10 Fascinating Tales From WWE WrestleMania History

Whether good, bad, or middle ground, each WrestleMania, without exception, adds new images to the event's overall scrapbook.

Moments in time are indelibly woven into our subconscious, the colourful fodder that fills many a video package, and serve to help define their eras. Even for those who crave excellent matches as a rule secretly know that it's those portraits in time that endure the most.

On the verge of the latest Showcase of the Immortals, we do as we are wont to do on an annual basis, and that's look back at the totality of WrestleMania's three-plus decade history.

We all know the matches we wish to re-watch, the moments we yearn to relive. And with the passing years we learn more about those storied instants, as the principals and peripherals of those scenes have shared priceless tales that serve to enhance those legends.

The following listicle will examine 10 iconic WrestleMania moments and scenes that help construct the pillars of the event's everlasting backbone, and we'll delve beyond the front page to learn a little something extra about these enduring scenarios.

10. Convenient Banking

Roman Reigns had WWE Champion Brock Lesnar dead to rights. The champ was bleeding like a stuck pig, and had been battered by a parade of Superman punches and spears.

Lesnar, however, had the wherewithal to snatch the supercharged challenger out of the air and plant him with a bone-crunching F5.

With both men lying prone, those familiar guitar riffs hit, and out came Seth Freakin' Rollins, toting that Money in the Bank briefcase. Before you knew it, Reigns endured an ardent stomp that gave the gold to the intruder.

The plan to put the belt on red-hot Rollins as opposed to the less-popular Reigns wasn't put into motion until deep into the WrestleMania card.

It was during the segment in which The Rock and Ronda Rousey put Triple H and Stephanie McMahon in their place that Michael Hayes summoned Reigns, Rollins, Lesnar, and Paul Heyman into a room to tell them plans had changed, and Rollins was going to cash in that night, inside of the next hour.

Plan A was for a clean 'Big Dog' title victory, and when that went out the window, Reigns' father, Wild Samoan Sika, reportedly nearly caused an ugly scene by flying off the handle.

I mean, you’d think the veteran would know it’s a work by now…

10. Convenient Banking

Roman Reigns had WWE Champion Brock Lesnar dead to rights. The champ was bleeding like a stuck pig, and had been battered by a parade of Superman punches and spears.

Lesnar, however, had the wherewithal to snatch the supercharged challenger out of the air and plant him with a bone-crunching F5.

With both men lying prone, those familiar guitar riffs hit, and out came Seth Freakin' Rollins, toting that Money in the Bank briefcase. Before you knew it, Reigns endured an ardent stomp that gave the gold to the intruder.

The plan to put the belt on red-hot Rollins as opposed to the less-popular Reigns wasn't put into motion until deep into the WrestleMania card.

It was during the segment in which The Rock and Ronda Rousey put Triple H and Stephanie McMahon in their place that Michael Hayes summoned Reigns, Rollins, Lesnar, and Paul Heyman into a room to tell them plans had changed, and Rollins was going to cash in that night, inside of the next hour.

Plan A was for a clean 'Big Dog' title victory, and when that went out the window, Reigns' father, Wild Samoan Sika, reportedly nearly caused an ugly scene by flying off the handle.

I mean, you’d think the veteran would know it’s a work by now…

9. Hands Off The Merchandise

Shawn Michaels was not in the best place mentally or physically rolling into WrestleMania 14.

The WWE Champion was ravaged by life-altering back injuries, and he knew that his days inside the ring were likely numbered. Facing an uncertain future at age 32, Michaels prepared to drop the belt to Stone Cold Steve Austin in the event's final match.

That weekend, Michaels angrily walked out of a company-sanctioned rally after being hit with something thrown by a fan, and, prior to the match, was reportedly menaced by Undertaker into making sure he did the honours the way it was written.

Upsetting the apple cart was the post-match scene, in which Mike Tyson, after double-crossing HBK, KO'ed the now-former champ with a solid right hand.

Michaels objected to a pre-match idea to have Tyson drape an Austin 3:16 shirt over his swollen face, believing it was overkill.

But "Iron Mike" carried through with that plan, and once backstage, a livid Michaels made a small scene on his way out of the building. Per Michaels' own recollections, he angrily chewed out Shane McMahon with a fiery promo before storming off into the night like an angry Sexy Boy.

9. Hands Off The Merchandise

Shawn Michaels was not in the best place mentally or physically rolling into WrestleMania 14.

The WWE Champion was ravaged by life-altering back injuries, and he knew that his days inside the ring were likely numbered. Facing an uncertain future at age 32, Michaels prepared to drop the belt to Stone Cold Steve Austin in the event's final match.

