The showcase of the immortals, the grandest stage of them all, WRESTLEMANIA is finally here! In the next week we will see a new Hall of Fame class take their place amongst the greatest in the history of the WWE, we will watch the stars of NXT stand and deliver in one of the most anticipated Takeovers of all time, and we will see WWE welcome the WWE Universe back at WrestleMania. WrestleMania is the biggest spectacle in sports entertainment, and it’s become bigger every single year, but at the heart of Mania is something really special–a moment. Every WWE Superstar wants to have a WrestleMania Moment at some point in their career; today we are looking back at the Rope Talk cast’s Top 10 favorite WrestleMania Moments of the last decade.
10. Zack Ryder (WrestleMania 32)
WrestleMania 32 is promnitely featured in this list and for good reason, the show kicked off with a ladder match for the Intercontinental Championship. Zack Ryder is the definition of an underdog; and when he won big on the grandest stage of them all, it felt meaningful. WrestleMania moments happen when your heart feels a little tug, and when Zack grabbed his dad and celebrated his title win; the world just felt right.
9. The Women’s Revolution (WrestleMania 32)
WrestleMania 32 featured a match that was the turning point for female superstars in the WWE. For decades, the women of WWE were known as “divas”; but at WrestleMania 32, WWE unveiled the new WWE Women’s Championship, and it was up for grabs in Triple Threat Match featuring Sasha Banks, Becky Lynch, and Charlotte Flair. Equality has been a staple of WWE in the last decade and to show equality in the form of rebranding the women’s division at the grandest stage of them all deserves to be on this list.
8. The Boneyard Match (WrestleMania 36)
WrestleMania wouldn’t be the same without the Undertaker, and at WrestleMania 36; Undertaker gave the WWE Universe one final incredible performance. The build to WrestleMania 36 was one of the strangest in recent memory, the world was just beginning to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic and WWE was scrambling to put together its card for the showcase of the immortals. AJ Styles had long awaited his opportunity to face the icon and at Mania 36 he finally got his chance in a Boneyard Match. Pre-taped matches at WrestleMania are about as rare as The New Day without the tag titles, but AJ and Taker created a match that fans will never forget.
7. Ronda Rousey In-Ring Debut (WrestleMania 34)
Ronda Rousey shocked sports fans and the WWE Universe when the former UFC Champion showed up at the Royal Rumble. Rousey simply pointed to the WrestleMania sign hanging above the arena, and the WWE Universe went absolutely nuts. Fast-forward a few months and Rousey was teamed up with WWE Hall of Famer Kurt Angle for a match at WrestleMania against Stephanie McMahon and “The Game” Triple H. The match in it of itself stole the show at WrestleMania 34 and delivered in every single aspect; Rousey cemented herself as one the best to ever step foot inside the squared circle.
6. Shane McMahon jumps off Hell in a Cell (WrestleMania 32)
Shane McMahon shocked the WWE Universe when he returned to the WWE on February 22nd, 2016. Shane came back in an effort to help “right the ship,” but upon his return his father (Vince McMahon) challenged him to face The Undertaker in a Hell in a Cell match at WrestleMania. Shane listed another reason for his return to the WWE because his kids had never had the opportunity to see what he could do in a WWE ring, and Shane stopped at nothing to impress. Towards the end of the match Shane climbed on top of Hell in a Cell to attempt a move so depth defying that it would end the Undertaker’s career, instead Shane jumped off and hit the announcers table and shattered his elbow. Shane putting his entire body on the line for his legacy is a moment WWE fans will never forget!
5. The Hardy Boyz (WrestleMania 33)
WrestleMania is a place meant for big returns and with a ladder match to determine the new Raw Tag Team Champions, it only made sense for Hardy Boyz to return. Matt and Jeff Hardy made their return at WrestleMania 33 and fans everywhere rejoiced. WWE did their absolute best to keep the Hardy’s return a secret, and it shocked the WWE universe when they returned. The night before Mania, the Hardy’s were involved with an independent match against The Young Bucks (currently signed to AEW), and fans had no idea that they were free agents. Twenty minutes into their return, Matt and Jeff won the Raw Tag Team Titles!
4. KofiMania (WrestleMania 35)
Kofi Kingston became an icon in the WWE when he won the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 35. Kofi has been a long time member of The New Day (one of the most decorated tag teams of all time), and in 2019, Kofi finally received his opportunity go after the WWE Championship. WWE brilliantly planned a storyline that would see Kofi fight for every chance he could to face Daniel Bryan at WrestleMania. His New Day brothers Xavier Woods and Big E were ringside to support the veteran as he faced his toughest challenge in his career at WrestleMania. KofiMania became one of the best WrestleMania moments in the history of the WWE.
3. The Heist of the Century (WrestleMania 31)
WrestleMania 31 featured the first match in a long rivalry for Roman Reigns and Brock Lesnar. Roman was on the path to becoming the face of the WWE and his former brother in the S.H.I.E.L.D. Seth Rollins came to ruin his big moment. Brock gave Roman a devastating F5, and as both men tried to recover the music hit and Seth Rollins cashed in his Money in the Bank contract. In the long history of the Money in the Bank contract, it had never been cashed in at WrestleMania. Seth Rollins mentioned in a documentary shortly after Mania that when he arrived at the arena, he had no idea that he would be cashing in against Roman and Brock later that night.
2. Daniel Bryan (WrestleMania 30)
Daniel Bryan is considered to be the most popular underdog of all time; at WrestleMania 30, he gave the “Yes Movement” a big reason to cheer. Bryan started his night in a match against Triple H who had ridiculed him for months as being “small and a nobody”. If Bryan beat Triple H, he would join the main event and face Randy Orton and Batista for the WWE Championship. Bryan beat Triple H in a heart racing match that saw The Game pull every dirty trick out of his sleeves. In the main event, the “Yes Movement” made their presence felt with every YES kick that Bryan planted on Orton and Batista. WrestleMania 30 ended with the “Yes Movement” in full force as their hero was finally crowned WWE Champion.
Wrestling fans can’t think about WrestleMania without thinking about The Undertaker. Taker made his legacy at Mania, his streak of 21-0 is something we will never see again in professional wrestling. WrestleMania 30 saw the icon come face to face with the beast incarnate Brock Lesnar. Brock is a former UFC Champion and has been apart of some of the biggest matches in WWE history. In “The Last Ride,” Undertaker talked about how the decision to end his streak was one that Vince McMahon struggled with, but who in the WWE could possibly end the Undertaker’s incredible run if not Brock Lesnar. The referee counted to three while the WWE Universe waited in anticipation for Taker to kick out, but he never did–the beast had defeated the deadman. 21-1 was displayed all over the arena as fans stared in shock as Undertaker laid motionless on the mat; it may not be the happiest WrestleMania moment of all time, but it’s impact will be felt for decades to come.
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