Roundtable: Best Of WrestleMania

What’s your favorite WrestleMania theme song?

Juan Bautista: “Light It Up” by Rev Theory.

Steven Jackson: “Ladies and Gentlemen” by Saliva for WrestleMania 23. Everything about it oozes WrestleMania and that beat they drop is just awesome! To 15-year-old me, I couldn’t play it enough!

Neal Wagner: “Crack Addict” by Limp Bizkit from WrestleMania 19. I enjoyed the Limp Bizkit-WWE relationship and I always watched this performance after I recorded the show on VHS. The song has never been released and I don’t know if WWE bought rights or whatever, but you can find it on YouTube. Listen to it and you’ll love it, too, for the Ruthless Aggression Era.

John Corrigan: “My Way” by Limp Bizkit takes me back to being nine years old, losing my shit over the two best superheroes battling it out at WrestleMania X-7. It got me hype then and it gets me hype now.

Calvin Gibbon: That’s an easy one. I’ll have to send my shout out to the band Shinedown for “I Dare You,” which was one of the theme songs for WrestleMania 22. WWE created a video package to this song that still gives me chills to this day.

Chad Gelfand: “Gimme a greenlight…” No. But seriously, my favorite WrestleMania theme song is “My Way” by Limp Bizkit. It’s the cliché answer, but that Rock/Stone Cold video package is one of the best in wrestling history.

David Gibb: Guitar and synth trumpets! Then. Now. Forever.

Jenna Leigh: I can’t help it – I came of age in the late ‘90s and I was one of those JNCO wearing nu metal kids. I thought the use of “My Way” by Limp Bizkit at WrestleMania X-7 was done brilliantly! Hell, that Rock/Stone Cold video package is a thing of beauty.

Jack Goodwillie: When it comes to music, you have to be careful not to be overly nostalgic because it’s so easy to fall into that trap. Of course, you really have to give it up for rap metal being the soundtrack to some of the best wrestling we’ve ever seen. Limp Bizkit’s “My Way” from X-7 is iconic and “Step Up” as a secondary theme song for WrestleMania XX was great, too. My personal favorite? Saliva, “Ladies and Gentlemen,” from WrestleMania 23. Lead singer Josey Scott said himself that the song was written with WWE in mind, and it’s the perfect pump-up song as you’re getting ready to watch any sporting event. It has a very big sound and you’ll want to run through a wall by the time it’s over.

Who had the best attire in WrestleMania history?

Bautista: Sasha Banks paid a beautiful tribute to Eddie Guerrero at WrestleMania 32.

Jackson: Randy Savage’s WrestleMania VII attire. Too cool. Just too cool.

Wagner: Ric Flair’s robe from Mania 24 was mesmerizing and amazing. Ric went out in style that night in more ways than one.

Corrigan: Bobby “The Brain” Heenan dressed in all white for the biggest night of his life at WrestleMania III. He looked like a groom, circus ring leader and royal dignitary all wrapped up into one, emphasizing the importance of one of his clients (potentially) finally winning the WWE Championship.

Gibbon: I have to give it up to Shinsuke Nakamura for his attire from last year’s WrestleMania. It was the perfect attire for him and for that moment. When you talk about the pageantry of WrestleMania, that was the very best.

Gelfand: I always enjoy Rey Mysterio’s WrestleMania attires and one of my favorite ones was when he dressed up as Daredevil at WrestleMania 19.

Gibb: If New Day had the time to do anything with their Final Fantasy outfits, I would’ve been all about that, but otherwise, nothing really sticks out to me. I’ve never really cared about the part where someone is wearing a slightly longer ring jacket because it’s WrestleMania.

Leigh: This is a tough one, because I’ve always paid close attention to specialty attire, and now with the women — hair and makeup. The most iconic attire is that gorgeous royal blue robe Ric Flair wore at WrestleMania XXIV. He looked every bit the legend in that cobalt blue, high necked robe with crisp white feathers. Honorable mention to CM Punk’s AWESOME GI Joe gear from WrestleMania XXVI.

Goodwillie: Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania 25 springs to mind. The “Undertaker of the Light” getup on his entrance really gave his match with Taker some added symbolism and was really the first moment I realized, “We’re going to be getting something special tonight.” Want another? Check out Rey Mysterio as Daredevil at WrestleMania XIX.

What’s the greatest opener in WrestleMania history?

Bautista: Money in the Bank at WrestleMania 22. The early MITB matches reserved for Mania were just balls-to-the-wall fun and this one was no different. Highlighted by Jeff Hardy’s leap of faith smashing Edge through a ladder and cemented by Mr. Kennedy’s moment of triumph, it’s well worth watching again.

