WWE: How would you rank the WrestleManias shows?
- Thread starter BonMorrison
- Start date
Off the top of my head, not ranking older ones (so pretty much anything before 15):
- Wrestlemania 17
- Wrestlemania 19
- Wrestlemania 24
- Wrestlemania 30
- Wrestlemania 18
- Wrestlemania 28
- Wrestlemania 31
- Wrestlemania 23
- Wrestlemania 25
- Wrestlemania 22
- Wrestlemania 20
- Wrestlemania 16/2000
- Wrestlemania 15
- Wrestlemania 27
I might have to change those rankings when I dig up my match ratings but I haven't seen some of these shows in a long ass time.
I also have a feeling Wrestlemania 31 won't hold up.
- Wrestlemania 17
- Wrestlemania 19
- Wrestlemania 24
- Wrestlemania 30
- Wrestlemania 18
- Wrestlemania 28
- Wrestlemania 31
- Wrestlemania 23
- Wrestlemania 25
- Wrestlemania 22
- Wrestlemania 20
- Wrestlemania 16/2000
- Wrestlemania 15
- Wrestlemania 27
I might have to change those rankings when I dig up my match ratings but I haven't seen some of these shows in a long ass time.
I also have a feeling Wrestlemania 31 won't hold up.
BonMorrison
Registered User
It's actually incredible looking at the WM27 card and wondering how the hell they thought that would fly. 
ColePens
RIP Fugu Buffaloed & parabola
I can't put anything on the same level at 17. That thing is a masterpiece and probably the best PPV of all time in any wrestling company. That thing is just too good AND holds value today.
Wrestlemania XXX had one of those cards that really could have competed with the best of the best, but the booking was extremely questionable. I would NEVER... and I mean EVER given up the streak. There is money in that 25+ years from now if the streak was still alive. I also think Wyatt vs. Cena should have ended differently. It could have been the new era beginning of wrestling and man they dropped the ball.
Wrestlemania XXX had one of those cards that really could have competed with the best of the best, but the booking was extremely questionable. I would NEVER... and I mean EVER given up the streak. There is money in that 25+ years from now if the streak was still alive. I also think Wyatt vs. Cena should have ended differently. It could have been the new era beginning of wrestling and man they dropped the ball.
Android 16
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KaseMeOutside
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16 and 27 are two of the worst in the modern era(i consider this about WM14 or so) 32 is shaping up similar
17, 20 and 30 are 3 of my favorites
17, 20 and 30 are 3 of my favorites
31 will hold up in terms of match quality but it was a garbage build practically up and down the card. But I don't think it's a top ten Mania when you critically analyze them all and rank 'em. Between most Attitude Era ones and the importance of two of the first three Manias and 10 and 30, 31 just doesn't have that prestige and quality.
BonMorrison
Registered User
Not sure if I agree with holding the Attitude Era ones in high regard. The only really good one was X-Seven and that was the LAST WM of the Attitude Era.
14, 15, and 16 were all meh-to-bad.
weastern bias
worst team in the league
This is the worst thing that ever happened in pro wrestling history and it made me stop watching for 15 years
BonMorrison
Registered User
You're in the minority here. X-Seven is regarded as one of the greatest PPV's of all time.
weastern bias
worst team in the league
I'm specifically referring to Austin's heel turn
In one fell swoop the WWF (yes, I still say F) RUINED the best (IMO) and most profitable (not debatable) character in pro wrestling HISTORY and simultaneously alienated a large cross-section of their casual fan base
Stone Cold was a great heel in 97, I get that, but the team up with McMahon is the worst possible direction they could have gone in
It NERF'd their #1 guy, it killed their top storyline, and it effectively ended the Attitude Era without drawing in any more viewers or money
I HATE X-7 with an unhealthy passion because of that main event
BonMorrison
Registered User
Fair enough. I wouldn't say it killed the Attitude Era though. The purchase of WCW is what killed the era.
It depends on your criteria. 14 isn't great but it included what is an iconic moment in an otherwise forgettable match. 31 doesn't really have that. 15 with Austin/Rock was still very good even if it was their worst WM main event but the other two are two of the best of all-time.
31 was basically a bunch of good wrestling matches but that's it. There was no real star power for a match. The closest they had was Rock/Rousey but it was a one-off. There was no real defining moment even with Seth Rollins' cash-in since they made it forgotten mostly anyway. It was just a solid card of matches but nothing that will be remembered.
I generally will consider shows of this type to be ranked higher if it had memorable moments that would be considered classic. 30 was one of those with Taker and Bryan. 31 isn't. And between 14, 15, 17, 19, 1, 3, 25, 10, 12, 6, and 30, I wouldn't be able to put 31 in the top 10 now let alone have it stick as time goes on. There's just no investment in virtually any of what was going on and none of the spots are anything that you'll see five years from now and viewed as iconic.
weastern bias
worst team in the league
Lol, The Invasion is almost too painful to relive
It was a wet-dream come to life that just went OH SO WRONG, lol
Yeah but if you forget the finish, the build to that match was perfect. The match was very good. The card leading up to that match was pretty damn good. Austin suggested that turn and McMahon went with it since he's the top guy but they all knew eventually it was a bad decision. But the event in total is a top Mania.
