10 WWE Superstars Who Competed in Only One WrestleMania Match
Single WrestleMania Outing
10. Arn Anderson
A cornerstone of Jim Crockett Promotions and WCW, Arn Anderson had only one WrestleMania match during his brief in-ring WWE run. At WrestleMania V, he teamed with Tully Blanchard as The Brainbusters to defeat Strike Force (Rick Martel and Tito Santana) in a nine-minute tag bout. A career-ending neck injury in 1997 prevented any future Mania matches. Though he returned in 2001 as a backstage agent, his only other WrestleMania moment came at WrestleMania X8, when he delivered a spinebuster to The Undertaker during Undertaker’s match against Ric Flair.
9. Dusty Rhodes
After dominating the NWA and WCW, Dusty Rhodes’ WWE stint was short and stylistically different. Repackaged as the “Common Man” in polka dots with Sapphire by his side, he had just one WrestleMania match. At WrestleMania VI, Rhodes and Sapphire defeated Macho King Randy Savage and Queen Sherri Martel in a mixed tag team match. Despite additional pay-per-view appearances, he never wrestled at WrestleMania again.
8. Kerry Von Erich
Wrestling as “The Texas Tornado,” Kerry Von Erich arrived in WWE with star power but serious physical limitations, having undergone a right foot amputation following a motorcycle accident prior to joining the company. His lone WrestleMania match came at WrestleMania VII, where he defeated Dino Bravo in a brief mid-card contest. By the following year, suspensions and personal struggles ended his WWE run.
7. Alundra Blayze
In an era when women’s wrestling was rarely prioritized, Women’s Champion Alundra Blayze barely secured a WrestleMania spot. At WrestleMania X, WWE scrambled to finalize her opponent. After discussions involving Bull Nakano and Debbie Combs, Leilani Kai was confirmed. Kai agreed on the condition that The Fabulous Moolah would not referee. WrestleMania X remains Blayze’s only Mania match.
6. Marc Mero
Marc Mero’s three-year WWE run produced just one WrestleMania match. He debuted at WrestleMania XII, rescuing Sable from Hunter Hearst Helmsley. An ACL tear forced him out of a planned WrestleMania 13 Intercontinental Title match. Fully recovered by WrestleMania XIV, he teamed with Sable in her in-ring debut to defeat Goldust and Luna Vachon in an intergender match. He left WWE later that year amid growing tensions.
5. Dean Malenko
After jumping to WWE as part of The Radicalz in January 2000, Malenko and Perry Saturn were pushed quickly. That push resulted in their only WrestleMania match at WrestleMania 2000. Teaming with Eddie Guerrero, they lost to Too Cool and Chyna. By WrestleMania X-Seven, neither competed, instead accompanying Guerrero to ringside. Malenko transitioned to a backstage role in late 2001, while Saturn was gradually phased out.
4. Raven
After a forgettable first WWE stint as Johnny Polo, Raven rebuilt his name in ECW and WCW before returning in 2000. He hoped for a major role but was slotted into the Hardcore division. That still earned him a match at WrestleMania X-Seven, where he defended the Hardcore Championship against Big Show and Kane. It marked his only WrestleMania match, though he had appeared at WrestleMania X in a managerial capacity.
3. Sabu
Known for his high-risk style, Sabu’s WrestleMania appearance failed to meet expectations. At WrestleMania 23, one day after inducting The Sheik into the Hall of Fame alongside Rob Van Dam, Sabu teamed with fellow ECW originals. They defeated The New Breed in an eight-man tag match. Despite competing in his home state of Michigan, Sabu later called the experience a “big letdown,” citing time constraints and overcrowding.
2. Neville
Neville’s athletic style seemed built for WrestleMania. He was scheduled for the Intercontinental Championship ladder match at WrestleMania 32 but an ankle injury weeks prior ruled him out. He finally wrestled at WrestleMania 33, defending the Cruiserweight Title against Austin Aries. Though widely praised, the match was relegated to the pre-show and excluded from the DVD release — a decision that reportedly fueled Neville’s eventual departure.
1. Samoa Joe
Despite multiple opportunities, Samoa Joe competed in just one WrestleMania match. He missed WrestleMania 33 and 34 due to injuries. At WrestleMania 35, he defended the United States Championship against Rey Mysterio in a lackluster outing. Originally scheduled for 15 minutes, the match was repeatedly shortened and ultimately lasted just 58 seconds, a decisive squash win for Joe. Concussions and a wellness policy violation kept him off WrestleMania 36, and he served on commentary at WrestleMania 37. WrestleMania 35 remains his lone in-ring appearance on WWE’s biggest stage.
