33 WWE WrestleMania Opening Matches Ranked From Worst To Best

19. Tito Santana Vs. The Executioner - WrestleMania

Triple H Daniel Bryan WrestleMania XXX
WWE Network

Loose ropes, tight work: the fans couldn't care less that the Executioner gimmick was default '80s jobber schtick, or that a legitimate territorial star was the man behind the mask in a sort of proto-Vince repackage special. This was the first match on a massively-hyped card, and Tito Santana entered an energetic high-flying performance by the standards of the time, whipping up the MSG crowd into an enhanced mode of excitement.

A miscommunication between the referee and the timekeeper marred the finish, but Santana and the former Buddy Rose were in tune.

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!