weastern bias
worst team in the league
I will add that my personal favorite WM moment is WM XIII's double turn (Hart/Austin)
That was such a defining moment in wrestling history that I feel nothing can recreate it, it essentially set up the future for the WWF AND WCW
That was such a defining moment in wrestling history that I feel nothing can recreate it, it essentially set up the future for the WWF AND WCW
weastern bias
worst team in the league
I will admit that I have difficulty revisiting that event objectively, lol
The thing for me is, ESPECIALLY at Wrestlemania, the finish to the main event matters, and this finish mattered than most
It changed the whole direction of the company for the worse IMO
I don't necessarily disagree with you but a lot of the rest of that show was brilliant.
weastern bias
worst team in the league
I will rewatch it due to the recommendations in this thread
If I end up in a PTDS induced coma, you know who to blame, lol
BonMorrison
Registered User
I suppose I am factoring in match quality as well as "moments" but I do think that the first MitB cash in on the main event of WM is a pretty iconic moment especially when you consider how bat **** crazy the "internet generation" of wrestling fans went. Also don't agree with the first Austin/Rock encounter being an iconic moment. I think it's important in context to their other two matches but when it actually occurred in 1999, it wasn't viewed that way. It was a terrible WM with a forgettable encounter between two future legends that I think is only looked on fondly because of future context.
I didn't include pre-14 in mine so I won't comment on those but what was the big moment from 25? Taker/Michaels? I agree with that, the rest of card was just so bad and poorly paced that I can't hold that show in high regard. I dislike one match cards and this was one. Orton/Triple H should've been fantastic as it has an absolutely incredible build but it suffered from poor placement.
Also if you're going by moments, shouldn't X8 be included on your list of shows better than 31? Hogan/Rock had an incredible moment on another one match card.
Yeah, you can probably throw 18 in there but it would be borderline top 10 which is why I didn't include it since the other ones stood out more to me. I liked the MitB match in 25 as well but that might just be me.
The thing that really stands out to me is the lack of Manias in the past ten years not cracking top 10 in most people's lists. Like 30 probably will and 25 may to some but that's it really.
bruins309
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This is tough for me because I haven't seen all of 20-29 and I like the count the build to the event as part of it. That's why I consider WM31 to be pretty bad and I agree with the notion that WM31 will not age well. (Though Reigns-Lesnar was a pretty great match until the cash-in)
I'll rank only the ones I have seen since 17 in their entirety:
1. 17
2. 30 - they salvaged it by doing what they did with Bryan, and also gets bonus points for the Cesaro battle royal win
3. 20 (though its complicated now, of course)
4. 24 - I was very surprised by how much I like this show when I saw it last year.
5. 18
6. 25
7. 28 - Rock-Cena I is pretty good. The 2nd match at 29 wasn't good but I never saw that whole show.
8. 31
I'll rank only the ones I have seen since 17 in their entirety:
1. 17
2. 30 - they salvaged it by doing what they did with Bryan, and also gets bonus points for the Cesaro battle royal win
3. 20 (though its complicated now, of course)
4. 24 - I was very surprised by how much I like this show when I saw it last year.
5. 18
6. 25
7. 28 - Rock-Cena I is pretty good. The 2nd match at 29 wasn't good but I never saw that whole show.
8. 31
End of Line
Sic Semper Tyrannis
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I'll rank them from 14-31:
1. Wrestlemania X-7
2. Wrestlemania XIX (19)
3. Wrestlemania XX (20)
4. Wrestlemania XXIV (24)
5. Wrestlemania 22
6. Wrestlemania 21
7. Wrestlemania 31
8. Wrestlemania X8
9. Wrestlemania XXX (30)
10. Wrestlemania XXVIII (28)
11. Wrestlemania XXVI (26)
12. Wrestlemania 29
13. Wrestlemania XXV (25)
14. Wrestlemania 23
15. Wrestlemania XIV (14)
16. Wrestlemania 2000
17. Wrestlemania XXVII (27)
X-7, XIX, and XX are in a class of their own. X-7 is the greatest PPV in wrestling history.
1. Wrestlemania X-7
2. Wrestlemania XIX (19)
3. Wrestlemania XX (20)
4. Wrestlemania XXIV (24)
5. Wrestlemania 22
6. Wrestlemania 21
7. Wrestlemania 31
8. Wrestlemania X8
9. Wrestlemania XXX (30)
10. Wrestlemania XXVIII (28)
11. Wrestlemania XXVI (26)
12. Wrestlemania 29
13. Wrestlemania XXV (25)
14. Wrestlemania 23
15. Wrestlemania XIV (14)
16. Wrestlemania 2000
17. Wrestlemania XXVII (27)
X-7, XIX, and XX are in a class of their own. X-7 is the greatest PPV in wrestling history.
KaseMeOutside
Based
- Oct 18, 2011
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i like your list, 19 was a very good mania but the booker t/hhh match left a bitter taste in my mouth it made booker look soooo bad..
last year we didn't really like the WM card too much but it ended up being a good show, but in HINDSIGHT the talent roster was ALOT deeper than it is now, it's crazy how in just a year how much all these injuries have ravaged WWE
that's why i think it's imporant to heat up AJ Styles quick and get him in a marquee match, at this point his feud is going to be seen as one of the major pillars of the show
last year we didn't really like the WM card too much but it ended up being a good show, but in HINDSIGHT the talent roster was ALOT deeper than it is now, it's crazy how in just a year how much all these injuries have ravaged WWE
that's why i think it's imporant to heat up AJ Styles quick and get him in a marquee match, at this point his feud is going to be seen as one of the major pillars of the show
