50 Must-See WrestleMania Matches
1. Hulk Hogan Vs. Andre The Giant – WrestleMania 3
“This is the biggest match in the history of professional wrestling.”
Is there any doubt for what’s the biggest, greatest, most important match in WrestleMania history? Certainly, there have been much better matches quality-wise, and there have been some serious star-making performances that put wrestlers on a new level. But Jesse “The Body” Ventura’s words still ring true today. This still is the biggest match in the history of professional wrestling.
Younger fans might not understand, but in 1987, Hulk Hogan was three years into the Hulkamania wave, still riding high as the biggest icon in the industry, gracing magazine covers and doing public appearances everywhere. Andre had been the biggest attraction in wrestling for well over a decade and was one of the most recognizable people in the world. He also was loved as a “gentle giant.”
So when Andre turned heel and enlisted the help of Hogan arch-nemesis Bobby “The Brain” Heenan to set up a world title match at WrestleMania 3, it was a huge deal. As a match, Andre and Hulk had an absolute clunker, but you couldn’t tell by the sheer volume of the 93,000 (if you believe Vince McMahon) in attendance. This match helped WWF, WrestleMania and the entire industry of professional wrestling ascend to the next level. If you are a professional wrestling fan, there is no bigger match that you absolutely must watch.