1. Hulk Hogan vs. Andre The Giant (WrestleMania 3)
When it comes to big matches, it never really got any bigger than this one. At the height of the 1980s wrestling boom, Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant were scheduled to compete for the WWE Championship, with Andre putting his 15-year undefeated record on the line. The crowd of 93,173 (an indoor record at the time) was solidly behind Hogan the entire contest, and he eventually retained his title after slamming Andre and hitting his signature leg drop. Although Hogan had already been the face of the company, this was the signature win that established him as a megastar, both in and out of the ring. The massive crowd in attendance dwarfed previous WrestleManias and showed that a national wrestling promotion could be extremely successful. Ultimately, the match between Hogan and Andre was the contest that resulted in the WWE evolving from a relatively successful promotion with a cult-like following to a global juggernaut that is now broadcast in over 150 countries worldwide. How do you feel about the matches on the list? Which is the most influential of all-time? Voice you opinion in the comments section.
Michael Hicks is a writer originally from Pittsburgh, PA. He has written for a number of websites about subjects ranging from professional wrestling to raw denim.
