25 Best Wrestling PPVs Ever

3. WWE WrestleMania XIX

WrestleMania X Seven Poster
WWE.com

Best Match: Chris Jericho Vs. Shawn Michaels

Worst Match: Fatal Four-Way Pillow Fight

Had there been a TLC stunt show on the card, it might have been eclipsed the number one entry on this list - but that isn't damning the Triple Threat WWE Tag Team Title match with faint praise. Even at just 08:46, it was a gripping all-action affair which propped up a slightly uneven undercard.

Chris Jericho Vs. Shawn Michaels set the tone and the standard for the rest of the card; a technical and cerebral storytelling masterclass, Jericho, even in defeat, had succeeded in his stated aim to match the reputation of his wrestling idol with carefully-escalated character performance, capped off with that famous low blow.

Triple H Vs. Booker T lets the side down - it was an average effort made contemptible by Triple H's ridiculously late pin - but the card reaches the G.O.A.T bracket soon afterwards with a trilogy of three very different heated matches - Hulk Hogan Vs. Vince McMahon is a camp delight, Steve Austin Vs. The Rock is an emotional demonstration of legacy and fortitude, and Brock Lesnar Vs. Kurt Angle is an ultra-believable exhibition of pure wrestling.

The show's fearsome reputation has only grown with time, given that the extent of the adverse circumstances behind the Austin and Rock bout emerged afterwards. The Lesnar Shooting Star Press botch took many out of the action on the night, too.

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!