Jackson: Bret Hart vs. Owen Hart from WrestleMania X. It is the most technically perfect match in WrestleMania history, with the greatest finish in WrestleMania history. Amazing.

Wagner: Knowing what it led to later in the evening, Daniel Bryan and HHH was a great match for me during a time when I wasn’t watching anymore and only watched for the launch of WWE Network. That match, the night, the overall story made me a Daniel Bryan fan and this was really the first big match I had seen him in.

Corrigan: Daniel Bryan vs. Triple H at WrestleMania XXX. I witnessed Triple H’s last great match live and went nuts when Bryan pinned him.

Gibbon: Bret Hart vs. Owen Hart is a classic. It’s remarkable to say the least that 24 years later it still holds up for me. If you haven’t seen it, do yourself a favor and check it out. Great storytelling.

Gelfand: This might be recency bias, but I loved AJ Styles vs. Shane McMahon at WrestleMania 33. AJ Styles is obviously one of the best wrestlers on the planet and Shane McMahon is willing to do anything, but I was still surprised by how good the match ended up being.

Gibb: Regal-Van Dam at X-8. Perfect matchup between two guys with intriguing pro wrestling styles who the crowd cared about.

Leigh: This is a no brainer. Bret Hart finally facing his hateful little brother Owen Hart, face to face, on the grandest stage of them all, Wrestlemania X. Just a thrilling match, a back-and-forth competitive bout….and lo and behold, Owen won! The stage was set for a great show, and Owen Hart was a made man.

Goodwillie: Sheamus vs. Daniel Bryan (lol, jk). Again, two matches spring to mind here. On one hand, Eddie Guerrero and Rey Mysterio tore the house down and set the tone for a criminally underrated WrestleMania 21. On the other hand, Seth Rollins vs. Randy Orton 10 years later was pretty great, too. A lot of people will point to that RKO, and man, what a moment, but lost in that was the fact that both men brought their A-game that night as well.

What’s the greatest main event in WrestleMania history?

Bautista: Chris Benoit vs. Triple H vs. Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania 20. The championship was up for grabs while a hot New York crowd cheered on Benoit. It’s arguably both Shawn Michaels’ and Triple H’s finest work.

Jackson: The greatest main event in WrestleMania history is one of those questions in which my answer changes frequently. As of typing this answer, one comes to my head: The Ultimate Warrior vs. Hulk Hogan from WrestleMania VI. Yes, the aftermath didn’t live up to the match, but for a moment in time and a spectacle, I’ve never seen anything like it. The crowd, the adrenaline, the noise, the finish. It was a perfect main event. It may not have been a technical masterpiece, but it told a wonderful story.

Wagner: Rock and Austin in a war at WrestleMania X-7. The story was told excellently and it had an ending that nobody called. Did you guess that Austin would win? Yeah, but you didn’t call the heel turn.

Corrigan: The irresistible force meets the immovable object. It’s so simple, yet so effective. I don’t care about the lack of technical proficiency, high spots, dives or near falls. As a matter of fact, there was only one near fall in the entire match and it meant everything. It gave The Brain an excuse for the biggest loss of his career, something he’d reiterate time and time again. Hulk Hogan vs. Andre the Giant at WrestleMania III is a realistic, modern-day David vs. Goliath with the crowd at a fever pitch. It’s timeless.

Gibbon: The Miracle on Bourbon Street! When Daniel Bryan made it into that triple threat match with Randy Orton and Batista for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship, the fans knew we were in for a wild ride. This match delivers on so many levels. It was dramatic. It was emotional. There were some huge spots in it, as well as surprises. I can’t put it over enough. Just incredible.

Gelfand: This is a controversial answer, but the ending to WrestleMania 20 was perfect. None of his wrestling accomplishments can overshadow or excuse any of the heinous things he’s done, but purely judging the match and post-match, it was fantastic. The triple threat between Chris Benoit, Triple H and Shawn Michaels told a great story and the post-match with Benoit and Eddie Guerrero celebrating as champions was, at the time, a feel-good ending to WrestleMania.

Gibb: If by “greatest,” we mean “most effective,” can there be any doubt it’s Hogan-Andre from WrestleMania III? People are still coming up with exciting new lies about that match!

