Ranking the 20 Most Unforgettable Moments of WWE WrestleMania's First 20 Years

For four decades, WWE has presented its annual WrestleMania showcase to worldwide audiences, and part of the hype surrounding the event is the many iconic moments it has been responsible for.

From unforgettable matches to star-making performances, emotional reunions and shocking betrayals, 'Mania has become as synonymous with the twists and turns, happy and infuriating story developments as it has the actual in-ring action.

Ahead of No. 41 in Las Vegas on April 19-20, relive these 20 unforgettable moments that established the spectacle that is WrestleMania in its first 20 years.

20. Kane Tombstones Pete Rose (WrestleMania XIV)

The 1998 show was the coming-out party for WWE as it introduced "attitude" to a worldwide audience.

One such way was Kane's unforgettable Tombstone piledriver to baseball legend Pete Rose, just moments before The Big Red Monster battled his brother, The Undertaker, in one of the event's marquee bouts.

It was the first of three consecutive years in which Kane would leave Rose lying, a running gag that became a favorite of the WWE Universe.

19. Hogan's Impromptu Match (WrestleMania IX)

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via WWE.com

After a year away from WWE, Hulk Hogan returned in 1993 for a WrestleMania showdown with partner Brutus Beefcake against reigning tag team champions, "Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase and IRS. The former world champion could not simply stick to his scheduled match. That did not work for him, brother. Instead, he interjected himself in the main event, desperate to rekindle the heyday of Hulkamania, when no one other than the superhero draped in red and yellow stood tall to close out WrestleMania.

Coming to the aid of Bret Hart moments after he had been screwed out of the WWE Championship by Yokozuna and Mr. Fuji, Hogan summoned the power of his Hulkamaniacs, defeated the mammoth heel in an impromptu match, and defeated him to win another WWE title.

It was a moment driven by pure ego but, also, an unforgettable surprise ending that left fans buzzing for one reason or another.

19. Hogan's Impromptu Match (WrestleMania IX)

Taylor Hill/WireImage

via WWE.com

After a year away from WWE, Hulk Hogan returned in 1993 for a WrestleMania showdown with partner Brutus Beefcake against reigning tag team champions, "Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase and IRS. The former world champion could not simply stick to his scheduled match. That did not work for him, brother. Instead, he interjected himself in the main event, desperate to rekindle the heyday of Hulkamania, when no one other than the superhero draped in red and yellow stood tall to close out WrestleMania.

Coming to the aid of Bret Hart moments after he had been screwed out of the WWE Championship by Yokozuna and Mr. Fuji, Hogan summoned the power of his Hulkamaniacs, defeated the mammoth heel in an impromptu match, and defeated him to win another WWE title.

It was a moment driven by pure ego but, also, an unforgettable surprise ending that left fans buzzing for one reason or another.

17. Brock Lesnar's Near Miss (WrestleMania XIX)

Every Superstar takes the WrestleMania stage expecting to create a moment through a tremendous act of athleticism that will live forever in the annals of WWE history.

For Brock Lesnar, it was in his first appearance on the grand stage, against Kurt Angle, in the main event of the 2003 extravaganza.

With the Olympic gold medalist down in the middle of the ring, Lesnar scaled the ropes and attempted a move many had heard about dating back to his days in Ohio Valley Wrestling but few had seen.

Hesitating for a moment, he unleashed a Shooting Star Press that saw the freakish athlete under rotate and come crashing down on his head and neck in one of the scariest spots in the event's history.

He and Angle recovered enough to get to the finish, which saw The Next Big Thing conquer his opponent and win the WWE title, but it was evident that Lesnar and WWE had just narrowly avoided a catastrophic conclusion.

16. Austin Sells His Soul (WrestleMania X-Seven)

For four years, Steve Austin was the anti-authority hell-raiser that defined the Attitude Era. He was the hero to many, a beer-swilling badass who respected none and beat down all, including his boss, the evil Mr. McMahon.

Entering WrestleMania X-Seven, Austin had expressed the desperation he felt to beat The Rock and win back the WWE Championship that he had not held in well over a year.

"I need to beat you, Rock. I need it more than you could ever imagine," he told The Great One in a pre-Mania sit-down interview.

He proved just how much he needed it when he colluded with McMahon to brutally bash The People's Champion with a steel chair over a dozen times, the last shot being the one that secured him the title.

