90's Mania moments

The Grandaddy of Them All, The Grandest Stage of Them All, The Showcase of the Immortals...

Call it what you will, but for more than 25 years WrestleMania has been the place where legends are born and memories are made.

History will occur once again when WrestleMania XVIII comes to Sky Sports Box Office on Sunday April 1, but before the big one we've taken a look back at some of the greatest moments from years gone by.

We'll be looking back across the decades, as well as catching up with some of the current Superstars for their own memories.

Here, we look at some of the greatest moments from the 1990's...

Andre the Giant lays out Bobby "The Brain" Heenan - WrestleMania VI
Andre the Giant was a co-holder of the World Tag Team Championship with Haku, and both were managed by Bobby "The Brain" Heenan. Demolition, Ax and Smash, came into WrestleMania VI with intentions of taking back the belts. Due to a miscue between Andre and Haku, Demolition was able to capitalize and pick up the win. After the match, an enraged Heenan slapped Andre. Andre could take no more as he decked Heenan, as the crowd cheered him on. Andre came to the ring hated by the sold out Toronto SkyDome crowd, but he left revered by them. It also marked Andre's last WrestleMania match.

"Rowdy" Roddy Piper paints half of his body black - WrestleMania VI
To say that there was bad blood between "Rowdy" Roddy Piper and Bad News Brown heading into WrestleMania VI would be a vast understatement. In fact, Brown even went so far as to say that Piper's intentions were racist. Piper responded by showing up for his WrestleMania VI match with Brown with half of his body painted black to show that it didn't matter if Brown was black or white. It was certainly one of the most controversial moments in WrestleMania history, but one would expect nothing less from the Rowdy Scott.

Hogan hands Ultimate Warrior the WWE Championship - WrestleMania VI
The Intercontinental and WWE Championship match between Hogan and Ultimate Warrior was dubbed the Ultimate Challenge, and it certainly lived up to its billing. After missing his patented leg drop, Hogan was taken down by the Warrior after a big splash. Instead of being a sore loser following the defeat, Hogan grabbed what used to be his WWE Championship and gave it to Ultimate Warrior before embracing him in a true act of good sportsmanship.

Jake "The Snake" Roberts stalks "The Model" Rick Martel in a Blindfold Match - WrestleMania VII
"The Model" Rick Martel was always known for spraying his pungent cologne, Arrogance, into the air before and after his matches. But in the weeks leading up to WrestleMania, Martel sprayed the cologne into Jake Roberts' eyes, leaving him temporarily blinded. Roberts' sight slowly acme backs to him, but to show Martel what it's like to be blind, the first ever Blindfold Match was signed for WrestleMania VII. Both men were blindfolded during the match, but since Roberts had been used to being without sight, he had the clear advantage and stalked Martel around the ring before putting him away with his patented DDT.

Randy "Macho Man" Savage reunites with Elizabeth - WrestleMania VII
Randy "Macho Man" Savage put his career on the line at WrestleMania VII in a match against Ultimate Warrior. Known as King Savage at the time, Randy was accompanied to the ring by Queen Sherri. Savage landed an amazing five flying elbows on the Warrior, but somehow the Ultimate one kicked out and eventually got the win. Following the match Queen Sherri laced into Savage with a series of kicks. Elizabeth, who was on hand to watch her former man in his career-threatening match, jumped over the railing and rushed to the ring to save Savage. She quickly disposed of Sherri, and Savage started to come to. Upon seeing his former woman, Savage didn't know what to do. The two had bitterly parted a couple of years ago, but the fans urged them to get back together. Savage finally held out his arms as Liz jumped into his warm and familiar embrace as the crowd absolutely exploded. Savage then hoisted Elizabeth onto his shoulders, posing for the fans. As they were getting ready to leave the ring, Elizabeth held open the ropes for Savage, just as she had done so many times before. But this time Savage waved her off and instead held the ropes open for the woman he loved. There wasn't a dry eye in the house as WWE fans were shown bawling in tears in the most touching WWE moment in history.

Andre the Giant comes to the aid of Big Boss Man - WrestleMania VII
Although Andre the Giant's last WrestleMania match was at WrestleMania VI, he did make an appearance at WrestleMania VII and played a major role in Mr. Perfect's Intercontinental Championship defense against Big Boss Man. As it became clear that Bobby "The Brain" Heenan would do all he could to help Mr. Perfect win, Andre came to ringside to help even up the sides for the Boss Man. Andre even knocked out Mr. Perfect with the title belt, but Haku and The Barbarian ran in for the disqualification anyways.

Ultimate Warrior comes to the aid of Hogan - WrestleMania VIII
One of the most shocking moments in WrestleMania history came at WrestleMania VIII when Hogan took on Sycho Sid in what was being billed as Hogan's last match. Hogan seemed to have things in control as he hit the big leg drop on Sid, but Papa Shango ran down to ringside to force the disqualification. As Hogan was being ferociously beaten down, Ultimate Warrior ran down to ringside to the rescue. The Warrior hadn't been seen or heard from in months, so his appearance was a shock to all of the fans in attendance as well as to Hogan.

Ric Flair goes berserk in an interview after Randy "Macho Man" Savage defeats him for the WWE Championship - WrestleMania VIII
In the weeks leading up to WrestleMania VIII, Ric Flair claimed that he used to have a relationship with Elizabeth before Randy "Macho Man" Savage did. As if more fuel was needed to add to the fire of this WWE Championship match, it was clear that more than just the championship was on the line. It had become personal. After struggling in the figure four leglock for a while, Savage pulled off a roll up from out of nowhere for the pin. Following the match, a crazed Flair went insane giving a highly emotional interview backstage with Sean Mooney stating that Savage cheated by pulling the tights and that he would get his revenge.

