The Greatest WrestleMania Dream Matches That By no means Occurred
WrestleMania remains the flagship show of WWE programming for a reason. The pivotal event that sees long-simmering rivalries reach their inevitable conclusion, WWE has featured some of the most iconic matches in wrestling history at WrestleMania time and time again.
For every Austin vs. Rock or Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels bout that have headlined WrestleMania in the past, though, there exists countless other WrestleMania dream matches that almost appeared at the grandest stage of them all.
1. “Stone Cold” Steve Austin vs. Hulk Hogan (WrestleMania X8)
Perhaps the greatest dream match of all time, fans have spent decades envisioning what a match between “Stone Cold” Steve Austin and Hulk Hogan might have looked like.
In 2002, that dream almost became a reality, with WWE planning a tentative match between Austin and Hogan at WrestleMania X8. With both Austin and Hogan refusing to lose to the other, however, WWE decided to pair Hogan with The Rock and had Austin with Hogan’s ally, Scott Hall, forever leaving fans to wonder what this epic rivalry could have looked like.
2. The Undertaker vs. Sting (WrestleMania XXVII)
Like the aforementioned Austin versus Hogan, The Undertaker versus Sting ranks among the biggest WrestleMania dream matches in wrestling history. While fans spent years clamoring to see the Icon share the ring with the Dead Man, the long-awaited WrestleMania match between the two never quite panned out. The closest it ever came to happening involved WrestleMania XXVII, which saw Sting closing in on a WWE contract before deciding to return to TNA weeks ahead of the pay-per-view.
3. Shawn Michaels vs. Eddie Guerrero (WrestleMania 22)
Yet another match that lives on in fans’ imaginations, WWE laid out some rough plans for an eventual rivalry between Eddie Guerrero and Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania 22. Given the similar background of both superstars, the ensuing match would have played off Guerrero and Michaels’ high-flying offense, likable charisma, and their respective triumphs over past substance abuse issues. In a heartbreaking turn of events, Guerrero never lived to see the match through, passing away at 38 years old from acute heart failure.
4. Bret Hart vs. Shawn Michaels (WrestleMania 13)
According to Bret Hart himself, the original plan for his rivalry against Shawn Michaels saw the Hitman losing to Michaels at WrestleMania XII, with Michaels returning the favor at the following year’s WrestleMania 13.
With Michaels refusing to drop the WWF Championship back to his backstage arch-enemy, HBK chose to vacate the title ahead of WrestleMania 13, setting off in search of his “lost smile” as WrestleMania approached.
5. Triple H vs. CM Punk (WrestleMania XXX)
While CM Punk has since enjoyed a successful return to WWE, his sudden departure from the company in 2013 proved less than cordial. With Punk unhappy about his ongoing use in WWE, the final straw for the Second City Savior came when WWE booked Punk in a match against Triple H at WrestleMania XXX.
Upset about missing out on yet another WrestleMania main event, Punk chose to walk away from WWE rather than face the Game, ushering in his 10-year absence from the promotion.
6. CM Punk vs. Seth Rollins (WrestleMania XL)
One of the more recent canceled WrestleMania dream matches, WWE spent the better part of three months lining up a fateful encounter between CM Punk and Seth Rollins for WrestleMania XL.
While there remains a high probability that viewers will one day see this epic rivalry reach its conclusion, Punk’s injury at the 2024 Royal Rumble axed any possibilities for the Straight Edge Superstar and the Visionary facing off on the grandest stage of them all.
7. Hulk Hogan vs. Ric Flair (WrestleMania VIII)
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, wrestling fans frothed at the mouth for a chance to see top WWF talent Hulk Hogan face reigning NWA champion Ric Flair. Just when it seemed like that match might happen upon the Nature Boy’s arrival to WWE in 1991, WWE failed to deliver.
While the earliest plans involved Hogan and Flair squaring up at WrestleMania VIII, certain extenuating circumstances–such as Hogan’s expiring contract–gave Vince McMahon pause in determining the match’s winner. Rather than pitting the two stars together at the show, McMahon chose to pair Flair with Randy Savage and Hogan with Sid Justice.
8. Roman Reigns vs. Goldberg (WrestleMania 36)
One of the more bizarre WrestleManias in WWE history, WrestleMania 36 occurred a few short weeks after the COVID-19 epidemic swept across the globe. As everyone grappled with the conditions imposed by mass quarantine, WWE adjusted their plans for the upcoming WrestleMania 36.
In particular, Roman Reigns–who suffered an increased risk of serious health complications–requested his removal from the pay-per-view. As a result, WWE replaced Reigns with Braun Strowman in the WWE Universal Championship match against Bill Goldberg.
9. “Macho Man” Randy Savage vs. The Honky Tonk Man (WrestleMania IV)
The 1980s pro wrestling industry had its fair share of backstage politics, with numerous reigning champions refusing to lose their title for one reason or another. As WrestleMania IV approached, Intercontinental Championship Honky Tonk Man did just that, flat-out saying no when WWE pitched Randy Savage as the man to take the belt away from the company’s resident Elvis impersonator.
Wanting to take advantage of the Macho Man’s burgeoning popularity, WWE instead had Savage defeat “The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase for the vacant WWF Championship, allowing Savage to rise to main event status.
10. Vince McMahon vs. Mick Foley (WrestleMania X-Seven)
Despite Mick Foley’s formal retirement in 2000, Vince McMahon hoped to lure Mrs. Foley’s Baby Boy back for one final match at WrestleMania X-Seven. While the build-up to the event saw McMahon fire and then assault Foley, Foley chose to stick with his retirement rather than compete against WWE’s Chairman, requiring Vince to cast his son Shane as his opponent at WrestleMania X-Seven.
