By Shawn Valentino, PWTorch Specialist

Over the years, WWE’s top star John Cena has done plenty to annoy his detractors. While I understand that he is a tremendous ambassador to the wrestling business, and I see why WWE has decided to build the company around him, his tendency to tow the company line is frustrating. I particularly dislike when he announces that we are about to see “a moment” that will have historical significance. As we know, these types of “moments” speak for themselves and unfold naturally instead of out of some contrived announcement.

A few months back, Cena discussed his top five moments in wrestling history. It was obviously politically driven, especially since he placed his own beat down at the hands of NXT on that esteemed plateau. To refresh your memory, he completed his list with Hogan-Andre, Hogan-Rock, the formation of the Horsemen, and the recent Michaels-Taker Mania series. Today, we will take a fun trip back in time and remember a more unbiased list of top moments in wrestling during the WrestleMania Years. I know I am missing many historically significant moments, including the debut of Nitro, the rise of ECW, the first Clash, etc., but the real fun with these lists is the arguments so please feel free to comment or send your own lists to me.

(10) WrestleMania Debuts: WrestleMania (March 31, 1985)

The story is entrenched in the annals of wrestling. Vince McMahon had the grand vision in mind to create an extravaganza that combined the glitz and glamour of the Academy Awards and the Super Bowl. As the legend goes, he waged everything on the success of this event, and it became a sensational hit. We take it for granted now, but at the time, putting some of the top stars from television, music, and movies in the ring with the top WWF Superstars on a stage with grand production values was somewhat of a revolutionary concept.

Because of its unparalleled historical importance, a list of top ten moments cannot be conclusive without the inclusion of the unforgettable show that launched the biggest annual supercard in wrestling history. It may not have had the best in-ring action, but the combination of celebrities, spectacle, and marketing genius make this inception one of the great moments in wrestling history. From its birth, the first WrestleMania is the date in wrestling’s historical timeline we use for perspective, especially in lists such as this.

(9) I’m Sorry. I Love You: WrestleMania 24 (March 30, 2008)

Ric Flair was considered the best pure wrestler of the eighties. Shawn Michaels is widely regarded as the best wrestling performer of the '90s and 2000s. When it was announced that the two would meet at WrestleMania with the added stipulation that Flair would be forced to retire if he lost, we knew we were in for a magical moment. The winner of the match was a foregone conclusion, as it was obvious that Flair had a majestic setting to end his storied career.

What one could not predict was the quality of the match. It was a sensationally wrestled contest chock full of heavy emotion as fans, and the wrestlers themselves, knew it was the end of an era. The ending of the match was straight out of a classic Hollywood film. I call it The Last Samurai ending with a great warrior sacrificing himself and becoming a martyr. After twenty classic minutes, Flair knew he had given it his all and he motioned the hesitant Michaels to finish him off. HBK, who idolized The Nature Boy his whole life, knew it was time to heed his hero’s wishes. Before giving him the superkick that would end his career, Michaels told him, “I’m sorry, I love you.” It was a poignant moment between two legends and made even the biggest Flair fan wish that he would never return to the ring. Of course, Flair and TNA had a far less dramatic ending in mind, but for that one weekend, it was an absolutely perfect conclusion to a brilliant career.

(8) Mr. WrestleMania vs. The Streak: WrestleMania 25 & 26 (April 5, 2009 & March 28, 2010)

Yes, I am cheating a bit here, but it is my list so I can do so. The truth is the story of Shawn Michaels and the Undertaker actually takes place over the course of over two decades. They were two of the greatest performers of the '90s. Incredibly, each of them advanced their style and became smarter workers over the years to the point they were superior wrestlers a decade later. A set of unique circumstances that will likely never happen again led to this monumental encounter. The Dead Man and The Heartbreak Kid were the two longest tenured WWE Superstars of the Mania years. Amazingly, they had never faced off on The Grandest Stage of Them All. Even more incredible is the fact that they did not wrestle in a one-on-one match for over eleven years. The last time they did wrestle, they had a series of great matches, including one of the most legendary battles in the history of the business in the inaugural Hell in a Cell match. They teased us with a dramatic conclusion to the Royal Rumble in 2007, but WWE smartly waited for a truly huge event that would be worthy of such an epic encounter.

By WrestleMania 25, Undertaker’s streak had become intertwined with the event itself, and Michaels had firmly established himself as the greatest performer in its history. It would be The Streak versus Mr. WrestleMania at The Showcase of the Immortals and the two icons gave us a visual and emotional extravaganza that electrified the gigantic Texas crowd. From the awe-inspiring entrances that showcased the heaven versus hell theme in the feud to the symbolic finale where Michaels came from above only to get Tombstoned into the ground and pinned, it was a theatrical masterpiece.

