WWE: Wrestlemania Matches That Should Have Happened-Part I

First off, Sting and The Undertaker is not on the list so yes the picture is a little mis-leading. This is not an article on dream matches but rather I’m going to look at matches that realistically should have happened.

Last-minute booking changes, for whatever reason, prevented these matches from happening. Let’s look at what could have been and at several Wrestlemania matches that by all intents and purposes, should have taken place.

Shawn Michaels Vs. Bret Hart II-Wrestlemania 13

HBK reclaimed the WWF title from Psycho Sid at the 1997 Royal Rumble. The re-match from Wrestlemania 12 was all but set for the 13^th edition of the big event.

The problem? Personal issues between Michaels and Hart.

Bret Hart was set to get his win back from the previous year but for numerous reasons, the match was scrapped.

Shawn Michaels supposedly suffered an injury and was forced to vacant the WWF Title, leading to HBK losing his smile. Sid soon became champion and defended against The Undertaker at Wrestlemania while Bret Hart moved on to Stone Cold Steve Austin.

Edge Vs. Triple H-Wrestlemania 25

The men had only one previous PPV encounter on their resume’s and never had a long-term feud.

At the 2009 Royal Rumble, Edge defeated Jeff Hardy for the title while Triple H was the heavy favorite at the No Way Out/Elimination Chamber PPV.

It seemed we would see a feud between the two over the WWE Championship leading to a match at Wrestlemania 25.

Instead WWE pulled a switcheroo. Edge lost the WWE Title in the chamber and Triple H became the champion. All chances of a feud between the two were ended as Edge won the World Title in the second elimination chamber of the night.

Triple H was off to Raw to face Randy Orton while Edge remained on Smackdown set to feud with John Cena and The Big Show.

The Ultimate Warrior Vs. Hulk Hogan II-Wrestlemania VII

As Wrestlemania VII approached, the Ultimate Warrior (who had won the title the previous year at Wrestlemania) was still the WWF Champion.

Their Mania VI match-up was supposed to signify a changing of the guard. As the 1991 Royal Rumble approached, however, Hogan was once again positioned to be the man at the upcoming Wrestlemania.

With the positions that both men were in, many thought a sequel was being planned.

It never happened as the Warrior lost the title at the Rumble to Sgt. Slaughter.

At Wrestlemania VII, Warrior instead took on Savage in a retirement match while the main-event belonged to Hogan once more as he took on Slaughter.

Randy Orton Vs. Triple H-Wrestlemania 21

This encounter would have been significantly different than their Wrestlemania 25 match.

As Orton defeated Benoit for the title at the 2004 Summerslam, jealousy reared its ugly head. Triple H booted Orton out of Evolution and took the title soon after.

Orton, the cocky heel, was neutered and instead began pandering to the crowd losing so much of what made him so successful.

Many believe that the youngest member of Evolution should have booted Triple H out of the group, leading to a rising of the new guard which would then culminate in a match between the two men at the 21^st Wrestlemania.

None of that ever happened as Orton would be buried instead (though he would recover) and Triple H took on Evolution powerhouse Batista.

Lex Luger Vs. Bret Hart-Wrestlemania X

Lex Luger and Bret Hart were co-winners of the 1994 Royal Rumble which would then lead to many complications.

Most notably, it guaranteed that there would be two World Title Matches at the tenth Wrestlemania. Luger won the coin-flip so was set to take on champion Yokozuna first.

Bret took part in the opening match against little brother Owen. Each men would have to compete twice if they wanted to leave Madison Square Garden as champion.

Lex Luger failed to capture the title as special referee Mr. Perfect disqualified him.

Luger should have emerged from the match as champion leading to a match-up between the co-Rumble winners. Instead we got a rematch of the previous year’s main-event as Bret once again took on Yokozuna.  

Hulk Hogan Vs. Roddy Piper-Wrestlemania I

Mr. T was huge at the time so I understand WWE’s eagerness of having him wrestle in the main-event. The first Wrestlemania was a huge gamble so when Mr. T became available, Vince jumped all over it.

The main rivalry at the time however, was between WWE’s biggest face and heel: Hogan and Piper.

Mr. T and Orndorff could have still been involved of course with both men being in the corner of Hogan and Piper.

The potential of a one-on-one match between Hogan and Piper for the title was unlimited and would have most likely been epic.

The match instead happened on MTV. The two would face each other eleven years later on WCW’s biggest show, Starrcade.

The Miz Vs. John Morrison-Wrestlemania XXVII

Now we look at a match that should have happened this year.

The Miz was set to face Jerry Lawler at Elimination Chamber so it became apparent very quickly that Miz would walk into the big event as champion.

John Morrison competed in the actual elimination chamber.

The stage was perfectly set for the two former partners to face each other for the WWE Title at Wrestlemania XXVII.

Morrison had been on a roll and it continued on that night as he went all out and made people think that he might just pull it off.

Instead, Morrison fell short and Cena would once again receive the Wrestlemania title shot.

Ric Flair Vs. Hulk Hogan-Wrestlemania VIII

They were the two biggest names of the 80’s and possible of all-time.

Flair represented the work-rate and grittiness of the NWA/WCW while Hogan represented the glitz and glamour of the WWF.

Flair had defected from WCW and at the 1992 Royal Rumble won the WWF Title.

A dream match for many fans was surely set to take place at the eighth Wrestlemania.

Hogan’s popularity was waning but he was still seen as the top draw in the company.

For whatever reason, plans were scrapped for the dream match.

Instead of going with the biggest drawing match, Vince McMahon and the WWF had Hogan take on Sid in the main-event while Flair defended the title against the Macho Man Randy Savage.

Epilogue:

This concludes part one of the Wrestlemania matches that should have happened. What are your thoughts on these 'should have been' matches? What are some of yours? I have many other matches in mind for the next edition so keep an eye out for part two...coming soon.