WrestleMania has been taking place for over 40 years with the focus being WrestleMania main events. The grandest stage of them all is set for WWE’s top superstars and is the pinnacle of sports entertainment.
In this piece, we will peek behind the curtain of every main event in WrestleMania history. For the past six years, Mania has become a two-night event and is being held in Las Vegas in 2026 for the second year in a row. Before getting to the stories, let us break down some statistics.
Since its inception, there have been over forty main events featuring over fifty superstars. Roman Reigns has headlined ten times and will add 11 with his match against CM Punk at WrestleMania 42.
He also holds the record for most consecutive WM main events at 6. After Reigns, Hogan has eight, Triple H has seven, and both The Rock and John Cena have six.
Lastly, here is a breakdown of what titles have been featured in the main event. The WWF/WWE Championship has been defended over thirty times.
Both the Universal and World Heavyweight Championships were on the line five times. The Women’s SmackDown belt had two appearances. To round out the list, the Raw Women’s, WWF/WWE Tag Team, and Intercontinental had one appearance.
WrestleMania Main Events
Hulkamania Runs Wild at WM
Let us dive into the rich history of WWF/WWE and their biggest matches at WrestleMania.
Hulk Hogan was no doubt the face of WWE heading into the first WrestleMania. The red and yellow gear, along with his catchphrase “Say your prayers and eat your vitamins,” captivated fans around the globe.
What some fans might not realize is that Hogan headlined eight of the first ten ‘Mania. He got involved in the WM 4’s finish and won the world title to close out WrestleMania 9.
WrestleMania 1 took place at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The main event featured Hulk Hogan and Mr. T taking on Roddy Piper and “Mr. Wonderful” Paul Orndorff.
Months before the big event, at Saturday Night’s Main Event V, Mr. T defeated Bob Orton by count-out. Roddy Piper got involved in the match as well, which led to them being involved in the tag bout mentioned earlier.
On the Road to WrestleMania, WWE promoted the event on SNL and mainstream news because Vince wanted mainstream publicity.
Celebrities such as Cyndi Lauper, Liberace, Muhammad Ali, Billy Martin, and The Rockettes all had roles for WrestleMania 1.
On the day of WrestleMania, Mr. T threatened to leave the arena and put the match in jeopardy. In Hulk’s book, “Hollywood Hulk Hogan”, he wrote that Mr. T was going to leave the arena that day because the security wouldn’t let his entourage in. Hogan had to calm him down and get him laser-focused for the match.
Mr. T shared his experience leading up to the match and what it felt like to be in the ring with Piper, given their on-screen rivalry.
“I felt some pressure because I didn’t want to let people down, “Mr T said. “There was pressure from other wrestlers.”
Leading up to the match, Piper and Mr. T had animosity with each other. When they stepped into the ring together, Mr. T slapped him, hit him with a few moves, and the two brawled. The boxer said Piper was a great person to work with, despite their on-screen tension.
“[Piper] was a professional”, Mr. T said, “He knew the business. He was tough… I was honored to be with the guy.”
Hogan scored his first pinfall of many at WrestleMania with help from Jimmy Snuka.
Vince’s experiment was a success, and thus began a legacy in professional wrestling. When WM 2 came around, the company held it in three locations, which meant three different main events.
In New York, Mr. T and Roddy Piper continued their rivalry with a boxing match. Joan Rivers was the special guest announcer, and there were three guest judges.
Mr.T was accompanied to the ring by Smokin’ Joe Frazier, while Piper was joined by Cowboy Bob Orton. Over the course of four rounds, Mr. T knocked Piper to the ground twice and even had him down for an eight count.
However, the fight ended when Piper shoved the ref to the mat and body slammed his opponent. The two brawled, and Piper got DQ’ed, resulting in a win for the iconic boxer.
Meanwhile, in Chicago, there was a 20-man battle royal that featured NFL stars. Among them were Jimbo Covert, Russ Francis, and Harvey Martin. Andre the Giant used his size and strength to win the battle royal by eliminating Bret Hart.
