Let’s talk about WrestleMania. More specifically, the main events. In the past 20 years, we’ve been blessed with some incredible main events. Some are instant classics, and some of them are dream matches that still amaze me that they even happen. But for every great main event comes a metaphorical stinker of a main event. Without further ado, let’s get into my list of the last 20 WrestleMania main events

20. John Cena vs The Miz (WrestleMania 27)

This one was a stinker. When watching this match for the first time I really wanted it to be good. The Miz has been a workhorse for a long time and Cena was being pushed as the face of the WWE. But the problem with this match is that both of them are very safe wrestlers. They aren’t very exciting in-ring performers and when you mix that, you get a match that ends in a double count-out. WrestleMania’s main events shouldn’t end in a double count-out. Not to mention that this match was used as a springboard to the Rock vs Cena feud, which this type of match should never be used for. 

19. Brock Lesnar vs Drew McIntyre (WrestleMania 36)

As a die-hard fan of Drew McIntyre, this kills me to say, but his main event vs Brock Lesnar for the WWE title just doesn’t do it for me. I can’t hold too much against them due to the circumstances that this event took place during the COVID-19 pandemic. The match was four minutes and was nothing but Claymore’s and F-5s with the occasional German Suplex mixed into it. It sucks because this was Drew McIntyre’s moment and it was sullied with a match that had absolutely no effort into it. 

18. Roman Reigns vs The Undertaker (WrestleMania 34) 

This match would be a dream match if this was in two different eras. By the time WM 34 came around, The Undertaker was way past his prime, he had lost his undefeated streak to Brock Lesnar 4 years prior, and was just past the era of putting on incredible matches left and right. Reigns was still being pushed to the moon and fans weren’t having it. The match itself was rough. The age of the undertaker with the relative inexperience of reigns, made for a very disappointing match that led to the Undertakers 2nd ever loss at WrestleMania

17. Brock Lesnar vs Roman Reigns (WrestleMania 33)

You’ll see these two names very often throughout this list. This particular match was a stinker. This was one that just didn’t feel necessary. This was a match between two people that we didn’t want to see have another match. Not to mention that this match completely took the audience out of the crowd. Simply put, nobody cared. Nobody wanted Roman to be the top guy back then and nobody wanted Brock Lesnar to be in that scene again. 

16. Triple H vs Roman Reigns (WrestleMania 32)

This time it was an unbearably long and unbearably boring main event for Roman Reigns. Similar to the last match, nobody wanted to see this match. Nobody wanted to see Triple H be champion in 2016. Nobody wanted Roman Reigns shoved down their throats again and again and again. But we got what we got and what we got was a super long, boring, and drawn-out match just to give us what we already knew was going to happen. 

15. Roman Reigns vs Brock Lesnar (WrestleMania 38)

This match was nowhere near as bad as some of the other times the two shared that main event spot. The problem with this match, however, is that it was hyped up to be the biggest and best main event of all time when in reality, it was a 12-minute match that in reality, left a lot to be desired. However this time around we got a more seasoned version of Roman Reigns. A version that has a lot more ring awareness and was able to enhance the quality however much. Even though the match was An F-5 attempt, Reigns counters, Spear, Roman Wins, they still were able to perform to a better level than their WM 34 matchup

14. Triple H vs Randy Orton (WrestleMania 25)

It pains me to put this match this low but I have to. The way that they were building this match to be, I would have loved to see this match become a ‘No-holds barred’ match. Instead, they were booked into a match where if Triple H was counted out or disqualified, he would lose the title. Incredibly underwhelming. We have a home invasion in the storyline, and this is the stipulation they choose. Stupid. The match itself felt the consequences of the poor booking, not to mention the fact that the aging vet in Triple H beat the new face of evil wrestlers in Randy Orton. To cap it all off, It went on after arguably the greatest match of all time in Shawn Michaels vs The Undertaker

13. John Cena vs Triple H (WrestleMania 22)

WrestleMania is a time for milestones and a time for history. The Undertaker finally lost, Cody Rhodes returned, The Hardy Boyz returned, Rock and Stone Cold faced off, Hogan slammed André the Giant and so many others. A subtle yet monumental one was the main event of WrestleMania 22, where the crowd finally turned on John Cena. That fateful night in Rosemont Illinois, The greatest of all time’s career was set on a brand new trajectory. That night saw the “Let’s Go Cena! Cena sucks!” chants debut, which would then follow him for the rest of his career. 

12. Batista vs Triple H (WrestleMania 21)

This match had some similar issues to the main event of WrestleMania 25. The match itself was amazing. The storyline had been booked well in comparison to booking other main events from past and future manias and the crowd overall just felt satisfied. However, the match had to follow the five-star match of Kurt Angle vs Shawn Michaels. Again, I can’t really hold that against them, but it is a factor when determining lists like this. 

11. John Cena vs The Rock (WrestleMania 29)

This match struggles with a few things. For one, It wasn’t special. It wasn’t a ‘once in a lifetime’ match anymore. It now had to rely on the in-ring works of both of them. Even though it ended up turning into a 25-minute finisher-fest the two ended up putting on yet another impressive performance. After all, it is the freaking rock and John Cena so it’ll always be incredible like that. 

10. Becky Lynch vs Charlotte Flair vs Ronda Rousey (WM 35) 

The first women’s main event of all time was a great one. For some context, triple-threat matches normally fall into the category of a few pocket one-on-one matches where the third man/woman is ringside or just out of it. This match couldn’t be further from that. For starters, every single time there was conflict, all 3 of them were involved in it. All of the offense was focused around all three of these women which makes this match unique and special. What holds this match back however is two things. The timing and the ending. by the time the show had run its courses the main event when on the air at roughly 2:00 in the morning. And the ending, was a botched one, as what was supposed to be a historic moment for both Becky Lynch and the entire women’s division, ended in a botched crucifix pin. 

