Well, we all are gearing towards Wrestlemania. Nostalgia's riding high. People are starting to get amped. The World will be watching. It's most Wrestling fans Christmas!
But before we get too excited, let's remember; Wrestlemania is easily able to blow chunks, just like any other pay per view out there. There have been some amazing Wrestlemanias out there. There have also been some that didn't amount to Butkis. So, with that in mind, I want to hear Your Worst Wrestlemania.
Mine is very easy, has to be Wrestlemania 11. When you look at Wrestlemania, even the bad ones have a Wrestlemania moment that lives on forever. Every Wrestlemania has that one "Holy Shit" moment, in which leaves you mystified. Sure, the rest of the Pay Per View might have sucked. But that one moment is going to live on as Wrestlemania moment. I'll call up some examples of (In my opinion) crappy Wrestlemanias, and tell you what I believe to be there redeeming factor:
Wrestlemania 2: Boy, I will admit, this one sure did suck. But realistically, even this was better than 11. The standout moment is going to be Hogan V.S. Bundy, which, for what it's worth, is still better than Lawrence Taylor V.S. Bam Bam Bigelow. But my moment of memory is actually, I feel, a very underrated match, one between the British Bulldogs and the Dream Team. This was a very good match, and in my eyes, will be the saving grace of Wrestlemania 2.
Wrestlemania 4: For me, it has to be Savage winning the Heavyweight belt. His four matches, along with Strike Force facing Demolition, made this Wrestlemania salvageable.
Wrestlemania 7: I know, the Wrestlemania that was so bad, Vince had to move it into a new arena. The saving grace here is Savage and Warrior (Notice a pattern of Savage having to save Wrestlemania for me?). That was the moment that's going to live forever, in spite of the WWE's attempts to erase such a match from your memory. This also featured the debut of the Undertaker at Mania in a well worked match with the Superfly, and HBK's first win at Mania, with a solid match against the Barbarian and Haku. so whi;e a pretty bad Wrestlemania, not the worst.
Wrestlemania 9: Now this one could have EASILY taken the cake. This Mania was horrible. As I look for my saving grace, I tell you, up until the latter portion of the night, it's very difficult. As a matter of fact, i'm going to take up the fact that this is my second least favorite Wrestlemania. But, lo and behold.... What's this? A rare gem........... FROM LEX LUGER, OF ALL PEOPLE! I feel his match with Mr. Perfect was a very good match, and coupled with Yokozuna's winning of the WWF title against Bret Hart (A very good match, and quite frankly, the best you'll ever get out of Yokozuna) and another spectacular performance by HBK against Tatanka (watered down by a lame ending) leads me to say that while this is a perfectly good candidate for Worst Wrestlemania Ever, it still ranks above Wrestlemania 11.
Wrestlemania 13: Again, horrendous. But if Austin V.S. Hart in the I Quit match isn't the best Mania match ever (Yes, I did say ever), it is easily in the top 5. That, plus a well worked match between Goldust and Trips, leads me to say not as bad as Wrestlemania 11.
Wrestlemania 15: What's the deal with odd numbered Manias here? Anyway, again, poor show, but the saving grace is Rock and Austin. Wrestlemania 15 will be known for this match up, and that's more than can be said for Wrestlemania 11.
2000: I actually kind of liked this Mania, in spite of the main event. The ladder match was very good, and allowed the WWE to first get a glimpse of what these Hardys, Dudleys, and Edge and Christian can do. Plus, a great triple threat between Kurt Angle, Chris Benoit, and Chris Jericho salavages this Wrestlemania.
After these, I have a very difficult time calling out an absolute worst from the next group. So then, allow me to build my candidacy for Wrestlemania as the Worst..... Wrestlemania..... EVER!!!
Wrestlemania 11: As stated before, my view is that every Wrestlemania either has a moment that's going to live in history, or at least a match that contends for Match of the Year status later in the year. Looking for either of these during Wrestlemania 11 is like Jacques Cousteau finding a dry spot in the ocean. Let's review all of the matches, shall we?
