WWE WrestleMania 2015: Greatest Title Matches in PPV's History

WrestleMania is known as The Showcase of the Immortals for a reason: It's been the setting for a host of matches that have gone on to define the legendary careers of some of the greatest performers ever to step into the ring.

Of course, the arrival of the biggest pay-per-view of the year means that titles are going to be on the line. With gold hanging in the balance and WrestleMania-sized crowds in attendance, there's no greater setting for a spectacular match to unfold.

These are the very best title bouts in WrestleMania history—and an excellent selection of matches to watch as you ready yourself for WrestleMania 31.

15. Trish Stratus vs. Mickie James at WrestleMania 22

Credit: WWE.com

Given the current status of women's wrestling in WWE, it's well worth going back to WrestleMania 22 to watch this engaging Women's Championship match. Unfairly overshadowed by its supposedly controversial storyline, the excellent in-ring action in this bout earns it a spot on this list.

There's real creativity on show here, and as well as a sense that both James and Stratus were eager to stretch the boundaries of women's wrestling. Trish is far rougher than you might expect, and Mickie pulls off some very original techniques—a descent from the top rope to the floor to tweak her opponent's arm was a particular highlight.

Unfortunately, it seems like WrestleMania 31 won't offer anything like the opportunities given to the women here, neither in terms of build nor in the match itself. With such female talent on the roster and in developmental at the moment, it's a shame that women's wrestling seems to be much less of a priority than it was 10 years ago.

14. Undertaker vs. Batista at WrestleMania 23

Credit: WWE.com

This underrated Undertaker match is perhaps one of his best WrestleMania performances—and certainly a career highlight for Batista. While the pairing isn't quite as iconic as The Deadman's legendary contests against stars like Triple H and Shawn Michaels, their chemistry in the ring far exceeded expectations.

Back in 2007, Batista was still finding his feet as a main eventer. Like many budding superstars in that position, a match with The Undertaker at WrestleMania seemed like his ticket to greatness—but it can definitely be argued that Batista did more with the opportunity than most.

There's a sense that anyone who faces The Phenom at WrestleMania is being given the legend's seal of approval, and Batista earned it at WrestleMania 23. When Bray Wyatt faces The Undertaker at this year's WrestleMania, he should aspire to this type of breakout performance.

13. Kurt Angle vs. Randy Orton vs. Rey Mysterio at WrestleMania 22

Credit: WWE.com

Triple Threat matches for world titles at WrestleMania have been remarkably common over the past decade. WrestleMania 22 saw the World Heavyweight Championship contested in a short but sweet three-way dance that made particularly good use of its third man.

The bout was structured around the dominant Kurt Angle and his fearsome Ankle Lock. Both his opponents would have to use their own specialities to prevent Angle from retaining his title, with Rey making the most of his lucha skills and Orton taking advantage of his disregard for the rules.

It's not the typical WrestleMania title match, which partly why it works so well. It's high-energy, it's creative—and more than anything, it's unique. 

12. Ric Flair vs. Randy Savage at WrestleMania 8

Credit: WWE.com

While it's often rumoured that the dream match of Ric Flair vs. Hulk Hogan was once set to main event WrestleMania 8, it's difficult to imagine the quality of that match living up to the excellent bout between Flair and The Macho Man that actually took place.

The pairing works perfectly, with the villainous Flair providing the perfect foil for the fan favourite Savage. Flair controlled much of the early going, which only made the crowd more eager to cheer on Macho when he finally got the upper hand.

With the WWF Championship on the line and two of the biggest stars of all time in the ring, this deserved to be the main event on the night. Still, the bout has endured far better in history than the actual headline match of Hulk Hogan vs. Sid Justice.

11. John Cena vs. Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania 23

Credit: WWE.com

Despite it being somewhat overshadowed by the pair's excellent match on Raw shortly afterward, the WrestleMania setting certainly added something to this excellent WWE Championship match between John Cena and Shawn Michaels.

While HBK's matches against Ric Flair and Undertaker in the years that followed are the ones frequently mentioned as highlights of his 2000s run, just about every one of his WrestleMania appearances in that time were standouts. He earned the moniker back in the '90s, but Michaels certainly reaffirmed his status as Mr. WrestleMania in the later years of his career.

Many fans would have liked to see Michaels spend more time in the title picture when he made his return, but few could deny that whenever he was there, he made it special. John Cena deserves praise for his part in this match too—but, as ever, it's HBK who stole the show.

10. TLC 2 at WrestleMania 17

Credit: WWE.com

There are perhaps few matches in WWE history that can rival TLC 2 for sheer entertainment value. At a time when the tag team division was beginning to resemble the quest for the Hardcore Championship, this match threw everything at the wall and let the chaos unfold.

