10 WrestleMania Openers Better Than The Main Event
7. The Rockers Vs. The Barbarian & Haku ('Mania VII)
Exactly one year before he faced Tito Santana, Shawn Michaels was in a tag-team match in the opening slot at WrestleMania VII.
Initially, Michaels and his then partner Marty Jannetty were feeling pretty bummed out by being on so early, but Pat Patterson reportedly told them that this was their chance to steal the show.
Facing The Barbarian and Haku, The Rockers were the smaller men in the match, a fact that created a good dynamic for the proceedings, with the babyfaces looking to nip around the lumbering giant, Barbarian, and the smashmouth specialist Haku.
No less than 10 minutes after the match-starting bell, Michaels and Jannetty were victorious.
Meanwhile in the main event, Sgt. Slaughter and Hulk Hogan worked a far slower pace. Just like it would around 12 months later, this worked in Shawn's favour. Marty and he looked terrific in the opening match, which came across as much more exciting than the archaic main event snoozefest.