That weekend, Michaels angrily walked out of a company-sanctioned rally after being hit with something thrown by a fan, and, prior to the match, was reportedly menaced by Undertaker into making sure he did the honours the way it was written.

Upsetting the apple cart was the post-match scene, in which Mike Tyson, after double-crossing HBK, KO'ed the now-former champ with a solid right hand.

Michaels objected to a pre-match idea to have Tyson drape an Austin 3:16 shirt over his swollen face, believing it was overkill.

But "Iron Mike" carried through with that plan, and once backstage, a livid Michaels made a small scene on his way out of the building. Per Michaels' own recollections, he angrily chewed out Shane McMahon with a fiery promo before storming off into the night like an angry Sexy Boy.

8. A Fairytale Ending

There weren't too many dry eyes in the Los Angeles Sports Arena at WrestleMania 7, when Macho Man Randy Savage and Miss Elizabeth reunited after two kayfabe years apart.

Savage had just seen his career end at the hands of The Ultimate Warrior, and, in his prone state, was being angrily kicked by an irate Sensational Sherri. Elizabeth burst from the crowd in order to save the man she still loved, and when Randy realized what had transpired, he embraced the woman he knew he'd always loved.

Savage returned to the ring that fall after eight months of inactivity, entering into a feud with Jake Roberts. While the obvious joke is that retirements in wrestling mean about as much as vows at a Kardashian wedding, Savage apparently had intended to stay retired.

At 38 years old, he coveted a normal home life with Elizabeth, save for commentary spots and other guest appearances.

But when the babyface side of the roster ailing after Warrior's August 1991 firing and the erosion of Hulk Hogan's public image, Vince McMahon began aggressively working to convince Savage to return, and Macho ultimately relented.

8. A Fairytale Ending

There weren't too many dry eyes in the Los Angeles Sports Arena at WrestleMania 7, when Macho Man Randy Savage and Miss Elizabeth reunited after two kayfabe years apart.

Savage had just seen his career end at the hands of The Ultimate Warrior, and, in his prone state, was being angrily kicked by an irate Sensational Sherri. Elizabeth burst from the crowd in order to save the man she still loved, and when Randy realized what had transpired, he embraced the woman he knew he'd always loved.

Savage returned to the ring that fall after eight months of inactivity, entering into a feud with Jake Roberts. While the obvious joke is that retirements in wrestling mean about as much as vows at a Kardashian wedding, Savage apparently had intended to stay retired.

At 38 years old, he coveted a normal home life with Elizabeth, save for commentary spots and other guest appearances.

But when the babyface side of the roster ailing after Warrior's August 1991 firing and the erosion of Hulk Hogan's public image, Vince McMahon began aggressively working to convince Savage to return, and Macho ultimately relented.

7. Stone Cold Swerve

WWE

Two decades later, the shock still resonates.

Stone Cold Steve Austin, insisting that he "needed" to beat WWE Champion The Rock more than anything else come WrestleMania 17 in Houston, resorts to enlisting sworn enemy Vince McMahon to help him carry out the deed.

A distinct mixture of cheers and confusion greeted Austin after he used approximately 86 chair shots to batter The Great One unconscious, with the explicit Devil's Advocate handshake that followed making for quite the galling Polaroid.

Initially, Austin was on board with the heel turn, feeling that he'd grown stale as a babyface, and needed something to spruce up the Stone Cold character.

However, Austin later admitted that he felt the excellence of his match with Rock had renewed his spark, and by the time McMahon inserted himself into the match, he was regretting agreeing to the turn.

He also adds that he wishes he'd called an audible and dropped Vince with a Stunner during the celebration, to try and remain a babyface. It wouldn't have explained why super-tough Austin needed help to beat his greatest rival, however, and instead, Austin played it evil for the next eight months.

6. Piper Without Pity

WWE

Much of WrestleMania 1's success was due to Vince McMahon's proficiency in blending larger-than-life wrestling with cheerfully-gaudy pop culture, creating a potent formula that The Chairman has continued to concoct ever since.

A-Team star Mr. T was tabbed for the tag team main event, joined at the hip of WWE Champion Hulk Hogan in battle with Rowdy Roddy Piper and "Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff.

Complications arose, however, and it was more than just the prospect of putting a novice outsider like Clubber Lang in such a high-profile wrestling match.

It's been made quite clear through the years that Piper and Mr. T did not like one another, and by some accounts, Orndorff wasn't fond of the TV tough guy, either.

The heat among these parties had grown so intense that on WrestleMania Sunday, Mr. T nearly walked out of the show, reportedly due to a fear that Piper (a Gold Gloves boxer who also had a background in judo) would try to shoot on him.

