WWE: 5 WrestleMania 28 Moments We Will Never Forget

Hard to believe it's over.

WrestleMania 28 is in the books, and for many fans, it delivered on every level, proving to be one of the greatest WWE pay-per-views in recent memory.

The best that the company has to offer were highlighted—workers who have spent the past year entertaining, paying the price and doing what was necessary to help make WWE a success all over the world.

This night was for them, as much as it was for the fans, the opportunity to do what they loved to do, only this time on the grand stage of WrestleMania.

It was a night none of us will soon forget, and for me, there are five moments that already stand out—moments that are frozen in my mind, likely for years to come.

5. John Laurinaitis Gains Complete Power over Both Programs

This one was big.

I know, it's just the General Manager role, a job that even WWE itself does not seem to take all that seriously at times.  But, I just can't shake the feeling that this is a big deal.

A very big deal.

John Laurinaitis has been on a tear since last year. He has stepped into the role of the heel corporate authority figure quite nicely, and has done a great job of gaining some serious heat with the fans.

But, he's a heel, that's his job.  And, he's not the first GM to be hated.  So, who cares if he's in charge of both programs now?

I just do not have the words to describe it, and perhaps I'm wrong, and all of this will ultimately amount to nothing.  If so, fine, it will not be the first time I have been wrong.

But, there is just something about this moment—when someone not named McMahon has gained this amount of control and this amount of power—that we will not forget.

And, wherever this angle eventually leads, we can point back to this night and say "I remember when this went down."

4. Shawn Michaels Begs Undertaker to Quit

"It's just one match."

The words spoken to Undertaker by special guest referee Shawn Michaels were unexpected, and yet completely relevant.

After Triple H began bashing the Deadman across the back with a steel chair, Shawn tried to slow the attack, only to be warned that either he end it, or the Game would.

When the Heartbreak Kid turned his attention back to a struggling Undertaker, he begged the Phenom to stop, to just let it go, trying to convince him that it's just "one more match."

Though fans are very aware of the reality of professional wrestling, in that moment, Shawn Michaels twisted that reality, making fans begin to feel Taker's pain.  

Perhaps Shawn was right.  

Perhaps the streak did not mean that much at all, especially not when a man's health and personal well being are on the line.  Maybe Taker should stay down and agree to just give in and save himself.

Yes, we know the psychology of pro wrestling when we see it, and yes, we understand when a guy is in character, selling the moment.  But, Shawn's words were so real, so seemingly heartfelt, that suddenly our "inside knowledge" meant nothing.  We were able to get involved in the match, to feel what we were seeing, and suspend our disbelief, if only for a moment.

That's what the business is all about.

3. Daniel Bryan Loses the World Title in 18 Seconds

Man, are Daniel Bryan fans upset today.

For many, Bryan's WWE journey—and subsequent World Title win—was a long time coming.  A star around the world, and Ring of Honor icon, Daniel Bryan has the talents of a man who deserved the stage that only WWE can offer.

After winning the championship, it was widely thought that he was finally established, and now he would be considered among the WWE elite.

Perhaps not anymore, though.

Bryan's 18 second loss is surely one that is now considered to be the one event that will belittle his rise to the top, and makes a statement about how the company feels about him.

Then there's the issue of the World Championship, and how this possibly devalues the title.

Personally, I just wanted to see Daniel work on the big stage of WrestleMania.  Anything other than that is another discussion for another time.

But, love or hate what we saw with this match, the fact is, we will most certainly never forget it. It will be an infamous WrestleMania moment for years to come.

2. Three Legends Leave Together

Now, this is what I'm talking about.

Despite how many arguments there may be out there against this moment—mostly by fans who feel it ruins the reality of the situation—destroying the illusion that WWE works so hard to build, the truth is, it was a fitting end.

Three Superstars and three WWE legends who helped the company to grow during the Monday Night Wars, thrilled audiences and ignited fan interest all over the world, showed respect to each other and to the fans following Undertaker and Triple H's match.

They were in the moment, and gave fans what they wanted.  They wanted a fitting end to the match, to the feud and to the era, if it has indeed ended.

Shawn Michaels, Triple H and Undertaker gave fans all they had back in the day.  They bled, they sweat and they paid the price.  They gave us a reason to watch, and they reminded us why we love the business the way we do.

They deserved to walk out together, and even in the end, they gave us another moment that we will never forget.

1. The Rock Pins John Cena

And, they're already talking about a rematch.

That's right, fans everywhere are already talking about Rock vs. Cena Part II, and it began the second that John's shoulders were counted down at WrestleMania 28.

Therein lies the impact that this match had.

It was hyped for a year.  We have seen promos, heard the radio interviews, read the Twitter rants and Facebook posts. We have been prepped for this match since the night after Wrestlemania 27, when Cena challenged Rocky for April 1, 2012.

We were primed.  We were ready. And, nothing was going to stop us from seeing this match and experiencing it all firsthand ourselves.

WWE did a great job, and we bought into the match. That's how it works.

And, no matter what happens from here on—despite whether or not there is a rematch between them—we will never forget one fact.  This includes Cena's fans and critics alike.

Rocky won this match, the first match, at WrestleMania 28.  

John did what was asked of him, and did what was right for business.  He put Rock over, and now that the People's Champ is almost certainly gone again, it's right back to work for John Cena.

But, the image of Rocky getting his arm raised at WrestleMania 28 is a sight that we will not soon forget.