5 Opening WrestleMania Matches That Ruled (And 5 That Sucked)

The second most important match on the biggest show of the year?

By Lewis Howse /

So much importance is placed on the main event of WrestleMania and it's true that, yes, the so-called main event (or main events) are what a great deal of people are watching the event for. Such importance is placed on the show-closer and other blockbuster matches in the buildup to the event and, traditionally, they are given the most time and all the bells and whistles they need to match expectations. Nobody is doubting the importance of what is, in theory, the biggest match or matches of the year. Everyone recognises what is riding on them. However, fewer people seem to realise just how crucial the first match of the night is. If the main event is seen as the most important match of the show, then the opener can justifiably be called the second most important. It is the opener's job to get the crowd ready for the rest of the show and, ideally, the curtain-raiser will be a well-received and exciting affair that gets the crowd off their feet and excited for whatever is to come after it. WrestleMania has played host to many a rousing opener throughout the years, matches that have got the Showcase of the Immortals off on the right foot. Saying that, WrestleMania has also presented some truly dire opening matches in its 31-year history, contests that don't belong anywhere near pay-per-view, let alone the biggest show of the year. Whether it was down to the wrestlers in the match, time constraints or truly baffling booking decisions, these matches started the show on a truly sour note. With that in mind (and with WrestleMania 32 mere days away) let's take a look at five WrestleMania opening matches that ruled and their much suckier counterparts.