The handshake between the bloodied Austin and McMahon that sent the show off the air, and Paul Heyman's call on commentary that Stone Cold had "made a deal with the devil," brought to an end the Attitude Era as fans had known it and left fans intrigued by the creative possibilities that followed.

The moment would have had a greater impact and ranked higher on this countdown had it stuck but fans were never really into booing Austin, no matter how hard WWE tried to get them to the rest of the year, thus lessening its overall impact.

15. TLC II (WrestleMania X-Seven)

At the same 2001 event, three teams once again raised the bar for death-defying high spots in the second Tables, Ladders, and Chairs Match as The Dudley Boyz defended the WWE Tag Team Championship against Edge and Christian and The Hardy Boyz.

The wild, chaotic match featured all six competitors throwing caution to the wind in a masterpiece of mayhem that also featured well-timed appearances from Lita, Spike Dudley, and Rhyno and peaked with Edge's unforgettable spear from one ladder, to a Jeff Hardy dangling from the tag titles overhead, that defined it and helped secure the gold for the heels.

14. The Ultimate Surprise (VIII)

In the closing moments of WrestleMania VIII, at the conclusion of an underwhelming main event between Hogan and the dangerous Sid Jusice, Papa Shango hit the ring to join in the heel in a two-on-one beatdown of The Hulkster.

Then, a familiar theme song blared over the PA system and The Ultimate Warrior sprinted to the ring, aiding in clearing the villains from the squared circle before posing with his fellow industry icon to close out the broadcast from Indianapolis.

A totally unexpected return, it was the first in a long line of genuine surprises, the likes of which have helped to define the Showcase of the Immortals ever since.

13. Macho Man Wins the WWE Championship (WrestleMania IV)

A controversial conclusion to the WrestleMania III rematch between Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant on The Main Event set the stage for a one-night tournament to crown a new champion at the 1988 spectacular.

With every wrestling fan in the world expecting Hogan to breeze through the competition and win back the title that had been essentially stolen from him the previous February, it was "Macho Man" Randy Savage who showed guts and determination as he battled through "The Natural" Butch Reed, Greg "The Hammer" Valentine, and One Man Gang before dispatching "Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase and standing tall as the new champion.

The closing moments of the show, notable as much for Hogan's pandering and interactions with Miss Elizabeth, would lay the groundwork for the next year of storytelling, culminating in a massive main event at the next year's event. More on that in a bit.

12. The Ultimate Challenge (WrestleMania VI)

With the eyes of the wrestling world looking toward the future, WWE sought to crown the heir to Hulk Hogan's throne at WrestleMania VI, live from Toronto's SkyDome.

In a match dubbed "The Ultimate Challenge," intercontinental champion The Ultimate Warrior stepped up to the plate, challenging The Hulkster for the WWE Championship, with both titles awaiting the victor.

A back-and-forth match that lived and breathed on dramatic spots and breathtaking near-falls, it concluded with Warrior rolling out of the way of the big leg drop, catching an exhausted Hogan with a splash, and winning the top prize in the industry in an unforgettable passing of the torch moment.

11. The Hitman's Triumph (WrestleMania X)

One year after having his spotlight dimmed by Hogan's inflamed ego, Bret Hart returned to the forefront of WWE in time for WrestleMania X from Madison Square Garden in New York City.

The Hitman started the night with an emotional match-up against brother Owen, one that saw him out-wrestled for the first time in his career and upset. He had little time to waste feeling down or bad for himself, though, as a date against Yokozuna for the WWE Championship in the night's main event awaited.

The co-winner of the 1994 Royal Rumble main event absorbed a beating while nursing an injured left knee, the result of a concentrated attack by his sibling earlier in the night, to conquer the seemingly unbeatable champion and regain the title he never should have lost in the first place. The show-closing celebration that saw him on the shoulders of his peers, Owen watching in disgust from the aisle, made for an unforgettable image.

10. A Tearful Embrace (WrestleMania XX)

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The show-closing embrace shared by Chris Benoit and Eddie Guerrero is understandably lost to WWE history due to the tragic and incomprehensible circumstances surrounding the end of the former's life.

With that said, the imagery of two respected professional wrestlers and longtime friends sharing an emotional embrace at the conclusion of the biggest show of the year, both champions in a company neither could have imagined would have them in that position, was a profound moment at the time that it occurred.

Undersized in physical stature, they connected with fans and rose to the top of the industry through hard work and the determination to be the best in their field. After achieving that, they stood tall on the grand stage and culminated their journey amid confetti and the adulation of the wrestling world.

