What WM Matches have had the perfect set up?

[Kaptain KnicKy]

Thinking about how they can set up the Orton/HHH fued going into Mania, I got to thinking what matches at Mania have had that 'classic build up'. There have been good matches at Mania, but then there have also been those matches, going into Mania, that have had the build up that keeps you awake the night before - that makes you get to the tele about 2 hours before the event starts, wanting to see how it plays out.

I think this is going to, or could be the same with Orton/HHH - if they play their cards right I think the hype, the build for this match will be amazing.

What I want to know from all of you, is what Mania matches have had that unforgettable hype and build to them (the one you get chills when you watch the match on DVD etc) ... and better yet, how'd these matches go - did they live up to the hype, or flop big time?

I've listed the last five years Mania's cards, and highlighted some possibilities on my naive opinion...

WM20!
John Cena defeated The Big Show (c)
2 Rob Van Dam and Booker T (c) defeated Garrison Cade and Mark Jindrak, The Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray and D-Von) and La Résistance (René Duprée and Rob Conway)
3 Christian defeated Chris Jericho
4 Evolution (Randy Orton, Batista and Ric Flair) defeated The Rock 'n' Sock Connection (The Rock and Mick Foley)
5 Torrie Wilson and Sable defeated Stacy Keibler and Miss Jackie.
6 Chavo Guerrero (c) defeated Último Dragón, Shannon Moore, Jamie Noble, Funaki, Nunzio, Billy Kidman, Rey Mysterio, Tajiri, and Akio Cruiserweight Open for the WWE Cruiserweight Championship 10:28
7 Goldberg defeated Brock Lesnar
8 Rikishi and Scotty 2 Hotty (c) defeated The World's Greatest Tag Team (Charlie Haas and Shelton Benjamin), The Basham Brothers (Danny and Doug) and The APA (Bradshaw and Faarooq)
9 Victoria (c) defeated Molly Holly
10 Eddie Guerrero (c) defeated Kurt Angle
11 The Undertaker (with Paul Bearer) defeated Kane.
12 Chris Benoit defeated Triple H (c) and Shawn Michaels.

WM21
Rey Mysterio defeated Eddie Guerrero
2 Edge defeated Chris Jericho, Shelton Benjamin, Chris Benoit, Christian (with Tyson Tomko) and Kane
3 The Undertaker defeated Randy Orton
4 Trish Stratus (c) defeated Christy Hemme
5 Kurt Angle defeated Shawn Michaels
6 Akebono defeated The Big Show
7 John Cena defeated John "Bradshaw" Layfield (c)
8 Batista defeated Triple H (c)

WM22
1 Kane and The Big Show (c) defeated Carlito and Chris Masters
2 Rob Van Dam defeated Shelton Benjamin, Ric Flair, Finlay, Matt Hardy and Bobby Lashley
3 John "Bradshaw" Layfield (with Jillian Hall) defeated Chris Benoit (c)
4 Edge (with Lita) defeated Mick Foley
5 The Boogeyman defeated Booker T and Sharmell
6 Mickie James defeated Trish Stratus (c)
7 The Undertaker defeated Mark Henry
8 Shawn Michaels defeated Vince McMahon
9 Rey Mysterio defeated Kurt Angle (c) and Randy Orton
10 Torrie Wilson defeated Candice Michelle
11 John Cena (c) defeated Triple H

WM23
1 Mr. Kennedy defeated Edge, CM Punk, King Booker (with Queen Sharmell), Jeff Hardy, Matt Hardy, Finlay and Randy Orton
2 The Great Khali defeated Kane
3 Chris Benoit (c) defeated Montel Vontavious Porter
4 The Undertaker defeated Batista (c)
5 The ECW Originals (Tommy Dreamer, Sabu, The Sandman and Rob Van Dam) defeated The New Breed (Elijah Burke, Marcus Cor Von, Matt Striker and Kevin Thorn)
6 Bobby Lashley (with Donald Trump) defeated Umaga (with Vince McMahon and Armando Alejandro Estrada)
7 Melina (c) defeated Ashley
8 John Cena (c) defeated Shawn Michaels

WM24
1 John "Bradshaw" Layfield defeated Finlay (with Hornswoggle)
2 CM Punk defeated Shelton Benjamin, Chris Jericho, Carlito, Montel Vontavious Porter, Mr. Kennedy, and John Morrison
3 Batista defeated Umaga.[43] Battle for Brand Supremacy 07:06
4 Kane defeated Chavo Guerrero (c)
5 Shawn Michaels defeated Ric Flair
6 Beth Phoenix and Melina (with Santino Marella) defeated Maria and Ashley
7 Randy Orton (c) defeated Triple H and John Cena
8 Floyd Mayweather, Jr. defeated The Big Show.
9 The Undertaker defeated Edge (c)

 

[SnackZ]

Rock vs. Hogan - WM18 was built perfectly. The whole Icon vs. Icon, past, present, future angle played was aweome. I still get goosebumps watching that match and the lead up to it.

Vince vs. Hogan - WM19 was also built perfectly. Whole argument on who made wrestling as big as it was was priceless.

