
Ten of the most memorable WrestleMania moments, from Seth Rollins cashing in to The Streak ending
It's WrestleMania season. Arguably WWE's biggest event of the year, WrestleMania 41 will be live-streamed in the region on Netflix for the first time, meaning fans here can watch it live. Held at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nevada, on April 19 and 20, the two-day spectacle has some major storylines, including CM Punk's first time headlining WrestleMania and possibly John Cena's last. He has announced that he'll retire at the end of this year. Now in its 41st year, the annual event – dubbed 'the grandest stage of them all' – has produced some incredible highlights. Looking back, here are 10 of the most memorable WrestleMania moments. Match: Hulk Hogan vs Andre the Giant at WrestleMania III (March 29, 1987) WrestleMania had already become a massive sensation by its third iteration, but there was still something missing. In what was billed as the 'biggest main event in sports entertainment,' Hulk Hogan defended his WWF World Heavyweight title against Andre The Giant. A behemoth of a man, Andre was known the world over for his massive stature and incredible ability. The big moment came when Hogan scoop-slammed Andre after carrying him on his shoulder and dropping all 238kg on the mat. The crowd erupted and then Hogan went for his signature finisher leg drop. The referee counted to three and Hogan retained his championship. Match: Macho Man Randy Savage vs The Ultimate Warrior at WrestleMania VII (March 24, 1991) In a more tender moment that isn't usually seen in wrestling, there is one reunion that has always stood out. The lead-up begins with 'Macho Man' Randy Savage teaming up with Hulk Hogan to form a tag team called the Mega Powers, with Savage's real-life wife Miss Elizabeth as their manager. However, throughout their partnership, Savage showed hints that he was turning heel (the term for a bad guy in wrestling) by becoming jealous of the relationship surrounding Hogan and his wife. This eventually led to the disbandment of the tag team as well as Elizabeth's role as being Savage's manager. He instead had Sensational Sherri take over. During WrestleMania VII, a 'retirement match' took place between Savage and The Ultimate Warrior in which the loser had to retire. Elizabeth, who had been absent from TV for years, was spotted watching from the crowd. After Savage lost the match and was attacked by Sherri, she hopped the crowd barrier, got into the ring and grabbed Sherri to throw her to the outside. Elizabeth began to cry and the pair embraced in the ring to cheers, with Savage even lifting Elizabeth up on his shoulder. Match: Stone Cold Steve Austin vs The Rock at WrestleMania X-Seven (April 1, 2001) One of the greatest rivalries in WWE history, The Rock defended the WWF Championship against Stone Cold Steve Austin in the main event. Just before both wrestlers were introduced, a last-minute no disqualification stipulation had been announced. In a heavy-hitting match that had both wrestlers using the other's finishing moves on each other, the most shocking moment came at the end when Stone Cold was handed a steel chair by his long-time enemy Mr McMahon. Using it against The Rock, he became the new WWF champion. It was an unforgettable moment that had Stone Cold and McMahon, once heated former rivals, shake hands. Match: Rey Mysterio vs Randy Orton vs Kurt Angle at WrestleMania 22 (April 2, 2006) Who doesn't love a good upset? The biggest one of the night happened when Rey Mysterio, a smaller Mexican luchador wrestler, managed to win a triple-threat match against Randy Orton and Kurt Angle for the World Heavyweight Championship (held by Angle at the time). Mysterio had earned an outside chance to be in the match, thanks to his drive to honour his friend Eddie Guerrero, who had died the year before, and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame that same night. After winning, Mysterio was immediately received by Guerrero's family, including his wife Vicki and cousin Chavo, who celebrated the win and honoured the late great wrestler. Match: Shawn Michaels vs The Undertaker at WrestleMania XXVI (March 27, 2010) A rematch from the year's prior WrestleMania, this was billed as 'Streak vs Career' between The Undertaker, who was 17-0 heading into the event, and Shawn Michaels, who said he would retire if he didn't win the match. Instantly a classic, the 30-minute match had both wrestlers give it their all, with momentum seemingly shifting back and forth, making it difficult to tell who had the upper hand. In the end, The Undertaker delivered a third Tombstone Piledriver (his finishing move) to Michaels to extend his winning streak while ending Michaels' career. However, the two shook hands after the match and embraced as Michaels also interacted with fans for the final time. Match: Brock Lesnar vs The Undertaker at WrestleMania XXX (April 6, 2014) Heading into the match, The Undertaker had carried a 21-0 winning streak, dating back to his first victory at WrestleMania VII against Jimmy Snuka in 1991. He defeated Shawn Michaels, Triple H and Ric Flair while building the streak. Many fans assumed that although Lesnar was a worthy candidate to end it, that it wouldn't actually happen. After performing three F-5s (Lesnar's finishing move) to The Undertaker, Lesnar pinned The Dead Man in an ending that shocked fans in attendance and around the world and mainstream news outlets even picked up what had happened. Match: Daniel Bryan vs Randy Orton vs Batista at WrestleMania XXX (April 6, 2014) If there was ever an underdog to root for, it was Daniel Bryan. Growing in popularity with fans and praised for his wrestling ability, he quickly became a fan favourite. His rise in stardom had him compete for the WWE Championship at Summerslam, where he defeated John Cena with Triple H as the special guest referee. However, just moments afterwards, Triple H attacked Bryan, and then Randy Orton cashed in his Money in the Bank contract to win the title, showing the two were in an alliance. The journey for Bryan then included a match with Triple H at WrestleMania, with the stipulation that whoever won would be added into the main event later the same evening. After defeating Triple H, a battered Bryan was added to the championship match, turning it into a triple threat. Although seemingly taken out and being carted away on a stretcher, Bryan refused medical attention and continued on. He eventually submitted Batista to win the WWE Championship as fireworks, confetti and pyrotechnics went off as he celebrated with fans. Match: Seth Rollins vs Roman Reigns vs Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 31 (March 29, 2015) Although Seth Rollins had lost his singles match against Randy Orton earlier in the evening, he surprised many by returning to the ring to cash in his 'Money in the Bank' briefcase. This allowed him to insert himself into the main event for the WWE World Heavyweight championship. After Roman Reigns and Brock Lesnar had spent time beating each other up without a successful pinfall, Rollins' music hit and he ran towards the ring to cash in his contract, turning the singles match into a triple threat for the title – eventually winning by pinning his former teammate Reigns. The victory has been dubbed the 'Heist of the Century' and Rollins swinging around the championship belt on the top of the ramp is a moment that most fans won't forget. Match: Ronda Rousey vs Charlotte Flair vs Becky Lynch – WrestleMania 35 (April 7, 2019) This was the first time women wrestlers headlined the main event of WrestleMania. It took place between Raw Women's Champion Ronda Rousey, SmackDown Women's Champion Charlotte Flair and Becky Lynch in a winner-takes-all triple threat match. The three talented wrestlers had built a good feud heading into the evening's main event, which eventually had Lynch pin Rousey and win both belts (also earning her the nickname 'Becky Two Belts') in front of 80,000 fans at MetLife Stadium. Match: Cody Rhodes vs Roman Reigns at WrestleMania XL (April 6-7, 2024) Roman Reigns, the Original Tribal Chief and head of The Bloodline stable, defended the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship against Cody Rhodes, a legacy wrestler who had returned to the WWE after being away for six years. Rhodes is the son of Dusty Rhodes, a wrestling Hall of Famer who died in 2015. His father had almost become the WWE champion at one point but lost due to a technicality, something that spurred Cody on for his whole career. The matchup was electric as both had something at stake. Reigns was on his way to becoming the longest WWE championship title holder, while Rhodes needed to win to fulfil his life goal and honour his father's memory. In a hard-fought and entertaining match, Rhodes won to become the new face of the WWE and cement his place in the history of wrestling.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Web Release
8 hours ago
- Web Release
LEGO Launches One Piece Sets with Netflix
LEGO has revealed an exciting new One Piece collection, developed in collaboration with Netflix and Tomorrow Studios. Inspired by the hit live-action adaptation of Eiichiro Oda's beloved manga, the new brick-based range captures pivotal moments and settings from One Piece Season 1. This highly anticipated release includes seven intricately designed sets, offering fans the chance to recreate scenes such as Luffy's first meeting with Shanks, the dramatic battle at Arlong Park, and Buggy the Clown's terrifying circus. Each set is packed with interactive play features, detailed interiors, and collectible minifigures, appealing to both long-time followers and new audiences. Standout Sets with Detailed Design One of the collection's highlights is the Going Merry Pirate Ship, a 1,376-piece replica of the Straw Hat Pirates' iconic vessel. The ship includes a fully designed cabin, kitchen, storage space, and accessory room. Minifigures of Luffy, Zoro, Nami, Usopp, and Sanji bring the ship's crew to life. Another showstopper is the Baratie Floating Restaurant, a massive 3,402-piece set featuring rich interior detail, including Zeff's quarters, dining halls, and a treasure room. It comes with ten minifigures, including the Straw Hat crew along with Zeff, Garp, Helmeppo, Koby, and Mihawk. Each set also includes collectible 'Wanted' posters, encouraging fans to complete the full range. Global Events and Launch Details To mark the release, LEGO Stores around the world will host One Piece-themed events throughout August. Activities include a Gum Gum Fruit Make & Take, Straw Hat headband giveaways, and the Minifigure Factory, where fans can create their own custom One Piece characters. LEGO Insiders will also receive a special One Piece passport stamp, enhancing the collectible experience. Ranging from $30 to $330 USD, the LEGO One Piece collection is available for pre-order now, with an official launch date set for August 1, 2025. With Season 2 of Netflix's adaptation arriving in 2026, this collaboration offers fans a new, hands-on way to dive deeper into the One Piece universe.


