10 Greatest Performers In WrestleMania History
Big game players at the showcase of the immortals.
For sports entertainers seeking immortality, there’s no better place to leave your mark than WrestleMania.
The flagship show is the centrepiece of WWE’s calendar year, and the company does everything in its power to drag casual and even non-fans into their orbit along with the hardcore viewers. The eyes of the world are on you - it’s the chance to shine.
But in ‘Mania’s 38-year storied history, who has been able to leave the greatest mark of all? Hundreds of wrestlers have entered the squared circle in the nearly four decades that WWE has run the event. Some had just the one match, some plied their trade in the undercard for a while, some had mixed success.
A select few, though, have been able to make WrestleMania their own. Stealing the show is the aim of any performer worth their salt, and a handful of them have managed this year upon year.
These are the wrestlers for whom the term “WrestleMania moment” was coined, who seized Vince McMahon’s proverbial brass ring at the most crucial time of all - and in doing so guaranteed their place in the annals of wrestling history.
10. Bret Hart
The Excellence of Execution’s WrestleMania record is a tale of two halves. Between ‘Manias II and VII, he was an ever-present, though rarely in matches of much import, taking part in Battle Royales and serviceable if unexceptional tag matches alongside Jim Neidhart.
Things changed in ‘92, though, with Hart in the ascendancy and locking horns with megastar and Intercontinental Champion 'Rowdy' Roddy Piper. The longtime friends had a terrific, cleverly crafted match, maybe the best of Piper’s career; only Savage vs Flair can come close on the card.
From there, Hart hit the main event. His IX loss to Yokozuna is tainted due to the Hulk Hogan factor, but Bret owns ‘Mania X, opening and closing the show. Special mention must go to the former match against brother Owen, one of the all-time great first matches.
He saved the best for his penultimate WrestleMania, though - the famous submissions match against Steve Austin which saw Hart turn heel and made Austin an icon as he refused to tap to the sharpshooter. Hart’s ‘Mania record is spotty - he returned 13 years later for an interminable bout with Vince McMahon - but his best matches are untouchable.