It was a truly unapologetic spot-fest andproduced moments that fans will never forget: Bubba Ray Dudley and Matt Hardy falling through that tower of tables; Jeff Hardy's Swanton Bomb from a super-sized ladder; and Edge delivering a Spear 20 feet above the ring.

Psychology was thrown out the window for the sake of a destruction derby—but that's OK every now and again. This match can't have been much fun to wrestle, but it's still great fun to watch.

9. Hulk Hogan vs. Ultimate Warrior at WrestleMania 6

Credit: WWE.com

Of all the matches on this list, this was the one with perhaps the least going on between the ropes. It was a simple match filled with tests of strength, strikes and the most basic of manoeuvres—but thanks to the competitors involved, the crowd couldn't have cared less.

It just goes to show that technical mastery isn't the only contributing factor to a great title match on The Grandest Stage of Them All. Knowing how to keep an audience in the palm of your hand can be just as effective in producing some truly memorable scenes.

There's no one formula to producing a great match; it's a matter of playing to the strengths of the talent involved. Here, Hogan and Warrior made the most of their energy and connection with the fans—and made history.

8. Randy Savage vs. Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania 5

Credit: WWE.com

There are plenty of matches that claim to have a "big fight feel," but few can compare to the atmosphere ahead of this clash of the Mega Powers. Hogan and Savage are two of the most iconic wrestlers ever to grace the ring, and this bout truly felt like a clash of the titans.

However, there was a third crucial component to this match: Miss Elizabeth. Hogan's jealous eyes were the catalyst for the rift between him and Macho, and so it was only fitting that Elizabeth was at ringside for their decisive confrontation.

As blood dripped down Hogan's face and Savage descended further into madness, the bout took on an energy that was buoyed by a fiercely invested crowd. Even today, it's clear to see why this match endures as such a classic of its era.

7. Triple H vs. Shawn Michaels vs. Chris Benoit at WrestleMania 20

This was as close as we ever got to seeing Triple H and Shawn Michaels square off one-on-one at WrestleMania, and thankfully it lived up to all expectations. If it weren't for the Benoit tragedy that unfolded afterward, this would undoubtedly be celebrated as one of the greatest WrestleMania main events of all time.

As it goes, it's more than understandable why WWE are wary of looking back too fondly on this particular bout. With that said, it would be a disservice to the contributions of both Triple H and Michaels not to give this match its due.

In terms of the contest itself, there's very little that needs to be said. Three of the most talented wrestlers to enter the ring brought everything they had to The Grandest Stage of Them All, and the results were breathtaking.

Despite being tarnished by real-life events, this was still one of the best matches of all time.

6. Shawn Michaels vs. "Stone Cold" Steve Austin at WrestleMania 14

Credit: WWE.com

Celebrities are a big part of WrestleMania tradition, and there are few special guests who have been used quite as well as Mike Tyson was at WrestleMania 14. His role as enforcer added an interesting wrinkle to proceedings, both in the buildup and the match itself.

However, the real stars of the show are obviously "Stone Cold" and The Heart Break Kid. As the match was the last time we'd see Michaels compete for four years and the beginning of the Austin era, both men pulled out all the stops to ensure that it was a memorable bout.

As such, it's become an iconic moment for both men, as well as the early years of The Attitude Era. The wild intensity that was kept up throughout is certainly emblematic of that time, a key aspect of the wave of counterculture the promotion was riding on back then.

Some WrestleMania main events simply have to close the show on a high note; this one managed to do that, jump-starting a new era for the company. For that, it deserves to be recognized among the best WrestleMania title matches of all time.

5. Kurt Angle vs. Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 19

Credit: WWE.com

Undoubtedly one of the best matches from Brock Lesnar's first run with the company, this WWE Championship match also ranks among the best matches of Kurt Angle's career—but not without some strong competition.

Lesnar and Angle were simply a perfect pairing in the early 2000s. Both men were in their prime physically, which allowed their amateur backgrounds to combine in some of the most exciting and technical bouts we had seen in some time.

Their match at WrestleMania 19 was the crowning achievement at the end of Lesnar's hugely successful first year on the main roster. There are definite parallels to be made with the current ascent of Roman Reigns, but the key in Lesnar's case was that the match at the end of the journey was set to be excellent.

Expectations were high, but they were comprehensively reached on the night. If Lesnar had hit the oft-discussed Shooting Star Press rather than land on his head, this match would perhaps have gone down as the most remarkable WrestleMania main event ever. Even with that minor error, it remains one of the best.

4. Razor Ramon vs. Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania 10

Credit: WWE.com

Today, the Ladder match has become part of the very fabric of WWE. However, back in the 1990s, it fell to Razor Ramon and Shawn Michaels to put the stipulation on the map with this excellent contest for the Intercontinental Championship.

