The countdown has well and truly begun to the biggest event in sports entertainment. WrestleMania returns this spring for its 41st edition.
Taking place at the Allegiant Stadium in Nevada, just down the road from Las Vegas, it promises to have several surprises up its sleeve for WWE fans as the drama unfolds.
We know this because WrestleMania has presented several shocks to its audiences over the years, from 8ft giants to “Hell in the Cell”, but which ones stick in our memories the most?
Let’s take a closer look.
1. Shane McMahon’s Leap of Faith (WrestleMania 32)
Shane-O-Mac’s daredevil stunts were already legendary going into this event, with the owner’s son often performing death-defying leaps off structures.
This WrestleMania saw him up against The Undertaker in a Hell in a Cell match as he attempted to win control of Monday Night Raw from his father by winning. After a pulsating contest, Shane climbed to the top of the structure—a 20-foot-high platform. He performed an unthinkable leap, attempting to crash onto The Undertaker, who moved at the last second.
Shane landed on the announcer table, destroying it in the process, and hurting himself badly in the process. The Taker then went on to preserve his iconic WrestleMania winning streak.
It was a crazy leap, but one that cemented Shane’s commitment and love for the profession – in front of his watching father.
Apparently, Shane McMahon tried to return to WWE, but WWE management isn’t interested in bringing him back.
2. Giant Gonzalez using chloroform on The Undertaker (WrestleMania 9)
WrestleMania IX was the first time that the WWE had held its signature event in Las Vegas, the spiritual home of betting, yet no responsible gambler would have bet on the outcome of this crazy match.
The “eight-feet-tall” Giant Gonzales (later registered at seven feet and eight inches), who had appeared randomly at that year’s Royal Rumble to attack The Undertaker, returned to face “The Phenom” in one of the event’s main matches.
It was a remarkable sight to see the huge ‘Taker (himself almost seven feet tall) reach only as far as The Giant’s chin as the two squared up in the ring.
The match swung back and forth with the two titans taking turns to pummel each other, along with the odd chokehold here and there. The bout continued outside the ring, with the ‘Taker slammed into the steel steps.
The moment of controversy happened back inside the squared circle, however, when the Giant’s minder, Harvey Wippleman, jumped up onto the ring apron. As the Undertaker reacted, Wipplemanthrew a chloroform rag into the ring, which the Giant then used to smother his opponent and get disqualified.
It was a bizarre moment in a feud that culminated in the Take defeating the Giant in a Rest in Peace match at that year’s SummerSlam.
3. Brock Lesnar ends The Undertaker’s 21-year winning streak (WrestleMania 30)
If we’re talking a lot about The Undertaker, that’s because “The Phenom” is probably the event’s greatest-ever character.
His WrestleMania winning streak stretched on for over two decades, including three WWE title wins for the superstar, however he eventually met his match against the beastly Brock Lesnar.
Heading into WrestleMania 30, fans assumed The Undertaker would add Lesnar to his long list of victims. Instead, Lesnar shocked the world by kicking out from a Tombstone, delivering three F5s and pinning The Undertaker, ending the streak at 21-1.
The storyline portrayed Lesnar as an unstoppable force, a reputation he still carries. Fans sat in stunned silence as the referee counted three, cementing this moment as one of the most shocking and controversial in WrestleMania history.
Lesnar is enjoying his life away from WWE. He attended a Ward Davis concert in Canada a few days ago and The Beast is looking jacked, despite WWE not needing him for over a year now.
4. Mick Foley crashing through a flaming table (WrestleMania 22)
Mick Foley, known as “The Hardcore Legend,” has a legacy of unthinkable stunts.
At WrestleMania 22, his feud with Edge culminated in a brutal Hardcore Match. The storyline revolved around Edge’s arrogance and desire to solidify his reputation, challenging Foley to prove he still had it.
The match’s finale came after a devastating match which saw the two stars push each other to the limits. Foley, covered in barbed wire, set the table ablaze outside the ring, only for the move to backfire when Edge speared him from the ring apron straight through it.
The moment was a first in WWE folklore and demonstrated again Foley’s willingness to put his body at risk for the art of wrestling. It remains one of the most shocking and visually intense moments in WrestleMania history.
5. Edge’s Spear on Jeff Hardy in TLC II (WrestleMania 17)
WrestleMania 17’s Tables, Ladders, and Chairs (TLC) match is often considered the greatest tag team match in WWE history, with it being the second of such a match after the previous year’s SummerSlam.
The Dudley Boyz, Edge & Christian, and The Hardy Boyz risked life and limb to win the Tag Team Titles in a match that combined the three household items. The standout moment came when Edge delivered a spear to Jeff Hardy, who dangled precariously from the championship belts 20 feet in the air.
The rivalry revolved around each team trying to establish dominance in the Attitude Era’s tag team division, and the match’s chaos and danger made it an instant classic, with this spear becoming its most iconic image.
