WWE WrestleMania 32: Power Ranking Best Match Cards in PPV's History

WrestleMania is the Super Bowl of professional wrestling, the premiere event in all of sports entertainment. It is the show responsible for the most iconic matches and moments the industry has ever seen, destination viewing for both diehard and casual fans alike.

Over the course of 31 years, WWE has presented a number of epic cards, some of which were as great in execution as they were on paper.

These were the shows that perfectly blended storytelling with incredible in-ring product, leaving fans of all types interested and excited about the event unfolding before their eyes.

Dating all the way back to 1987 and occurring as late as last year's extravaganza in Santa Clara, California, the eight broadcasts you are about to relive are those that did it right, that left fans energized and satisfied.

It remains to be seen if WWE will deliver a similarly successful show on April 3 in Dallas. Until then, enjoy this stroll down memory lane with this look at the most spectacular cards in WrestleMania history. 

8. WrestleMania 21

WrestleMania went Hollywood in 2005, and the result was a star-studded event that brought about a new era in professional wrestling, something that cannot be said about many shows.

Batista and John Cena rose to the top of the industry on that night, winning the World Heavyweight and WWE Championships, respectively. They did so by knocking off Attitude Era mainstays Triple H and JBL, both of whom had their runs and were now stepping aside so that the younger stars could advance their careers without any roadblocks along the way.

Neither of the main events were particularly great, but they did not have to be. The undercard had done such a fantastic job of laying the foundation for the show that as long as the main events delivered the desired outcomes, the show would be a success.

Shawn Michaels and Kurt Angle delivered one of the greatest wrestling matches in the history of the event, a five-star affair that saw the Olympic gold medalist get a rare tapout from Michaels to secure the win.

Edge became the first Superstar to win Money in the Bank, defeating Chris Benoit, Shelton Benjamin, Christian, Kane and Chris Jericho. The quality of that match has not been surpassed to this day, no matter how many Money in the Bank bouts have come after it.

The Undertaker wrestled his first great match in his legendary undefeated streak, defeating Randy Orton despite a chokeslam that was countered into the RKO, and Eddie Guerrero battled tag team partner Rey Mysterio to kick things off on the right foot.

Most certainly bottom-heavy in terms of quality, the show was far from perfect. But the first half of the show was so incredibly strong that it is impossible to deny its place on this list.

7. WrestleMania XXVIII

The Rock vs. John Cena was one year in the making, an epic dream match the likes of which no longer exist in professional wrestling.

After costing Cena the WWE Championship at WrestleMania XXVII, The Rock returned to the Grandest Stage of Them All hoping to prove his greatness by defeating the franchise star of today's WWE.

For Cena, it was an opportunity to validate himself, to demonstrate why he was the biggest star in the industry.

Dubbed a "Once in a Lifetime" match, fans tuned in in record numbers to see who would emerge victorious.

After 20-plus minutes of battle, The Rock took advantage of Cena's hubris and caught him with a Rock Bottom to score the pinfall victory. The fans in his hometown of Miami erupted, and The Great One stood tall to close out what was a phenomenal broadcast.

Elsewhere, Triple H and Undertaker brought their rivalry to a definitive conclusion in an "End of an Era" Hell in a Cell match, with Shawn Michaels as special guest referee. Hardly a great traditional wrestling match, it was a phenomenal brawl that relied heavily on drama generated from near-falls and Michaels' involvement to succeed.

Those two matches ensured that the show would garner a thumbs-up from critics, but it was the controversial World Heavyweight Championship match between Daniel Bryan and Sheamus, in which The Celtic Warrior blasted Bryan with a Brogue Kick to win the title in 18 seconds, that would have the longest-lasting effect on the company, as it brought about the Yes! Movement that would dominate the sport for the next two years.

6. WrestleMania XXXI

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Arguably the greatest conclusion to a WrestleMania helped elevate the 31st incarnation of the event onto this list.

Seth Rollins' interrupting the main event between WWE world heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar and Roman Reigns, cashing in Money in the Bank and winning the title without really working for it, was phenomenal heel booking. The image of him standing tall at the top of the entrance ramp, the top prize in sports entertainment held high overhead, made for an endearing moment that will live on in video packages and magazine publications for years to come.

The match between Lesnar and Reigns to that point was an exercise in brutality, with The Beast Incarnate bumping Reigns around the squared circle, only for the juggernaut to shove him into the steel post, busting his opponent open and creating an opportunity to mount a comeback.

Sting made his in-ring debut with WWE, losing to Triple H in another excuse to put Vince McMahon's company over WCW one more time. Appearances by D-Generation X and the New World Order helped mask the fact that neither guy was in a position to carry the match.

The Undertaker battled Bray Wyatt, John Cena defeated Rusev for the United States Championship and Randy Orton beat the aforementioned Rollins in a quality undercard bout.

5. WrestleMania X

It's extremely rare for a wrestling show to tout a single five-star classic.

WrestleMania X featured two, cementing its status as one of the premier shows in sports entertainment.

Bret and Owen Hart kicked off the evening's broadcast, their sibling rivalry culminating in a heated grudge match. They wasted little time setting the tone for the show, delivering a mat-based wrestling display unmatched by anything that would follow.

Owen targeted the knee of his brother throughout, only to have The Hitman battle back. A reversal of a victory roll netted the younger brother the upset victory and laid the groundwork for the continuation of the rivalry throughout 1994.

The Intercontinental Championship was at stake later in the show as Shawn Michaels battled Razor Ramon in the first high-profile ladder match in WWE history. With two titles hanging overhead, the two Superstars with claims to gold beat and battered each other with the ladder, captivating the audience and revolutionizing the industry at the same time.

