- WrestleMania 41 emanates from Las Vegas this weekend
- Pubity spoke exclusively with several superstars ahead of the shows in Vegas
- Some overlooked bouts from ‘Manias past got their flowers
WrestleMania has always been about the moments. The unforgettable matches that transcend the wrestling business. The once-in-a-lifetime, flashbulb laden segments that are repeated ad nauseum forever more.
But what about those matches that never really got their flowers? The ones that slip under the radar every WrestleMania season. When people nostalgically wax lyrical about ‘Macho Man’ Randy Savage and Ricky ‘The Dragon’ Steamboat electrifying the masses in the Pontiac Silverdome at WrestleMania 3. Or Steve Austin and Bret Hart changing the industry forever more with their stunning submission match at WrestleMania 13.
WrestleMania – More Than Just The ‘Moments’
It is, obviously, very easy to get swept up in the Undertaker vs Shawn Michaels and Stone Cold vs The Rock’s of this world. There’s a ton of fun to be had rewatching TLC II from WrestleMania 17, Edge vs Mick Foley from ‘Mania 22 or the WrestleMania 10 double whammy of Bret Hart vs Owen Hart and Shawn Michaels and Razor Ramon’s ladder match.
Yet time and again some bangers slip under the radar. Or they get their flowers, but maybe not the whole bunch.
So, ahead of a huge weekend in Las Vegas, where WrestleMania 41 will emanate from the Allegiant Stadium across two nights, Pubity spoke exclusively to several WWE Superstars, asking them what they believed were some of the most underrated matches in WrestleMania history.
NXT North American Champion Ricky Saints was up first, providing a stellar serving of deep cuts from the early noughties.
“I loved Kurt Angle vs Kane from WrestleMania 18. I really loved it. Everything about it. The entrances, the gear, I dunno, it’s just a great match. Y’know what else is another good one? Matt Hardy vs Rey Mysterio from WrestleMania 19. I’m a nerd for this.”
Former Intercontinental and Tag Team champion Carlito, who appeared at his first Showcase of the Immortals 20 years ago, kept his choices much closer to home, in that he just referred to his own WrestleMania matches.
“Most underrated? Probably one of mine. They’re probably more terrible than people think they were, actually. No, actually, my tag match with Miz and Morrison at WrestleMania 25. That was a good one.”
Underappreciated Classics
Women’s Intercontinental Champion Lyra Valkyria, meanwhile, wasn’t so sure if her choices were underrated, but still probably deserve even more attention than they have received over the years.
“I think Punk and Orton (‘Mania 27), but I think that may be pretty rated. There’s a good RKO in that one. I actually think a lot about the Intercontinental Title now, obviously. I think Gunther and Sami Zayn from last year was absolutely incredible.”
Finally, the question was posed to Ludwig Kaiser. A two time NXT Tag Team Champion and member of Imperium, alongside World Heavyweight Champion Gunther. Although he was unsure of whether his match classified as underrated, he was keen to stress how much it meant to him.
“I don’t know about underrated. It’s always the first one that comes to mind for me. just because it was the last Pay-Per-View that I used to save money for and purchase in Germany and it was Kurt Angle against Shawn Michaels (‘Mania 21). It’s just such a dream match up to me to this day and then this match, obviously expected it to be good, but to deliver so great, it’s one of my favourite matches ever.”
With another 14 bouts on the card across the next two nights, there’s a good chance we witness a few matches that will go onto become sleeper hits that are dug out and enjoyed in the future.
WWE WrestleMania 41 airs live on Peacock in the United States and on Netflix in all other territories tonight (April 19) and Sunday April 20, from Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas
