10 Things Nobody Has Told You About WWE WrestleMania

8. WrestleMania IX Is NOT The Worst One

Triple H Roman Reigns
WWE.com

IX is the consensus worst WrestleMania, and it's certainly a bit poor, but how true is that?

There isn't a single good match at WrestleMania IV, though it delivered the correct, happy ending. The perception of IX as the all-time worst is informed by its own ending, but while it was a disgrace, pure desperation, the fans enjoyed it and Bret Hart did eventually become an established World champion. It was the principle of the thing, not the thing itself, and the thing didn't end up mattering too much.

Given the WWF's financial woes and downturn in popularity, IX's outdoor aesthetic was actually a spectacle as fun as it was resourceful. Even when Bob Backlund was somehow conspiring to remind fans of a time older than Ancient Rome, in an awful styles clash with Razor Ramon, the event still had a chintzy splendour to it.

Yes, even the good stuff was few, far between and too long - Shawn Michaels Vs. Tatanka, Steiners Vs. Headshrinkers - but Bret Hart was outstanding in the main event with Yokozuna, who never looked more like a dynamic, terrifying monster.

II was a low-rent experimental disaster, though the three cards did yield three cracking matches by the standard of the time. 32 was a two-match show with the most forced 'Moment' ever.

IV is the absolute worst for atmosphere and match quality. Unquestionably.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!