What is the best decade of Wrestlemania?

[MCMG]

There has now been 30 years of Wrestlemania. Each set of ten years can, to an extent, be broken down. The first was the Hogan Era. The most recent the Cena era. The middle was a bit weird as it started with the New Generation and eventually the Attitude Era.

The first ten (WM1 to WM10) had some massive matches/moments. Hogan and Andre. Hogan and Savage. Hogan and Warrior (there is sort of a theme) but in terms of quality these matches aren't all that. Then, of course, there is Steamboat/Savage, Savage/Flair, Hart v Hart and Shawn/Razor all of which are classics.

WM11 to 20 definitely has the best two Wrestlemania's (17 and 19.) The latter end was a golden era for the WWE but in terms of all-round quality, many of these shows sucked. Two or three hours that wouldn't look out of place on a current C-rate PPV. However, there was WM17, Hogan/Rock, Hart/HBK, Hart/Austin, WM 19 and Benoit/HBK/HHH with Eddie and Benoit at the end.

WM21 to WM30 easily has the most balanced Wrestlemania's. While there were a few stinkers there too, the roster has far more depth which definitely helps. Probably not as many amazing moments as the Hogan era but The Streak took a life of it's own with 7/8 incredible matches. Who's to say HBK and Taker 1 and HHH v Taker in the Cell aren't the greatest WM matches of all time. Cena/Rock at 28 was a decent match and it was certainly an iconic moment. Plus, it would have made a shitload of money for WWE. Bryan's story at WM30 is right up there in terms of Wrestlemania's. All the MITB's, Ric Flair's retirement and Angle/HBK too.

I'm struggling to pick. I wasn't alive for the earlier ones meaning it is difficult to be attached to those shows. If you were to average all the Wrestlemania's out then WM21 to WM30 probably comes out the highest. If I was to compile a dream-card just using matches from each decade the New Generation/Attitude Era would be the most enjoyable. Plus WM17 is probably the greatest PPV of all time. Then, of course, the Hogan Era paved the way for what we see today and they were trying to figure it all out but to counter that there are more PPV's in the current day which makes it more challenging to impress the audience.

It doesn't really matter but it was on my mind and I'd like to hear what others say. I'd say WM21 up until 30 but it probably sways my judgement that I can distinctly remember all these shows.

 

[ColeMc]

I'd say by default that the Hogan era was the best as without it I doubt we'd have the rest.

 

[relentless1]

Hogan era was awesome, definitely the most epic, spectacle/storyline wise youd have to say the middle years and generally speaking the latter 10 years has had the best wrestling

 

[Makaveli31]

I'm an old school mark. There is ABSOLUTELY no debate for me. While WrestleMania's today might have taken on a "Super Bowl atmosphere" with the Hall of Fame inductions, The Fan Fests, and the week long festivities leading up to the actual event it does not compare to the Hogan Era WrestleManias.

The early WrestleMania's were the culmination of almost a full year of booking. I look at WrestleMania's 3, 4 , 5 like a movie trilogy.

Part I - WM III Andre passes the torch to Hogan. Hogan becomes the face of the WWF.
On the same card, Macho Man Savage elevates himself to the top of the card in a classic match with Steamboat.

-Savage turns babyface in a feud with Honky Tonk Man.

- Andre defeats Hogan in a controversial match in Feb 1988 and the WWF title is declared vacant.

Part II - WM IV Savage wins the WWF title with help from Hogan and the Mega Powers are formed.

Savage and Hogan defeat Andre/DiBiase at SummerSlam ending their respective feuds.

Survivor Series - We see seeds on jealousy sown on Macho Man's part as Hogan celebrates with Elizabeth.

Royal Rumble - Hogan eliminates Savage. Hogan is double teamed by Twin Towers. Savage is MIA

SNME - Hogan/Savage v. Twin Towers - Mega Powers EXPLODE

Part III - WM V - Hogan vs Savage for the WWF Title and no one knows who Elizabeth will choose.

You Can't TOP that kind of booking. There were no rewrites. No childish storylines. The story and action gripped fans and kept them of the edge of their seats wondering what was going to happen next.

 

[WWEWrestleFest]

To me it's the first 10, the first 8 in particular. WrestleMania was truly something special back then. And there wasn't a monthly PPV, so it wasn't like you ever felt like this was "just another PPV."

