10 Best Gimmick WrestleMania Matches
9. Shawn Michaels Vs. Bret Hart (Iron Man Match) - WrestleMania XII
Shawn Michaels' moniker of Mr. WrestleMania is one that he earned through his reliable ability to deliver matches that were nothing short of exceptional. However, this one may have just been the one that changed the course of his career.
The expectation of the Iron Man match is to wrestle for 60 minutes, but with two exceptional talents like Michaels and Bret Hart, it meant to wrestle well for 60 minutes - and, for the most part, that's exactly what they did at WrestleMania 12.
Yes, it did begin a little lacklustre in comparison to how it ended, but that right there is what we like to call storytelling. Given the length of an Iron Man match, it's incredibly hard to sustain the audience's interest for the whole hour, so the fact that the standard increased as it went on really is a testament to the talent of both superstars.
Over the years, response to this bout has varied with the apparent backstage shenanigans and one-fall politics souring some people's view of it - but the truth is that two outstanding performers gave fans everything they had for 60 minutes on the Grandest Stage of Them All and, in the process, produced one of the most pivotal moments of Shawn Michaels' career. And that ensured that it transcended any gimmick or gossip.