WWE WrestleMania: 5 Great WrestleMania (7-12) matches you may have forgotten

WrestleMania is a much bigger deal than any other WWE pay-per-view event.The period of WWE history that includes WrestleManias 7 through 12 was an interesting time. The sport was beginning to evolve from what it was in the 1980s to what we know it as today, but that transformation was far from complete.While the Attitude Era wouldn’t officially begin until at least a year later, many of the stars of that crucial part of WWE’s story had their first WrestleMania moments at one of these events. So that will be the focus of these five great matches, although there are other matches of note mixed in.

#1 Undertaker def. Jimmy Snuka

The Undertaker has delivered many more Tombstone Piledrivers since this one to Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka.

Logically, a 21-match undefeated streak has to start with a first match, and that came at Wrestlemania 7 against Jimmy Snuka for the phenom known as The Undertaker. While this match wasn’t particularly long, it held all the things that became hallmarks for Taker.

He was terrifying and intimidating at nearly 7 feet tall, but he also showed the agility that he’s so well-known for even now. And as he did with so many men afterwards, the “Deadman” finished off “Superfly” with his devastating Tombstone Piledriver.

#2 Shawn Michaels def. El Matador

Shawn Michaels’ hair got better and then worse again during his career in the WWE.

If anyone’s WrestleMania career has come close to matching The Undertaker’s, it’s Shawn Michaels. For the “Heartbreak Kid”, the journey as a singles competitor began at Wrestlemania 8 against Tito Santana, then known as El Matador.

While Michaels would eventually become a beloved superstar, he was still very much a heel at this point, even mistreating his manager, Sensational Sherri. He was also very entertaining, though, and even hit Santana with what would become his finishing move, the Superkick later known as “Sweet Chin Music”.

#3 Steiners def. Headshrinkers

Rick and Scott Steiner were an All-American tag team before Scott went his own way as a singles guy.

Wrestlemania 9 was the first to be held outdoors, specifically at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, and one of the best matches at that event was a tag match between the Steiner Brothers and the Headshrinkers.

At one point, Samu tossed Scott Steiner overhead completely out of the ring, and on another occasion, Rick countered a team move into a power slam off the shoulders of one of his opponents.

In the end, the Steiners got the win over Samu and Fatu – who would later be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame as Rikishi.

#4 Jeff Jarrett def. Razor Ramon

Jeff Jarrett, or Double J, certainly didn’t lack confidence or bravado, shown here taunting Razor Ramon at WrestleMania 11.

How good of a heel was Jeff Jarrett in his performances leading up to and during WrestleMania 11? He was feuding with Razor Ramon, commonly known as “The Bad Guy,” yet Ramon got the cheers and was the clear face for their Mania match.

A year after his classic ladder match with Shawn Michaels at Wrestlemania 10, Ramon told a great story with a knee injury sustained at that year’s Royal Rumble.

In the end, though, Double J retained his Intercontinental Championship when The Roadie, later known as Road Dogg, interfered to earn the disqualification. The other manager in this match? The 1-2-3 Kid, who came to be known as X-Pac.

#5 Stone Cold Steve Austin def. Savio Vega

Steve Austin is one of the most aggressive superstars in the modern era of the WWE.

Before he told everyone what Austin 3:16 said and became one of the driving forces behind the Attitude Era, Steve Austin had to develop his “Stone Cold” persona to get there, and that began shortly before his WrestleMania debut at WrestleMania 12.

Working as Ted DiBiase’s “Million Dollar Champion,” Austin opened a can of you-know-what on Savio Vega and picked up the win.

During the match, he showed many of the traits that would become central to his character – from second-rope taunts to viciously stomping a downed opponent – all while showing real technical skill.