 

[WWEWrestleFest]

I gotta add, I really hate how the winner of the Rumble gets a WM title match now. I know that it's been the tradition for two decades.. but it's lazy booking, in my opinion. As a kid, there was nothing bigger than Hogan vs. Andre at WM3, the title tournament at WM4, Hogan vs. Savage at WM5, or Hogan vs. Warrior at WM6. No WM main event since then has excited me nearly as much as those four, and they didn't need the Royal Rumble stipulation storyline to make it great.

 

[rbv13]

@WWEWrestleFest, Thank You! I thought I was the only one who felt this way. Everything shouldn't need a title shot to justify its worth. Without the WM stip it is anyone's game. They used to tell stories that were great set ups with great excitement without the handcuffs of a title shot. Just look at the booking messes over the years.

 

[Chrome]

Wrestlemania 1,3,5,6,8 are all my favorite Wrestlemania's growing up. The build and hype and story telling were all off the charts!! Its my favorite decade of Wrestlemania's and characters. I vote Hogan era!

 

[Mac]

From WM X-XX was the best period.

XI
13
2000

Were bad shows but everything else was great or solid at worst.

 

[relentless1]

what was so good about 12 or 15 save for the main event? same with x8 for that matter, only Hogan v Rock is worth talking about. X-XX was bunk except for 14, 17 and 19; Hulkamania era had 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 10 that were great shows, when the main event COULD actually carry a show, unlike the later eras

 

[FromGlasgow]

The first 10 Wrestlemanias in my opinion are by far the better in terms of everything like entertainment value, wrestling quality and build up etc, Wrestlemanias 11 to 30 have all had their moments but maybe as the first 10 seemed the most exciting to me as thats the era I grew up and started watching wrestling in.

 

[Mac]

what was so good about 12 or 15 save for the main event? same with x8 for that matter, only Hogan v Rock is worth talking about. X-XX was bunk except for 14, 17 and 19; Hulkamania era had 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 10 that were great shows, when the main event COULD actually carry a show, unlike the later eras

Those early Hogan era WrestleMania's were crap. WM 1 was a bad show, it gets notoriety for being the first WM. WM 2 was forgettable, WM 3 was the first WM that felt like a WM and even then that was mainly a 2 match show. WM 4 was a poorly booked tournament notable for Savage's first World title win though. WM 5 was nothing but filler outside of Warrior/Rude and Savage/Hogan. WM 6 was filler outside of Warrior/Hogan, WM 7 was solid, imo the first GOOD all around WM was WM 8, this show set the tone for how WM would be structured going forward. WM 9 was garbage, WM 10 was a fantastic show.

 

[Makaveli31]

Most matches outside of the main events (usually the championship matches) are filler. You could say about EVERY WrestleMania. I would suspect you were BORN or started watching AFTER the Hogan Era WM's because if you grew up watching them at the time you wouldn't call them "CRAP." It was a different era no doubt but the booking, storylines, and larger than life characters atmosphere trumps anything going on today.

I wouldn't compare card to card because let's keep things in perspective. From 2001 to present day there is only ONE company. Vince has a virtual monopoly on talent. So he has the absolute best of the best. From 1985-2000 that wasn't the case. So yes today's WWE has more depth but I think what Hogan Era WM's lack in depth they make up in storylines.

I outlined the Hogan/Andre storyline building up to WM III. Andre's classic heel turn on Piper's Pit leading up to WM III then the two year storyline involving the Mega Powers leading up to WM 5 and the "Mega Powers Collide".

Yes I and II were celebrity heavy and lacked in match quality but the WWF was brand new as a national company. They had to appeal to a national audience and had to seperate themselves from the old school WWWF. I wouldn't put I and II on the list of '"Greatest WrestleMania's" ever but I look at the era as a whole especially 1987-1992.

I just absolutely enjoyed as a kid the Hogan/Andre then the Hogan/Savage storylines but we also had the rise of the Ultimate Warrior which culminated in his classic face vs face showdown with Hulk at WM 6.

THE deepest tag team division in the history of wrestling. I'm taking Bulldogs v. Harts, Strike Force v. Demolition, Demolition/Powers of Pain, the Brain Busters (Tully and Arn) the Rockers, the Orient Express, The Nasty Boys, the Islanders, the Killer Bees etc....

THEN you had the workers like Steamboat, Rick Rude, Ted DiBiase, Bret Hart, Curt Hennig, BUT you also had the characters Hacksaw Duggan, Honky Tonk, One Man Gang, Brutus Beefcake, Big Boss Man, Barbarian, Haku.