10 Hugely Underrated WWE WrestleMania Matches

WrestleMania IX is remembered as an abysmal show, but in reality, three matches delivered, even if two of which - Shawn Michaels Vs. Tatanka and The Steiner Brothers Vs. The Headshrinkers - went overlong. Since Bob Backlund and Crush were the next big babyface hopefuls, that is understandable. There was so little quality on the WWF roster that quantity was emphasised.

The naturally overshadowed main event was pitched as perfectly as it could have been, before Hulk Hogan sort of set wrestling back a few years and wider society decades with his challenge to Bret Hart or, in the event of his victory, the "Jap, brother!"

At just under nine minutes in length, this flattered the talented Yokozuna by showcasing his refined and improbable athleticism without exposing him. As if proving that his style of wrestling was superior and more athletic than the man minutes from taking his spot, Hart immediately launched a front dropkick missile at his mammoth opponent before pounding Yoko’s face in on the turnbuckle. Unlike his predecessor and temporary successor, Hart either refused to sell hysterically or wasn’t capable of manipulating the audience by doing very little. In any event, he sold Yoko’s battering ram as if caught in the backdraft of gigantic explosion, crafting both a dynamic match and a reason for his faithful to get behind him.

It was great and defiant performance from the Hitman, the sort of which allowed fans more interested in the fad than the art to stick with the WWF throughout the wilderness years. Substituting magic for tactics, Bret attempted to trap Yoko in the ropes before smothering him with a vaulting Lou Thesz process. Nothing worked.

He sold the monster by being unable to overcome it, selling like a pro for Yoko’s freight train power game.