25 Best Wrestling PPVs Ever

24. WWF WrestleMania XIV

WrestleMania X Seven Poster
WWE.com

Best Match: Shawn Michaels Vs. Steve Austin

Worst Match: Tag Team Battle Royale

The show started inauspiciously - the spectacle associated with the Show of Shows was jarringly disregarded with the in media res sight of an action-free and jobberfied tag team battle royal opener - but it soon generated momentum through several exciting and markedly different matches, none of which dragged on any longer than they needed to.

The match between the Undertaker and Kane was a botch-friendly disappointment, given the smash success of the formidable, illustrious wider storyline which preceded it, but the significant crowd heat just about carried it. Elsewhere, much excitement was provided by the WWF's stable of young bucks, demonstrating that they were primed to wrest the crown of ratings king away from the self-styled "Big Boys" of WCW.

The main event between Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels didn't reach the impeccable standards they'd set at King Of The Ring '97, but it was miraculous in that both men were in considerable pain before the opening bell. Michaels' spine was so mangled that he barely appeared on television to promote it and would disappear from in-ring competition for four years, while Austin was still in the process of working out an adjusted in-ring style which wouldn't place an excruciating strain on his decimated neck.

No one match would prop up a best-ever playlist, but it is the consummate studio album of wrestling events.

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!