The Best Match At WrestleMania Each Year In The 2000s

WrestleMania is the most decorated pay-per-view on the WWE calendar. The Grandest Stage of Them All, WrestleMania has played host to many legendary matches that are still talked about to this day. Inevitably, not every performer gets to headline WrestleMania yearly, but every wrestler has the intention of stealing the show.

RELATED: The Best Match At Every WrestleMania Since 2010

Moreover, the likes of Shawn Michaels, Bret Hart, and Stone Cold Steve Austin all put on memorable matches in the '90s which many hoped to emulate in the 2000s. WWE's roster was arguably at its strongest in the 2000s, and the depth that WWE had at their disposal was ridiculous. It created healthy competition, which is the main reason why there were so many iconic bouts that took place at WrestleMania.

10 WrestleMania 2000: The Dudley Boyz Vs. Edge & Christian Vs. The Hardy Boyz

The first WrestleMania of the new millennium was quite underwhelming, but thankfully there was a memorable Triangle ladder match on the card. The Dudley Boyz defended their WWE Tag Team Championship against The Hardy Boyz and the team of Edge and Christian at WrestleMania 2000.

This was unquestionably the show stealer with all six men taking scary bumps in this match. Jeff, being the daredevil that he is, laid Bubba Ray Dudley on a table with Hardy executing a Swanton Bomb from the top of the ladder through the table. Finally, Edge and Christian claimed their first of seven Tag Team Titles together. Matt was close to retrieving the belts, but he was pushed off and went through a table.

9 WrestleMania X-Seven: The Dudley Boyz Vs. Edge & Christian Vs. Hardy Boyz

The trilogy featuring The Dudley Boyz, Edge and Christian, and The Hardy Boyz came full circle at WrestleMania X-Seven. A year on from their WrestleMania 2000 epic, The Dudleyz once again walked in as WWE Tag Team Champions in TLC II.

This was a breathtaking match, and the bumps were just as crazy as their previous two outings at WrestleMania 2000 and SummerSlam. To make things more interesting, Spike Dudley, Lita, and Rhyno all got involved to assist their respective teams. Edge performed a jaw-dropping Spear off the ladder on Jeff, which is always played on highlight reels. WrestleMania X-Seven is arguably the greatest WrestleMania in WWE history, and these three teams put on an instant classic with the result remaining the same with Edge and Christian capturing their seventh and final Tag Team Championship as a team.

8 WrestleMania X8: The Rock Vs. Hulk Hogan

Hulk Hogan returned to WWE at No Way Out 2002 as a heel, donning the nWo colors alongside Kevin Nash and Scott Hall. The threesome had a successful stint in WCW, but it was time to return to WWE once their AOL Time Warner contracts expired. The Hulkster is synonymous with WrestleMania, and in his first WrestleMania outing in nine years, Hogan collided with The Rock at WrestleMania X8.

The Toronto SkyDome hasn't always been a happy hunting ground for Hogan, as he lost his WWE Championship to The Ultimate Warrior at WrestleMania VI. Nonetheless, Rock and Hogan told an excellent story, which captivated audiences who were at the edge of their seat. Rock prevailed despite receiving a frosty reception from the fans, this was the true main event that Chris Jericho and Triple H had a hard time topping in their Undisputed WWE Championship match.

7 WrestleMania XIX: Shawn Michaels Vs. Chris Jericho

Whilst WrestleMania X-Seven is often regarded as the greatest WrestleMania in history, WrestleMania XIX is a close second. WrestleMania XIX was stacked from top to bottom with four high-profile matches worthy of closing out the show. Nevertheless, one of the most prominent matches featured Shawn Michaels going toe-to-toe with Chris Jericho.

RELATED: 5 Matches Shawn Michaels Should Have Won (& 5 He Should Have Lost)

Michaels competed in his first WrestleMania match in five years, after losing the WWE Championship to Stone Cold Steve Austin at WrestleMania XIV. Jericho and Michaels put on a remarkable match, that showed how great both were in the ring. They had magnificent in-ring chemistry together with Michaels prevailing after executing his patented Sweet Chin Music on Y2J. Bitterly disappointed with the loss, Jericho delivered a low blow to HBK.