In the final match of the evening, Hogan answered the challenge as the marquee draw, and his opponent was King Kong Bundy.
Bundy was being showcased as an unstoppable force and threat to Hogan’s title reign. Managed by Bobby the Brain Heenan, Bundy was prepared to take down Hulkamania on the grandest stage of them all.
The storyline was meant to echo the “David vs Goliath” dynamic, where Bundy “injured” the champion a month before their showdown.
Their match was inside a Steel Cage designed to keep Heenan from interfering. The champion retained after climbing out of the cage and got his revenge on Heenan afterwards.
Speaking of David vs Goliath, the WWE put two titans in the ring to close the show at the Pontiac SilverDome in Michigan. In front of 93,000 fans,
Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant squared off in a blockbuster matchup. The storyline heading into the show was that Hogan was going to do what no other opponent had done before him. He was going to body slam the Giant.
According to the Sportster, there were eight wrestlers who achieved the feat before Hogan. It seemed Andre had never been slammed on WWE television.
That all changed on March 9th, 1987, when Hogan lifted his opponent into the air and took him down with a bodyslam.
The crowd went into pandemonium, and the Hulkster hit his signature leg drop before picking up the win. This was not the first time he body slammed the Giant.
In 1980, these two faced off against each other in a tag match at Shea Stadium. It was here that Hulk Hogan first pulled off the feat. So, one could say this was the first time a superstar got the best of Andre in quite some time.
When WM 4 arrived, it was time for some newcomers to get a taste of the main event. The WWF title had been vacated after “The Main Event” because Hogan complained he was screwed out of the match.
As a response, the company vacated the title and held a tournament to decide who would be the next champion. The “Macho Man” Randy Savage and “Million Dollar Man” Ted Dibiase made it to the final.
Savage was accompanied to the ring by Miss Elizabeth, while Dibiase had Andre the Giant in his corner. Although Hogan was not wrestling, he was involved in the finish.
He hit Dibiase with a chair, and Savage took advantage with a flying elbow drop to win. It was an emotional moment for Savage because it was his first WWF title.
WrestleMania 5 was known as the time when the “Mega Powers” exploded. The storyline revolved around Hogan’s interactions with Miss Elizabeth, and Savage grew suspicious.
Temperatures reached a boiling point on February 3rd, 1989, at “The Main Event III”. The Macho Man attacked Hogan, leading to a split. Two months later, they collided one year later at the Atlantic Hall in New Jersey.
Savage hit his opponent with a flying drop elbow, but Hogan started “Hulking Up”. Hogan hit the legdrop and won the WWF Championship.
Who was going to stop the biggest superstar in all pro wrestling? There was just one man ready to step up and make history.
The Ultimate Warrior walked into WM 6 as the Intercontinental Champion, and the match was designed to be a “Winner Take All” match with both belts on the line.
The two battled for over twenty-five minutes, and the Ultimate Warrior avoided the legdrop before hitting Hogan with the Ultimate Splash to win. Both competitors showed respect after the match, and there seemed to be a new face of the company.
It was the first time Hulk Hogan had been pinned in the WWF since 1981, and the first time ‘Mania was held outside of the USA.
He was asked about the achievement of beating Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania.
“Hogan was the guy, he never dropped the belt that way, never dropped the belt, “
Warrior said,
“It’s awesome to be able to go and perform at that level in front of that many people.”
Warrior became the first WWE superstar to hold both the IC title and WWE title.
When WrestleMania 7 rolled around, there were real-life events that affected the direction WWE took going into the event.
The Gulf War was happening in Iraq, and the company put the belt on Sgt. Slaughter, painting him as a foreign villain. Who was going to be the guy to take him down? None other than Hulk Hogan.
In a patriotic-themed environment, the champion was led to the ring with the Iraqi flag. Then, Hogan entered carrying an American flag with plenty of “Hulkamania” signs in the crowd.
During the match, Slaughter had Hogan down for the pin, but his manager distracted the ref so the pinfall never counted. Despite drawing blood, Hogan kept going and hit a leg drop to bring the title back to the USA in the storyline.
