1. WrestleMania X
The top spot on this list belongs to the tenth edition of ‘Mania. While the quality was inconsistent, this show spawned the two best matches of 1994, which also just happened to be two of the best matches of the entire decade.
The Bret Hart-Owen Hart kickoff is almost certainly still the greatest opening match in PPV history, as the two feuding brothers tore the Garden down in an absolute clinic comprised of some of the best technical wrestling I’ve ever seen. A slew of varied matches followed: a comedy match with Bam Bam Bigelow & Luna Vachon facing Doink and Dink, a strange Falls Count Anywhere variation between Randy Savage and Crush, a decent Alundra Blayze vs. Lelani Kai Women’s Title match, and a very entertaining Quebecers-Men on a Misson Tag Title contest.
Then came the first of two WWF Title matches, as Royal Rumble co-winner Lex Luger challenged Yokozuna in a rather disappointing rematch from SummerSlam ’93. But things picked up huge in the semi-main slot, as Razor Ramon and Shawn Michaels danced with a ladder for the undisputed Intercontinental Title. If any match was going to overshadow both the main event of WrestleMania and the Bret-Owen clinic, this was it.
The years have actually favored Bret vs. Owen in my opinion, but at the time this match was the damnedest thing I had ever seen. Shawn and Razor essentially gave birth to the modern Ladder Match, and basically every such match since owes it a debt. In terms of defining the Spotfest, this might be the most important bout of the 1990s.
Closing out the show was the second WWF Title match, where Bret sought to avenge his ‘Mania 9 loss to Yokozuna. While not quite as entertaining as their first encounter, this provided closure to the feud and felt like a true crowning moment for Bret as the company’s top star. Despite being an uneven show, ‘Mania X featured two five-star all-time classics and therefore is my pick for the best PPV of the 1990s.
