10 Ways These Classic WWE WrestleMania Matches & Moments Have Aged Badly 

WrestleMania is the biggest yearly show in professional wrestling, and over the years it has produced some of the biggest all-time classic matches and moments in the history of not just WWE, but in the entire business too.

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Even the most groundbreaking and memorable moments can have downsides though, and even when it comes to a major event like WrestleMania, there are several examples of things aging badly. Some of this comes down to the wrestlers themselves, the ramifications of certain classic matches or moments, or sometimes the aftermath and booking of stories which, in hindsight, lessen the effects of the classic moment.

10 Ric Flair’s Retirement Match - WrestleMania 24

When Shawn Michaels ended Ric Flair’s WWE career at WrestleMania 24 and left him crying in the middle of the ring, it brought a perfect end to one of the best matches in either man’s career, and it acted as a wonderful conclusion to such a storied legacy.

That was until he returned to the ring the following year in TNA in what was a truly horrific comeback, and would again come out of retirement in 2022 in a scary match in which he legitimately went unconscious on more than one occasion. Flair ruined what would have been the best final match anyone could have hoped for.

9 The Fans Bring Back Hulkamania - WrestleMania 18

The Rock vs Hulk Hogan is up there with the greatest matches of all time. This was the match that pushed WWE to bring back the red and yellow of Hulkamania, returning Hogan to the gimmick that made him famous due to the overwhelming support he received from the crowd.

However, this led to WWE pushing Hogan back into the main event, winning the Undisputed WWE Championship in what was a very poor reign full of horrendous in-ring work. Hogan’s match with The Rock was fantastic, but it led to months of Hogan hogging the main event.

8 Shawn Michaels Vs Bret Hart Iron Man Match - WrestleMania 12

For the longest time, Shawn Michaels vs Bret Hart in a 60-minute Iron Man match was considered one of the greatest matches in WrestleMania history.

As the years have gone on, this match has become progressively more divisive among fans, with some claiming it to be hugely overrated. Upon a rewatch, it is, unfortunately, clear to see that much of the match did drag and at times it was a bit boring.

7 Daniel Bryan Overcomes The Authority - WrestleMania 30

Daniel Bryan’s victory at WrestleMania 30 was one of the most incredible finishes to a professional wrestling show ever. He defeated Triple H, Batista, and Randy Orton in one night to become the WWE World Heavyweight Champion.

However, one PPV defense later, he was put on the shelf and had to relinquish the title. Bryan’s huge win was followed up by absolutely nothing, and his time as the number one babyface in WWE lasted all but a month. The moment itself was stunning, but injuries halted his momentum immediately.

6 Once In A Lifetime - WrestleMania 28

At WrestleMania 28, The Rock and John Cena clashed in one of the biggest matches of all time. It had a huge big-fight feel, and it closed out the show in an electric manner.

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However, the groundbreaking and historical nature of that match was stripped away the following year when the pair had a rematch. The whole “once in a lifetime” tagline was nullified, and to make matters worse absolutely no one cared about their encounter at WrestleMania 29.

5 Emotional End To The Show - WrestleMania 20

WrestleMania 20 ended with two of the biggest underdogs winning the WWE Championship and World Heavyweight Championship respectively, with their embrace being a hugely emotional yet triumphant moment at the time.

Fast-forward just a few years later, and both World Champions from that night are no longer with us. It may have been a big moment and perhaps even considered the greatest finish to a WrestleMania ever, but it is now viewed as a tragic and uncomfortable moment instead.

4 Rey Mysterio’s World Heavyweight Championship Win - WrestleMania 22

Rey Mysterio lived up to being the biggest underdog in wrestling when he overcame the odds to win the World Heavyweight Championship, all in the name of his late friend, Eddie Guerrero.

However, the months that followed saw Mysterio have one of the weakest-booked world title reigns in history. It lessened the impact of his title win in a huge way, and fans couldn’t wait to see him drop the gold.

3 Brock Lesnar Ends The Undertaker’s Streak - WrestleMania 30

Brock Lesnar stunned the world when he defeated The Undertaker and ended his undefeated streak at WrestleMania. Lesnar did go on to have a dominant run as World Champion afterward, which set him up to be the ultimate final boss.

There was hope for someone to pick up a major victory over Lesnar, getting the rub from the man who defeated The Undertaker. However, the next person to beat him one-on-one was The Undertaker in a rematch, and the first person to pin him clean was Goldberg, meaning that no full-time wrestler got the benefit of beating him. Sure, subsequent wrestlers have beaten Lesnar since, but the momentum he had from ending the streak had gone by then.

2 Steve Austin’s Heel Turn - WrestleMania 17

WrestleMania 17 closed out with Steve Austin shockingly siding with Mr. McMahon, turning heel in the process. This was a major angle, but the follow-up wasn’t perfect by any means.

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Austin’s heel turn didn’t work out as expected, as fans just wanted to see him as a babyface. The whole Invasion angle muddied things, and it didn’t allow Austin to fully develop as a heel. By the time the next WrestleMania came around, he was a babyface once again.

1 Shawn Michaels’ Retirement Match - WrestleMania 26

Shawn Michaels vs The Undertaker was the most perfect retirement match of all time, and for many years, it seemed like Michaels would live up to this stipulation and never step foot back in the ring.

However, that moment of Michaels losing will now forever have hanging over it his return to the ring in 2018 for one of the worst matches in history. He teamed with Triple H to take on The Undertaker and Kane in what felt like a nightmarishly bad parody.