With Hulk Hogan back at the top of the mountain, which WWE superstar was going to step up to the plate next? The original plan was for Hogan to face Ric Flair, who won the Royal Rumble that year.
However, the two superstars had real-life tension, and Vince did not see them as a draw after poor house show attendance numbers. Instead, Hulk faced Sid Justice in a match that almost never happened because Sid wanted to quit.
The night of the Royal Rumble he got eliminated by Hogan, and the fans responded with boos. After the match, Hogan confronted Vince backstage, accusing him of purposefully creating that reaction.
Sid went to Vince’ office with the intent to quit, but was convinced to get through WrestleMania. When WM arrived, the match ended in a DQ and bore witness to the first WWE superstar to kick out of the legdrop.
That was not supposed to happen because Papa Shongo missed his cue backstage. He was supposed to cause a DQ, but Harvey Wippleman caused it instead.
Shango eventually came down to the ring, but it was too late. After the match, the Ultimate Warrior made his return after being out for nine months to save Sid from his beatdown to a massive crowd response. Soon after, Sid left the company, citing frustrations. He would soon find the spotlight later.
At WrestleMania 9, it was the first year that the Royal Rumble winner was granted a title shot. Yokozuna won the match and beat Bret Hart to become WWE Champion after Mr. Fuji threw sand in Hart’s face.
The show did not end there, because. Hulk Hogan came down and challenged the champ to a match, claiming there was foul play.
When the bell rang, Mr. Fuji threw sand toward Hogan, but caught Yokozuna instead. This led to another title change, and Bret Hart told Inside the Ropes he found everything the night before through Vince.
“We’re taking the belt off of you,” Hart recalled Vince saying that…. He laid it all out to me, and I thought it s**ked.”
Hart proceeded to give an interesting take on why the decision was made.
“I think what is really going on is that Hogan was putting a lot of pressure on Vince to take the belt off me and put it on him. Otherwise, he was going to go to WCW.”
When Mania ended, Bret Hart confronted both Vince and Hogan about the finish. They both played coy, and four days later, Hulk Hogan jumped ship to WCW.
Next year’s event was held at MSG again, and Roddy Piper was the special guest referee. Yokozuna slipped off the ropes, Hart went for the cover, and won. He was joined by fellow wrestlers for a celebration. By that point, Hart said it felt like it was one year too late.
With Hogan out of the picture and Hart at the top of the world, it was time for WWE to showcase other talents. That began with an unlikely WWE superstar getting an opportunity in the main event.
Bam Bam Bigelow makes his opponent look like a Million Dollars.
In 1995, Kevin Nash was in a feud with Shawn Michaels for the WWF title, but Vince had a different idea up his sleeve.
He trusted Bam Bam Bigelow in the main event because Bam Bam was an agile, big man and a safe worker. His opponent was Lawrence Taylor, a linebacker for the New York Giants who won two Super Bowl rings and an MVP award.
Vince wanted more eyes on the product and felt these two were the right men for the job. In an interview with Title Match Wrestling, Bam Bam revealed which superstar was the one who got Taylor involved.
“That thing was all started out by Lex [Luger]. Lex did a couple golf charity things and ran into LT, and flew by him.
The next thing you know, Vince pulls me into the office and said, ‘How would you like to work with LT at WrestleMania?’
The feud between the two began at the Royal Rumble two months prior, when Bam Bam shoved Taylor in the front row to kickstart the feud. Their match lasted 12 minutes, and had Taylor win with a forearm off the rope.
After the match, Taylor’s entourage lifted him up to celebrate. Pat Patterson was the special guest referee. For his punishment, Bam was kicked out of the Million Dollar Corporation.
Shawn Loses His Smile WM 12-13
This might be one of the most memorable main events in WM history. Shawn Michaels and Bret Hart fought in an Iron Man match that went into sudden death.
The crowd was not too responsive given the length of time, but the two superstars put on a show. Moments after the time limit was up, Michaels hit a Sweet Chin Music on Hart to win the battle.
Originally, WWE wanted a rematch between HBK and Bret Hart, but Michaels vacated the WWF title. He said that he lost his smile and was also dealing with a knee injury.
