10 Absolute Worst Matches In The History Of WrestleMania

The word "Wrestle" might literally appear on the Show of Shows marquee, but it has traditionally taken a backseat to bombast. That's not to say its rich history doesn't boast many a classic, but its priorities are oddly skewed; Rey Mysterio Vs. CM Punk was allocated half the time Bret Hart Vs. Vince McMahon was at WrestleMania XXVI. WrestleMania isn't - or at least wasn't - all about wrestling. Accordingly, some of the very worst matches ever took place under its legendary banner.

Some exemptions:

Something like Big Show Vs. Akebono, from WrestleMania 21, wasn't a pro wrestling match. It was a novelty attraction designed to make inroads into the Japanese market (it failed to make much of a dent, funnily enough). Similarly, the interminable boxing match between Mr. T and Roddy Piper at 'Mania 2 is also disqualified. Besides which, it went fifteen minutes. Once was enough.

For the sake of variety, if not accuracy, a one match per show limit has been enforced. The abomination that was WrestleMania IX warrants a list all of its own.

Likewise, WWE cared so little about women's wrestling prior to the emergence of the Four Horsewomen that essentially 95% of every women's match could feasibly make up 100% of this list, but only two made the cut. Those matches weren't meant to be five star classics, so it would hardly be fair - but two are so irredeemable that they demand inclusion...

By 2010, it's fair to state that few wrestling fans remained desperate to see Vince McMahon receive his comeuppance for the Montreal Screwjob. The vast majority actually preferred to love to hate Vince McMahon than they loved to love Hart just months after it happened.

In any event, it was rewarding to see Bret Hart return to WWE television, if only because it meant he had made (some semblance of) peace about the whole thing. The match was predicated on Hart's revenge, and in fairness, it captured his motive perfectly. Hart, having been installed as a guest bloody referee on his WCW debut, probably did daydream about smashing Vince with a lead pipe and a steel chair for ten minutes straight - but that doesn't necessarily mean it made for an entertaining simulation of combat. It was as uncomfortable for the viewer to watch as it must have been for McMahon to endure.

Hart was physically incapable and legally disallowed (as a result of his Lloyds of London insurance policy) from taking bumps - which naturally wasn't acknowledged on WWE television - so it's not as if there was scope for much else.

That said, the match went 11:07. The whole thing could have been achieved in a quarter of the time.