20 Incredible WWE Ruthless Aggression Era Moments Nobody Ever Talks About
11. Just How Great WrestleMania XXIV Was
People obviously talk about WrestleMania XXIV - it was a WrestleMania event - but they don't talk about it as one of the best ever.
They should.
X-Seven gets the most praise, for its range, its quality, its incredible scale. XIX is fondly remembered as an Attitude Era redux of sorts that peaked incredibly high across its demented Mr. McMahon theatre, emotive Rock Vs. Austin finale, and awesome pure wrestling in Shawn Michaels Vs. Chris Jericho and Kurt Angle Vs. Brock Lesnar. III and V boasted Hulk Hogan's most famous matches. X has the highest peaks. People rave about 31. 39 was one finish away from rivalling X-Seven.
XXIV is probably the second-best 'Mania ever, though.
The range was almost as impressive as X-Seven, missing just a technical classic. The JBL Vs. Finlay Belfast Brawl was thudding black comedy that didn't outstay its welcome; the Money In The Bank match while not a genre masterpiece was still incredibly exciting and dangerous; Ric Flair Vs. Shawn Michaels was as emotional a match as WWE has ever promoted, told with a unique take on the babyface versus heel dynamic; Floyd Mayweather Vs. the Big Show was an absolute riot of a celebrity match; the Edge Vs. Undertaker main event was vintage big match drama elevated by Edge's counter-fuelled brilliance, in how he always had an answer to the unsolvable puzzle, until he didn't.
Short on filler, WrestleMania XXIV was a complete experience that flew by.
Even the uninspiring Triple H Vs. John Cena Vs. Randy Orton WWE Title match recognised that the three players had dominated that scene for what felt like forever, and, instead of taking the piss, just got on with its unfussy, pulsating 14 minutes.
- MS