The Allied Powers (Lex Luger and The British Bulldog) defeated The Blu Brothers (Jacob and Eli) (with Uncle Zebekiah): Not a good match by any stretch of the means. The man that I feel sort of saved XI has a big hand in this match, and quite frankly, the match stunk.
Razor Ramon (with The 1-2-3 Kid) defeated Jeff Jarrett (c) (with The Roadie) by disqualification: Do you know how many times this match would be offered in the next upcoming pay per views? Besides that fact, it wasn't even that great of a match. Thumbs down again.
The Undertaker (with Paul Bearer) defeated King Kong Bundy (with Ted DiBiase): Arguable Taker's worst match at Wrestlemania. There was no hype from it. And the highlight of it was.... King Kong Bundy being slammed. Um, Vince, didn't you offer that up to us nine years ago? Thumbs down.
Owen Hart and Yokozuna (with Mr. Fuji and Jim Cornette) defeated The Smoking Gunns (c) (Billy and Bart). Don't make me laugh. Owen did all he could. But again, this just wasn't a good match, and it didn't even make that much sense. So why would Yokozuna return to the WWF.... and go after tha tag titles? With a Canadian? What type of sense os this. Thumbs down.
Bret Hart defeated Bob Backlund. Um... Didn't we get this match six months earlier at the Survivor Series. It was much better watching it then, than it was watching it now. Thumbs in the middle.
Diesel (c) (with Pamela Anderson) defeated Shawn Michaels (with Sid and Jenny McCarthy): Arguably the worst world title defense at a Wrestlemania. No build up for it, really, and just not the best of moments. This was actually the match that forced HBK to turn face. And while HBK was ok as a face, we all know how much better he works as a heel. Thumbs in the middle.
Lawrence Taylor defeated Bam Bam Bigelow (with Ted DiBiase). I'm not going to even bother trashing it; By now, you know how bad it is. And if this is to be my moment that lasts forever, remember; this was a football player against a wrestler who was great in his prime... But nowhere near it at this point. Thumbs waay down.
And with that, I'm pretty sure I've made a pretty strong case. Although, I am open for persuasion, should I find your argument good enough.
But before we get too excited, let's remember; Wrestlemania is easily able to blow chunks, just like any other pay per view out there. There have been some amazing Wrestlemanias out there. There have also been some that didn't amount to Butkis. So, with that in mind, I want to hear Your Worst Wrestlemania.
Mine is very easy, has to be Wrestlemania 11. When you look at Wrestlemania, even the bad ones have a Wrestlemania moment that lives on forever. Every Wrestlemania has that one "Holy Shit" moment, in which leaves you mystified. Sure, the rest of the Pay Per View might have sucked. But that one moment is going to live on as Wrestlemania moment. I'll call up some examples of (In my opinion) crappy Wrestlemanias, and tell you what I believe to be there redeeming factor:
Wrestlemania 2: Boy, I will admit, this one sure did suck. But realistically, even this was better than 11. The standout moment is going to be Hogan V.S. Bundy, which, for what it's worth, is still better than Lawrence Taylor V.S. Bam Bam Bigelow. But my moment of memory is actually, I feel, a very underrated match, one between the British Bulldogs and the Dream Team. This was a very good match, and in my eyes, will be the saving grace of Wrestlemania 2.
Wrestlemania 4: For me, it has to be Savage winning the Heavyweight belt. His four matches, along with Strike Force facing Demolition, made this Wrestlemania salvageable.
Wrestlemania 7: I know, the Wrestlemania that was so bad, Vince had to move it into a new arena. The saving grace here is Savage and Warrior (Notice a pattern of Savage having to save Wrestlemania for me?). That was the moment that's going to live forever, in spite of the WWE's attempts to erase such a match from your memory. This also featured the debut of the Undertaker at Mania in a well worked match with the Superfly, and HBK's first win at Mania, with a solid match against the Barbarian and Haku. so whi;e a pretty bad Wrestlemania, not the worst.
