WrestleMania 32 is just one month away – and with Triple H defending his title against Roman Reigns, The Undertaker taking on Shane McMahon in a Hell in a Cell match with McMahon’s inheritance at stake, and now even rumors of Goldberg’s return to the ring flying, there’s a lot for WWE fans to look forward to. Luckily we’re here to help take the edge off by remembering some of the greatest moments of past WrestleMania events.

5) Ultimate Warrior vs. Hulk Hogan, WrestleMania VI

If you’re a fan of WWE’s golden era of the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, then you’re one of two kinds of people: a Hulk Hogan fan or an Ultimate Warrior fan. Hulk Hogan represented everything wholesome about sports entertainment: the athleticism, patriotism, and belief in honest competition. Ultimate Warrior was wrestling’s unbridled id, fighting like a wild man and delivering chaotic interviews.

When the two finally stepped into the ring at Toronto’s SkyDome at WrestleMania VI, Hogan was defending his Championship title. The match was a classic back-and-forth affair but in the end it was Warrior who emerged victorious.

4) “Stone Cold” Steve Austin vs. The Rock, WrestleMania X-Seven

What the Ultimate Warrior and Hulk Hogan were to their era of sports entertainment, “Stone Cold” and the Rock were to theirs. Not surprisingly, when two most popular superstars of the day took each other on in a No Disqualification match for the WWE Championship, the reality lived up to the hype.

Classic moments from the match include more than just “Stone Cold” and the Rock trading blows and submission holds – Vince McMahon himself got into the action by pulling the Rock off of “Stone Cold” during a pin attempt, and handing “Stone Cold” the steel chair he used to win the title from Rock. More than just a great match, this was the moment when “Stone Cold” turned heel.

3) Bret “The Hitman” Hart vs. Shawn Michaels, WrestleMania 12

Two true legends of sports entertainment, Hart and Michaels each reached a peak in their careers with the 60-minute Iron Man match for the Championship title. The 60-minute time made the match a methodical, almost artful event. Eventually the match even exceeded the 60-minute mark (Iron Man matches are decided by who has the most pin falls at the end of the match – this one went into Sudden Death Overtime).

Not everyone loved it, but there’s no denying that no one had ever seen anything like it – and no one ever has since.

2) The Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels, WrestleMania XXV

Most fans remember this match for Undertaker’s ill-fated suicide dive over the top rope – missing his intended target he instead slammed head-first into the mats surrounding the ring. But while that moment understandably stands out, in fact the match was action packed from beginning to end: a Last Ride and Chokeslam from the Undertaker were answered by two delivered Sweet Chin Music kicks. Ultimately the Undertaker maintained his undefeated WrestleMania streak by literally catching Michaels mid-air and delivering a devastating Tombstone Piledriver for the win.

If that doesn’t convince you that the match was one of the greatest of all time, consider that the crowd literally took to chanting, “This is awesome!” How many other times can you remember that happening?

1) Hulk Hogan vs. Andre the Giant, WrestleMania 3

Two words: body slam. Enough said.

Want to see history in the making firsthand at WrestleMania 32 next month in Arlington, Texas? Get tickets at buyTickets.com today.

Image Credits:
Undertaker by Ed Schipul from Houston, TX, US (The Undertaker!Uploaded by Tabercil) [CC BY-SA 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons
“Stone Cold” by Mandy Coombes ([CC BY-SA 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons