33 WWE WrestleMania Opening Matches Ranked From Worst To Best

Emphasis on Worst.

Triple H Daniel Bryan WrestleMania XXX
WWE.com

WrestleMania.

Reading that word should trigger the usual memories of iconic moments played out over the glorious spectacle of an endless vista of rabid fans fulfilling a once-in-a-lifetime bucket list dream.

It probably doesn't trigger memories of hot opening matches because, strangely, the Show of Shows boasts precious few of them. You'd expect WWE to open what is promoted as the absolute pinnacle of electrifying entertainment on a high note, as opposed to, say, a bobbins Battle Royal contested by such luminaries as Sniper and Miguel Perez, Jr.

It's a tough one, predicting what will open WrestleMania 34. The Intercontinental Title Triple Threat Match is a no-brainer; we already know that The Miz, Seth Rollins and Finn Bálor are capable of orchestrating a frenzied reaction because we already saw the match on RAW last year. Charlotte Vs. Asuka is a major match that may require an audience not completely frazzled to generate the deserved reaction. Ditto the Usos' forever delayed and richly deserved first 'Mania match proper.

At this rate, even a match threatening prolonged and leaden exchanges between Randy Orton and Jinder Mahal will crack the top 15...

33. Sheamus Vs. Daniel Bryan - WrestleMania XXVIII

Triple H Daniel Bryan WrestleMania XXX
WWE.com

Forget the narrative that this ultimately helped Daniel Bryan. An accidental once-in-a-lifetime convergence of uproar and resistance is not the most effective method of building a wrestling megastar. Wrestling should be much easier than that. This in isolation was an insult to Bryan and his growing army of fans, souring both the mood of the show and at least the next three matches on the card.

Randy Orton vs. Kane in particular died a death, but then, they did wrestle a ponderous match of, at best, TV quality.

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!