The inaugural WrestleMania took place on March 31, 1985. In the 39 years since, ‘The Showcase of the Immortals’ has been the number one wrestling event on the calendar each year.
The greatest honour in wrestling is to headline a WrestleMania event. Only a select few wrestlers have ever main-evented the show on more than one occasion. Fewer still, have headlined WrestleMania across more than one decade.
This feature lists every wrestler who has has main evented WrestleMania in multiple decades.
Hulk Hogan – 1980s, 1990s
Hulk Hogan headlined eight of the first nine WrestleMania events. Hogan and Mr T took on ‘Rowdy’ Roddy Piper and Mr Wonderful, Paul Orndorff in the headline spot of the inaugural ‘Mania main event.
‘The Hulkster’ competed in World Title matches in six of the ‘Mania headliners, opposite King Kong Bundy, Andre ‘The Giant’, ‘Macho Man’ Randy Savage, The Ultimate Warrior, Sgt. Slaughter and the mammoth Yokozuna. He closed WrestleMania VIII with Sid Justice in a non-title affair, which was thought to be at one stage his final ever wrestling match, believe it or not.
Although Hogan returned to the WWF in 2002 and competed in high profile ‘Mania matches against The Rock and Vince McMahon, neither were in the headline spot, despite both being presented as the main event of the show during the pre-event build.
‘The Hulkster’ has not wrestled since 2012 and his chances of competing in a WrestleMania main event in a third decade seem remote at best.
Triple H – 2000s, 2010s
‘The Game’ has headlined seven WrestleMania’s across two decades.
Triple H shockingly turned back the challenge of The Rock, Big Show and Mick Foley in the Fatal 4-Way top liner of WrestleMania 2000, to successfully defend his WWF Championship. That victory assured ‘The Cerebral Assassin’ was the first heel to leave ‘Mania as WWF Champion.
‘The Game’ defeated Chris Jericho at WrestleMania X-8 to win the Undisputed Championship. At WrestleMania XX, 21 and 22, Triple H dropped World Title matches to Chris Benoit, Batista and John Cena respectively. To close out the decade, Triple H main evented ‘Mania 25 in 2009 by successfully defending the WWE Championship opposite Randy Orton.
Triple H headlined his only WrestleMania of the 2010s against Roman Reigns in 2016, losing the WWE Championship in the process. Given, ‘The Game’s recent health issues, it looks unlikely that he will headline ‘Mania in a third decade.
Batista – 2000s, 2010s
Batista has headlined WrestleMania twice in two different decades. At WrestleMania 21, he defeated Triple H to win his first World Title.
Nine years later, in 2014, ‘The Animal’ found himself in the main event again as one of the challengers to Randy Orton’s WWE Championship at ‘Mania XXX.
Despite his second Royal Rumble win, Batista could not win his second ‘Mania main event. Batista submitted to Daniel Bryan’s Yes Lock, which earned Bryan the WWE Championship.
John Cena – 2000s, 2010s
John Cena headlined WrestleMania on five occasions across two decades. He main evented WrestleMania 22 when he successfully turned back the challenge of Triple H and retained his WWE Championship.
He defended the belt opposite Shawn Michaels in the WrestleMania 23 headliner but did not main event ‘The Showcase of the Immortals’ again that decade. Cena unsuccessfully challenged The Miz for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania XXVII, then clashed with The Rock in back to back WrestleMania events at ‘Mania XXVIII and 29.
Although Cena is now strictly a part-time performer and has not headlined the event since 2013, there is a distinct possibility that he could main event ‘The Granddaddy of Them All’ again, in a third different decade.
Edge – 2000s, 2020s
Edge has headlined WrestleMania twice, 13 years apart. Edge lost the World Heavyweight Championship in the phenomenal main event of WrestleMania XXIV.
‘The Rated-R Superstar’ returned to the main event at WrestleMania 37, when he, along with Daniel Bryan unsuccessfully challenged Roman Reigns for the Universal Title in the headliner of night two.
At 48-years of age, it appears unlikely Edge will headline the show again. He certainly won’t top the card in a third decade.
Randy Orton – 2000s, 2010s
Randy Orton surprisingly did not headline his first WrestleMania until 2009, despite capturing his first World Title five years earlier. By virtue of his 2009 Royal Rumble victory, ‘The Viper’ challenged Triple H for the WWE Championship. Unfortunately, for Orton he came up short in that bout.
Orton headlined his second ‘Mania in a second decade. At WrestleMania XXX in 2014, he defended the WWE Championship against Batista and Daniel Bryan in a Triple Threat Match. ‘The Viper’ lost that bout as well as Bryan lifted the gold after he forced ‘The Animal’ to submit.
Daniel Bryan – 2010s, 2020s
Daniel Bryan has closed WrestleMania twice in two different decades. At WrestleMania XXX, he memorably defeated WWE Champion, Randy Orton and Batista in the stunning top liner for the gold.
Bryan and Edge challenged Roman Reigns for the Universal Title in the headliner of night two of WrestleMania 37. Despite a creditable effort, ‘The American Dragon’ came up short in his quest for the belt.
Now a part of the AEW roster, Bryan will not feature in another ‘Mania main event, at least for several years.
