In anticipation of one of the biggest events in the sporting calendar, WrestleMania 38, WWE has compiled a list of some of the most EPIC moments in the event’s history to date – including appearances from Stone Cold, The Undertaker, Brock Lesnar and more.
Edge’s & Mick Foley’s flaming table – WrestleMania 22 (2006)
One of the most brutal matches in the long history of WrestleMania occurred in April 2006 when Edge battled Mick Foley.
The match commenced with Edge targeting Foley, yet made it clear he was in search of his very own defining moment. Come the night of the show, he would finally have that moment – a defining match to add to his resume of all-time classics.
The Superstars battered, bruised and punished each other in a match that captivated the roaring fans in Chicago. It was the finish that created an instant-classic moment, as Lita set fire to a table from the ringside. From there, Edge exploded across the ring, catching Foley with a spear that sent both competitors crashing through the flaming table.
With both men suffering from burns, lacerations and puncture wounds, Edge draped his arm over Foley and scored the win, giving fans an elusive ‘Mania moment’.
Shooting star crash – WrestleMania 19 (2003)
If there was ever a time to lay it all out on the line and pull out maneuvers you’d never normally see, it’s WrestleMania.
At WrestleMania 19 in Seattle’s Safeco Field, Brock Lesnar challenged Kurt Angle for the WWE Championship in the night’s Main Event. The contest was a jaw-dropping display that lived up to every fan’s expectations. The most memorable spot in the entire bout came when Lesnar moved out of his comfort zone and headed to the top rope after hitting Angle with an F-5.
In a move that eventually saw Brock labeled as the Beast Incarnate, fans rose to their feet as he flew through the air to land an epic Shooting Star Press.
The move was one of the most breathtaking in event history and single-handedly established Lesnar as the baddest man in the industry.
The end of an era – WrestleMania 28 (2012)
In the three years that preceded WrestleMania 28, The Undertaker had defeated both of the legends that are Triple H and Shawn Michaels in classic matches.
Fast forward to WrestleMania 28, where in a brutal, violent match in which story trumped traditional wrestling, the WWE legends left nothing to chance, throwing everything possible at each other. In a climatic finish, Triple H delivered one more shot before falling victim to a Tombstone that ended his night on a losing note.
Then, in a scene of great sportsmanship, The Undertaker, Michaels and Triple H helped each other up the ring’s ramp, physically and emotionally drained. It was the end of an era championed by those three Superstars, as their days as full-time competitors reached a conclusion.
The sight of them standing at the top of the ramp, staring out at the gigantic crowd that had assembled in Miami’s Sun Life Stadium and realising they were a major part of the growth of the industry, is one of the most iconic moments to date.
Bianca Belair makes history with SmackDown Women’s Championship – WrestleMania 37 (2021)
She’s the self proclaimed strongEST, greatEST, fastEST and bEST in WWE, so Bianca’s journey to winning at WrestleMania was always going to keep us on the edge of our seats.
The EST of WWE was clearly emotional upon entering the ring, but she soon found her focus as she went head-to-head with “The Boss” Sasha Banks.
After an historic and hard-fought main event on the opening night of The Show of Shows, Belair used her K.O.D. finisher to seal the win and the championship – marking Bianca’s first singles title in WWE.
A deal with the devil – WrestleMania X-Seven (2001)
In late 2000, The Texas Rattlesnake was desperate to regain the Title he once held with such pride. The more The Rock kicked out of Stone Cold’s trademark maneuvers such as the Stone Cold Stunner, proving his resiliency, the more frustrated Austin became. He even dug down into his bag of tricks and pulled out the Million Dollar Dream, a maneuver used during his time as The Ringmaster.
It was not until Vince McMahon made his way to the ring and proceeded to aid The Texas Rattlesnake in defeating The Rock in the Main Event of the 2001 show that fans realized just how desperate and determined Stone Cold was to get back the Championship he considered his.
Even more shocking than McMahon’s involvement was the handshake the boss and his No. 1 tormentor engaged in to end the show.
Don’t miss the stupendous two-night WrestleMania 38, streaming LIVE from Dallas, Texas, on Saturday, April 2, and Sunday, April 3 from midnight in the UK. UK fans can catch all the action on the WWE Network and BT Sport Box Office.
You can find out everything you need to know about WrestleMania 38 here!