Get excited, WWE fans, as Wrestlemania is coming soon.
The greatest show in sports entertainment is scheduled for the 2nd and 3rd of April at AT&T Stadium in Dallas. Fans can expect to see the biggest stars in the game battle it out for glory, with some celebrity appearances thrown in for good measure.
Wrestlemania is an extravaganza that promises excitement, drama, and incredible battles for a coveted WWE belt.
But what if the event fails to live up to its lofty expectations?
It’s happened before. Here are our five worst Wrestlemania matches.
5. Undertaker vs Giant Gonzales
The Deadman took on the eight-foot-tall Giant Gonzales in an underwhelming match at Wrestlemania 9. Gonzales’ targeting of Undertaker from his debut at the 1993 Royal Rumble ignited this short-lived feud.
The match itself was not too long in duration, coming in just under 8 minutes. The main issue, however, was the stiff nature of the wrestling. The bodysuit that Gonzales wore severely limited his movement.
Giant’s disqualification put fans out of their misery; he knocked out Undertaker with a chloroform rag to try and take the victory. The shockingly lousy ending, plus the lifeless battle beforehand, made for a stinker of a match.
4. Triple H vs Randy Orton
In a long-standing and violent feud, Triple H and Randy Orton locked horns at Wrestlemania 25. This was meant to be the climax of months of personal attacks between the pair, including Orton attacking The Game’s family.
However, their headline event at the show of shows was more of a whimper. Yes, they did have to try and follow up the iconic matchup between Shawn Michaels and Undertaker, but their fight was still disappointing. A disqualification stipulation that could cost Triple H his belts ruled out pure violence too. Boo.
3. Big Show vs Akebono
A completely different type of match, Big Show took on Japanese Sumo wrestling champion Akebono in a Sumo match. It was a unique and memorable occasion, full of traditions seen in typical Sumo matches. It is impossible not to mention the fact that the fighters were in traditional sumo dress, too – not your standard family viewing.
But that doesn’t make for particularly exciting WWE viewing. Big Show ultimately was thrown out of the ring by his far more experienced opponent, after what felt like one too many a dramatic stare down. The WWE star called his loss to Akebono the most embarrassing moment of his career.
2. Brock Lesnar vs Goldberg
This could have been a battle for the ages going into Wrestlemania 20. Brock Lesnar was at the top of his game, claiming he could beat anyone in the world.
Goldberg wanted to try his luck against The ‘Next Big Thing.’
The pair meddled in each other’s matches at Royal Rumble and No Way Out, adding fuel to the flames of rivalry. When it emerged that Wrestlemania 20 would be Goldberg’s last, WWE fans’ excitement was at an all-time high.
One small hitch – it was Lesnar’s last match too.
This incensed the crowd at Madison Square Garden, with the audience turning on the two wrestlers who looked on in disbelief. When they finally started battling, the boos and jeers only intensified. The crowd made such a racket that the DVD release of the show of shows was edited with toned-down audience noise.
1. Michael Cole vs Jerry Lawler
Widely regarded as an-all time dud, commentators Jerry Lawler and Michael Cole faced off at Wrestlemania 27. It was Lawler’s Wrestlemania debut, something that some fans thought was fully deserved. In contrast, Cole had gained notoriety as a heel commentator, garnering attention and hate from fans.
Their match seemed never-ending, with an unnecessarily-long run time. Eventually, Lawler made Cole tap out, in what was a popular victory.
Or so we thought.
Cole was gifted the match by default, citing guest referee ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin’s bias toward Lawler as unfair. So even the result of this battle was unsatisfying.
So, there are our five worst Wrestlemania matches. Hopefully Wrestlemania 38 brings endless drama and entertainment, rather than boredom.
