WWE: 15 Most Important Undercard Matches In WrestleMania History

10. Edge vs Mick Foley, Hardcore Match (WrestleMania 22)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRqDDnRap9I Another match buried deep in the under-card, this match went on to win several Match of the Year awards for 2006 and it's not difficult to see why as both Foley and Edge endured a hell of a lot of pain to make this match a resounding success. In addition to providing the live fans in Chicago and millions the world over a brutal bout for the ages, with one of the most memorable spots in Wrestlemania history, this match served to fulfill two primary purposes that have been the subject of much promotion ever since: 1: Mick Foley's "Wrestlemania Moment". In spite of being a top star for WWE between the years of his debut in 1996 and his retirement in the year 2000, Foley found himself in that CM Punk-esque position of working high profile matches all year long, only to be passed over in favour of others (namely Austin and Rock) when the big dance came along. In spite of his defeat, this match and particularly the finish I made reference to above, have since become regarded as Foley's one big Wrestlemania moment, played continuously in highlight packages since. AND 2: Solidifying Edge's rise to main event status. Having just made history by cashing in the first Money in the Bank contract that he won a year prior two months before Wrestlemania, Edge had a brief, 3-week run as WWE Champion, during which ratings for Raw rose considerably, before dropping the title back to John Cena. Essentially existing then as a transitional champion, Edge's Wrestlemania feud with Foley smacked of a consolation prize for the "Rated R Superstar" as Cena would go on to close the show against Triple H. I can only imagine it must have felt vindicating to Edge that it was his match that people were speaking the most highly about the following day as Edge went the extra mile here. He would go on to regain the WWE Title later that year.