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: Remember when Hulk Hogan and Roddy Piper had the big rivalry back in the 1980s? The two adversaries faced off against each other in Wrestlemania 1, after all. Of course, Hogan and Mr. T were the victors, launching the legend of Hulkamania to the stratosphere. But what if there was a past vs. present scenario? What if wrestling fans had a superstar from the 1980s vs. a present superstar?
That’s what Roddy Piper vs. Bret Hart brought to WrestleMania 8. The legendary heel faces off against the Calgary native in a battle of wits. “Hot Rod” vs. “The Hitman.” It’s the dream match that set the standard for dream matches, whether it’s Hulk Hogan vs. The Rock or The Rock vs. John Cena.
On top of that, it was for the Intercontinental Championship. It gave the midcard extra juice with two defined superstars going at it in a technician’s battle. Who would win in the battle of holds and grapples? The Intercontinental Championship was the proverbial cherry on top.
Match Review: This match was centered around two themes. First, it’s the technical wrestling standpoint that made this unique. Bret Hart is regarded as one of the best technical wrestlers in pro wrestling. His ability to apply countless holds and wear down his opponents made him second-to-none. He also used clever tactics to win the match, including countering Piper’s patented Sleeper Hold to win the match.
The match also highlighted Roddy Piper’s struggle with his conscience. The former Intercontinental Champion wouldn’t dare attack his claimed cousin with a ring bell, would he? He had spent his life’s work as a heel, battling Hogan and Bruno Sammartino as a jerk. The match was about mutual respect between two incredible wrestlers, holding the fan’s awe in their hands. His struggle was apparent in the later parts of the bout, where his short temper would be shelved for the betterment of the match.
Having an incredible back-and-forth match between both wrestlers helped, too. It was both wrestlers exchanging holds, blows, and finishers throughout the bout. Who would win and survive? Would Piper tap to the Sharpshooter? Or would Bret Hart fall asleep in the Sleeper Hold?
Aftermath: Both wrestlers would go on to have iconic pro wrestling careers.
- Roddy Piper would become the President of the WWF on January 29, 1996. Yes, you read that right. “Hot Rod” was running the WWF, at least from a kayfabe standpoint. This was after Gorilla Monsoon was attacked by Vader, causing him to leave his role. One of his first acts was reinstating The Ultimate Warrior after fans wanted him back. He also spent time in World Championship Wrestling, feuding with the NWO and Hulk Hogan. Piper returned to the WWE and feuded with Chris Jericho at WrestleMania 25 alongside Mickey Rourke and legends such as Ricky Steamboat and Jimmy Snuka. He was elected into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005 before passing away in his sleep on July 24, 2015.
- Bret Hart had a storied wrestling career, starting with his memorable WrestleMania 12 Iron Man Match against Shawn Michaels and WrestleMania 13 against Stone Cold Steve Austin. He also won the WCW World Heavyweight Championship twice and the WWF Championship five times, making him one of the most decorated wrestlers in the industry. He was elected to the WWE Hall of Fame twice: Once as an individual (2006) and as part of the Hart Foundation (2019). Hart also won the 1994 Royal Rumble alongside Lex Luger and was a two-time winner of King of the Ring (1991 and 1993). “The Hitman” even made a guest appearance on The Simpsons as himself.
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