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For this week’s Top 10 List, PhillyPhanatics.com’s Eric Fisher set out to compile a list of the top 10 WrestleMania matches of all-time. But since  WrestleMania XXVII will take place in Atlanta this Sunday, we decided to expand the list to include the top 27 WrestleMania matches. 

The list is subjective. It could change from month to month. A few days from now, perhaps with a new addition or two from WrestleMania XXVII, it could change again.

In one man’s opinion, these are the top 27 WrestleMania matches of all-time:

(WrestleMania number and site in italics)

27. Chris Jericho vs. Christian (XX, N.Y.) An undercard match that mixes terrific technical wrestling with wonderful story-telling

26. Steve Austin vs. Shawn Michaels (Mike Tyson is referee) (XIV, Boston) The build-up for this match, with tension between Austin and Tyson (and Vince McMahon), was fantastic. Michaels, who has been accused of using injuries as excuses to avoid losing titles in the ring, deserves credit for fighting through back problems that would sideline him for the next four years to put on this tremendous match.

25. Roddy Piper vs. Bret Hart (VIII, Indianapolis) A wonderful match between friends, with Piper (now a good guy) fighting his bad-guy demons as well as fighting Hart

24. Hulk Hogan/Mr. T vs. Roddy Piper/Paul Orndorff (I, N.Y.) The match that launched the WrestleMania rocket ship. Without the success of this match, WrestleMania may have been a one-year venture.

23. Randy Savage vs. Ultimate Warrior (VII, Los Angeles) A terrific “retirement” match with an emotional post-match surprise

22. Edge vs. Mick Foley (XXII, Chicago) Edge helps Foley attain his “WrestleMania moment” (below) with this fantastic hardcore match  

21. Ric Flair vs. Randy Savage (VIII, Indianapolis) The build-up to this match, with Flair implying he had a prior relationship with Savage’s girlfriend, Miss Elizabeth, was pure gold. Manager Bobby “The Brain” Heenan and executive assistant Curt “Mr. Perfect” Hennig added immensely to the story-telling, and Flair and Savage delivered in the ring.

20. Kurt Angle vs. Chris Benoit (XVII, Houston) A match that sometimes gets overlooked because of the other great matches on the same card. A wrestling clinic.

19. Edge vs. Undertaker (XXIV, Orlando) An excellent match between two of the best. Undertaker improves his unblemished WrestleMania record to 16-0.

18. The Rock vs. Hulk Hogan (XVIII, Toronto) The emotion in this match is absolutely incredible. The crowd makes this match, but Hogan and Rock deserve tons of credit for adjusting to the crowd’s reaction and turning this into a memorable match.

17. Money In the Bank Ladder Match (XXI, Los Angeles) This ranks at the top of the MITB WrestleMania matches because, as the first one, it was so innovative

16. Hulk Hogan vs. Ultimate Warrior (VI, Toronto) An exciting match in which Hogan passes the torch to the Warrior

15. The Rock vs. Steve Austin (XVII, Houston) A terrific match featuring a surprising ending. This is the best of the Austin-Rock WrestleMania encounters, all of which were very good.

14. Bret Hart vs. Shawn Michaels (XII, Anaheim) What do you do with two of the best wrestlers of all-time? Give them an hour to entertain the fans on your biggest show of the year. An excellent iron man match between two real-life rivals.

13. Shawn Michaels vs. Chris Benoit vs. HHH (XX, N.Y.) As good a triple-threat match as you’ll ever see. This match may have ranked higher except the feel-good moment of seeing Benoit finally win the world title is spoiled by the knowledge that Benoit kills himself and his family a few years later.  

12. Shawn Michaels vs. Chris Jericho (XIX, Seattle) An often-overlooked match because no title was on the line and it is on the same card as Angle vs. Lesnar and Steve Austin vs. The Rock (which turns out to be Austin’s final match)

11. Shawn Michaels vs. Ric Flair (XXIV, Orlando) Flair’s retirement match (left). An incredibly emotional match that might bring a tear to your eye.

10. Bret Hart vs. Owen Hart (X, N.Y.) The Hart brothers put on a wrestling clinic in the opening match of WrestleMania X. Perfect execution, with younger brother Owen pulling off the upset of Bret, who won the world title later that night.

9. Shawn Michaels vs. Razor Ramon (X, N.Y.) Michaels and Ramon brought ladder matches to the masses with this dramatic confrontation

8. Kurt Angle vs. Brock Lesnar (XIX, Seattle) Two former NCAA wrestling champions battle it out in this tremendous WWE championship match. Angle is an Olympic gold medalist. Lesnar later won the Ultimate Fighting heavyweight championship.

7. Hulk Hogan vs. Andre the Giant (III, Pontiac, Mich.) The match that arguably sold the most tickets in wrestling history. Not a technical masterpiece, but the magnitude of this match earns it a top-10 ranking.

6. TLC (XVII, Houston) Edge and Christian, Matt and Jeff Hardy, and D-Von and Bubba Ray Dudley brought the house down with this innovative Tables, Ladders and Chairs match. (You thought TLC stood for Tender Loving Care?)

5. Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels (XXVI, Glendale, Az.) Undertaker’s WrestleMania winning streak vs. Michaels’ career (see No. 3 to learn the outcome)

4. Kurt Angle vs. Shawn Michaels (XXI, Los Angeles) A tremendous example of story-telling in the ring. An amazing match.

3. Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels (XXV, Houston) An outstanding match featuring two of the all-time best. Fantastic series of big moves, near-falls toward the end.

2. Randy Savage vs. Ricky Steamboat (III, Pontiac, Mich.) An all-time classic that still holds up after all these years.

1. Bret Hart vs. Steve Austin (XIII, Chicago) An outstanding brawl featuring a perfectly executed double heel/face (bad guy/good guy) turn. By the end of this match, the fans are vociferously booing Hart and wildly cheering for Austin. Hart and Austin use their actions to tell a story, which is what professional wrestling is all about.

Honorable mention: 20-man Battle Royal featuring NFL players (II, Chicago); the British Bulldogs vs. Greg Valentine/Brutus Beefcake (II, Chicago); Hulk Hogan vs. Randy Savage (V, Atlantic City); Shawn Michaels vs. Diesel (XI, Hartford); Triangle Ladder Match (XVI, Anaheim); Undertaker vs. HHH (XVII, Houston); Eddie Guerrero vs. Kurt Angle (XX, N.Y.); Randy Orton/Batista/Ric Flair vs. The Rock/Mick Foley (XX, N.Y.); John Cena vs. HHH (XXII, Chicago); Undertaker vs. Batista (XXIII, Pontiac, Mich.)

(Portions of this column originally appeared in the Myerstown Herald and West Chester Courier. They are reprinted with permission.)

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