How every Wrestlemania main event went down
- Michael Oliver
- @MichaelOIiver
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With the greatest show in sports entertainment just days away now, fans across the globe are salivating with excitement.
As we gear up to watch Goldberg and Brock Lesnar headline the show in a rematch of their Wrestlemania XX showdown, let’s take a look at the main events from Mania past.
Wrestlemania: Hulk Hogan and Mr. T vs. Roddy Piper and Paul Orndorff
Vince McMahon wanted the first ever Wrestlemania main event to be a star-studded event, bringing celebrities and wrestlers together for a one-off match.
Hulk Hogan was the biggest star in wrestling at the time, teaming him up with Mr. T, an equally famous and idolised TV star was an easy business move.
As expected, Hogan picked up the pin which set the tone for the first few Wrestlemania’s.
Wrestlemania 2: Hulk Hogan vs. King Kong Bundy
The WWF were still experimenting with Wrestlemania and held three ‘main event’ matches in three different time zones, but this match is ultimately considered the headline match.
The only Wrestlemania main event to be a traditional steel cage match, Hogan and Bundy fought a back-and-forth match before Hogan ultimately scaled the cage for the win.
Wrestlemania III: Hulk Hogan vs. Andre the Giant
In one of the most iconic matches in Wrestlemania history, Hogan would take on the immovable object that was Andre the Giant.
Andre would dominate early in the match before Hogan summoned super-human strength to body slam the behemoth, hit him with his famous leg drop and get the in to retain his WWF title.
Wrestlemania IV: Randy Savage vs. Ted DiBiase
A tournament for the WWF title culminated in a match between Savage and DiBiase which had the tried and tested storyline of the plucky underdog Savage up against the man who had things handed to him in DiBiase.
Savage was on the brink of defeat when our friend Hulk Hogan interfered and hit DiBiase with a steel chair, allowing Savage to claim the pinfall victory and the title.
Wrestlemania V: Randy Savage vs. Hulk Hogan
These two were once allies but had turned on each other in the lead up to Wrestlemania were pitted in a match for the WWF title and true Hogan fashion, he secured the main event win.
Wrestlemania VI: The Ultimate Warrior vs. Hulk Hogan
Two of the biggest faces in the company squared off for the Intercontinental and WWF title belts and for the first time, Hogan lost a Wrestlemania main event as The Ultimate Warrior came away victorious.
Wrestlemania VII: Sgt. Slaughter vs. Hulk Hogan
This match had added heat as Slaughter turned heel by becoming an Iraqi sympathiser, going up against America’s own Hulk Hogan.
The WWF couldn’t let Hogan lose against and Iraqi sympathiser, could they! Hogan secured the win.
Wrestlemania VIII: Hulk Hogan vs. Sid Justice
Hogan was involved again in the main event of Wrestlemania but arguably this was the worst of his matches.
The botched finish ruined the match but Hogan was victorious.
Wrestlemania IX: Hulk Hogan vs. Yokozuna
Hogan was involved in his ninth straight Wrestlemania main event, this time against Yokozuna, but it came with a twist.
After Yokozuna defeated Bret Hart for the WWF title, Hogan came out and was challenged to a match against Yokozuna, and defeated the titan in 22 seconds.
Wrestlemania X: Yokozuna vs. Bret Hart
A rematch of last year’s main event (of sorts), this was another match with a botched finale as Yokozuna missed Bonzai Drop, allowing Hart to roll over and get the pinfall victory to win the WWF title.
Wrestlemania XI: Bam Bam Bigelow vs. Lawrence Taylor
With Hogan now gone, the WWF needed a big headline name to main event Wrestlemania and brought in former NFL star Lawrence Taylor for a one-off match with Bam Bam Bigelow.
You won’t be surprised to hear Taylor won.
Wrestlemania XII: Bret Hart vs. Shawn Michaels
In arguably the greatest Wrestlemania main event to date, Hart and Michaels, two men who hated each other, embarked on a one-hour iron man match.
With no pinfall winner after the hour, they entered sudden death rules when Michaels hit the Sweet Chin Music and defeated Hart to capture the WWF title.
Wrestlemania 13: Sycho Sid vs. The Undertaker
The Undertaker is one of the most iconic figures in Wrestlemania history and his match against Sycho Sid was his first main event.
In a no disqualification match, Taker hit Sid with a steel chair before hitting the Tombstone Piledriver and claiming the win and the WWF title.
Wrestlemania XIV: Shawn Michaels vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin
In a memorable back-and-forth match, Michaels was closing in on the win before the referee got knocked out.
He was caught by the Stunner and Austin won the match with Mike Tyson performing the count before laying a right hook on Michaels after the match.
Wrestlemania XV: The Rock vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin
The Rock-Austin feud might be the greatest of all time and it boiled over at Wrestlemania XV.
In a no disqualification match, the two tore each other apart but it was Austin who was able to win the first of their Wrestlemania main events.
