40 Greatest WrestleMania Entrances
Undertaker makes up half the list.
WrestleMania’s reputation as the biggest spectacle in sports and entertainment owes a large part to its dazzling production, especially when it comes to entrances. WWE’s version of the Super Bowl has seen some spectacular arrivals, filled with the glitz and glamor we’ve come to expect in Hollywood and on Broadway. Here are the greatest WrestleMania entrances …
40. Stone Cold (WrestleMania 13)
Sure, Diesel had the same entrance two years prior, but Stone Cold’s is more memorable. After all, glass breaking is synonymous with the arrival of the Texas Rattlesnake.
39. Roddy Piper (WrestleMania III)
According to HotRod, the mini ring cart broke right before his entrance. So, 93,000 fans roared as the Rowdy One jogged to the ring for his retirement match. We’ve since learned that wrestling retirements don’t last, but that doesn’t take away from the moment.
38. John Cena (WrestleMania 22)
Sillier than intended, WWE leaned into the Chicago vibe for John Cena’s WrestleMania 22 entrance. A bunch of developmental wrestlers (including CM Punk) dressed as old timey gangsters hopped out of a car, surrounding the ring with guns. Then, Cena appeared in a trench coat shooting blanks at the crowd.
37. New Day (WrestleMania 32)
We’re still waiting for New Day’s grand WrestleMania entrance. The closest we’ve gotten was when a giant box of Booty Os tipped over and the trio popped out cosplaying Dragon Ball Z.
36. Bobby Heenan (WrestleMania IX)
Only The Brain can do comedy right. I still crack up watching him struggle to ride a camel backwards.
35. JBL (WrestleMania 21)
Accompanied by a police escort, JBL arrived in style to the Staples Center in his trademark white limo adorned with bull horns. Adding to the spectacle, $100 bills fell from the rafters. Of course, they had JBL’s face on them.
34. John Cena (WrestleMania XXIV)
Less is more when it comes to John Cena. His best entrance featured the Jones High School marching band playing an instrumental version of “The Time Is Now.”
33. Undertaker (WrestleMania XXX)
The first of many times you’ll see The Phenom on this list. Perhaps foreshadowing the end of The Streak, caskets of all Undertaker’s victims filled the stage at WrestleMania XXX with flashbacks to the Deadman’s incredible performances on the Grandest Stage.
32. Randy Savage (WrestleMania VII)
Randy Savage and Sensational Queen Sherri were carried out on a throne before the career-ending match with Ultimate Warrior. Only the royal treatment for the Macho King.
31. CM Punk (WrestleMania 29)
Living Color came to MetLife Stadium to play “Cult of Personality.” A rare instance of a live version of an entrance theme sounding good, the audience rocked out as CM Punk marched out with Paul Heyman clutching the urn behind him. Unknowingly, it was the final clobberin’ time at WrestleMania.
30. Randy Savage (WrestleMania IX)
Although he was no longer the Macho King, Randy Savage still received the royal treatment at WrestleMania IX, being carried out on sedan chair while fed grapes from some lovely ladies.
29. Hardy Boyz (WrestleMania 33)
Ditching the Broken Matt and Brother Nero personas, the legendary duo returned to WWE after seven years away, instantly winning the Tag Team Titles in a ladder match. Before the match, New Day announced a fourth team would enter, drawing their trademark “Who? Who? Who?” chants. When the Hardyz’ familiar music played, the crowd (and even New Day) went berserk.
28. Roddy Piper (WrestleMania)
The original WrestleMania entrance. A procession of bagpipes welcomes Roddy Piper, Paul Orndorff and “Cowboy” Bob Orton to the ring. HotRod is all smiles until he shoots a death stare at someone in the crowd, just in case you forgot how dangerous he can be.
27. Hulk Hogan (WrestleMania)
Don’t rely on the WWE Network for this one. Find another version so you get Madison Square Garden erupting for “Eye of the Tiger.” The cameras go backstage as Hulk Hogan, Mr. T and Jimmy Snuka pass an entourage of WWE personnel (including Vince McMahon and Lord Alfred Hayes) and even Cyndi Lauper’s manager Dave Wolff before entering the arena. Bonus points for Mr. T’s robe.
