5.Brock Lesnar vs Kurt Angle (WrestleMania XIX, 2003)
The 19th edition of the annual WWE event had special significance as it was the first event to be promoted under the WWE name and had also garnered a record-setting 54,097 spectators. With several high-profile clashes in the pipeline, the build-up to the event was enormous. But the Championship match contested between Brock Lesnar and holder, Kurt Angle, sent the razzmatazz surrounding the event, through the roof.
The match got off to a flyer with both the men wrestling back and forth. Just then, Angle countered a shoulder block into a German suplex. Lesnar then tried to reciprocate with an F-5 but a witty Kurt countered it into an Angle Lock, which the former luckily escaped. Both the wrestlers continued to execute their respective finishing moves over one another until Lesnar climbed the top rope to hit a Shooting star press on the defending champion. Angle covered it by going for a pin attempt but saw his title defense tattered when he picked up Lesnar, only to be subjected to another clinical F-5, thereby losing the match.
The match got off to a flyer with both the men wrestling back and forth. Just then, Angle countered a shoulder block into a German suplex. Lesnar then tried to reciprocate with an F-5 but a witty Kurt countered it into an Angle Lock, which the former luckily escaped. Both the wrestlers continued to execute their respective finishing moves over one another until Lesnar climbed the top rope to hit a Shooting star press on the defending champion. Angle covered it by going for a pin attempt but saw his title defense tattered when he picked up Lesnar, only to be subjected to another clinical F-5, thereby losing the match.
4.Hulk Hogan vs The Rock (WrestleMania 18, 2002)
The superstars of the past, The Rock and Hollywood Hulk Hogan have played out some memorable matches, but this one, at WWE’s grandest stage i.e.WrestleMania, stands out.
Despite potrayals by Rock and Hogan as the face and heel of the match respectively, this “icon vs icon” match saw the latter garnering more backing from the Canadians.
During the match, there came a moment when Rock sealed a win when he compelled Hogan to tap with the Sharpshooter move, only to see the refree down thereby failing to acknowledge the submission. Hogan got back on to his feet and gave Rock a rock bottom for a 2 count. The duo then tried their signature moves but each kicked out. However, after 2 more Rock Bottoms and a People's Elbow, Rock pinned Hogan, who was unable to sustain any further pain and eventually lost out to Dwayne Johnson, “The Rock”.
Despite potrayals by Rock and Hogan as the face and heel of the match respectively, this “icon vs icon” match saw the latter garnering more backing from the Canadians.
During the match, there came a moment when Rock sealed a win when he compelled Hogan to tap with the Sharpshooter move, only to see the refree down thereby failing to acknowledge the submission. Hogan got back on to his feet and gave Rock a rock bottom for a 2 count. The duo then tried their signature moves but each kicked out. However, after 2 more Rock Bottoms and a People's Elbow, Rock pinned Hogan, who was unable to sustain any further pain and eventually lost out to Dwayne Johnson, “The Rock”.
3.Triple H vs Shawn Michaels vs Chris Benoit (Triple Threat match, Wrestlemania XX, 2004)
The main event of the 20th WrestleMania was this triple threat match over the World Heavyweight Championship contested between 3 marquee wrestlers Chris Benoit, Shawn Michaels and the defending champion Triple H. The match kick started with all 3 men plunging in which lead to the match going back-and-forth between the troika, making their signature moves over one another. However, out of the blue, Benoit hegemonized over Michaels with his Crippler Corssface and just when the latter was about to submit, Triple H intervened and restored parity by attacking both men. The DX maestros then conspired against Benoit and tried to eliminate him by suplexing through the announcer’s table. It went on until Triple H pedigreed Michaels and Benoit returned to save Michaels from getting pinned.
2.The Undertaker vs Shawn Michaels (WrestleMania 26, 2010)
“Streak vs Career”, the match fondly remembered the end of a phenom, that is Shawn Michaels. Vexed at being defeated in the same event against the same man, the year before, the Texas born challenged his bete noir The Deadman for a potenial rematch clause, which the latter vehemently accepted, but asked him to put his career on the line. Michael accepted it and both went on to play one of the historic matches ever played in WrestleMania.
Both the in-ring wrestlers started off the enticing fixture on a fierce note, executing their signature moves over each other. Despite hurting a leg in the process, Undertaker survived 2 gut-wrenching Sweet Chin Music and performed Tombstone Piledriver, Chokeslam and the Last Ride in retaliation.
Both the in-ring wrestlers started off the enticing fixture on a fierce note, executing their signature moves over each other. Despite hurting a leg in the process, Undertaker survived 2 gut-wrenching Sweet Chin Music and performed Tombstone Piledriver, Chokeslam and the Last Ride in retaliation.
1.The Undertaker vs Triple H (Hell in a Cell, WrestleMania 28, 2012)
Rumour has it, the year 2012 saw a significant diminution in the entertainment scale of the world wrestling entertainment but the ‘larger-than-life’ fixture of Triple H vs The Undertaker in the WrestleMania was an anomaly of sorts. The prospect of 2 of the finest names in WWE universe going head to head created ripples all over and the match certainly, live up to its stratospherical heights.
Billed as “the end of an era”, Shawn Michael was appointed as the guest refree for the match and it commenced with both the wretlers hitting left, right and centre. The match later descended into deadly attacks when the Hunter brought steel chairs, sledgehammer into the ring. One would only imagine the level of intensity this game had reached when both the caged men attacked each other with such deleterious weapons
