Best WrestleMania Builds of the 21st Century

#4. WrestleMania XXIV is Criminally Underrated

What are the essential ingredients of a great WrestleMania? An excellent build, top stars, and a genuinely spectacular feel contribute significantly to the success of The Show of Shows. WrestleMania XXIV had it all.

More than 70,000 fans were packed inside the Citrus Bowl for a memorable, action-packed, and emotional evening. The excitement was palpable as WWE had nailed the build-up to the show. The main event put the spotlight on one of the greatest SmackDown feuds of all time.

For a year, Edge had made it his mission to keep the World Heavyweight Championship off The Undertaker. The Ultimate Opportunist was always one step ahead of Taker, and the Phenom had not beaten the World Champion up until Mania 24. On RAW’s side of things, three of WWE’s best, Randy Orton, Triple H, and John Cena, were fighting for the top prize.

After Orton intentionally got himself disqualified to retain the WWE Title at No Way Out 2008, Cena was deprived of a fair opportunity at the belt. On the same night, HHH won the Men’s Elimination Chamber. All of these events led to a colossal Triple Threat at WrestleMania XXIV.

Meanwhile, Ric Flair’s career was winding down, and the Nature Boy was nearing retirement. He found himself opposite Shawn Michaels, a man who respected and loved him. The build was emotional, and the eventual match left everyone in tears. Furthermore, the undercard featured exciting battles like the Money in the Bank Ladder match.

#3. WrestleMania XXVI Had an Iconic Build

Let’s take a trip back to 2010 before the Nexus ran roughshod over the entire roster. Bret Hart had finally returned to WWE more than a decade after the infamous “Montreal Screwjob.” Although he mended fences with Shawn Michaels, Vince McMahon maneuvered the real-life incident into a storyline between the Hitman and himself.

Simultaneously, WWE ran a World Title program between John Cena and Batista that was closely intertwined with the Hart and McMahon saga. The Animal stole the WWE Title from Cena after the Champ won the belt inside the Men’s Chamber. Batista vs. Cena was the ultimate dream match of the Ruthless Aggression Era, and we got it at WrestleMania XXVI.

However, HBK’s desperate attempt to break The Undertaker’s undefeated streak at WrestleMania was the primary selling point of Mania 26. The Showstopper lost to the Phenom at the 25th Anniversary of Mania. This was a blemish on his legacy, and he challenged Taker to a rematch.

The Phenom refused, and HBK entered the Royal Rumble to earn a match against Taker at Mania for the World Heavyweight Title. Michaels clawed his way, but failed to win the Rumble. His desperation grew to a point where he invaded the Elimination Chamber and cost the Deadman the World Title.

Eventually, Taker gave in to HBK’s pleas, but only after Mr. WrestleMania agreed to put his career on the line. The build had everything from drama to respect to jealousy to revenge, which is why the show holds a fond place in everyone’s heart.

#2. WrestleMania XXVIII Was the Ultimate Spectacle

When a show is built 12 months in advance, it is bound to be something special. WrestleMania 28 brought WWE back to the mainstream and made a strong case for the most hyped up Mania of all time. The Rock vs. John Cena in their “Once in a Lifetime” showdown made the show and build-up absolutely legendary.

Where do we begin? The seeds were sown at WrestleMania 27 when The Great One, who hosted the show, cost Cena the WWE Title, but it caught fire a few months before WWE took over Miami. We got the Doctor of Thuganomics, Rock Concerts, and insults that blurred the line between fiction and reality. Fans couldn’t tell what was planned or scripted.

While many sided with the Rock, the kids rallied behind Cena. Elsewhere on the card, The Undertaker and Triple H tried to replicate their magic from Mania 27. However, this time, the stakes were much higher. Taker, who left their previous match on a stretcher, wanted redemption.

The clash was built as the “End of an Era.” Shawn Michaels, close to both men, was dragged into the chaos as the Special Guest Referee. It had emotion, starpower, and the “big fight” feel that a Mania match needs. Furthermore, other prominent matches saw CM Punk defend the WWE Title against Chris Jericho.

This should have been a straightforward match, but Y2J made things personal by dragging Punk’s family into the storyline. On the undercard, we had some compelling angles too. For instance, the IC Title program between Cody Rhodes and Big Show centered on the latter’s failures at The Show of Shows, adding significant intrigue to the rivalry.

#1. WrestleMania XL Marked the Pinnacle of Triple H’s Creative Regime

WrestleMania 39 was the first Mania under Triple H’s creative regime, and it was a memorable show. However, HHH outdid himself the following year as he put together one of the most well-received and thrilling PLEs of all time.

It was a build filled with pivots and twists. CM Punk was supposed to battle for the World Heavyweight Championship, but he got himself injured in the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble match. The Rock returned for a colossal dream match with Roman Reigns. However, The Great One’s comeback coincided with the birth of CodyMania.

The WWE Universe wanted the Rumble winner, Rhodes, to finish his story by defeating Reigns. It was the only logical ending after the OTC retained the Unified WWE Universal Title the previous year. The fan backlash led to an iconic Kickoff show in February that saw The Rock slap Rhodes, and the American Nightmare choose Reigns as his opponent for Mania.

The Final Boss and the OTC ganged up to battle the unlikely duo of Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins, the only man suited to be his “Shield.” Luckily, the undercard was equally thrilling. Drew McIntyre had been clamoring for a World Championship opportunity, and he received that when he won the Men’s Elimination Chamber.

Although their match fell flat, twin brothers Jimmy and Jey Uso had many fans drowning in tears during the build to their match at Mania. Let’s not forget the father vs. son program between Rey and Dominik Mysterio. Dom had turned on his father and joined the Judgment Day.

However, Rey refused to put his hands on his son. Unfortunately, he was left with no choice when Dom’s antics grew unchecked, and he disrespected his mother on live TV. It was a great storyline that had legitimate emotion in the equation.