With a Last Man Standing match between Randy Savage and Crush solidifying the midcard and a happy ending that saw Bret Hart defeat Yokozuna to capture the WWE Championship he lost a year earlier, the show was a shining example of epic storytelling Vince McMahon and Company are capable of when focused.

4. WrestleMania XXX

Jonathan Bachman/Associated Press

WrestleMania XXX is and will forever be known as The Daniel Bryan Show.

The culmination of a two-year journey that saw Bryan overcome booking setbacks and reluctance by management to push him as a main event star, he entered the SuperDome in New Orleans as the centerpiece of the broadcast.

In the night's opening contest, he culminated his feud with The Authority by defeating Triple H cleanly in the center of the ring to earn himself a spot in the Triple Threat match for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.

Then in that match, he withstood interference from The Game and wife Stephanie McMahon, crooked official Scott Armstrong and a vicious Batista Bomb-RKO combination through the announce table to trap Batista in the Yes! Lock and score the submission victory.

It was a glorious moment for Bryan and his fans. Together, they had taken an emotional roller-coaster ride over the previous two years, and to share that occasion together, with 70,000-plus fans chanting "Yes!" as confetti fell, pyro exploded at the top of the entrance ramp and Bryan stood tall with the two biggest titles in wrestling draped over his shoulders, was surreal.

Also surreal was what happened two hours earlier, when Brock Lesnar became the first Superstar in history to defeat Undertaker at WrestleMania, ending his 21-year undefeated streak at The Showcase of the Immortals. The moment garnered mainstream media attention and generated a ton of buzz on social media, as fans refused to believe that such a major part of their shared history had ended.

With an undercard featuring The Shield in action, John Cena vs. Bray Wyatt and Cesaro's victory in the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal, the card was a jam-packed four-hour sprint that remains one of the most satisfying shows in recent memory.

3. WrestleMania III

For the longest time, WrestleMania III was the standard-bearer for professional wrestling pay-per-view. 

An epic event touting the largest indoor attendance record ever, the show was headlined by Hulk Hogan vs. Andre the Giant for the championship. Featuring "the unstoppable force vs. the immovable object," as the great Gorilla Monsoon called it, the match was the most anticipated main event ever promoted by Vince McMahon.

It did not disappoint.

Hardly a great wrestling match, it was one based on spectacle, and in that sense, it did not disappoint. The spots popped the crowd, Hogan overcame the overwhelming strength and size of the giant challenger and won the match, becoming the first Superstar to defeat Andre in 15 years.

Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat and "Macho Man" Randy Savage tore the house down with a five-star classic that still resonates with fans today. Widely considered the greatest match in WrestleMania history, they elevated their own stars as well as the Intercontinental Championship and reminded fans that athleticism is as important as entertainment, no matter how much McMahon may try to convince the audience otherwise.

With compelling stories and matches, a hot audience and incredible venue, WrestleMania III holds up as one of the definitive wrestling shows of all time.

2. WrestleMania XIX

Seattle's Safeco Field made for an unforgettable setting as World Wrestling Entertainment produced Wrestlemania XIX, arguably the most star-studded event in company history.

Strengthened by four marquee main events that could have headlined any show, it was a masterclass in how to build a card from the bottom up, and proof that Vince McMahon and Company are capable of delivering a blow-away show no matter how underwhelming television had been leading into it.

"Stone Cold" Steve Austin's Hall of Fame career came to an end as he battled The Rock in the third of a three-match series. The Superstars traded finishers and kept the crowd on the edge of their seats with dramatic near-falls. In the end, The Most Electrifying Man in Sports Entertainment got the monkey off his back by beating Austin.

Brock Lesnar and Kurt Angle delivered a brilliant mat classic in the night's main event. The Beast Incarnate proved to be The Next Big Thing by surviving a legendary botched Shooting Star Press and delivering an F5 to pick up the win.

Shawn Michaels and Chris Jericho stole the show, Hulk Hogan and Vince McMahon battled in a bloody Street Fight and Triple H successfully retained his World Heavyweight Championship against Booker T in an underrated match.

From top to bottom, it was another major stadium show that delivered everything a fan could ask for, be it satisfactory conclusions to major rivalries or tremendous in-ring product.

1. WrestleMania X-Seven

WrestleMania X-Seven is the greatest wrestling pay-per-view of all time, bar none.

Featuring the most consistent card, there was not a bad wrestling match throughout. Touting epic conclusions to some of the greatest storylines ever and a WWE Championship bout between The Rock and "Stone Cold" Steve Austin that perfectly encapsulated an entire era, the show stands head and shoulders above all others as the epitome of extraordinary.

Vince and Shane McMahon wrapped up the latest chapter in their family drama in grand fashion, battling in a Street Fight in which Mick Foley was the special guest referee and Trish Stratus and Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley fought at ringside. Shane won the father-son match, launching himself across the ring with the Van Terminator.

Edge and Christian, The Dudley Boyz and The Hardy Boyz wowed viewers with another death-defying Tables, Ladders & Chairs match for the WWE Tag Team Championships, complete with Edge's iconic spear from the top of a ladder, while Chris Benoit and Kurt Angle brought technical wrestling to the table in a phenomenal show of athleticism.

Chyna demolished Ivory in a squash that properly paid off their rivalry, and Raven demonstrated his toughness by bumping all around for Kane and Big Show in a Triple Threat match for the Hardcore Championship.

The most consistently great card WWE has ever produced, the show remains the shining example of a promotion at its hottest delivering an epic event that has something for every member of the audience to enjoy, regardless of their tastes.