Few believed that they could top themselves and many fans, including myself, felt that they should never wrestle again. Amazingly, at WrestleMania 26, the two legends gave us one more unforgettable classic. It was Undertaker’s streak put up against Michaels’ career, two institutions of WWE that we could not imagine going away. This match was not as spectacular athletically but was the superior match dramatically. The finale was another dramatic tour de force. Undertaker, for a rare moment, showed mercy, as the defiant underdog Michaels refused to accept any pity. Unlike with Flair, I personally do hope Michaels returns because I feel he has many more great matches left in him, but if he decides to ride off into the sunset, this was the perfect final moment for the greatest performer in WWE history.

(7) The Triumph and the Tragedy: WrestleMania 20 (March 14, 2004)

Chris Benoit and Eddie Guerrero were once seen by many fans as everything that was good about the wrestling business. They were undersized wrestlers with oversized talents that were underutilized by promotions because they did not fit the definition of the traditional star. They came to the WWF in 2000 as part of the Radicals faction. The two friends rose up the card with their tremendous in-ring gifts. Guerrero was the more charismatic of the two, while Benoit was the epitome of intensity. They finally struck gold in 2004 and they enjoyed a moment in the sun at the end of WrestleMania 20 as the two teary-eyed warriors held World Championship belts in the air. They both had a long, arduous journey to the top, and for many fans, it was a dream come true

Unfortunately, the dream would soon turn to a nightmare. Eddie would die suddenly the following year, sending the wrestling world into shock. Of course, we all know the events that transpired in summer 2007 when Benoit murdered his wife and son before killing himself. Each of them had fallen prey to the dark side of the business. Like so many other wrestlers, they had to turn to drugs to sustain their appearance and survive the draining schedule. For that one moment, however, on a cool spring night in New York where two lifelong friends and unlikely heroes stood triumphant, all was right with the world.

(6) Icon vs. Icon: WrestleMania 18 (March 17, 2002)

Oftentimes, a wrestling match is more than just the work that takes place in the ring. Although the mat work and the story that is told in the squared circle is an important part of an event, the atmosphere and the crowd is equally as vital in making a contest unforgettable. Nowhere was this more apparent than when the two biggest mainstream Superstars in the history of the industry faced off for the first time in front of an electric Toronto crowd. The Rock and Hulk Hogan lead their respective companies in the Monday Night War but had never crossed paths. When Hogan came back to WWF as part of the NWO and the Rock challenged him to a match at WrestleMania, we knew that it was the making of something extraordinary.

I was in the crowd that unforgettable night and the excitement in the air during this generational showdown was absolutely unmatched. More than anything, this is what wrestling is all about, two larger than life characters battling on the grandest stage of them all. The wave of nostalgia over Hogan’s return to the event he essentially built made for a frenzied atmosphere where many audience members were taken into a time capsule to their childhoods. The Rock won the match, but this was one battle where the winner was really irrelevant, because the spectacle alone of seeing these two icons face off assured a captivating memory that none of us would forget.

(5) The American Hero Turns Heel: WCW Bash at the Beach 1996 (July 7, 1996)

Let me set the stage by explaining a little about my personal history as a wrestling fan. I was a young child in the late '80s that perfectly fit the demographic Hulkamania was aimed at, but I could not stand Hulk Hogan. My disgust with Hogan and the WWF’s incessant pushing of him, even after his act wore out made me ultimately stop watching wrestling for a few years. Then came summer 1996 when my cousins and I were flipping through channels and suddenly saw an absolutely surreal sight. It was the American hero himself dressed in black in a ring full of debris denouncing the fans he once called his Maniacs. We were completely spellbound, and I thought it was one of the coolest things I had ever seen. Finally, the Immortal Hulk Hogan, the man who had been the poster child of cheesy goodness for over a decade had turned bad!

Aligning himself with Scott Hall and Kevin Nash and forming the New World Order not only reinvigorated Hogan’s career, but helped re-energize the wrestling business as a whole. The buzz of the Hogan heel turn peaked the interest of millions of fans who had not followed wrestling in years. The aura of the NWO as the bad guys you loved to hate made wrestling cool amongst the mainstream public like it had never been. I firmly believe that it was the rise of this rebel faction that inspired WWF to change its strategy and create edgier characters and programming. I am not sure if we would see Stone Cold Steve Austin, DX, and The Rock reach the iconic status they attained if it were not for the increased popularity of wrestling triggered by the Hogan turn. For its shocking visceral impact as well as its vital role in igniting the business of two companies towards a Monday Night War, this will be a moment no wrestling fan will ever forget.

