In honor of WrestleMania 33, members of the PTBN Staff has gathered to create a series of 33 lists, all dedicated to the rich history of WWE’s grandest spectacle. Each contributor assigned a ranking of 1-10 and votes were tallied accordingly. We will be releasing one list per day, with the final list to be posted on April 1, 2017, the day prior to WrestleMania 33! Be sure to share your feedback with us on social media! You can view the complete series here!
Day One: Best WrestleMania Opening Credits
Others Getting Votes: WrestleMania XIII (15), WrestleMania XV (15), WrestleMania XXI (14), WrestleMania XIX (14), WrestleMania VII (14), WrestleMania V (12), WrestleMania X (10), WrestleMania II (8), WrestleMania I (7), WrestleMania XXIV (5), WrestleMania XXVIII (4), WrestleMania IX (4), WrestleMania 31 (2), WrestleMania XXVI (2), WrestleMania VIII (1)
10. WrestleMania 32 (17 points)
Highest Ranking: #6 (Jason Greenhouse)
One of the grandest WrestleManias of all time occured in 2016 in the opulent AT&T Stadium in Dallas. A show loaded with icons, pomp, circumstance and superstars opened up with a riveting opening video focused on “The Legend of WrestleMania” and how it would continue to grow on that night in Texas.
9. WrestleMania 22 (23 points)
Highest Ranking: #1 (Tim Capel)
Big Time! The opening to WrestleMania 22 kicked off with a look back at memorable WrestleMania moments from years past before transitioning into a blend of the Chicago skyline and a video package highlighting that evening’s proceedings. And then… we enter the arena with… Big Time!
8. WrestleMania 23 (28 points)
Highest Ranking: #2 (Tim Capel)
2007 was an interesting time for WWE as they continued to blend in their rich history with their suddenly blossoming future. This WrestleMania also marked a return to Detroit, 20 years after WrestleMania III and the Granddaddy of Them All was now All Grown Up.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKVoNxt_T3w
7. WrestleMania 29 (28 points)
Highest Ranking: #3 (Scott Criscuolo & Jason Greenhouse)
The opening to WrestleMania 29 unfolded across two video packages. The first saw New Jersey governor Chris Christie narrate us through a video on the recovery of the state after Superstorm Sandy. That then transitioned into a hard hitting package setting up that night’s card before leading us into the arena… where we were “Coming Home”. The video resonated heavily with those locals in the crowd that night, leading to a sense of pride among the crowd in Jersey that evening.
6. WrestleMania XXX (35 points)
Highest Ranking: #3 (Brian Bayless)
The build to WrestleMania XXX was filled with a range of emotions and those emotions boiled over as WWE reached New Orleans for the 30th WrestleMania. That night saw the unlikely crowning of Daniel Bryan as WWE Champion and the stage was set for the show with a video package that encompassed both the road to this milestone show as well as the gravity of the night across all of its key matches.
5. WrestleMania XIV (35 points)
Highest Ranking: #5 (Mike Eller & Chris Jordan)
After searching for years to the magic elixir to their ratings woes, the suddenly hot WWF stumbled into the man that would turn their immediate fortunes around in Mike Tyson. And in turn, Iron Mike brought millions of eyeballs to the product… and Steve Austin. The opening video package to WrestleMania XIV blends the history of the show with an aggressive promotion of the two big matches on the evening, one of which would kickstart the next great era in WWF history.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIOu-vGH4bg
4. WrestleMania X8 (45 points)
Highest Ranking: #2 (Mike Eller & Chris Jordan)
With the WWF now the only game in town, they really started to embrace and focus on their history and legacy and the opening video package of WrestleMania X8 is a great example of that mindset. The package is narrated by current stars talking about their favorite moments of years gone by before transitioning to reviewing the top matches of the show. It was an emotionally loaded piece that sets the stage for what would be a very dramatic show.
3. WrestleMania VI (57 points)
Highest Ranking: #1 (Glenn Butler & Steven Ferrari)
WrestleMania VI was a show built around one iconic war for the ages between two mythical superheroes. And this memorable opening video package says it all. Hulk Hogan and Ultimate Warrior were held up above the entire roster at this point in 1990, presented as descendants of ancient gods and their clash was an epic one. If this opening video package doesn’t get you juiced up for a major wrestling match, there may not be any that ever could. Oh, and it transitions right into the classic WrestleMania theme song.
2. WrestleMania X7 (77 points)
Highest Ranking: #1 (Scott Criscuolo, Mike Eller, Chris Jordan, Jason Greenhouse & Brian Bayless)
My way… my way or the highway! WrestleMania X7 was the absolute peak of the Attitude Era and the very definition of a big time supercard. The WWF had just bought out all of its major competition and was set to culminate a plethora of top feuds and storylines in Houston. The opening video package set the tone for the importance of the night by showing people across America settling in to watch the show before twisting into Limp Bizkit’s My Way and bringing us into the monstrous Astrodome for an unforgettable night.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9K-zXGtu5MM
1. WrestleMania XX (78 points)
Highest Ranking: #1 (Neil Trama & Steve Riddle)
Barely edging out WrestleMania X7 is the WrestleMania where it all began again… WrestleMania XX. The opening video package featured a proud Vince McMahon walking into an empty room, thinking back on the past twenty years. That was followed by a nice, respectful, well done video package highlighting the key moments as well as the show to come in MSG that night. The final shot was the most powerful: McMahon standing with his son Shane and newly born grandson, signaling that perhaps a new era would be kicking off that evening in New York City, home of WWE.
