The Road to WrestleMania

In 1987, the wrestling world converged on the Pontiac Silverdome for WrestleMania III. While the event is best remembered for the Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant main event, the undercard shifted the perception of what technical wrestling could look like on a massive stage.

Ricky Steamboat defeated Randy Savage to win the Intercontinental Championship in a match that remains the gold standard for pacing. They executed a series of near-falls that left the crowd breathless, eventually ending with a small package after a botched interference by George Steele.

The event was not flawless. The Junkyard Dog versus The Harley Race match was a sluggish affair that served only as a bathroom break for the massive crowd. It highlighted the company's struggle to balance high-workrate matches with their reliance on older, slower attractions.

The WCW Final Curtain

March 23, 2001, marked the final episode of WCW Monday Nitro. It was a bleak conclusion to a promotion that once challenged the global dominance of the WWF.

Shane McMahon appeared on screen to announce he had purchased the company. It was a surreal moment that effectively ended the Monday Night Wars, leaving many fans feeling hollow rather than satisfied.

The booking leading up to this point had been atrocious. Relying on celebrities like David Arquette had eroded the credibility of the world title, and the final broadcast felt more like a corporate liquidation than a celebration of history.

Milestones and Misses

In 1998, Stone Cold Steve Austin engaged in a brawl with Vince McMahon on Monday Night Raw. This segment cemented the anti-authority angle that would define the Attitude Era.

In 2008, WrestleMania XXIV took place in Orlando. The show featured the retirement of Ric Flair at the hands of Shawn Michaels. The finish, a sweet chin music kick, was perfect.

In 2014, Daniel Bryan was assaulted by Triple H on Raw. This intensified the 'Yes Movement' narrative, which provided a much-needed injection of organic energy into the road to WrestleMania XXX. The company was forced to pivot due to overwhelming fan pressure, a rare instance where the crowd actually dictated the creative direction.