 

[Evil Austin]

Kane vs. Undertaker
Rock vs. Austin
Triple H vs. Jericho
Shawn Michaels vs. Mr. McMahon
Kurt Angle vs. Brock Lesnar
Vince vs. Shane
Vince vs. Hogan - you know all of Vince's match build ups were great.
the Big Show vs. Floyd Money.

 

[SnackZ]

Austin vs. HBK w/ Tyson as Ref (forgot actual #) - this feud was set up really well and the inclusion of Mike Tyson was great!

The Macho Man vs. Hulk Hogan - Mega Powers Collide - WM5 - this was built from WM4 all the way through WM5, pretty awesome if you ask me.

Ric Flair vs. The Macho Man (forgot #) - when Flair was saying he slept with Elizabeth and Savage had Sherri in his corner at Mania and Savage lost and Elizabeth got Sherri off of Savage - what a great fued, build up.

 

[Solid Stinger the Big Boss]

Rock vs Austin 1, 2, and 3

Undertaker vs. Edge

Stone Cold vs. Bret Hart

 

[Moonlight Drive]

Shawn Michaels vs Vince McMahon - That was a pretty awesome feud, Vinnie Mac at his best.

Edge vs Mick Foley - Edge and Foley had some great mic work and segments, and it actually had a reason for starting not just 'I don't like you Mick'. Plus it was an incredible match in the end.

Battle of the Billionaires - Like it or not, that shit was epic.

The Rock vs Stone Cold (WM XIX) - Simply because that was one awesome Rock concert

 

[Montana]

Look back to the 80's....every main event was huge.

3) Hogan vs Andre
Macho vs Steamboat

4) Hogan vs Andre II

5) Hogan vs Macho

6) Hogan vs Warrior

7) Macho vs Warrior

8) Flair vs Macho

9) Bret Hart vs Yokozuna

10) Bret vs Owen
Luger vs Yoko

12) Bret Hart vs HBK

13) Hart vs Austin

18) Hogan vs Rock

22) HHH vs Cena

24) HBK vs. Flair

 

[Colin Gimp]

When it comes to the past it's easier to say which WM matches didn't have the perfect setup.

My past timeline differs from your past timeline and i've lost too many braincells to throw dates around without refreshing my mind. I've watched every wrestlemania a lot more then just once though. damn brain cells

 

[Airfixx]

Austin vs. HBK w/ Tyson as Ref (forgot actual #) - this feud was set up really well and the inclusion of Mike Tyson was great!

WM14

The Macho Man vs. Hulk Hogan - Mega Powers Collide - WM5 - this was built from WM4 all the way through WM5, pretty awesome if you ask me.

One of the best WM ME's ever.... And I was a Savage fan at the time!!!

Ric Flair vs. The Macho Man (forgot #) - when Flair was saying he slept with Elizabeth

WM8

...and Savage had Sherri in his corner at Mania and Savage lost and Elizabeth got Sherri off of Savage

That part was when he faced Warrior at WM7 tho'... Savage was married to Liz by the time he faced Flair a year later.

 

[SnackZ]

damn - got my Mania's mixed up - thats what happens when you get old. I can say that I think every Macho Man feud was built really well, from Hogan to Flair to the Warrior to Jake Roberts (best feud of his EVER imo). The whole snake at the wedding and snake biting him in the ring was epic.

Another feud that was BUILT perfectly was Goldberg vs. Lesnar - I was soooooooooooooooooo looking forward to that match. Even though the match failed to deliver the build up was really good, from the backstage promo at the Rumble to Lesnars F5 on Goldberg in the Rumble to Austin giving Goldberg the SD ticket to Lesnar costing Lesnar the title against Eddie G, was really, really looking forward to the match.

 

[Montana]

damn - got my Mania's mixed up - thats what happens when you get old. I can say that I think every Macho Man feud was built really well, from Hogan to Flair to the Warrior to Jake Roberts (best feud of his EVER imo). The whole snake at the wedding and snake biting him in the ring was epic.

Another feud that was BUILT perfectly was Goldberg vs. Lesnar - I was soooooooooooooooooo looking forward to that match. Even though the match failed to deliver the build up was really good, from the backstage promo at the Rumble to Lesnars F5 on Goldberg in the Rumble to Austin giving Goldberg the SD ticket to Lesnar costing Lesnar the title against Eddie G, was really, really looking forward to the match.

Good point... Macho always seemed to have really good booking. Hell, even his match with Crush was booked pretty well. But your right, Macho and Jake the snake was awesome.


Did you go to WM 20? To me, the Brock/Goldberg fued was more hype than actual booking. I really didn't like either guy, so I was glad it bombed.

 

[SnackZ]

Yeah - I was at Mania 20. was an awesome night. I was at WM10 and WM20 and will be at WM30 when it comes to the Garden. Also been to Summerslam once and the Royal Rumble last year (cena's return was amazing), I was also at the Raw when Hogan returned to save HBK, I think it was 4/18/07.

Back on topic - This HHH/Orton feud will be built perfectly, I guarantee it. Their past in Evolution and HHH/Steph marriage and Orton's psycho persona will make this build up epic - hope the match lives up to the hype.

 

[Airfixx]

Oooooooooh yeah! : P

Macho v Snake was sick... The cake, the reinstatement, Snake slaps Liz after Macho beats him, They collide at RR then the final match on SNME. Needless to say, the promo's were amazing too!