Roman Reigns – 2010s, 2020s
Roman Reigns has headlined WrestleMania five times. He main evented four consecutive ‘Mania’s between 31 and 34. He failed to capture the WWE Championship from Brock Lesnar in the main event of ‘Mania 31. His former Shield buddy, Seth Rollins took the honours instead, when he successfully cashed in his Money In the Bank briefcase.
Reigns went one better the following year when he bested Triple H in an overlong bout at WrestleMania 32. He dropped The Undertaker in another disappointing battle at ‘Mania 33, before losing to Lesnar in the WrestleMania 34 headliner.
After a one year absence from ‘Mania, due to the Coronavirus pandemic, ‘The Big Dog’ returned to ‘The Showcase of the Immortals’ and the main event at WrestleMania 37 in the new decade. ‘The Tribal Chief’ smashed through Edge and Daniel Bryan to retain the Universal Title in a blinding contest. Reigns will headline the show once again in 2022, opposite perennial foe, Lesnar.
Shawn Michaels – 1990s, 2000s, 2010s
‘Mr WrestleMania’ first headlined WrestleMania in 1996 at the 12th instalment of ‘The Granddaddy of them all.’ Despite winning the 1995 Royal Rumble the previous year, Michaels had been forced to accept the semi-final spot instead for his unsuccessful WWF Championship challenge.
At WrestleMania XII, Michaels stole the show as he captured the WWF Title from Bret ‘Hitman’ Hart in an epic 60-minute Ironman match. Michaels missed the following year’s event with a knee injury/lost smile but headlined the show again in 1998. That year, ‘The Heartbreak Kid’ dropped the WWF Championship to Stone Cold Steve Austin in his final Federation bout in four years.
Michaels finally returned to the ‘Mania main event in 2004, in a stunning Triple Threat match opposite Triple H and Chris Benoit. He challenged John Cena for the gold in the ‘Mania 23 headliner and main evented the event for the final time in a Career versus Streak match against The Undertaker.
The bout with The Undertaker saw Michaels become the first wrestler in history to headline WrestleMania in three different decades. An incredible distinction.
Stone Cold Steve Austin – 1990s, 2000s, 2020s
Stone Cold Steve Austin challenged Shawn Michaels for the WWF Championship in his first WrestleMania main event. Stone Cold captured his first World Title in the WrestleMania XIV headliner and repeated the feat the following year when he successfully dethroned The Rock.
After missing WrestleMania 2000 through injury, Stone Cold main evented ‘Mania in 2001. ‘The Rattlesnake’ captured his fifth WWF Championship in the WrestleMania X-7 show closer.
‘The Bionic Redneck’ retired two years later, and neither of his ‘Mania appearances in 2002 or 2003 were in the main event slot.
However, Stone Cold made his long awaited return to the ring in the headliner of night one of WrestleMania 38, with a victory over Kevin Owens.
This ensured ‘The Rattlesnake’ holds the distinction of headlining ‘Mania across three different decades.
Brock Lesnar – 2000s, 2010s, 2020s
Brock Lesnar headlined his first ever WrestleMania at the 19th instalment on March 30, 2003, opposite Kurt Angle.
Lesnar’s second ‘Mania appearance the following year was his last for nine years. ‘The Beast’ finally returned to the headline spot at ‘Mania when he defended the WWE Championship versus Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 31 on March 29, 2015. He met Reigns again in the headliner of ‘Mania 34 in 2018.
‘The Beast’ main-evented night two of WrestleMania 36 on April 5, 2020 in a losing effort opposite Drew McIntyre. However, despite his defeat, this match earned Lesnar the distinction of competing in the main event of WrestleMania in three different decades. He headlined again in 2022 in another losing effort, with Reigns finally earning a measure of revenge by defeating Lesnar in a unification bout for the WWE and Universal Titles.
The Undertaker – 1990s, 2000s, 2010s, 2020s
The Undertaker is the first wrestler on this list who has actually competed in WrestleMania main events in four different decades.
That incredible run began in 1997 when ‘The Phenom’ relieved Sycho Sid of the WWF Championship in the main event of WrestleMania 13. He returned to the headline position over a decade later in 2008, defeating Edge for the World Heavyweight Championship in a blinding battle.
‘Taker ended Shawn Michaels’s career in the superlative headliner of ‘Mania XXVI in 2010 and competed in his second ‘Mania event of the decade in a losing effort opposite Roman Reigns.
The final match of The Undertaker’s incredible 30 year career saw him achieve the feat of headlining the show in four separate decades when he buried AJ Styles alive in the sterling main event of night one of WrestleMania 36.
The Rock – 1990s, 2000s, 2010s, 2020s
The Rock headlined three consecutive WrestleMania events between 1999 and 2001. All of those bouts were losing efforts in WWF Championship matches.
‘The People’s Champion’ finally returned to the ‘Mania main event after an 11 year absence at WrestleMania XXVIII. The Rock defeated John Cena to win his first ever ‘Mania main event. He headlined the show the following year, again opposite Cena, this time in a losing effort with the WWE Championship at stake.
At WrestleMania 40, ‘The Final Boss’ became the second wrestler to compete in WrestleMania main events across four separate decades. On WrestleMania Saturday, The Rock teamed with his cousin, Roman Reigns to defeat Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins. The Rock pinned Rhodes following a Peoples Elbow after an epic 45 minute contest.
You can watch every WrestleMania event exclusively on the WWE Network.