Gulf Today
12 hours ago
- Gulf Today
'The Day of The Jackal' author Frederick Forsyth dies aged 86
Prolific British thriller writer Frederick Forsyth, who instantly became a global bestselling author when his book "The Day of the Jackal" was published in 1971, died on Monday aged 86, his literary agents Curtis Brown said. Forsyth famously penned his most famous work about a fictional assassination attempt on French president Charles de Gaulle by right-wing extremists in just 35 days after falling on hard times. "The Jackal" went on to be made into a hit film starring Edward Fox as the assassin. A Netflix remake last year with Eddie Redmayne in the lead role was released last year. "We mourn the passing of one of the world's greatest thriller writers," his agent Jonathan Lloyd said. Forsyth died at home surrounded by his family following a brief illness, according to Curtis Brown. The former journalist and pilot wrote over 25 books including "The Odessa File" (1972) and "The Dogs of War" (1974) and sold over 75 million copies worldwide. Many of his novels were also turned into films. "Only a few weeks ago I sat with him as we watched a new and moving documentary of his life ... and was reminded of an extraordinary life, well lived," said Lloyd. "After serving as one of the youngest ever RAF pilots, he turned to journalism, using his gift for languages in German, French and Russian to become a foreign correspondent in Biafra (in Nigeria)," he said. 'Spectacular luck' "Appalled at what he saw and using his experience during a stint as a secret service agent, he wrote his first and perhaps most famous novel, 'The Day Of The Jackal'," he added. A sequel to "The Odessa File", entitled "Revenge Of Odessa", on which he worked with thriller writer Tony Kent, is due to be published in August, his publisher Bill Scott-Kerr said. "His journalistic background brought a rigour and a metronomic efficiency to his working practice and his nose for and understanding of a great story kept his novels both thrillingly contemporary and fresh," Scott-Kerr added. Forsyth attributed much of his success to "luck", recalling how a bullet narrowly missed him while he was covering the bloody Biafra civil war between 1967 and 1970. "I have had the most spectacular luck all through my life," he told The Times last November in an interview. "Right place, right time, right person, right contact, right promotion -- and even just turning my head away when that bullet went past," he said. Asked why he had decided to give up writing -- although he later went back to it -- he told AFP in 2016 he'd "run out of things to say". "I can't just sit at home and do a nice little romance from within my study, I have to go out and check out places like Modagishu, Guinea Bissau, both hellholes in different ways," he said. Forsyth had two sons by his first wife. His second wife, Sandy, died last year. Conservative MP David Davis paid tribute to his friend as a "fabulous wordsmith". He told Sky News that Forsyth "was a great believer in the old values -- he believed in honour and patriotism and courage and directness and straightforwardness, and a big defender of our armed forces". Agence France-Presse


Al Etihad
2 days ago
- Al Etihad
'The Day of The Jackal' author Frederick Forsyth dies aged 86
9 June 2025 22:31 LONDON (AFP)Prolific British thriller writer Frederick Forsyth, who instantly became a global bestselling author when his book 'The Day of the Jackal' was published in 1971, died on Monday aged 86, his literary agents Curtis Brown famously penned his most famous work, about a fictional assassination attempt on French president Charles de Gaulle by right-wing extremists, in just 35 days after falling on hard times."The Jackal" went on to be made into a hit film starring Edward Fox as the assassin.A Netflix remake last year with Eddie Redmayne in the lead role was released last year."We mourn the passing of one of the world's greatest thriller writers," his agent Jonathan Lloyd died at home surrounded by his family following a brief illness, according to Curtis former journalist and pilot wrote over 25 books including 'The Odessa File' (1972) and 'The Dogs of War' (1974), and sold over 75 million copies of his novels were also turned into films. Forsyth attributed much of his success to "luck", recalling how a bullet narrowly missed him while he was covering the Biafra civil war between 1967 and 1970.