As a result, WWE pivoted to Psycho Sid winning the title from Bret Hart. Vince saw both Psycho Sid and the Undertaker as draws, so he had them headline.
It was a No Disqualification Match for the WWF title. Shawn Michaels was on commentary, and Bret Hart made his frustrations known. He confronted ‘Taker and Sid in the ring, calling HBK a phony and Sid a fraud.
Sid hit Hart with a powerbomb, and before he could say much on the mic, ‘Taker hit him from behind. The Deadman and Sid fought in a hard-hitting affair, but Bret Hart returned to hit Sid with a chair.
Hart was escorted out of the arena, but just when it seemed Sid would win, Hart returned a final time. After a third distraction, ‘Taker hit Sid with a Tombstone Piledriver to win.
In the year to come, WCW was beating them in the ratings for 83 weeks. In response, Vince made some new stars along with an edgier program.
The Attitude Era Begins WM 14-18
Stone Cold inserted himself into the Royal Rumble that year and threw the Rock over the top rope to win. HBK was the champion at the time, and these two did not disappoint in their build.
Just when fans thought it could not get any steamier, Mike Tyson became the special guest enforcer. He even wore a DX shirt during his entrance and was in the champs’ corner.
Shawn Michaels entered the stage to a live performance by the Chris Warren Band, who performed DX’s “Break it Down” theme song. Stone Cold flicked up HBK at the beginning of the match and even exposed his rear end.
Later, Triple H and Chyna were kicked out. The champ and challenger fought outside for most of the match, and towards the end, countered each other’s signature moves.
The Rattlesnake hit a Stunner, and Mike Tyson hit the ring for a quick three-count. Afterwards, Mike Tyson revealed an “Austin 3:16″ shirt and knocked Michaels to the ground. With the Anti-Hero raising hell, it was time for another pillar of WWE to see the spotlight.
The two biggest stars in the industry headlined the next WrestleMania. Stone Cold was in a rivalry with Vince McMahon and made his boss’s life a living hell.
The two fought in a steel cage, and Austin prevailed, giving him a title shot at WM against the Rock. On their road to WM, Austin gave Vince a beer bath.
At ‘Mania, the two had a NO DQ title match and fought all over the arena. Vince got involved, but Mick Foley took care of him. Steve Austin hit a stunner on the Rock to win.
Time to Play the Game
These four fought for the WWE Championship, but originally, it was supposed to be a singles match between HHH and The Rock.
HHH was the champ, and Rock won the Royal Rumble, putting these two on a collision course. Instead, due to injuries from the Undertaker and Stone-Cold Steve Austin, WWE put together a Fatal-Four-Way match.
Mick Foley came out of retirement, and the Big Show got added as well. The catch was that every corner had a McMahon in it.
Stephanie McMahon with Triple H, Vince with the Rock, Linda with Mick Foley, and Shane with Big Show. During the match, Big Show showcased his size and physicality while The Rock out Triple H through the announce table.
Towards the end, it seemed the Rock was going to win until Vince hit him twice with a chair. Triple H won, but it wasn’t quite over.
All the McMahons reunited except Linda. The Rock returned to hit them all with Rock Bottoms and hit Steph with a People’s Elbow.
Shaking Hands with the Devil
Their “My Way” promo package is considered the greatest of all time. The two had a heated rivalry going into WrestleMania, and it included Austin’s wife at the time, Debra. Vince assigned her to be the Rock’s assistant, and it infuriated the Rattlesnake.
The crucial part of this match was at the end, when Stone Cold shook Vince’s hand and turned heel. Years later, Austin has publicly regretted making a deal with the devil. He stated in an interview with Takedown on SI that
“When I turned heel at WM 17, the people didn’t want me to turn heel. It was a forced turn. It was my idea… “People weren’t ready for it. People didn’t want it,”
The Hometown Hero Isn’t Welcomed
How does the WWE follow up from one of the most memorable heel turns in WWE history? Hogan returns to WWE after WCW was bought out, and takes on the Rock in the “Icon vs Icon” match.