Wrestlemania 9: Now this one could have EASILY taken the cake. This Mania was horrible. As I look for my saving grace, I tell you, up until the latter portion of the night, it's very difficult. As a matter of fact, i'm going to take up the fact that this is my second least favorite Wrestlemania. But, lo and behold.... What's this? A rare gem........... FROM LEX LUGER, OF ALL PEOPLE! I feel his match with Mr. Perfect was a very good match, and coupled with Yokozuna's winning of the WWF title against Bret Hart (A very good match, and quite frankly, the best you'll ever get out of Yokozuna) and another spectacular performance by HBK against Tatanka (watered down by a lame ending) leads me to say that while this is a perfectly good candidate for Worst Wrestlemania Ever, it still ranks above Wrestlemania 11.
Wrestlemania 13: Again, horrendous. But if Austin V.S. Hart in the I Quit match isn't the best Mania match ever (Yes, I did say ever), it is easily in the top 5. That, plus a well worked match between Goldust and Trips, leads me to say not as bad as Wrestlemania 11.
Wrestlemania 15: What's the deal with odd numbered Manias here? Anyway, again, poor show, but the saving grace is Rock and Austin. Wrestlemania 15 will be known for this match up, and that's more than can be said for Wrestlemania 11.
2000: I actually kind of liked this Mania, in spite of the main event. The ladder match was very good, and allowed the WWE to first get a glimpse of what these Hardys, Dudleys, and Edge and Christian can do. Plus, a great triple threat between Kurt Angle, Chris Benoit, and Chris Jericho salavages this Wrestlemania.
After these, I have a very difficult time calling out an absolute worst from the next group. So then, allow me to build my candidacy for Wrestlemania as the Worst..... Wrestlemania..... EVER!!!
Wrestlemania 11: As stated before, my view is that every Wrestlemania either has a moment that's going to live in history, or at least a match that contends for Match of the Year status later in the year. Looking for either of these during Wrestlemania 11 is like Jacques Cousteau finding a dry spot in the ocean. Let's review all of the matches, shall we?
The Allied Powers (Lex Luger and The British Bulldog) defeated The Blu Brothers (Jacob and Eli) (with Uncle Zebekiah): Not a good match by any stretch of the means. The man that I feel sort of saved XI has a big hand in this match, and quite frankly, the match stunk.
Razor Ramon (with The 1-2-3 Kid) defeated Jeff Jarrett (c) (with The Roadie) by disqualification: Do you know how many times this match would be offered in the next upcoming pay per views? Besides that fact, it wasn't even that great of a match. Thumbs down again.
The Undertaker (with Paul Bearer) defeated King Kong Bundy (with Ted DiBiase): Arguable Taker's worst match at Wrestlemania. There was no hype from it. And the highlight of it was.... King Kong Bundy being slammed. Um, Vince, didn't you offer that up to us nine years ago? Thumbs down.
Owen Hart and Yokozuna (with Mr. Fuji and Jim Cornette) defeated The Smoking Gunns (c) (Billy and Bart). Don't make me laugh. Owen did all he could. But again, this just wasn't a good match, and it didn't even make that much sense. So why would Yokozuna return to the WWF.... and go after tha tag titles? With a Canadian? What type of sense os this. Thumbs down.
Bret Hart defeated Bob Backlund. Um... Didn't we get this match six months earlier at the Survivor Series. It was much better watching it then, than it was watching it now. Thumbs in the middle.
Diesel (c) (with Pamela Anderson) defeated Shawn Michaels (with Sid and Jenny McCarthy): Arguably the worst world title defense at a Wrestlemania. No build up for it, really, and just not the best of moments. This was actually the match that forced HBK to turn face. And while HBK was ok as a face, we all know how much better he works as a heel. Thumbs in the middle.
Lawrence Taylor defeated Bam Bam Bigelow (with Ted DiBiase). I'm not going to even bother trashing it; By now, you know how bad it is. And if this is to be my moment that lasts forever, remember; this was a football player against a wrestler who was great in his prime... But nowhere near it at this point. Thumbs waay down.
And with that, I'm pretty sure I've made a pretty strong case. Although, I am open for persuasion, should I find your argument good enough.