(4) Steve Austin Bleeds Into a New Era: WrestleMania 13 (March 23, 1997)

WrestleMania 13 was arguably the worst Mania of all time, as any event where Sid is featured in the main event can lay claim to that dubious dishonor. The argument against that lowly distinction is that it featured an image that is imbedded in the minds of all of us that saw it. Steve Austin and Bret Hart were in the midst of one of the greatest feuds in wrestling history, putting on numerous memorable struggles. While Hart was the babyface at the beginning of the rivalry, the rebellious Austin soon developed a sizable following. It was a time where anti-heroes were in vogue, and Stone Cold perfectly represented the counter-culture movement.

When they were slated for a submission match at WrestleMania, fans knew they would see a terrific encounter, but few knew that they would witness the birth of the biggest era in wrestling. The match itself was a brutal battle between two of the greatest ring generals in the world, but it was the finish that truly gives it legendary status. The portrait of a bleeding Austin locked in a sharpshooter, unable to escape but unwilling to give up, is one of the iconic representations of WrestleMania. The Hitman won the match, but Stone Cold won the crowd with his courage and his badass persona. Although it would take almost a year for the Monday Night War to shift, this unforgettable moment can be pointed to as the beginning of The Attitude Era, and Austin was on his way to wrestling immortality.

(3) The Montreal Screwjob: Survivor Series 1997 (November 9, 1997)

Do I even need to describe this event? Is there any wrestling fan out there that does not have an opinion on this? If you did not know already, this is the moment that destroyed kayfabe forever. This blurred the lines between reality and drama to a degree that will likely never be seen again in wrestling. Vince "screwing" Bret became the catalyst to the evil Mr. McMahon character, that lead to the epic Austin-McMahon rivalry that revolutionized wrestling to its most successful era ever.

This was also the end of an era. The Hart-Michaels rivalry had come full circle from them being friends who were changing the direction of the industry, to hating each other so much that the company was not big enough for the two of them and leading to another major change in company philosophy. This was the official turning point of the Monday Night Wars and triggered years of events that would lead to the WWF going from the brink of bankruptcy to becoming a billion dollar publicly traded media empire.

(2) WWF Buys the Competition: Final Nitro (March 26, 2001)

The Monday Night War between WWF and WCW electrified the wrestling business and brought an unprecedented number of fans to the product. Wrestling enjoyed mainstream acceptance and for a while was the hottest thing in pop culture. Although they reached the apex of their popularity in the late nineties, WCW had been around for decades with various owners and identities. The presence of competition kept the big companies in check and gave more stars the platform to practice their craft. By the early 2000s, WCW’s spending became so out of control and the programming was so weak that it became a liability. As we all know, when the company was up for sale in early 2001, it was none other than Vince McMahon that would purchase the competition.

With the purchase of WCW and ECW, the WWF essentially monopolized the industry. The WCW acquisition also gave WWE access to a huge library of footage, and they have taken advantage of it by releasing some terrific DVD compilations. The final Nitro was an inevitable yet shocking sight. Nobody who saw it will forget the simultaneous appearance of Mr. McMahon on both Raw and Nitro. It signified not only the end of an era, but the end of competition in the wrestling business as of this writing.

(1) Hulk Hogan Slams Andre the Giant: WrestleMania 3 (March 29, 1987)

If one moment can be looked back on as putting WrestleMania on the mainstream consciousness and making the WWF a global empire, it would have to be the ending of a legendary battle of the titans in front of a record-breaking crowd. When it was announced that Hulk Hogan would face off against his long-time friend Andre the Giant at WrestleMania 3, the stage was set for mythical clash between two men that were bigger than the sport. Hogan had held the WWF championship for over three consecutive years, and Andre was billed as having never been defeated in his career. In reality though, the match transcended hype.

Although the quality of the match was nothing particularly memorable, the very sight of these two bigger than life warriors in the ring in front of a massive audience was enough to send chills down the spine. Hogan lifting Andre in the air is probably the most replayed moment in wrestling lore and the most memorable one as well. For those of us who were growing up at the time, it is a seminal part of our childhoods, and time has not dimmed the spotlight on this spectacular image. The success of this event assured that WrestleMania would be an annual happening for years to come and that WWF would be a part of mainstream Americana. For all of this and more, Hulk Hogan bodyslamming Andre the Giant deserves its place as the biggest moment of the WrestleMania years.

Please send questions, comments and feedback to valentino.torch@gmail.com and check out my new book The Showstopper Lifestyle available on Amazon.com.

[Torch art credit Grant Gould (c) PWTorch.com]

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