The greatest thing about WrestleMania is the idea of seeing matches we wouldn’t normally think of viewing. Leave it to Vince McMahon to find common ground for the past 30 years to find opponents that not only captivate an audience, but build these super cards are the greatest inventions in sport entertainment.
[adinserter block=”1″]And let me tell you something, brother, there is nothing like 40,000 wrestling fans screaming at the top of their lungs are performers give it their all on the business’s grandest stage. This is a year that might just top them all.
But as we look at year’s past and the hundreds of matches that have taken place in the many arenas and stadiums, there are still matches we have wanted to see, talk about from time to time and wishes with our nightly prayers that McMahon and the WWF and then the WWE would bring us Christmas eight months early. I think in some cases, we as adults hope for them from time to time as well. While the matches have been the stuff of legend, there are some we will never see in our lifetime. Here are eight matches that should have taken place at WrestleMania.
Hulk Hogan vs. Ric Flair
The two greatest icons in wrestling history never met at WrestleMania. I assume it is because Vince never wanted the crowds to favor Flair over Hogan. But in reality, wrestling fans made such a huge stink over which wrestler was better in their careers. Shouldn’t there have been a career-defining match?
Road Warriors vs. Demolition
The team that defined tag team wrestling vs. the team that wanted to create the illusion they were as good as the team they impersonated. Paul Ellering and Mr. Fuji at ringside. Oh, what a rush!
Randy Savage vs. Shawn Michaels
So many great things could have come from this kind of rivalry and set the WWF off into another stratosphere. It could have ushered in a new era without the need for Hulk Hogan to carry the torch for so long.
Rick Rude vs. Curt Hennig
Two of the greatest heels in the WWF of all time. To great mat technicians and two of the most underrated wrestlers prior to the Attitude Era. I would have paid money hand over fist to see these two wage war in a wrestling ring.
Ricky Steamboat v. Chris Jericho
This has all the makings of a Jericho/Michaels war. I suspect when Steamboat wasn’t bitching about being a family man to corporate, the WWF has thought about him and Michaels in a feud. This could have been 10 times better. They met in a gauntlet match (WrestleMania XXV)but it would have been great to see them one on one in the prime of their careers
Randy Savage vs. Roddy Piper
Again, one of those matches we never saw, but should have. There is everything to like about both characters and everything to hate. And if you thought the verbal jousting between Piper and Ric Flair was pretty damn entertaining, we could have seen the best vs. the best in this one.
Jerry Lawler vs. Arn Anderson
Anderson would have sold for Lawler like no one’s business. Lawler would have used his fists, Anderson would have wobbled. It would have been classic NWA wrestling at its finest.
Kurt Angle vs. Bret Hart
The two greatest technical wrestlers in history. Enough said.
[adinserter block=”2″]Disclaimer: For the next 30 days, this will be an ongoing series of stories as we move down the Road to WrestleMania. Follow Camel Clutch Blog writer/blogger David M. Levin as he talks about the history, the pageantry and the success and failures of the past when it comes to wrestling’s biggest events. The views of the writer are not necessarily the views of Camel Clutch Blog, and this series is intended to ramp up the excitement that is associated with WrestleMania XXX and the Crescent City of New Orleans. Please enjoy this new feature and any comments are most welcome.
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Benoit vs Undertaker would’ve been a 5 star match.
Brock Lesnar vs Roman Reigns
Sounds like you’ve seen Wrestling for oh… 10 minutes! How about two faces, Jeff Hardy vs Rey Mysterio, or the Guerreros vs the Hardy Boys!
The Undertaker is phenom of the wrestling federation
I saw My first LIVE WWE Show in 1999 at Sturgis SD. And I was So GREATLY DISGUSTED with the Good foot between Shadow Boxing and BS that My Brother Inlaw and His Brother and I Left During The Show in Disgust!!! We saw Eddie The Big Show and Dan Malinko at a Restaurant afterwards in Rapid City and We Basically Told Them We were DONE with WWE and ALL other Wrestling and we were Selling ALL our Membrobeilla? and what we couldn’t sell we’d BURN and That’s Exactly what we Did and Haven’t Watched a Show Since and WE Grew up watching it!!!! From a EX Long Time Fan, I’m Out!!! “☮ & ❤= 🙂 ” PEACE B|
Freddy Blassi and Capt. Lou
Austin – Goldberg?
I agree with most, but I have a few suggestions, also. I would have liked to have seen Mr. Perfect vs. Ricky Steamboat for the IC title. It would have been almost as classic as the WMIII title bout.
Also would liked the Ultimate Warrior vs. Jerry Lawler for WM 12. No need to beat HHH in a squash, when Lawler still had some wrestling left in him, and was a good heel. He was bad-mouth Warrior up until that point, anyway, and they feuded afterward, so way didn’t they just have their match at WM.
Warrior vs. Undertaker would have been great, too, as Warrior beat Undy in ever bout from a body bag match to a casket match. If vince didn’t fire him, then Undy probably doesn’t turn face, and the streak would have ended at one!
Benoit was better than most..too bad he’s insane!