26. Undertaker (WrestleMania XXV)
In contrast to Shawn Michaels’ entrance from the heavens, Undertaker ascended from the depths of hell. The Deadman sauntered through smoke and fire as he mentally prepared for the greatest match in WrestleMania history.
25. Pat McAfee (WrestleMania 38)
Pat McAfee woke up the 70,000+ inside JerryWorld for Night 2 of WrestleMania 38. As The White Stripes’ “Seven Nation Army” blasted throughout the stadium, the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders ran out for the big fight feel. Finally, the former Indianapolis Colts punter strolled out in his trademark tank top to a thunderous ovation.
24. Sasha Banks (WrestleMania 32)
Family accompanying wrestlers to the ring is often cheesy, but not when your cousin is Snoop Dogg. The WWE Hall of Famer rapped Sasha Banks to the ring before the triple threat for the re-instated Women’s Championship.
23. Undertaker (WrestleMania 21)
Talk about black magic. As the druids surrounded the ring, Undertaker floated down the foggy aisleway.
22. Triple H (WrestleMania 33)
Even though he’s usually a heel, Triple H always has better entrances than his opponents. Before facing Seth Rollins, The Game had police escorts as he drove a motorcycle down the ramp with leather-pants Stephanie riding on his back.
21. Undertaker (WrestleMania XX)
After nearly four years as the American Badass biker, Undertaker returned to the dark side to battle his brother Kane. Although the Deadman didn’t really alter his appearance, it was fun seeing Paul Bearer back with the druids. Oooooh Yeeeeessssss!
20. Rhythm & Blues (WrestleMania VI)
Eat your heart out, Elvis! The Honkytonk Man, Greg Valentine and Jimmy Hart cruised in the back of a pink Cadillac (driven by the future Diamond Dallas Page) with the gold record for their latest hit “Honka, Honka, Honka Honky Love.”
19. Miz (WrestleMania XXVII)
You can hate him now. After becoming the most unlikely WWE Champion to that point (Jinder Mahal has since taken that mantle), Miz was the scourge of the wrestling world for headlining WrestleMania. He addressed his critics in an innovative video before his entrance, sitting in a control room as footage of Hulk Hogan, Ric Flair, Stone Cold and The Rock was spliced with Miz’ rise from MTV to the top of WWE. Then he barged past giant, inflatable “AWESOME” letters as pyro went off.
18. Bianca Belair (WrestleMania 38)
Deep in the heart of Texas! Bianca Belair had the EST of WrestleMania entrances in 2022, as the Texas Southern University Marching Band, aka the “Ocean of Soul,” performed her entrance theme “Watch Me Shine.” With her usual pep in her step, Belair bounced to the beat in grand fashion, ushering in the pageantry of the Showcase of the Immortals.
17. Ric Flair (WrestleMania XXIV)
The Nature Boy strutted onto the stage for his final WWE match. Donning a luxurious blue robe that was later donated to the Smithsonian, Ric Flair walked that aisle to thunderous Woos from the adoring crowd. Pausing to bask in the moment, you could see the emotion in his eyes as fireworks lit up the Orlando sky.
16. Andre the Giant (WrestleMania III)
Bob Uecker made the introduction for the biggest match in wrestling history. Andre the Giant, betraying his friend and aligning with Bobby Heenan, was finally getting his shot at WWE Champion Hulk Hogan. Riding in the mini ring cart alongside The Brain all decked in white, Andre was pelted with garbage by the 93,000 in attendance.
15. Undertaker (WrestleMania XXVII)
A bit more ominous than Undertaker’s usual entrances, this one relied upon a giant screen with rain falling on an abandoned house surrounded by smoke and dark clouds. It was nod to mysterious videos that hyped the Deadman’s return earlier that year.
14. Shawn Michaels (WrestleMania XIV)
I loved when WWE used to film the wrestlers walking backstage before their entrances. This was the best example as Shawn Michaels was shown in the gorilla position with Chyna & Triple H, looking into the camera and saying “this is for you, Earl.” (Legendary referee Earl Hebner was in the hospital at this time.) Then the DX Band played as footage flickered between DX’s entrance video and Michaels walking out in real time.
