Top 10 Most Memorable WrestleMania Matches Of Recent Times

WrestleMania is WWE’s biggest show of the year, and it has hosted its fair share of memorable matches over the years. Of late, the “Showcase of the Immortals” has continued to produce unforgettable moments and matches that will be talked about for years in the future. Here are the top 10 most memorable WrestleMania matches of recent times:

1. The Undertaker vs. AJ Styles – Boneyard Match: WrestleMania 36

Forcing WWE to think outside of the box, the COVID-19 pandemic made WrestleMania 36 a very interesting event: it was the first-ever Boneyard Match between The Undertaker and AJ Styles—a cinematic masterpiece. It was the first time in over 16 years that The Undertaker returned as his “American Badass” persona.

It was a match set in a graveyard setting, which promised some unique storytelling and visuals. You could see Styles and The Undertaker fighting all over the spooky setting, using it to their advantage. The bout featured motorcycle chases, druids, and even The Undertaker seemingly teleporting at times.

What really made this match memorable, though, was the cinematic presentation of it and the fact that it would later be revealed it was The Undertaker’s last match. The Deadman rode off into the night after burying Styles, fittingly ending his legendary career.

2. Becky Lynch vs. Ronda Rousey vs. Charlotte Flair – Winner Takes All (WrestleMania 35)

It marked history as it was the very first main event in which a women’s match had headlined off WrestleMania. In a highly anticipated fight between some of the three greatest three stars that WWE has presently, this has been a Winner Take All Triple Threat fight for both of them: one, the RAW Women’s Championship, and two, for the SmackDown Women’s Championship.

The match indeed lived up to the hype as all three women were into an intense and physical performance. The crowd was well invested throughout, especially in the many near-falls. Adding to the memory of the match was the controversial finish that saw Lynch pin Rousey in a manner that somewhat questioned the legitimacy of the three-count.

This bout not only delivered in-ring action but also represented a significant milestone in women’s wrestling, hence placing it in the annals of WrestleMania history.

3. Kofi Kingston vs. Daniel Bryan – WWE Championship (WrestleMania 35)

This was the emotional match that crowned the top of Kofi Kingston’s journey, “KofiMania,” to the WWE Championship against Daniel Bryan. The story of Kingston’s 11-year journey to the top resonated with fans, making this one of the most anticipated matches on the card26.

The match itself was a technical masterclass, as Bryan and Kingston stole the show with their unbelievable in-ring prowess. The crowd was behind Kingston firmly, erupting with every near-fall. When Kingston finally hit Trouble in Paradise to win the WWE Championship, it created one of the most feel-good moments in recent WrestleMania history.

This was an emotional encounter, complete with a post-match celebration in the ring with Kingston’s New Day teammates and his family.

4. Edge vs. Randy Orton – Last Man Standing Match (WrestleMania 36)

One of the more intriguing storylines heading into WrestleMania 36 was the return to in-ring competition by Edge after a nine-year retirement due to injury. His Last Man Standing match against longtime rival Randy Orton lived up to expectations.

The match did an excellent job using the empty Performance Center, as both veterans had a violent brawl all over the facility. With all the different environments and weapons used to make it a really brutal and intense contest, the psychology and storytelling were great as well. Both men sold the toll of their violent encounter very well.

The eventual victory of Edge was a triumphant one, as it set the stage for his continued run in WWE, making this match a momentous occasion in his career resurgence.

5. Return of the Hardy Boyz: WrestleMania 33

Not an opponent match, per se, but the surprise return of The Hardy Boyz at WrestleMania 33 was one of the most memorable moments in recent WrestleMania history. Matt and Jeff Hardy made a shocking appearance as the fourth team in the Raw Tag Team Championship ladder match.

As soon as the music of The Hardy Boyz hit, the crowd went nuts, and the electric atmosphere was around. The brothers wasted no time reminding people why they were legends in ladder matches, pulling off their signature high-risk moves. Jeff’s Swanton Bomb off a ladder onto Sheamus and Cesaro on another ladder outside the ring was particularly spectacular.

Making the moment even more significant, this was also where the Hardys would win the Raw Tag Team Championships in their return match to give a WrestleMania moment to remember.5.