Since then, the ladder itself has been somewhat overexposed. In this match, the foreign object is handled with the proper respect—every interaction with the ladder offers something new, and it seems dangerous even in situations that would be shrugged off today.

Simply put, today's performers have to do much more with the ladder to get the same effect. Back then, Michaels and Razor had the benefit of it's being a fresh idea for audiences—but they were also a bit cannier about how they implemented it into the match for the best effect.

The result was a cutting-edge contest, the effect of which can still be seen in Ladder matches to this day. It's the rarest form of a stipulation match: one that uses its central conceit as a means of heightening an already compelling feud, rather than as a crutch for an uninteresting pairing.

With both men now in the WWE Hall of Fame, with storied careers behind them, this match still stands out as one of their best. It's often been imitated, but it's difficult to say if any Ladder match since has truly exceeded this one.

3. The Rock vs. "Stone Cold" Steve Austin at WrestleMania 17

Credit: WWE.com

WrestleMania 17 is often considered to be the end of The Attitude Era, and what better way to cap it off than seeing its two biggest stars contest the WWF Championship? The build was great, but it didn't have to be—this was a fight that the fans were hungry to see.

Few main events could match the star power of The Rock and "Stone Cold" Steve Austin. The pair had headlined WrestleMania 15, but both had become even bigger stars in the two years since, and the match itself was much better too.

Like much of the pay-per-view, this bout made liberal use of the trademarks of The Attitude Era, featuring brawling outside the ring and through the crowd, blood flowing profusely from both men and even a run-in with Vince McMahon himself.

This could have resulted in an unsatisfying main event, but the match turned out to be far more than the sum of its parts. With lesser competitors and a less invested crowd, it might not have been as successful—but on that night in Houston, everything came together.

Fans continue to yearn for the style of The Attitude Era to make a return to today's WWE. However, that would be something of a fruitless endeavor—that period already had its ultimate, all-encompassing main event in the form of this match.

2. Randy Savage vs. Ricky Steamboat at WrestleMania 3

Credit: WWE.com

While the WWE-approved "WrestleMania" moment from the pay-per-view's third year was undoubtedly Hulk Hogan's bodyslamming of Andre the Giant, that match was far eclipsed in everything outside of that iconic image by the Intercontinental Championship match from earlier in the evening.

Ricky Steamboat and Randy Savage put on nothing less than a clinic, crafting a gripping story between the ropes. It's difficult to imagine how many careers in the pro wrestling business were inspired by this amazing contest.

Midcard titles today are often decried as lacking meaning or prestige—this bout demonstrates why that wasn't the case in the past. When all was said and done, there's no way you could be in any doubt regarding how important the belt was. Each man was possessed by the need for that gold to be around his waist.

Considering that this match took place nearly 30 years ago, it's remarkable just how well it holds up today. You won't see Macho hitting a standing Shooting Star Press or Steamboat busting out a Package Piledriver, but the flow of the action was certainly ahead of its time.

Crucially, it's a match that worked both as an athletic showcase and as a story playing out in the ring. In pro wrestling, matches can often turn out to be one or the other—but it takes some real talent to bring both sides together into one cohesive product.

1. Bret Hart vs. Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania 12

Credit: WWE.com

Looking back on it today, Bret Hart vs. Shawn Michaels in a one-hour Iron Man match for the WWF Championship—in the main event of WrestleMania, no less—remains the greatest title match in the history of the event.

Today, such a match would quite probably be deemed too much of a risk to headline the biggest pay-per-view of them all. It's not about cartoonish characters or about storylines playing out backstage, but about wrestling—and that wrestling is excellent.

Not many competitors could make an hour-long contest compelling from start to finish, but both Hart and Michaels demonstrated their mastery of the performance throughout this match. It was nothing less than a masterclass in pacing.

Things started off at an almost glacial rate, as both men hung back so as not to make a crucial mistake. The audience took a moment to adjust to this steady pace, but once things started to hot up, they were completely invested in the action.

Restraint was the key here. Both men were so careful with how they used their arsenals that there was always something surprising left in reserve.

Both men kept their finishing manoeuvres well-protected as well. A thoughtful sequence early on saw Michaels desperate to escape the Sharpshooter, demonstrating just how easily the hold could end a match—moments later, a stray Sweet Chin Music rendered an official sitting at ringside completely unconscious.

Playing each man's finisher as a threat was central to the success of the match. The commentary continued to stress that the first fall could decide the match, keeping viewers glued as they watch for any sign that one of the two techniques might be used decisively.

Everything about this bout was precisely set to make a one-hour main event as thrilling as possible throughout its duration. Even watching it nearly 20 years after it took place, it feels like one of the biggest wrestling matches of all time—that has to be the true test of a classic WrestleMania title match.