9. The First Main Event (WrestleMania)

WrestleMania does not become the worldwide extravaganza that it is today without the success of the first event, which was sold largely on a main event tag team match that blended pro wrestling and mainstream entertainment as Hulk Hogan partnered with The A-Team's Mr. T to battle "Rowdy" Roddy Piper and "Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff.

Preceded with the pomp and circumstance of Liberace, and with Yankees manager Billy Martin handling ring announcing duties and Muhammad Ali as the ringside enforcer, the match captivated fans from the opening bell.

The iconic moment of Mr. T hoisting up and executing an airplane spin to Piper remains the most iconic moment of a match that delivered exactly what the audience wanted and ensured the success of the monumental gamble by the company.

Not to mention a sequel. Or 39.

8. The Mega Powers Explode (WrestleMania V)

The first great, year-long story in WWE history saw Hogan and Savage devolve from friends and partners to enemies amid the latter's growing jealousy of The Hulkster's relationship with his manager, Miss Elizabeth.

Not only was Hogan stealing his spotlight (shocker), but there were more than a few instances where it appeared that there may be a spark between the top Babyface and Elizabeth.

After a shocking turn of events on Saturday Night's Main Event saw Savage snap and attack Hogan backstage while medics checked on Elizabeth following a nasty bump, the reigning WWE champion accused his former partner of having "lust in his eyes," when in reality, it was Savage's insecurity as champions and mounting tension over Hogan getting all of the attention that sparked the rivalry.

In Atlantic City, home of his title victory a year earlier, Savage dropped the gold to Hogan in what WWE promoted as "The Mega Powers Explode."

A strong, story-centric main event, it was the perfect culmination of an epic story and the return of Hogan to the throne as champion.

7. The Boyhood Dream Comes True (WrestleMania XII)

Shawn Michaels entered the 1996 show as the clear favorite to win the WWE Championship from Bret "Hitman" Hart in the first-ever 60-Minute Iron Man Match. His victory was all but a foregone conclusion and a grand entrance from the rafters of the Anaheim Pond only made it more obvious.

Still, despite expectations, Michaels and Hart turned in a phenomenal main event that ended with the Heartbreak Kid battling through the pain of the Sharpshooter but refusing to submit. With neither man earning a fall over the other, the match headed to overtime, where HBK caught The Hitman with Sweet Chin Music to capture the gold.

"The boyhood dream has come true!" Vince McMahon exclaimed on commentary in one of the most iconic calls of his career on the headset while an exhausted Michaels stared down at the title that suddenly vindicated a life of dedication to his craft.

An unforgettable moment that made a main event star out of Michaels, a performer who is synonymous with WrestleMania and so many of the extraordinary matches that have occurred there.

6. Ricky Steamboat Beats Randy Savage (WrestleMania III)

To this day, there is a portion of wrestling fandom that insists Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat's victory over "Macho Man" Randy Savage for the Intercontinental Championship at WrestleMania III is the greatest wrestling match of all time.

They may be right.

A dazzling display of athleticism, timing, well-executed spots, and an ungodly number of near-falls, it kept fans inside the Pontiac Silverdome in suburban Detroit on the edges of their seats, counting along with the referee and waiting to find out which man would best the other in one of the most anticipated matches on the card.

Eventually, George "The Animal" Steele would prevent Savage from using the same timekeeper's bell he had previously injured his opponent with, allowing Steamboat to catch the heel with a roll-up for the win and the title.

The image of a victorious Steamboat hugging Steele, the title held high, is one of the most enduring and an early example of how important snapshots would be to WrestleMania's legacy.

5. Savage and Elizabeth Reunite (WrestleMania VII)

It becomes rather apparent quickly how integral Savage was to those early days of WrestleMania when one takes into account how many times he has appeared on this countdown.

By 1991, the Macho King had reigned as a villain for over two years, estranged from his former manager, Miss Elizabeth. Seconded now by "Sensational Queen" Sherri, he entered the event for a Retirement Match with The Ultimate Warrior that saw him deliver four flying elbow drops, only to fall to a barrage of shoulder tackles by his face-painted foe.

Her meal ticket now forced into premature retirement, Sherri berated Savage, kicked him, and screamed at him until Elizabeth emerged from the crowd and tossed her to the ground. What happened next would prove the power of storytelling as Elizabeth and Savage reunited, the latter lifting the love of his life onto his shoulder as fans in the stands literally cried, tears of joy flowing down their faces.

