6 Secret WWE WrestleMania dream matches that were pitched, but didn't happen

In the world of WWE, fans salivate at the idea of the matches that could have happened. In 2020, several superstars have provided backstage stories and revelations in podcasts and interviews about matches that would have answered the age old question of 'What If' and provide fantastic fantasy booking ideas that will thrill the public.

While WWE has made some dream matches come true like Goldberg vs. Undertaker last year, some never even made it past the idea stage. In Hollywood, this would be described as "Development Hell" but in wrestling, it does come down to if the performers are willing to do it one last time or work with someone they always wanted to.

Some of the proposed matches that were recently uncovered were altered or never came to pass. It's fascinating to think what would have happened had these matches come to fruition. Here are 6 WWE WrestleMania dream matches that were pitched but didn't happen.

Before moving on to the next part, gear up by listening to the latest edition of Dropkick DiSKussions featuring the veteran ring announcer Lilian Garcia!

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#6 The Rock vs Triple H - WrestleMania 32

One last ride? (Pic Source: WWE)

At WrestleMania 31, The Rock interrupted Stephanie McMahon and Triple H and even got the aid of Ronda Rousey. While it was assumed that there would be a mixed tag team match between the four, it turns out that it was actually a setup for WrestleMania 32 for the long-awaited rematch between The Brahma Bull and The Cerebral Assassin.

Keep in mind that they had multiple feuds in the past, but their last WrestleMania match together was back in 2000, in a four way. Triple H said that the match didn't get booked, simply because there was a scheduling conflict.

Of course, Triple H went on to face Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 32 the following year and the rest is history.

#5 Bret Hart vs Kurt Angle - WrestleMania 20

Hart Angle (Pic Source: WWE)

The fantasy match-up that nobody knew almost happened. Believe it or not, Kurt Angle actually wanted to have a match back in 2003 with Bret 'The Hitman' Hart. In terms of billing, the match sold itself. Ankle Lock vs Sharpshooter. Olympic Gold Medalist vs The Excellence of Execution. But it never came to pass.

In an interview with Chris Van Vliet, Kurt Angle revealed that when he pitched the idea to Bret Hart, Bret just thought he was too old and it just wouldn't be a dream match. He said:

"So, I understood why Bret didn't want to do it. Because he had the stroke and he had a lot of bad luck, you know, some things happened that made it medically difficult for him to come back and be at his very best. I told him, you know, listen, you didn't even have to bump at all. I'll do all the bumping and he was like, 'Nah, it won't be the Bret Hart match that I want to be and I can't do that."

Imagine if Bret Hart never left the WWE, this match would have certainly taken place. It's one of those scenarios that fans will debate in the years to come.

#4 The Rock vs Macho Man Randy Savage - WrestleMania 21

It could have worked (Pic Source: WWE)

Was this actually real? According to Dave Meltzer, Macho Man Randy Savage was one of the opponents that The Rock wanted at WrestleMania 21.

Dwayne that year told me the three guys he wanted to work at Mania were Sting, Randy Savage and Rey Mysterio. https://t.co/0US031xugO

— Dave Meltzer (@davemeltzerWON) February 1, 2020

It's unclear whether Macho Man would have accepted that match. By 2004-2005, he had a small stint in TNA/ Impact Wrestling and didn't wrestle after that. A former TNA Employee Bill Behrens said that Macho Man was not in great shape at this point and couldn't throw a punch or hit his own moves. He explained:

"He did that spot then he did an in ring spot where he couldn't hit his own moves and he couldn't throw a punch bless his heart. Then after that he was supposed to do another spot an actual match, and he went to Jerry Jarrett and said I won't do it unless I win the title. Jerry Jarrett talked to him and talked to him and then left the meeting came to me and said: this man is insane. That pretty much was the end of Randy's run."

With that being said, assuming that Macho Man was game for a match with The Rock, it would have been one for the ages. From a storyline perspective, it made sense. Randy Savage was as over alongside Hulk Hogan as Rock was to Stone Cold Steve Austin. Both men were synonymous with their counterparts.