6 WrestleMania XX: Triple H Vs. Chris Benoit Vs. Shawn Michaels

WrestleMania XX emanated from the most famous arena at Madison Square Garden for the 20th edition of WrestleMania. Chris Benoit won the 2004 Royal Rumble match and he moved over to Raw to challenge Triple H for the World Heavyweight Championship.

However, Mr. WrestleMania, Shawn Michaels was added to the mix to make this an intriguing triple threat match. Obviously, this Mania is generally not spoken about as it is Benoit's crowning moment. All three pulled out all of the stops to show why they got the nod over Kurt Angle and Eddie Guerrero to main event WrestleMania. The Game surrendered his title as he succumbed to Benoit's debilitating Crippler Crossface in a pulsating high-quality championship match.

5 WrestleMania 21: Kurt Angle Vs. Shawn Michaels

The seeds were sowed for Kurt Angle and Shawn Michaels' epic showdown at WrestleMania 21, at the 2005 Royal Rumble. HBK humiliated Angle by eliminating him quickly from the Royal Rumble match. Angle responded by brutalizing Michaels and removing him from the equation. Nonetheless, the very best that Raw had to offer squared off with SmackDown's stalwart.

This encounter ebbed and flowed. Angle was at the stage of his career, where he was putting on superb matches at a high level. Michaels performed a picture-perfect Moonsault on Angle from the apron onto the announce table. Ultimately, The Olympic Gold Medalist won, considering that Michaels was unable to fight his way out of the excruciating Angle Lock in one of the best matches of all time.

4 WrestleMania 22: Edge Vs. Mick Foley

Edge began 2006 with a bang by cashing in his Money in the Bank briefcase at New Year's Revolution on a wounded John Cena for his first taste of WWE Championship gold. Edge's reign was short-lived as he dropped the title back to Cena at the Royal Rumble.

RELATED: Edge's 5 Best Matches As A Heel (& 5 Best As A Babyface)

However, Edge blames Mick Foley for his failed attempt at regaining the WWE Title. They collided in a brutal Hardcore match at WrestleMania 22, with Edge boasting an unbeaten 4-0 record at WrestleMania. Both wore the proverbial crimson mask, and The Rated-R Superstar put Foley through a table with a Spear in a match that stole the show.  Edge's victory further enhanced him as a legitimate main eventer.

3 WrestleMania 23: Batista Vs. The Undertaker

Unhappy with their position on an underwhelming WrestleMania 23 card, Batista and The Undertaker put on a statement performance for The Animal's World Heavyweight Championship. The Deadman won his first Royal Rumble match at the 2007 Royal Rumble, but it was no surprise that he opted to face his SmackDown colleague at Mania.

Batista and Undertaker's rival is an exceptional feud which saw The Animal improve his in-ring skills drastically. Moreover, people believed that Batista could end Undertaker's unbeaten streak at WrestleMania. It was a war of attrition, but Undertaker prevailed to become a five-time World Champion and extended his unbeaten WrestleMania record to 15-0.

2 WrestleMania XXIV: Edge Vs. The Undertaker

Edge walked into WrestleMania XXIV as the reigning World Heavyweight Champion, and he closed out his maiden WrestleMania main event against The Undertaker. It doesn't get any bigger than that for Edge, and he showed why he deserved to headline WrestleMania.

The Master Psychologist dominated large portions of the match but Undertaker responded with his own offense. Edge executed a Spear in the closing stages, but he left himself wide open as Undertaker was playing possum and locked him in the Hell's Gate which Edge succumbed to, awarding Undertaker the World Heavyweight Championship.

1 WrestleMania XXV: Undertaker Vs. Shawn Michaels

For the third year running, The Undertaker put on a showing-stealing performance at WrestleMania. Unfortunately, WrestleMania XXV was a poor event considering it was the landmark 25th anniversary of WrestleMania. Mercifully, Undertaker and Shawn Michaels clashed in a half-hour epic.

HBK was tantalizingly close to ending Undertaker's WrestleMania unbeaten streak. There were countless kick-outs from each other's finishers with fans mesmerized as to what they were witnessing. Michaels was going for a moonsault which proved to be a costly decision as The Deadman Tombstoned Michaels for the win.

NEXT: Shawn Michaels' Last 10 PPV Matches, Ranked From Worst To Best