberg were heavily booed in the Madison square garden arena, then the “you sold out” chants began ..anyways, the match started by them two stalling in the ring with no moves whatsoever for about 4-6 minutes ..the most we saw was a few holds and throws and that was it..the next 20 minutes the fans were already tired of them two and chanted for Steve Austin and started the “boring ” chants as well..the match didn’t really pick up until the last 6 minutes with Goldberg going for the spear and jackhammer and going for the 3 count but that still didn’t satisfied the fans..so stone cold did the stunner to both lesnar and Goldberg for the fans to finally give a huge reaction .. to tell you the truth, both lesnar and Goldberg deserved that angry crowd reaction and I’m happy that they did

Divas battle royal (wrestlemania 25)

Where do I start with this one..this battle royal took the spot for the tag team title unification match and I was sure the fans wanted to see it than seeing kid rock’s performance along with this very sloppy botchamania written match. This also features the divas from the past and present and the divas from the past could not keep up with the ones right now ..from the silly falls to the forgettable missed spots,this match was very un watchable..did I mention that santino marella win with the gimmick of santina marella. That’s enough said for this match..if you would like to see this kind of mess, either watch this match or watch the male version of it..its called the XFL.

Honorable mentions:

Big show vs Floyd mayweither (wrestlemania 24)

Triple h vs Randy orton (wrestlemania 25)

Test vs Eddie Guerrero (wrestlemania 17)

Undertaker vs Kane(wrestlemania 20)

Scott hall vs Steve Austin ( wrestlemania 18)

Kane vs the great khali (wrestlemania 23)

Julian Cannon

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.