Wrestlemania 2000: Triple H vs. The Rock vs. Big Show vs. Mick Foley
This fatal-4-way elimination match began with everyone teaming up on the Big Show to remove the biggest threat, and Foley soon followed.
Everyone wanted to see Triple H and The Rock go at it. Being no-DQ rules, Vince McMahon hit Rock with a steel chair, twice, and Triple H would pick up the win.
Wrestlemania X-Seven: The Rock vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin
In another epic encounter between these two foes, it was Austin again who came away victorious after a stunning heel turn to form an allegiance with Vince McMahon.
Wrestlemania X8: Chris Jericho vs. Triple H
Jericho, the first undisputed WWF world champion, went up against Triple H but lost the crown after attempting Triple H’s own finisher, the Pedigree, on him before it was reversed and he was hit by the move.
Wrestlemania XIX: Kurt Angle vs. Brock Lesnar
The odds were stacked against the champion Angle who would lose his title if he was counted out or disqualified.
In a memorable match, it was Lesnar who took advantage by hitting the Shooting Star Press (just about), followed by an F-5 on Angle to win the title.
Wrestlemania XX: Triple H vs. Chris Benoit vs. Shawn Michaels
In the first ever triple threat main event, we saw the first ever submission victory as well, as Benoit forced champion Triple H to tap out by using his signature Crippler Crossface and win the title.
Wrestlemania 21: Triple H vs. Batista
Once part of the legendary Evolution stable, Triple H and Batista would square off against each other for the world heavyweight championship.
Batista, who won the Rumble earlier that year, secured gold at Wrestlemania by defeating Triple H.
Wrestlemania 22: John Cena vs. Triple H
Cena would go on to become a WWE icon but this was his first main event, defending his WWE title against Triple H in a marquee matchup.
Triple H, headlining his fourth Wrestlemania in five years, would again tap out with Cena applying the STF.
Wrestlemania 23: John Cena vs. Shawn Michaels
Tag team partners at the time, Cena and Michaels squared off for Cena’s WWE championship.
Cena would win back-to-back Wrestlemania main events courtesy of the STF submission.
Wrestlemania XXIV: Edge vs. The Undertaker
The Undertaker, who was boasting a 15-0 record at Wrestlemania at the time, appeared to be on the brink of defeat as the champion Edge was having the better of proceedings.
Undertaker kicked out of the spear and after a failed interference from the edge heads, Taker secured Edge in the Hell’s Gate submission and forced the champ to tap out.
Wrestlemania XXV: Triple H vs. Randy Orton
Orton was in the midst of one of his best heel runs of his career and would battle former Evolution partner Triple H for the WWE title.
Triple H got one over on his old ally by punting him in the head, smacking him with a sledgehammer before landing a Pedigree to secure the win.
Wrestlemania XXVI: Shawn Michaels vs. The Undertaker
After their spectacular match the year before, Michaels and Taker would go at it one year later in the main event.
Michaels put his career on the line in order to try and end Undertaker’s streak, but his efforts ended in vain as Taker defeated Michaels and retired him in the process.
Wrestlemania XXVII: The Miz vs. John Cena
This match initially ended with both men being knocked out and a double count-out occurred before The Rock came down and demanded the match be restarted under no-DQ rules.
Cena dragged Miz back into the ring before The Rock hit Cena with a Rock Bottom, allowing Miz to pin Cena and retain his title.
Wrestlemania XXVIII: John Cena vs. The Rock
It was last year’s antics from The Rock which set up this match between Cena and him.
The pair kept kicking out of finishing moves before Cena’s attempt at the People’s Elbow saw him hit with a Rock Bottom, allowing The Rock to pick up a win.
Wrestlemania 29: The Rock vs. John Cena
Yes, we have a rematch!
It would be Cena this time who gets the edge after hitting the AA and picking up the pinfall over the Rock.
Wrestlemania XXX: Randy Orton vs. Batista vs. Daniel Bryan
Byran was seemingly eliminated early on in the match when medical staff were trying to escort him out after he was taken out by Orton and Batista.
He later returned to put Batista in the YES Lock forcing him to tap out and Bryan completed one of the greatest underdog stories in wrestling history.
Wrestlemania 31: Brock Lesnar vs. Roman Reigns vs. Seth Rollins
This match was originally scheduled to just be Lesnar against Reigns and the two put on a masterpiece, hitting big move after big move until Lesnar hit the F-5 on Reigns but couldn’t summon the strength to cover.
Rollins’ music hits and he rushes to the ring to cash in his Money in the Bank contract to make the match a triple threat.
He hit both men with the Curb Stomp before pinning former Shield team-mate Reigns for the win.
Wrestlemania 32: Triple H vs. Roman Reigns
Reigns was in the midst of a major push from the WWE and was in the main event of Wrestlemania again, this time against the legendary Triple H.
Reigns overcame the odds to beat H and win the world title.