WWE WrestleMania 31: Matches That Have Defined PPV's Legacy as Premier Event
In the past 30 years, WrestleMania has easily become the most influential, iconic and largest wrestling pay-per-view there is.
Almost every single legend who has stepped into a WWE ring throughout that period has contributed to the legacy and hype, but some have stood out more than others.
There are matches which seem to grab attention and hype from all around the world, not just in wrestling circles. They've made wrestling fans pick their jaws up from the floor in awe of what they have seen or in sheer shock at what is playing out in front of them.
There have been plenty down the years, but here are a handful of matches that have helped to cement WrestleMania's legacy as the biggest wrestling extravaganza there is.
Shawn Michaels vs. The Undertaker (WrestleMania 25)
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We start with a match that, although staged only a handful of years ago, underlined the importance and significance of WrestleMania as the WWE's flagship event.
This match was about more than a championship and much more than a scripted rivalry. It saw two of the WWE's biggest stars locking horns and squaring off in an absolute classic that was the best match of 2009 by some distance.
Although the contest the following year carried greater significance in that it ultimately proved to be Michaels' farewell, this was a match that had everything.
Michaels proved he was Mr. WrestleMania here with a blockbuster performance which led to a rematch that almost lived up to the billing of this incredible contest.
When people look back on the most iconic matches in WrestleMania history, this has to be considered near the top of the list.
Steve Austin vs. The Rock (WrestleMania 17)
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The two biggest stars of the Attitude Era locked horns in a match that couldn't be left off the list, one that brought together two stars who were on a collision course for years.
When they finally did step into the ring together at WrestleMania 17, we were treated to a classic with perhaps one of the most shocking endings to a WrestleMania in the history of the event.
The match itself was superb, but Austin's stunning allegiance with Vince McMahon, something WWE fans thought would have been impossible in the years previous, stunned the world.
It cemented Austin and The Rock's position as the two biggest stars of the entire Attitude Era and left everyone wondering what was going to happen next.
Ricky Steamboat vs. Randy Savage (WrestleMania 3)
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Although there was another match later on at WrestleMania 3 which grabbed plenty of headlines, it should never be forgotten that Ricky Steamboat vs. Randy Savage for the Intercontinental Championship was another classic.
In the early years of WrestleMania, these matches were hugely significant, especially in cementing the pay-per-view as the company's biggest standalone event.
It's potentially the best match both men ever had during their time at WWE, which is no mean feat. The rivalry between both men had brewed for months and led to a mouthwatering tussle in the third edition of this iconic pay-per-view.
The feud was built around Savage injuring Steamboat's throat by using the ring bell, with Steamboat getting the ultimate revenge on the biggest stage of all.
Bret Hart vs. Steve Austin (WrestleMania 13)
4 of 6This is a match that some easily regard as the most important WWE have ever hosted.
It gave birth to a whole new era of wrestling and produced an unlikely hero in the shape of Steve Austin.
He entered this match with Bret Hart as the true heel in the contest but left it on a path to becoming the company's No. 1 star.
The shocking conclusion to the match also saw the infamous double-turn that saw Bret Hart become a heel, something that seemed unthinkable at the time.
It was brutal, barbaric and had a magnificent ending. It cemented Bret, Austin and WWE's place at the pinnacle of sports entertainment at an interesting time for the company and became the springboard to the Attitude Era via Austin's huge development in this match.
Shawn Michaels vs. Razor Ramon (WrestleMania 10)
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Another Shawn Michaels contest, with this classic against Razor Ramon taking place 15 years prior to his legendary first tussle with The Undertaker at WrestleMania 25.
Even though WrestleMania as a concept was 10 years old by this point, this was a match which seemed to transform the landscape of professional wrestling, especially in WWE.
Michaels and Ramon's Ladder match set the benchmark for future matches of this type.
With an intriguing storyline based on a dispute over the Intercontinental Championship, both men laid claim to the title on a fascinating night.
Eventually, it would be Ramon who grabbed the title after a match which quickly became and still is one of the most captivating and iconic matches in WrestleMania history.
Hulk Hogan vs. Andre the Giant (WrestleMania 3)
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There is simply no way this match could have been left off a list of this type.
It was the most anticipated match in wrestling history, with the buildup and hype creating the kind of buzz that had never been seen before in the industry or at least at WWE.
Hogan's incredible run as champion looked under threat early in the match as Andre the Giant almost picked up the win in no time.
A brutal contest then ensued, with the undefeated Andre eventually succumbing to the moment that probably stands the test of time more than any other one at WrestleMania. Although there have been some simply stunning moments in the last 30 years, nothing comes close to Hogan doing the unthinkable and slamming Andre to the mat.
The match, the hype and everything else around it helped to create the legacy for WrestleMania that we know and love today.
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