10 Longest Gaps Between WWE Superstars' WrestleMania Matches
5. Bret Hart, Roddy Piper, Goldberg, Hillbilly Jim (13 Years)
One of these things is not like the other one... but all of them are now Hall of Famers.
'Rowdy' Roddy Piper was part of the first ever WrestleMania main event. It seemed that his memorable Hollywood Back Lot Brawl against Goldust at WrestleMania XII would be his last match at the event, as he made multiple appearances in the years following but never as an active competitor. That was until WrestleMania 25, when he took part in a Handicap Match against Chris Jericho, thirteen years after undressing Goldust.
Bret Hart had given Piper his best WrestleMania match at VIII, in the middle of a then-record twelve straight 'Mania appearances. That run ended with not only one of the best WrestleMania matches of all time, but one of the best wrestling matches of all time against Steve Austin at WrestleMania 13. The Montreal Screwjob meant it would take thirteen years for a 'Hitman' return, although it was in one of the worst WrestleMania matches of all time, against Mr. McMahon at WrestleMania XXVI.
Goldberg interestingly has only had two WrestleMania matches, thirteen years apart, and both against Brock Lesnar. They contrast greatly in quality and crowd reaction. As for his fellow 2018 Hall of Fame inductee, Hillbilly Jim did very little in the 20-Man Battle Royal at WrestleMania IV, and hadn't missed a step in doing very little in X-Seven's Gimmick Battle Royal.