Except it wouldn’t be the main event of the show. Instead, Triple H and Y2J fought for the title following two legends battling it out. Chris Jericho told Chris Van Vliet he didn’t believe they deserved the main event.
“I didn’t think our match should’ve been the main event. How do you follow Rock and Hogan?, Y2J said to Chris Van Vliet. “I did not want to go on after, but we did.”
He revealed the reason it went on last was that Triple H insisted, because it was for the WWE Championship. Despite WM taking place in Jericho’s home of Toronto, it was clear that fans clamored for Icon vs Icon. Chris Jericho then said he never watched that match back.
Olympic Gold Medalist meets the Beat Incarnate
What happens when a UFC champion crosses paths with an Olympic gold medalist? The WWE Universe found out in the main event of WM 19.
At 25 years old, Brock Lesnar outlasted thirty opponents to win the Royal Rumble. However, it was an uphill battle as he had to go through three different interferences on separate occasions.
First, the Greatest Tag Team of all Time (Shelton Benjamin and Charlie Haas), then Paul Heyman’s interference, and finally a swap by Kurt Angle, causing him to lose. Finally, Stephanie McMahon warned the champ he’d forfeit the title if anyone got involved in their WM match.
These two had a spectacular match that ended in unforgettable fashion. Lesnar attempted a shooting star press but landed on his forehead. Kurt Angle gave his point of view on the matter.
“When we went to jump, he hesitated… and I think that hesitation caused him to fall off balance forward, so he couldn’t get a full rotation when turned backward and flipped.”
Angle thought Lesnar broke his neck and wasn’t responsive. However, Lesnar finished the match and wasn’t too happy.
He revealed that the shooting star press was his idea after seeing Lesnar do it in OVW. Brock Lesnar left the WWE a year later to try out for the Minnesota Vikings, and despite being the last cut, he had a great career in both NJPW and MMA.
The Last Celebration
This is considered the greatest triple threat match in WWE history. A few months prior, Chris Benoit won the Royal Rumble, entering the #1 spot.
On that same show, Triple H and Shawn Michaels fought in a Last Man Standing match, which ended in a draw, resulting in HHH retaining the World Heavyweight Championship.
The next night on Raw, Chris Benoit chose HHH to face at WM, but Michaels finessed his way into the match by signing the contract.
Eventually, a triple threat was announced, and the three tore the house down at MSG. Benoit countered Triple H’s pedigree and put him in the Crippler Crossface. HHH tried to escape it, but to no avail. He tapped out, and Benoit won his only WWE title in WWE.
After the match, his dear friend Eddie joined him to celebrate as the confetti rained down. Guerrero won the WWE Championship earlier in the night by defeating Kurt Angle. The two celebrated for the final time on the grandest stage of them all.
You Either Adapt or You Perish
Batista and Triple H were part of the faction known as Evolution, along with Randy Orton and Ric Flair. Orton was kicked out of the stable, and that left only three.
In 2005, Batista and John Cena both hit the ground at the same time, meaning no one would win the Rumble. This wasn’t part of the script, and Vince (after tearing both his quads) ordered the match to be restarted.
The Animal eliminated Cena to win the match. In the weeks before his decision, Batista overheard a conversation between HHH and Ric Flair revealing HHH as being a manipulator.
During the contract signing, he held both contracts in his hand before giving Triple H the thumbs down. After putting him through the announce table, The Animal signed the contract.
At WrestleMania 21, The Game entered the ring to a live performance of his theme song by Motorhead, and Ric Flair stood by on the ringside.
The match involved the stairs, blood on Triple H’s face, Batista taking out Flair twice, a title shot to the head, and a low blow. Batista countered the pedigree and hit the Batista bomb for the win.
We are officially at the halfway point of WM, and so many superstars have gotten a chance in the spotlight. Batista was a part of the 2002 OVW Class, which included Brock Lesnar, Shelton Benjamin, and Randy Orton.
The other member would get his shot at the grandest stage of them all next year and would cement himself as the Face of WWE for years to come.
