10 WrestleMania Matches That Never Made It to the Ring
Hulk Hogan and Ted DiBiase
10. Hulk Hogan vs. Ted DiBiase — WrestleMania IV
At WrestleMania IV, the vacant WWE Championship was decided in a 14-man tournament. The original bracket reportedly had Ted DiBiase defeating Hulk Hogan in the finals, likely via count-out, to capture his first world title. Those plans collapsed because of Honky Tonk Man. As Intercontinental Champion, he was expected to drop his title to Randy Savage on NBC. Honky refused to lose in a one-sided squash and, without a written contract, had leverage. WWF backed down, and with the IC title staying on a heel, Savage was pivoted into winning the tournament to avoid crowning two villainous singles champions at once.
9. Hulk Hogan vs. Ric Flair — WrestleMania VIII
When Ric Flair joined WWE in 1991, a “dream match” with Hogan felt inevitable. Flair won the 1992 Royal Rumble and the vacant WWE title, positioning Hogan as the natural challenger for WrestleMania VIII. But WWE got cold feet. House show matches between Hogan and Flair drew declining numbers, and management doubted the bout would fill a 60,000-seat dome. Hogan was also dealing with fallout from a steroid scandal. The card shifted: Flair feuded with Savage, and Hogan faced Sid Justice in what felt like a quasi-farewell.
8. Bret Hart vs. Shawn Michaels — WrestleMania 13
After their 60-minute Iron Man classic at WrestleMania XII, a loose plan called for Bret Hart to regain the WWE title and eventually meet Shawn Michaels in a rubber match at WrestleMania 13. Instead, tensions exploded. Michaels bristled at Bret’s new contract and publicly criticized the comments Hart made about him. He reportedly told Vince McMahon he wouldn’t put Bret over at WrestleMania. Then came the infamous “lost smile” promo and a knee injury that sidelined him. The result? Bret vs. Steve Austin in a submission match that changed wrestling history.
7. Mick Foley vs. Vince McMahon — WrestleMania X-Seven
After Vince McMahon fired Mick Foley from his commissioner role and spiraled into increasingly villainous behavior, the plan was for Foley to get revenge at WrestleMania X-Seven. Foley hesitated. He had been “retired” by Triple H the year before and didn’t want to undermine that stipulation again. Though he later admitted he would have done the match had he known he’d return multiple times afterward, Foley stepped aside. Shane McMahon replaced him against Vince, while Foley served as special referee.
6. Steve Austin vs. Hollywood Hogan — WrestleMania X8
A clash between Steve Austin and Hogan at WrestleMania X8 would have symbolized a collision of eras. Rumors long suggested neither man wanted to lose. Jim Ross later offered another explanation: Austin didn’t believe they could have a strong match. Both were physically worn down, and Austin, a noted perfectionist, wasn’t confident in the in-ring chemistry. Instead, Hogan faced The Rock in a legendary showdown, while Austin worked with Scott Hall and walked out of WWE months later.
5. Hulk Hogan vs. The Big Show — WrestleMania 23
The “Battle of the Billionaires” at WrestleMania 23 was initially set to feature Hogan against The Big Show — a callback to their WCW rivalry and Hogan’s stadium spectacle history. Plans unraveled quickly. Big Show was battling significant injuries and needed extended time off. WWE considered inserting The Great Khali, but then Hogan and Vince hit an impasse over money. Hogan eventually faced Big Show in April 2007, just not in WWE.
4. Chris Jericho vs. Mickey Rourke — WrestleMania 25
After Mickey Rourke starred in The Wrestler, WWE pursued a match between him and Chris Jericho at WrestleMania 25. The angle built publicly, including exchanges at the SAG Awards and on Larry King Live. But Rourke’s management urged him to withdraw, fearing a wrestling match could hurt his Academy Award chances. He stepped away, and lost Best Actor to Sean Penn anyway. Rourke still appeared at WrestleMania, delivering a post-match punch to Jericho.
3. The Undertaker vs. Sting — WrestleMania 27
Few dream matches loomed larger than The Undertaker vs. Sting at WrestleMania 27. WWE made Sting an offer as his TNA contract expired, including a Hall of Fame induction. He came close to signing but backed out at the last minute. Sting had long questioned WWE’s treatment of non–“Federation Originals,” and those concerns resurfaced before he finalized the deal. He re-signed with TNA instead. When Sting eventually debuted in WWE years later, his WrestleMania match was against Triple H.
2. The Rock vs. Brock Lesnar — WrestleMania 30
A decade after Brock Lesnar defeated The Rock at SummerSlam 2002, WWE planned a blockbuster rematch at WrestleMania 30. The build was supposed to begin after Rock dropped the WWE title to John Cena. Instead, Rock tore his abdominal and adductor muscles and suffered a hernia during that bout. The injuries delayed filming on Hercules and made studios wary of insuring him for future wrestling appearances. Rock stepped away. Lesnar pivoted and ended The Undertaker’s undefeated 21-0 WrestleMania streak instead.
1. CM Punk vs. Triple H — WrestleMania 30
Had CM Punk not walked out in early 2014, WrestleMania 30 would likely have featured him against Triple H. Reports indicated Punk was slated to go over, settling unfinished business dating back to 2011. But Punk’s morale was shot. He was dealing with a serious, undiagnosed staph infection and deep frustration following the Royal Rumble. In a meeting with Triple H and Vince McMahon, Punk voiced complete dissatisfaction and left the company. When Triple H attempted to pitch the WrestleMania match, Punk reportedly replied, “With all due respect, I do not need to wrestle you. You need to wrestle me.” The match never happened, and WrestleMania 30 took a dramatically different shape as a result.
