10 Great WWE WrestleMania Matches That Went Under Ten Minutes

8. Taka Michinoku Vs. Aguila - WrestleMania XIV

Taka Aguila 2
WWE.com

During its short existence, the WWF Light Heavyweight Championship was defended just once at WrestleMania. This match took place at WrestleMania XIV and pitted champion, Taka Michinoku, against Aguila, who was just 19-years-old at the time.

Aguila, who would later be known as Essa Rios in WWF, put on a great show against one of the best wrestlers in the world at the time. Michinoku and Rios traded high-flying moves in this sub-six minute encounter and showcased a style that was very much not the mainstream.

Alongside the cruiserweights in WCW, men like Taka and Aguila were promoting a style of wrestling that was totally unique to North American audiences. They stood out from their peers like a sore thumb and offered an athletic alternative to the bloody brawls of the Attitude Era.

Guys like Taka and Aguila served as a huge inspiration for today's high-flyers. A performance like this on a stage as big as WrestleMania could easily have been seen by some future stars of the industry.

Whilst this match may not be that important in the grand scheme of Light Heavyweight wrestling, it was still a massive step for WWF - historically known as "The Land of the Giants" - to give air time to smaller performers.

Contributor
Contributor

Jacob Simmons has a great many passions, including rock music, giving acclaimed films three-and-a-half stars, watching random clips from The Simpsons on YouTube at 3am, and writing about himself in the third person.