Wrestlemania's 25 Greatest Matches: (5-1)

(Photo by Bryan Bedder/Getty Images)

We’re down to the top five in our greatest matches countdown.

5. Stone Cold Steve Austin vs. The Rock - Wrestlemania X-Seven

Big D says:

In my personal opinion, this is the all-time greatest match in the history of Wrestlemania. I could write about this match for days and days and all of the little nuances in the spots, transitions, the build-up, as well as the aftermath because it all meant so much.

This match, like Hulk Hogan vs. Andre The Giant in 1987, was the defining moment of the Attitude Era wrestling boom. The two biggest stars in the business went at it. Both were babyfaces for the past year (Austin even helped Rock win the title a year prior), but in Texas, nobody was going to be worshipped like Austin regardless of the little heelish things he did during the match.

Austin wanted to win, and how did he do it? It was with the help of his arch enemy for four years: WWF Chairman Vince McMahon. The crowd reaction in this match was louder than perhaps anything in all of Mania history. The work, heat, and fantastic moments make this truly fitting of the words “Wrestle” and “Mania.”

It’s a shame that they wouldn’t be able to follow this up ever again.

Winner: Stone Cold Steve Austin

4. Bret Hart vs. Owen Hart - Wrestlemania X

Duan says:

WWE couldn’t have wished for a better match to kick off the 10th anniversary of Wrestlemania. The Hart brothers delivered an absolute technical masterpiece. It featured just tremendous back and forth action.

There were some really great displays of counter wrestling throughout this match. I thought the victory roll reversal made for the perfect finish.

The benefits of this match were two fold. Firstly, Owen got a big win over a main event level guy. It established him as a star and set up a rematch for down the line. And secondly, it meant that the crowd was going to be particularly hot for Bret vs. Yoko in the main event.

The story of Bret losing in the opener only to come back later and win the title played out perfectly. It was what made that show special.

Winner: Owen Hart

3. Kurt Angle vs. Shawn Michaels - Wrestlemania 21

Alan says:

It was a dream match in every sense of the word. The first meeting of Shawn Michaels vs. Kurt Angle was a bout that could have only taken place on the Grandest Stage Of Them All.

In my opinion, this was the last classic Kurt Angle match. He’s had some good ones since and even a great one (vs. Yuji Nagata in 2008) but this match with HBK may have been his swan-song as far as matches of this caliber.

Both wrestlers performed to the peak of their powers, wowing the crowd from bell to bell. The match culminated with some of the most dramatic near falls in Mania history and some absorbing submission teases. The spot where Shawn, with his tank past empty, mustered up one last superkick was incredible.

It wasn’t enough though, as the ankle lock got synced back in and in a rarity, the babyface Shawn tapped clean.

Winner: Kurt Angle

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