Hogan defeats Yokozuna for the WWE Championship - WrestleMania IX
Hogan shocked the world at WrestleMania IX. After competing in a tag match with Brutus Beefcake against Money Inc. earlier in the evening, Hogan came out to check on a fallen Bret "Hit Man" Hart after he had lost to the mighty Yokozuna. While at ringside, Yokozuna challenged Hogan to a match right on the spot. With Hart's blessing, Hogan accepted. Mr. Fuji attempted to throw salt in Hogan's eyes, a tactic which helped defeat Hart, but Hogan ducked and the salt went into Yokozuna's eyes, blinding him. Hogan was able to knock him down and hit the leg drop for the shocking win and the WWE Championship.

Shawn Michaels hits the splash off a ladder on Razor Ramon - WrestleMania X
WrestleMania X will go down as one of the best WrestleMania's in history, and a main reason for that is the first-ever Ladder Match between Shawn Michaels and Razor Ramon to determine the undisputed Intercontinental Champion. There were several memorable moments during the match, but perhaps the most memorable was Michaels leaping off the top of ladder and landing a splash on Ramon. Ramon may have ended up winning the match, but Michaels soaring off the ladder is a visual that will be etched in the minds of WWE fans forever.

Lawrence Taylor pins Bam Bam Bigelow - WrestleMania XI
There have been countless celebrities come through WWE throughout the years during the first 20 WrestleManias, but perhaps none had a bigger impact than former New York Giants Hall of Fame linebacker Lawrence Taylor. After being pushed at the Royal Rumble while in his ringside seat by Bam Bam Bigelow, LT signed to face the big man in the center of the ring at WrestleMania XI. Taylor took to the ring like a fish takes to water and finished off Bigelow with a flying shoulder block off the ropes for perhaps the biggest upset in WWE history.

"Rowdy" Roddy Piper strips down Goldust - WrestleMania XII
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper took on Goldust in one of the most unique matches in WWE history at WrestleMania XII, a Hollywood Backlot Brawl. The two Superstars started the match outside the arena at an undisclosed Hollywood backlot. Piper used everything but the kitchen sink to decimate Goldust, but before long the two sped off towards the Los Angeles Coliseum. Later in the evening, they fought their way to the ring and continued the fight. After Goldust laid a kiss on Piper, the Rowdy Scott went berserk and stripped Goldust of his ring attire revealing women's underwear in a bizarre, yet memorable moment.

Shawn Michaels comes to the ring on a zip-line - WrestleMania XII
After years of hard work, Shawn Michaels finally had a chance to achieve his boyhood dream. HBK went one on one with WWE Champion Bret "Hit Man" Hart in a 60-minute WWE Iron Man Match. Michaels came to the ring like only the Showstopper could as he flew through the air on a zip line making the grandest entrance in WrestleMania history.

Stone Cold passes out during his Submission Match with Bret Hart - WrestleMania 13
Stone Cold represented the direction that WWE was heading in. A new attitude was taking over WWE and Stone Cold epitomized that attitude. Bret "Hit Man" Hart hated what was happening to the company he once ruled over. The fans even began booing him and started cheering Stone Cold. The two decided to lay it all on the line at WrestleMania 13 in a Submission Match with Ultimate Fighting Champion Ken Shamrock as the referee. After a brutal match that saw Stone Cold badly busted open, Hart locked in the Sharpshooter. Stone Cold could not escape Hart's clutches, but he refused to give up. The sight of Stone Cold trying to lift himself off the mat with his arms, screaming in pain, is a picture that represented a whole new era for WWE. Stone Cold eventually passed out from the pain, and although he lost, left the ring to a standing ovation as the fans chanted his name.

Undertaker's entrance for his match against Kane - WrestleMania XIV
Undertaker has always had one of the most memorable entrances out of any WWE Superstar past or present, but he took his grand entrance to a whole new level at WrestleMania XIV. On the grandest stage of them all, it was only fitting that Undertaker go the extra mile in his entrance for his match against his brother, Kane. A parade of druids lined the entrance way, holding torches high above their heads. As the familiar gong went off, the Deadman finally came to the ring where he would eventually defeat his brother with three Tombstones.

Kane Tombstones Pete Rose - WrestleMania XIV
Before Kane was ready to take on his brother, Undertaker, at WrestleMania XIV, he had to take care of some light work. Pete Rose was acting as the special guest ring announcer, but was running down the Boston fans instead of getting to the ring introductions. Kane came to the ring and picked up Major League Baseball's all-time hits leader and delivered a crushing Tombstone. Little did Rose know that he would meet that same fate the next two years as well.

Mike Tyson knocks out Shawn Michaels - WrestleMania XIV
When Shawn Michaels and Stone Cold were set to do battle for the WWE Championship, Mr. McMahon knew that only one person was tough enough to be a special ringside enforcer. That man was "Iron" Mike Tyson. The self-proclaimed baddest man on the planet was confronted by Stone Cold the same night his role at WrestleMania was announced. Tyson quickly aligned himself with Michaels and D-Generation X, but in the end, he counted the 1-2-3 and raised Stone Cold's hand in victory. Tyson officially turned on Michaels after the match when he punched him out in true Tyson style.

Butterbean knocks out Bart Gunn - WrestleMania XV
At WrestleMania XV, Bart Gunn found himself in a Brawl For All Match against Butterbean who was no stranger to tough man competitions. Gunn had rose to the top among his WWE competitors, but Butterbean made short work of him, knocking him out in mere seconds.

Superstar recall

DREW McINTYRE: My favourite WrestleMania moment isn't just a moment, it has to be a whole match. The Iron Man Match between Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania 12. It was incredible how those two guys could put on such a great match for over an hour.