Considering that Rock had already fought Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania 18, it would be an awesome sight to see The Great One taking on Mr. Madness.

#3 Kurt Angle vs John Cena - WrestleMania 36

An end to a phenomenal career (Pic Source: WWE)

Kurt Angle ended his career last year at WrestleMania 35 losing in traditional fashion to Baron Corbin. But Angle revealed last month that there was a plan in place to wrestle John Cena and retire at WrestleMania 36.

As many fans in the WWE Universe know by now, John Cena made his debut when he answered an open challenge made by Kurt Angle. When Angle was planning to retire, most fans wanted it to be Cena to do the honors. Angle revealed that he indeed wanted Cena at WrestleMania 35 but Vince McMahon insisted that it be Baron Corbin as they were already in a storyline.

McMahon wanted Angle to go another year, but Angle dismissed the idea. He said:

""Because I wanted to retire early and Vince McMahon wanted me to continue the storyline with Baron, there was no possible way. What was ironic was when I got to WrestleMania, I did my throwback to my Team Angle when I wore the hoodie and Cena did his throwback gimmick, we never talked to each other. We just walked up to each other and said...what are you doing? That was way back in 2003 and that would have been cool to bring that back and wrestle John."

Indeed, it would have been a poetic ending to a fantastic career. But destiny had other ideas.

#2 Hulk Hogan vs. Vince McMahon 2 - WrestleMania 36

One last Time (Pic Source: WWE)

Now, technically, WrestleMania 36 is a couple of months away from now and Hulk Hogan had recently said that he wants one last match in WWE. The last time he wrestled was back in TNA/Impact Wrestling and that's something that he wants to change. And would want his last opponent to be Vince McMahon.

In an interview with the L.A. Times, he said that his match with Vince at WrestleMania 19 was fantastic and something that he wanted to repeat. He said:

"I’d love for it to be against Vince,” he said. “I had such a great time with him in the ring at WrestleMania 19. I had no idea what to expect from him, but he’s a great bad guy. His timing is great. I loved wrestling him, but everything he does hurts. When you’re in the ring with someone and they’re hurting you, you kind of pinch them on the wrist, and the whole match I was doing that to Vince. I was like, ‘Vince, take it easy!’ Everything he does hurts, but I’d like to get in the ring with him one more time for my last match. That would be perfect."

Considering that Hulk Hogan is 66 years old and Vince McMahon is 74 years old, it's highly unlikely that the two could put up an athletic match. It doesn't seem like this is going to happen, but perhaps a run-in between the two. In professional wrestling, never say never.

#1 The Rock vs Sting - WrestleMania 21

An epic battle between 2 Icons (Pic Source: WWE)

The Brahma Bull vs The Icon. The Great One vs Stinger. The Rock vs Sting. It certainly had a nice ring to it. While Sting was a more of a powerhouse wrestler than a technical one, a matchup with The Rock had so much potential. Sting knew how to entertain in his in-ring performances as did The Rock.

But like the others on this list, it never came to be. For one thing, this was back in 2005 and it was going to be used as a measure to get Sting in WWE once and for all. But at this point, Sting was not comfortable and signed full-time with TNA/Impact Wrestling.

Jim Ross, on his podcast, that Rock really wanted to work with Sting and felt that he could get a great match out of him. Moreover, the match would have been a draw at WrestleMania. He said:

"And Rock — look, the thing about this, and I may have mentioned this before. It’s worth reiterating as far as bookers are concerned. Bookers find out that the top talents who are gonna draw the money and put an ass every 18 inches know exactly who they can and cannot work well with. Meaning that a great attraction like The Rock fighting another great attraction like Sting at the biggest event of the year like WrestleMania for the first time ever is money. Here’s the key though. Rock knew in his heart that he could get a match out of Sting, who had been dormant for quite a while, without any problem. Full confidence. And I believe that too. So anyhow, yeah it was a topic we talked about."

Imagine how different the world would be, had Sting arrived in WWE back in 2005. The world would have been a very different place and...well...perhaps, that's a nice "What If" story for another time.