13. Triple H (WrestleMania 32)
Embracing his love of medieval times, Triple H transformed into the King of Kings, taking a green-lasered spotlight as skull-faced henchmen held WWE Championship replicas. Of course, Stephanie McMahon came out on a giant throne to announce her husband’s arrival.
12. Triple H (WrestleMania 31)
Triple H went full Terminator with this one, wearing a robot mask and clutching robot skulls while surrounded by armed robots on high platforms. The coup de grace was Arnold Schwarzenegger making a cameo in the entrance video.
11. Undertaker (WrestleMania 33)
Sometimes the stage design amplifies an entrance, as evidenced by Undertaker’s arrival at WrestleMania 33. The roller coaster and globe flashed with lightning bolts, creating a haunting visual as the Deadman rose halfway down the ramp. If he didn’t enter halfway, he’d beat Iron Sheik for longest Mania entrance!
10. Shawn Michaels (WrestleMania XXV)
Symbolism at its finest. Descending from the heavens, Shawn Michaels appeared as the white knight preparing for battle against The Undertaker. Sparklers rose so he could disrobe in time for “Sexy Boy” to blast throughout Reliant Stadium in Houston.
9. Triple H (WrestleMania XXX)
This entrance is even better in retrospect, now that we know who those three goddesses were. Still playing up the King of Kings, Triple H emerged on a throne, wearing a gold crown, headdress and cape. The women by his side (future Women’s Champions Sasha Banks, Alexa Bliss and Charlotte) disrobed him in a nod to Triple H’s role as kingmaker/queenmaker in NXT.
8. Kane (WrestleMania XX)
Whoever thought to light the New York City landscape on fire for Kane’s entrance deserved a raise. If it was Vince, I’ll forgive him for burying Sting.
7. Shinsuke Nakamura (WrestleMania 34)
Never has an entrance been so elaborate for a wrestler so insignificant. That’s not a knock on Shinsuka Nakamura, just an indictment of his booking in WWE. Nita Strauss, Alice Cooper’s guitarist, jammed out as 20 violinists played Nakamura’s hypnotic theme while he did his seizure dance down the ramp.
6. Undertaker (WrestleMania 23)
As druids lined the stage, pyro exploded, leaving only the silhouette of the Deadman walking into Ford Field. Cloaked in darkness, Undertaker captivated the crowd with lightning bolts, fire and smoke.
5. Charlotte (WrestleMania 34)
Lost in the hoopla of breaking Asuka’s streak, Charlotte’s entrance at the Superdome was epic. Playing off her role in Triple H’s WrestleMania entrance in the same stadium just four years prior, The Queen emerged on a throne as “Also Sprach Zarathustra” (her father’s entrance theme) filled the air. In a fun twist, she was escorted off the throne by NXT performers Tino Sabbatelli, Riddick Moss and Dan Matha dressed as centurions.
4. Undertaker (WrestleMania XIV)
The druids made their debut at WrestleMania XIV, lighting the entranceway with torches as “O Fortuna” played. Then a lightning bolt struck and Undertaker came out in his Prince of Darkness attire, ready to clash with his demented brother for the first time.
3. Rusev (WrestleMania 31)
WWE put Rocky IV to shame with Rusev’s incredible WrestleMania 31 entrance. Russian military took the stage with canons as Lana, decked out in white while clutching the United States Championship, led a platoon carrying a giant Russian flag down the ramp. Canons fired as Rusev entered in a tank!
2. Undertaker (WrestleMania 29)
Undertaker’s greatest entrance came fittingly at his last successful defense of The Streak. His silhouette appeared among the fog as zombies reached for him from the depths of hell. With every gong, flames blazed along the Brooklyn Bridge stage as the fans cheered for the Deadman. When finally made it to the ring steps and raised his arms, fireworks shot up from the rim of MetLife Stadium.
1. Shawn Michaels (WrestleMania XII)
No surprise that Mr. WrestleMania tops this list.
Shawn Michaels riding the zipline across Arrowhead Pond is one of those iconic wrestling moments. HBK soaring across the stadium with cameras flashing brings you back to your youth. It’s spectacular, thrilling and over the top, just as we’ve come to expect at WrestleMania.
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