6. Brock Lesnar vs. Roman Reigns vs. Seth Rollins—WrestleMania 31

It was not just a great main event; it was memorable for how it all went down. With Brock Lesnar and Roman Reigns deep in a physical brawl, Seth Rollins pulled off one of wrestling’s greatest moments, cashing in his Money in the Bank contract mid-match.

The original match saw lots of hard hitting, as Lesnar started strong before Reigns fought back. That was enhanced with the exciting element of chaos from Rollins when he cashed in to create an unpredictable feeling throughout the match. A genuine WrestleMania moment came when his curb stomp on Reigns sent him into the mat, and he took advantage for the pin to capture his first-ever WWE World Heavyweight Championship.

This match is one of the most-cited as one of the all-time great Money in the Bank cash-ins and a highlight of recent WrestleMania history33.

7. Charlotte Flair vs. Rhea Ripley—NXT Women’s Championship, WrestleMania 36

This was a historic match in that an NXT championship was to be defended at WrestleMania. Hard-hitting moves by the duo of Charlotte Flair and Rhea Ripley demonstrated just how strong both ladies are.

It was a great story about the veteran Flair working on Ripley’s leg, with the younger champion fighting valiantly. The back-and-forth action kept the fans going throughout, with several convincing near-falls. The eventual win by Flair was quite surprising to many, adding to the memorability of the match.

It also set up the NXT Women’s Championship and Ripley as a main roster star in one fell swoop, despite the loss.

8. The Undertaker vs. Roman Reigns – WrestleMania 33

Rather than anything that happened between the ropes, the historical significance of this bout in the pantheon of WrestleMania moments is for what it represented. Many presumed at the time that this would be The Undertaker’s last match, and the post-match scene became instantly iconic.

Following the defeat at the hands of Reigns, The Undertaker began to slowly remove his gloves, coat, and hat, placing them in the ring. He then descended down into the stage—presumably a signal that this was the end of the career. It was an emotional moment: fans and fellow wrestlers alike were in tears, thinking they were witnessing the end of an era.

Although The Undertaker would return for more matches, this moment certainly remains one of the most poignant in recent WrestleMania history.

9. Ronda Rousey and Kurt Angle vs. Triple H and Stephanie McMahon (WrestleMania 34)

Ronda Rousey’s in-ring WWE debut at WrestleMania 34 exceeded expectations. Teaming with Kurt Angle against Triple H and Stephanie McMahon, Rousey proved she could hang with WWE’s best right from the start.

The match was really well-booked to hide all of Rousey’s perceived weaknesses and accentuate her strengths. She looked super athletic, with a number of great spots, like picking up Triple H for a suplex. The crowd was totally into Rousey, which added to the loud reactions for her offense.

Rousey’s dominance and the win for her team made this one of the most talked-about matches coming out of WrestleMania 34, setting up her successful run in WWE36.

10. Kevin Owens vs. Sami Zayn – Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship (WrestleMania 39)

The payoff to one of the longest storylines in recent memory saw best friends turned rivals turned partners Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn take on The Usos for the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championships, a match electric from bell to bell.

The action in the ring was top-notch from all four men. The near-falls were tremendous, with the best being a great kick out by Zayn over the 1D from the Usos. The emotional payoff came in the final moments as Zayn hit three straight Helluva Kicks on Jey Uso to win the match.

This match not only delivered great action but also provided a satisfying conclusion to a long-running storyline, making it one of the most memorable matches of recent WrestleManias.

Conclusion

These ten matches comprise some of the most unforgettable moments from recent WrestleManias, highlighting the evolution of WWE’s product, from the rise of women’s wrestling to cinematic matches necessitated by the pandemic. Each of those encounters wanted to leave its mark on fans and the wrestling industry as a whole, placing them in a position within WrestleMania lore.

These matches are truly special, not just for the in-ring action but for telling stories and eliciting emotions. Career-defining victories and shocking returns—all part of what makes WrestleMania the “Showcase of the Immortals”—these bouts put forth a show of WWE’s ability in creating moments that go beyond wrestling to become part of popular culture.

WWE is ever-changing, and new stars are on the rise, so future WrestleManias will no doubt build on this impressive list. But the following ten will always be special to the fans, benchmarks of what makes a truly memorable WrestleMania moment.