11. Triple H vs. The Rock (WrestleMania 2000)
Having bested The Big Show to earn a title shot against WWE Champion Triple H, the initial plans for WrestleMania 2000 involved the Game and The Rock going head-to-head to close out the show. Yet, in the weeks before the event took place, the sudden surge in Mick Foley’s popularity–as well as Foley’s desire to main event WrestleMania before his retirement–necessitated some last-minute changes.
Therefore, instead of The Rock and Triple H in a singles match, WWE booked The Rock and Triple H into a Fatal Four Way match with Foley and The Big Show.
12. Sting vs. Kurt Angle (WrestleMania X8)
When WCW bolted its doors in 2001, WWE tried hard to entice franchise player Sting to join their roster. After failing to bring the Icon over as part of WCW’s doomed Invasion angle, the company sweetened the deal by offering the Stinger a 2002 match against Kurt Angle at WrestleMania X8.
Despite their best efforts, Sting–citing WWE’s treatment of past WCW talent–opted to steer clear of the company, facing off against Angle years later in TNA.
13. The Undertaker vs. Kurt Angle (WrestleMania 22)
While Brock Lesnar ended up breaking The Undertaker’s undefeated streak at WrestleMania XXX, WWE had considered booking a few other potential stars to defeat The Undertaker ahead of the Beast Incarnate. The Undertaker, in particular, vyed for Kurt Angle to break the streak at WrestleMania 22, the Dead Man feeling he had never had a truly memorable match at the show to end all shows.
Out of respect for the Dead Man, Angle refused, with WWE booking the men into a match at No Way Out 2006 one month ahead of WrestleMania 22.
14. The Rock vs. Sting (WrestleMania 21)
As he continued to forge a career in Hollywood, The Rock also expressed interest in returning to the WWE, encouraging higher-ups to book him into a match for WrestleMania 21. Wanting to do something special to mark his return, The Rock pitched the idea of bringing Sting in for the event, culminating in an epic WCW vs. WWF showdown.
After WWE nixed this idea, The Rock listed Ric Flair as his next potential competitor, with WWE toying with the idea of the Great One facing J.B.L. for the WWE Championship. As it happened, once Rock’s official contract with WWE expired, the company tossed out any idea of including the Brahma Bull at the event.
15. Shawn Michaels vs. Marty Jannetty (WrestleMania VIII)
With Shawn Michaels turning his back on long-time tag team partner Marty Jannetty at the start of 1992, WWE seemed ready to have the two former Rockers compete in a singles match at WrestleMania VIII. In a problematic turn of events, about one week after their break-up, Jannetty became involved in an unflattering encounter with the police.
With Jannetty sentenced to six months of house arrest, WWE released the former Rocker from his contract, freeing Michaels up to face Tito Santana at WrestleMania.
16. Hulk Hogan vs. “Rowdy” Roddy Piper (WrestleMania I)
Wanting to kick off WrestleMania in grand fashion, WWE had hoped for Hulk Hogan to face “Rowdy” Roddy Piper in a worthwhile conclusion to the inaugural pay-per-view.
In the hopes of gaining further publicity for the event–thereby ensuring WrestleMania became a household name–Vince McMahon managed to recruit celebrity Mr. T for the bout instead, transforming the Piper-Hogan match into a tag team match between Hogan and Mr. T versus Piper and Paul Orndoff.
17. The Undertaker vs. Drew McIntyre (WrestleMania XXVI)
While Drew McIntyre has risen to renewed heights upon his recent tenure in WWE, Vince McMahon expressed great admiration for the so-called Scottish Psychopath the moment McIntyre moved up to WWE’ main roster.
As proof of this fact, McMahon went so far as to plan out a match between The Undertaker and McIntyre at WrestleMania XXVI, with the future star attempting to break ‘Taker’s legendary undefeated streak. Once Shawn Michaels announced his 2010 retirement plans, McMahon shelved the match, allowing HBK to go one-on-one with the Dead Man in his final farewell bout.
18. The Undertaker vs. Wade Barrett (WrestleMania XXVII)
Yes, WWE fumbled the ball with Wade Barrett and the Nexus, killing off any momentum the group had after their disastrous defeat at SummerSlam 2010. Yet months after the fact, WWE still seemed to view Barrett as a potential star in the making, envisioning him as a potential challenger for The Undertaker at WrestleMania XXVII.
Despite the Nexus costing ‘Taker his world title match against Kane at Bragging Fights, WWE never pushed the match any further, with The Undertaker going on to face Triple H at WrestleMania XXVII upon the Game’s 2011 return.
19. Triple H vs. Randy Orton (WrestleMania 21)
Breaking away from Evolution halfway through 2004, Randy Orton seemed poised to become the next big attraction in WWE–the dramatic successor to The Rock, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, and Triple H rolled into one. While WWE planned for Orton to conclude his lengthy rivalry against Triple H at WrestleMania 21, the lackluster response to Orton’s brief face turn caused WWE to reverse course.
With Orton reverting back to a heel to feud with The Undertaker, Triple H ushered in Batista as his WrestleMania 21 opponent, ensuring the Animal’s rise to main event status.
20. The Big Show vs. Shaquille O’Neal (WrestleMania XXVIII)
A match The Big Show had long dreamed of having, the original plan for WrestleMania XXVIII involved the World’s Largest Athlete going head to head with legendary Lakers alumnus, Shaquille O’Neal.
After some noncommital plans on WWE’s part lead a frustrated Shaq to walk away with the promotion, the closest fans ever got to this celebrity dream match came at the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal at Wrestlemania 32.
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