Best Forgotten Moments and Hidden Gems in WWE WrestleMania History
The Grandest Stage of Them All approaches on April 8, as we prepare for WWE WrestleMania 34 from New Orleans.
Shinsuke Nakamura and WWE champion AJ Styles are expected to steal the show as they battle for the title strap, but the arrival of Ronda Rousey promises to change the growing women's division forever.
The marquee event has produced a surprise or two over the years, and a number of Superstars have received a huge pop as WWE gives them a push.
Here, we take a look at some of the best forgotten moments and hidden gems from WrestleMania, as the action from the Mercedes-Benz Superdome approaches.
Steve Austin Makes His WrestleMania Debut in 1996
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As WWE fans swooned over the Iron Man match between Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels, Vince McMahon was preparing to give a platform to one of his latest signings in 1996.
Austin was brought to the company after lobbying from legendary commentator Jim Ross, with Kevin Nash also a huge fan of the former ECW fighter.
The Texan was given the role as Million Dollar champion after his stint using his "Ringmaster" gimmick, and with Ted DiBiase as his manager, Austin battled Savio Vega at WrestleMania 12.
Ringside fans hardly knew they were watching a legend in the making, but Austin prevailed before taking on the moniker of "Stone Cold."
Austin was given a huge push after DiBiase left for WCW, and the rest of his career is wrestling history for the ages.
Eddie Guerrero Wins European Title Against Test
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WrestleMania X-Seven saw two gladiators clash, with Austin taking on the Rock in Houston, but one of the sport's great underdogs was further down the card doing what he did best.
Eddie Guerrero battled European champion Test after he had captured the title from William Regal, and in true Latino Heat style, the strap changed hands after controversy.
Guerrero smashed Test over the head with the title gold as the referee was distracted, and the El Paso-born wrestler grabbed a three-count to win the championship.
As the most prominent member of the Guerrero wrestling family, Eddie went on to lift the WWE world championship, cementing his status as one of wrestling's greatest grafters.
WrestleMania 17 was one of WWE's most action-packed cards, with Chris Benoit facing Kurt Angle and Triple H battling the Undertaker.
Randy Orton Fails to Break The Undertaker's Streak at WrestleMania 21
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Long before The Streak was anything embedded in wrestling history, a young upstart named Randy Orton tried to live up to his "Legend Killer" gimmick as he faced The Undertaker at WrestleMania 21.
The Staples Center was packed to the rafters as WWE brought its flagship event to California, with Triple H facing Batista for the World Heavyweight Championship.
The fight with Orton gave Undertaker the additional legendary status WWE wanted, and The Streak storyline would be used repeatedly by Vince McMahon over many years to come.
Orton was already the youngest WWE world champion in history, and his feud with Taker took him to the next level in his career.
Taker grabbed the victory after foiling an attack from Orton's father, Cowboy Bob Orton, delivering a Tombstone to make his record 13-0 at WrestleMania.
Cody Rhodes Defeats Rey Mysterio at WrestleMania 27
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In 2011, the WWE had one eye on the future as its main Superstars continued to carry the load through the main events.
The event at the Georgia Dome was a huge night for the Miz as the reigning WWE champion beat John Cena by pinfall—before being attacked by the Rock in the ring after the victory.
Cody Rhodes and Rey Mysterio had built up their rivalry on SmackDown, with Mysterio delivering a 619, which broke his opponent's nose.
Rhodes was using his "Dashing" moniker at the time, and he was forced to wear a protective mask as he returned to action.
Both men put on a clinic. Fans were wooed by their amazing repertoires, and the pair appeared to be the wrestlers who could make the next step to main event status.
Rhodes claimed the pinfall, but it was Mysterio who would go on to be world heavyweight champion, as the son of Dusty Rhodes failed to make the leap after much promise.
WWE Takes on the NFL at WrestleMania 2
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Before the Royal Rumble was a branded concept in its own right, Vince McMahon used Battle Royals to feed wrestling fans his outlandish ideas.
At the second WrestleMania, Hulk Hogan beat King Kong Bundy in a steel cage to hold on to his WWE championship, but a unique 20-man Battle Royal had fans of wrestling and American football united in 1986.
The card was held across multiple venues, with the WWE vs. NFL fight taking place in Chicago.
Legendary Chicago Bears defensive star William "The Refrigerator" Perry was part of the action, and he eliminated Big John Studd after pulling the Hall of Fame bruiser out of the ring.
Perry was inducted into the celebrity wing of the WWE Hall of Fame in 2006, and his cameo will go down as one of McMahon's most innovative ideas as he tried to force the company into new markets.
Andre the Giant eventually prevailed in the fight as he threw The Hart Foundation over the top rope.
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