Hogan allegedly had to keep Mr. T calm, reassuring him that The Hot Rod would play ball. The two enemies ended up working together without any incident and then fought the following year in a worked boxing match.

5. The Next Big Squash

The match was about 14 minutes long, but it felt more like 14 hours.

Brock Lesnar and Bill Goldberg were preparing to exit WWE following their once-anticipated clash at WrestleMania 20, and the fans would've rather eaten Ramen noodles out of a colostomy bag than care one iota about this match.

Neither wrestler cared much either, performing as though their legs were made of concrete. After 14 of the most boring minutes you ever did see, Goldberg won the match long rendered moot.

The original plan for the match was much different, and had Lesnar not assertively quit the company two weeks earlier, it's the ending we would have gotten.

When Goldberg was the only one of the two brutes that was leaving, Lesnar was set to crush "Da Man" in about 30 seconds.

After Brock decided he'd be exiting through the same door, Goldberg was given the "who cares" victory instead. Lesnar assumes it's because Vince was angrier about him leaving than he was about Goldberg's departure.

And it’s that sort of cavalier and short-sighted decision making that makes the COO professional wrestling’s foremost creative genius, pal.

5. The Next Big Squash

The match was about 14 minutes long, but it felt more like 14 hours.

Brock Lesnar and Bill Goldberg were preparing to exit WWE following their once-anticipated clash at WrestleMania 20, and the fans would've rather eaten Ramen noodles out of a colostomy bag than care one iota about this match.

Neither wrestler cared much either, performing as though their legs were made of concrete. After 14 of the most boring minutes you ever did see, Goldberg won the match long rendered moot.

The original plan for the match was much different, and had Lesnar not assertively quit the company two weeks earlier, it's the ending we would have gotten.

When Goldberg was the only one of the two brutes that was leaving, Lesnar was set to crush "Da Man" in about 30 seconds.

After Brock decided he'd be exiting through the same door, Goldberg was given the "who cares" victory instead. Lesnar assumes it's because Vince was angrier about him leaving than he was about Goldberg's departure.

And it’s that sort of cavalier and short-sighted decision making that makes the COO professional wrestling’s foremost creative genius, pal.

4. The Gift Of Time

The Intercontinental Title ladder match pitting Razor Ramon against Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania 10 easily ranks among the most influential showcases in the history of the business, creating the template that similar high-wire stunt shows have cribbed from for the last 25 years.

Subjectively, it's a five-star match, the perfect blend of gritty competition and jaw-dropping athletics. At a shade under 19 minutes of bell to bell action, the opus doesn't overstay its welcome, either.

Or did it?

In reality, the match actually went on longer than it was allotted for, causing a ten-man tag featuring Jeff Jarrett, 123 Kid, The Headshrinkers, and others to be pulled from the show, due to time constraints.

One match entrant, the always-chipper Bob Holly, claimed that both Ramon and Michaels were given several cues to "go home", which went ignored as they continued to weave their tale.

Once the pair made it through the curtain, Holly adds that Randy Savage angrily tore into both men for their apparent selfishness, furiously cursing them for costing other wrestlers their time to perform.

4. The Gift Of Time

The Intercontinental Title ladder match pitting Razor Ramon against Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania 10 easily ranks among the most influential showcases in the history of the business, creating the template that similar high-wire stunt shows have cribbed from for the last 25 years.

Subjectively, it's a five-star match, the perfect blend of gritty competition and jaw-dropping athletics. At a shade under 19 minutes of bell to bell action, the opus doesn't overstay its welcome, either.

Or did it?

In reality, the match actually went on longer than it was allotted for, causing a ten-man tag featuring Jeff Jarrett, 123 Kid, The Headshrinkers, and others to be pulled from the show, due to time constraints.

One match entrant, the always-chipper Bob Holly, claimed that both Ramon and Michaels were given several cues to "go home", which went ignored as they continued to weave their tale.

Once the pair made it through the curtain, Holly adds that Randy Savage angrily tore into both men for their apparent selfishness, furiously cursing them for costing other wrestlers their time to perform.

3. As Shocked As You Are

April 6, 2014 marked a sombre occasion for wrestling fans, a moment that those who acknowledge the status quo never saw coming.

It was in the Superdome at WrestleMania 30 that Brock Lesnar deposited a foggy Undertaker onto the canvas with a third F5, before ending the Dead Man's 23-year-old WrestleMania win streak with the ensuing pin-fall.

The shock that swept over the 70,000+ fans on hand, and the millions watching from home, is a feeling not soon to be forgotten.

Just as stunned had to have been veteran referee Chad Patton, the presiding official for the match.