9. Roman Reigns vs Daniel Bryan vs Edge (WrestleMania 37)

Can you tell I like triple-threat matches? People do not talk about how good this main event was. We got the first WrestleMania with the tribal chief version of Roman Reigns, we have a new and improved edge who is coming off his second Royal Rumble win, and the perennial fan favorite in Daniel Bryan made for an absolute magical main event. We had great moments in that match capped off by the iconic double stack pin by Reigns to end it. 

8. Edge vs The Undertaker (WrestleMania 34)

Except for the Shawn Michaels matches and Triple H matches, this is one of the matches that I consider to be the best of The Undertaker’s career. This match had everything that could be desired in a main event match for WrestleMania. You had Edge getting in some great offense with spears, leg locks, and other submissions. You had the legendary run of legendary referee Charles Robinson down from gorilla to the ring. And of course, you had the ending with Edge tapping out to the hell gate of the Undertaker. Over-booking aside, this is one of the better matches of the Undertaker’s career and probably the best of Edge’s career. 

7. Roman Reigns vs Cody Rhodes (WrestleMania 39)

I know it feels way too early to put this match so high, but it simply cannot be ignored. The WWE on the road to WM 40 has followed up on this result well. Despite the negative reactions to the ending from the crowd. From a pure in-ring standpoint, this match was incredible. One of the longest matches we’ve had in recent memory, filled with tables being broken, hearts being crushed, close pitfalls, and overbooking with the Usos and Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens, it’s just too damn good man. Not to mention the theatrics around the match with the entrances. Rhodes’ winged robe, the final boss entrance from Roman Reigns was just immaculate.

6. John Cena vs Shawn Michaels (WrestleMania 23)

A lot of names on this list have struggled with not being able to outshine some of the card’s earlier successes. While this match falls into that category, the match itself is phenomenal to the point where it doesn’t even matter that it wasn’t the best match of the night. John Cena as a performer tends to rise to the level of his opponent. When you put him with a guy like the Miz, then he’s going to perform at a similar level to the Miz. If you put him with a bonified performer like Shawn Michaels or a Triple H, he will rise to that level. This match was just cool as well. We had Shawn Michaels pulling out moves like a springboard moonsault and a piledriver onto the steel steps. That move just doesn’t happen nowadays. Overall, this match gets a double thumbs up. 

5. John Cena vs The Rock (WrestleMania 28)

This match felt special. It was John Cena, the face of this generation of professional wrestlers, and the rock, the face of a previous generation of wrestlers who’s also become a Hollywood star and one of the most famous people on the planet. They may not be the Kurt Angles, The Eddie Guerreros, or The Shawn Michaels, but I can’t help but feel this aura whenever they step into the ring. Electricity (no pun intended) and hype did enough to carry this match. This match was nothing short of incredible, with the flow of ‘Cena being better than the rock to the point of cockiness’ ending up being his demise when he gets hit with a rock bottom and then gets pinned. 

4. Brock Lesnar vs Roman Reigns (WrestleMania 31)

This match by a country mile was the greatest match between these two at WrestleMania. Expectations for this match were low. Reigns had won the royal rumble that past January and the WWE fans knew that the direction they were likely heading was a Roman Reigns main-event win. Boy were we so wrong. Instead, we got Brock Lesnar feasting on Roman Reigns for a majority of the match, but after one counter from Reigns, everything began to fall into place, as Reigns went to go on an offensive rally. Reigns felt vulnerable During this match. He felt human. But the little rascal Seth Rollins came in and cashed in his Money In the Bank contract successfully, completing the heist of the century. 

3. Triple H vs Shawn Michaels vs Chris Benoit (WrestleMania 20)

Can you tell I like triple-threat matches? No? well here’s why I like this match in particular. The chemistry. We already knew that HBK and Triple H have incredible chemistry in the ring together. Both as allies and as foes. Adding Chris Benoit and his technical prowess to this match, took it from good to great. Benoit made it new, fresh, and overall just impressive. This match basically had 3 different types of wrestlers with Triple H being the ‘brute’, Benoit being the technical one, and Michaels being the agile and versatile one. Overall, a fantastic match that gets into the top 3 

2. Batista vs Randy Orton vs Daniel Brian (WrestleMania 30)

who would’ve guessed, another triple-threat match! Part of the reason why this match is so high on my list is because of the narrative. One of the greatest stories in professional wrestling history is the story behind the Yes movement. How Daniel Bryan rebelled against the corporation, no matter how many times he faced roadblocks from guys like Triple H. The match itself was awesome. One of my favorite spots of all time was the Batista Bomb into the RKO through the table which happened during that match. Not to mention the ending with Batista tapping out to the Yes Lock and Bryan finally winning the gold he has so desperately wanted throughout his career was cinema. 

1. Shawn Michaels vs The Undertaker (WrestleMania 26)

I honestly don’t think there’s very much debate with this pick. The stakes have never been higher in a career vs streak match and you didn’t even need a world title for it. You had the streak of the undertaker who at this point, was arguably a much bigger get than any of the world titles the WWE had at the time. You also have the legendary and illustrious career of Shawn Michaels on the line. The man who’s won two royal rumbles, and countless world titles, had WrestleMania moment after WrestleMania moment with anyone who wanted the smoke. And if he didn’t win that night, he was going to call it quits on his career. No bigger stakes without a title are possible. The match itself was literal perfection. Nothing much else I can or want to say about it. In-ring work, in-ring storytelling, emotions, close calls this match has it all.