By the time Savage held open the ropes for Elizabeth for the first time ever, there was not a dry eye in the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena.

4. The Ladder Match (WrestleMania X)

There have been countless ladder matches since, and even a few before, but no match was more influential to an entire generation of Superstars than that between Razor Ramon and Shawn Michaels in 1994 to determine the undisputed intercontinental champion.

The first of its kind on a stage that grand, it featured Ramon and Michaels revolutionizing the industry while utilizing a ladder to punish each other. Blending brutality and psychology, they told the story of a cunning heel targeting the midsection of his opponent, looking to take the core away from the larger Ramon and make it impossible to make the climb necessary to retrieve the title.

The Bad Guy showed grittiness and toughness, though, overcoming his injuries to down Michaels and win the match.

An iconic match-up that laid the groundwork for both the TLC and Money in the Bank matches that have become staples of today's WWE, it was an instant classic and established Ramon and Michaels as workhorses amid the company's entry into the New Generation.

3. Icon vs. Icon (WrestleMania X-8)

The Rock helped define the Attitude Era. Hogan was the face of the Federation Years in WWE. Both were undisputed box office attractions and two of the most recognizable faces in the industry by the time the 18th installment of WrestleMania rolled around in 2002. It makes sense, then, that WWE would promote an Icon vs. Icon match between them for the biggest show of the year.

Two of the great performers of all time, there were lofty expectations for their clash inside the Sky Dome in Toronto. What resulted exceeded them all.

A masterclass in crowd psychology, the match played the 67,000 fans in attendance like a fiddle, keeping them riding a wave of emotion into and out of every near-fall. The pro-Hogan crowd exploded with every bit of nostalgia the former WWE champion gave them while Rock stepped out of his comfort zone and back into the role of de facto heel when the time called for it, bumping around for his opponent's signature offense.

Ultimately, Rock would deliver a Rock Bottom and People's Elbow to vanquish Hogan but it was the post-match posedown and celebration featuring the two generational Superstars that wrapped things up nicely and prompted WWE to book a Hogan nostalgia tour beginning the next night on Raw.

2. Blood From A Stone (WrestleMania 13)

Steve Austin was already on his way to becoming the biggest star in wrestling thanks to a number of breakout performances in late 1996 and early 1997, but it was his Submission Match with Bret Hart at WrestleMania 13 that launched him into an entirely different stratosphere.

Fans in Chicago were already solidly behind him despite him being a heel and cheered along with the brutality he dished out to The Hitman. When he was split open midway through the contest, blood pouring from his forehead, their support of the Texas Rattlesnake grew, thanks in large part to their appreciation for his toughness.

It only increased tenfold when he found himself trapped in the Sharpshooter, blood pouring out of his head, over his face, and to the mat below. Refusing to give up, as he had promised he would not in the lead-in to the event, Austin passed out from the pain and Hart was declared the winner.

A historically great double-turn, which saw Hart become a heel and Austin transform into the biggest antihero the business has ever seen, proceeded the finish and changed the course of professional wrestling history in the process.

1. Hogan Slams Andre the Giant (WrestleMania III)

WWE's version of history will tell you that Hogan defeating Andre the Giant in the main event of WrestleMania III was a passing of the torch moment that established The Hulkster as the top guy in professional wrestling and the heir apparent to the world-renowned giant.

In reality, Hogan had already been the guy for well over two years and eclipsed Andre in popularity well before they took to the squared circle inside the Pontiac Silverdome.

Still, the match was a titanic clash between two megastars and a showcase for Vince McMahon's presentation of larger-than-life characters on the grandest stage imaginable.

Andre pummeled Hogan, forcing him onto the defensive. His body battered, the WWE champion fought from underneath, his reign as the No. 1 star in the industry at stake. He did, ultimately mustering enough strength to do the unthinkable by bodyslamming his larger opponent.

He dropped the big leg, the referee counted to three, and the 93,173-ish fans that had traveled to suburban Detroit to watch the colossal clash erupted into a chorus of cheers in support of the prayer-saying, vitamin-taking babyface.

The match was an undisputed success, was immensely important to the company's national expansion, and confirmed its position as the top promotion in professional wrestling. The bodyslam, from Hogan to Andre, and all of the lore (accurate or not) surrounding it was a huge piece of that puzzle.