According to The Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Patton was told that Undertaker was winning the match, but knew to call the match as a shoot, meaning if somebody doesn't get their shoulder up in time, to continue the counting cadence without disrupting yourself.

When Undertaker stayed down for the F5, it's possible that in the moment, Patton didn't know what to think, except that perhaps Undertaker was too hurt to kick out "as intended".

Very few people were clued in to the legitimate finish, and the referee was not one of them, which must have made him feel just wonderful as he counted the fateful three.

3. As Shocked As You Are

April 6, 2014 marked a sombre occasion for wrestling fans, a moment that those who acknowledge the status quo never saw coming.

It was in the Superdome at WrestleMania 30 that Brock Lesnar deposited a foggy Undertaker onto the canvas with a third F5, before ending the Dead Man's 23-year-old WrestleMania win streak with the ensuing pin-fall.

The shock that swept over the 70,000+ fans on hand, and the millions watching from home, is a feeling not soon to be forgotten.

Just as stunned had to have been veteran referee Chad Patton, the presiding official for the match.

According to The Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Patton was told that Undertaker was winning the match, but knew to call the match as a shoot, meaning if somebody doesn't get their shoulder up in time, to continue the counting cadence without disrupting yourself.

When Undertaker stayed down for the F5, it's possible that in the moment, Patton didn't know what to think, except that perhaps Undertaker was too hurt to kick out "as intended".

Very few people were clued in to the legitimate finish, and the referee was not one of them, which must have made him feel just wonderful as he counted the fateful three.

2. Liquid Energy

Nobody will ever argue that Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant's historic clash for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 3 was a scientific classic, but really, who the hell cares?

The mythology of their battle inside the Pontiac Silverdome before a reported 93,000 fans outsizes virtually every other match in history. The visual of Hogan hoisting Andre into the "slam heard 'round the world" is forever etched into pro wrestling lore.

Even more legendary are the reports of Andre's pre-game routine.

You've probably heard countless stories about Andre and his titanium liver, the drinking stories that leave even the craziest fraternity bros picking their jaws up off the floor.

One of those oft-recounted tales involves Andre at WrestleMania 3, as the aging goliath reportedly downed 14 bottles of wine before taking to the ring to face Hulk that night.

Yeah, he drinks…

It's possible that the total number of bottles could have been embellished for story's sake, but whatever amount of alcohol Andre guzzled before riding down the aisle that night is probably still enough to leave you or I hungover until August.

And also, along with his crippling back injuries, accounts for why old Fezzik looked like Tipsy McSwagger on the Grandest Stage of Them All.

2. Liquid Energy

Nobody will ever argue that Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant's historic clash for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 3 was a scientific classic, but really, who the hell cares?

The mythology of their battle inside the Pontiac Silverdome before a reported 93,000 fans outsizes virtually every other match in history. The visual of Hogan hoisting Andre into the "slam heard 'round the world" is forever etched into pro wrestling lore.

Even more legendary are the reports of Andre's pre-game routine.

You've probably heard countless stories about Andre and his titanium liver, the drinking stories that leave even the craziest fraternity bros picking their jaws up off the floor.

One of those oft-recounted tales involves Andre at WrestleMania 3, as the aging goliath reportedly downed 14 bottles of wine before taking to the ring to face Hulk that night.

Yeah, he drinks…

It's possible that the total number of bottles could have been embellished for story's sake, but whatever amount of alcohol Andre guzzled before riding down the aisle that night is probably still enough to leave you or I hungover until August.

And also, along with his crippling back injuries, accounts for why old Fezzik looked like Tipsy McSwagger on the Grandest Stage of Them All.

1. Blood From A Stone

WWE

If you run down the list of wrestlers who became bigger stars after *losing* a match, you'll find some famous examples.

Michaels in the aforementioned ladder match comes to mind, as does Mick Foley's near-deadly performance inside Hell in a Cell.

Stone Cold Steve Austin, however, is A1 on that list after his submission match with Bret Hart at WrestleMania 13. Not only is the match considered one of the greatest matches in WWE history, but it featured a well-crafted double turn, with The Hitman becoming a bitter heel, and The Texas Rattlesnake a valiant warrior.

To achieve that effect, Austin bled profusely prior to being trapped hopelessly in Hart's Sharpshooter.

The visual of Austin groaning while streaks of crimson raced down his mug is forever timeless and, in the moment, an act of defiance. WWE had a strict no-blading policy at the time, and Hart and Austin discreetly took it upon themselves to heighten the drama with a little cutting.

Hart managed to blade Austin's eyebrow mere feet away from McMahon at the commentary desk, and he was none the wiser.

The two managed to pass it off as 'hard way' blood, not that McMahon probably minded all that much in the months ahead, as Austin skyrocketed to stardom.