The wrestling staff of Back Sports Page have carefully selected what they believe to be the top 41 matches in WrestleMania history. Presented in chronological order, this series will detail the backstory, match review, and aftermath of each match, along with how the outcomes shaped the careers of those involved.
Backstory: WrestleMania VIII, held on April 5, 1992, at the Hoosier Dome in Indianapolis, Indiana, featured a WWF Championship showdown steeped in personal drama and emotional stakes. Ric Flair, the reigning champion and self-proclaimed “Real World’s Champion,” had entered WWF in 1991 and quickly made waves by aligning with Mr. Perfect and claiming he was the true top star in wrestling. His arrogance and mind games led him into a heated rivalry with Randy Savage.
In the weeks leading up to WrestleMania, Flair took their feud to a deeply personal level. He claimed that before Savage married Miss Elizabeth, she had been involved with him. Flair taunted Savage with doctored photos and promos insinuating that Elizabeth was unfaithful. These psychological attacks added real emotional weight to an already high-stakes title match and pushed Savage over the edge. The storyline blurred the lines between reality and fiction and had fans heavily invested.
However, due to the real-life marital situation between Randy Savage and Miss Elizabeth — who had separated behind the scenes — the original direction of the angle was toned down, and the focus of the storyline shifted more toward the WWF Championship itself rather than the romantic drama.
Match Review: Flair vs. Savage was an intense, physical battle that blended psychology, emotion, and storytelling in classic WWF fashion. Savage came out aggressively, driven by a desire not just to win the championship, but to defend the honor of his wife. Flair, true to form, played the cocky heel, stalling and manipulating every opportunity with help from Mr. Perfect at ringside.
The match featured great back-and-forth action, with Flair targeting Savage’s knee to set up the Figure-Four Leglock. Savage sold the injury brilliantly, and the crowd was on edge as he struggled to stay in the fight. The turning point came when Savage, bleeding from the forehead after being rammed into the steel barricade, rolled up Flair in a small package to get the pinfall victory and capture the WWF Championship.
After the match, a furious Flair tried to kiss Miss Elizabeth, prompting her to slap him across the face as Savage attacked again. Officials had to separate the two, with the crowd erupting in support of Savage.
Aftermath:
- Randy Savage’s victory was one of the most emotional championship wins in WrestleMania history. After years of turmoil and redemption, Savage had reclaimed the top prize in WWF. His win reinforced his position as one of the company’s most beloved babyfaces. However, his second reign was relatively short-lived, as he would drop the title back to Ric Flair on September 1, 1992, in Hershey, Pennsylvania.
- Ric Flair lost the title at WrestleMania but remained a top-level heel. His feud with Savage continued through the summer and culminated in him regaining the WWF Championship that September. Not long after that, Flair dropped the title to Bret “Hitman” Hart, ushering in a new era for the WWF. In early 1993, Flair left the WWF and made his return to WCW, where he would remain a central figure for years to come.
- Miss Elizabeth played a crucial role in the match’s emotional arc. Though she would soon fade from WWF programming, her involvement in the storyline provided emotional closure to the long-standing Savage-Elizabeth saga that had captivated fans for years.
WrestleMania VIII’s Flair vs. Savage encounter remains a classic example of mixing personal drama with championship gold. The emotion, passion, and intensity of this bout left a lasting impression and stands as one of the most well-told matches in WrestleMania history.
Featured Articles
Featured Writers