Leigh: I’ve gone around and around with this one. Lord knows there have been some unbelievable, knockdown, drag out, barn burners to close the biggest show of the year. For me, Orton/Batista/Daniel Bryan from XXX justttttt edges out Bret/Shawn from WM XII. The emotion leading up to the show….the fact that WWE seemingly DID NOT want Bryan in the main event, that the fans more or less seemed to put him there….and that glorious finish. It was one of those moments where you’re teary eyed and cheering your heart out….and you remember that THIS- this feeling right here- this is why we watch this. This moment, this feeling….this is why we suffer through the crap, the poor booking, the stop-start pushes, the nonsensical decisions. Because when WWE gets it right, it can feel like the entire world is right.

Goodwillie: I’d really like to ask Al Snow what he thinks about this one…oh wait, there’s a video for that. Often times, Mania main events are overshadowed by bigger matches (see WrestleMania 18) and for all my love of XIX, I slightly (and I mean ever so slightly) prefer Mr. McMahon vs. Hulk Hogan to Angle vs. Lesnar. Both are five-star matches in my book, though. Hogan vs. Andre is an acceptable answer. So is Stone Cold vs. the Rock at XVII, or even XV for that matter. But for the cumulative pro wrestling effect, for its storytelling, match quality, execution and the way it makes you feel (or MADE you feel, depending on a number of things), I’ve gotta give it to Chris Benoit vs. Triple H vs. Shawn Michaels. That scene we’re left with showing Benoit and Guerrero embracing in the ring on the 20th anniversary of Vince McMahon’s creation is a real trip, especially with the benefit of hindsight.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHvOa89dL6I

Which WrestleMania is the most underrated?

Bautista: WrestleMania 32. Although a few missteps were taken with a couple high-profile matches such as the main event and the Hell in a Cell, the night was still filled with great matches. The ladder match for the Intercontinental Title was fantastic. The New Day vs. the League of Nations was a fun match. And the triple threat for the Women’s Championship between Charlotte, Sasha Banks and Becky Lynch stole the show. Plus, the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal was on the main card like it should be and it was an entertaining. AJ Styles also made his WrestleMania debut.

Jackson: WrestleMania 29. The staging was great. The crowd was electric and the matches delivered. They may not have all been brilliant, but they all did deliver.

Wagner: Mania 18 is always viewed as Rock and Hogan. Many forget that it was the night Triple H came back from a potentially career-ending injury and won the title. Jericho broke through the glass ceiling and finally got his due in the main event. Undertaker went 10-0 and Flair returned to Mania for the first time in 10 years, showing that he still had some years left in the tank.

Corrigan: The inaugural WrestleMania. Sure, it’s older than Jerry Lawler’s jokes, but it’s still a breezy way to pass the time. The electricity among the crowd comes through the TV, and the entire presentation feels epic. I don’t mind the short matches (I loved Brock vs. Goldberg at WrestleMania 33) and the main event is fun.

Gibbon: WrestleMania 25 as a whole flies under the radar a little bit as a terrific WrestleMania. Outside of the match that everyone remembers it for: Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels, the rest of the card is chock full of great moments and matches. CM Punk won his second Money in the Bank. Matt Hardy beat Jeff Hardy in a gnarly no holds barred match. Jericho fought off three WWE legends. It was a pretty rad show that often gets overlooked.

Gelfand: WrestleMania 24. That show is probably remembered for Ric Flair’s retirement match against Shawn Michaels, but it also included a great Money in the Bank ladder match, Floyd Mayweather vs. The Big Show, and Edge vs. The Undertaker in a great main event. Charles Robinson also had the greatest run down a ramp in history.

Gibb: X-8. Height of the roster.

Leigh: 11. I loved it! Haha haha I’m so just kidding! For me the most underrated is WrestleMania XXVI. Edge/Jericho, Cena/Batista, an incredible and VERY underrated match between CM Punk and Rey Mysterio, the return of my all-time favorite, my number one…BRET HART. I never thought I’d ever see him in a WWE ring again. I know he wasn’t the Hitman of 1995, but I. DON’T. CARE. For what it meant to him personally, for what it meant for him to get in that ring and work after a massive stroke, I cherish that show. And finally….HBK/Taker 2. Need I say more?

Goodwillie: Yeah, as I alluded to above, I’ll go with 21. It had the very first Money in the Bank ladder match and Mysterio vs. Guerrero opening the show. It also had icon vs. icon in Shawn Michaels vs. Kurt Angle, two guys who were really made for each other in a wrestling ring. Undertaker vs. Randy Orton was a disappointment, but remember, that night also cemented John Cena and Batista as the two new faces of the post-Attitude Era. If a modern WrestleMania made two first-time world champions on Raw and SmackDown, the excitement would be palpable.