| 1 | Hulk Hogan Bodyslams André the Giant The Single Most Iconic Moment in WrestleMania History When Hulk Hogan wrapped his arms around the billed 520-pound André the Giant, lifted him from the canvas, and crashed him to the mat in a perfect scoop slam, 93,000 people in the Pontiac Silverdome experienced a shared moment of athletic disbelief and euphoric catharsis that has never been replicated in professional wrestling. The image of Hogan arching his back as André's enormous body rises off the mat is the most reproduced photograph in WrestleMania history and one of the most recognisable images in sports entertainment. The moment was made more dramatic by the earlier failed slam attempt that had almost cost Hogan the match — suggesting the successful slam might not come. When it did, the Silverdome erupted with a sound that has been described as physically felt by everyone in the building. | Hogan bodyslams 520-lb André | Made more dramatic by earlier failed slam attempt | Most iconic single moment in WrestleMania history |
| 2 | Aretha Franklin Opens the Show Queen of Soul Performs 'America the Beautiful' The Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, seated at a baby grand piano inside the Pontiac Silverdome, opened WrestleMania III with her rendition of 'America the Beautiful.' Her performance set an immediate standard of mainstream prestige for the event — signalling that this was not simply a wrestling show but a genuine entertainment spectacle worthy of the world's greatest musical talents. Vince McMahon personally introduced her from inside the ring, a moment that captured the scale of what McMahon had built. | Aretha Franklin performs America the Beautiful | — | — |
| 3 | Steamboat's 22-Near-Fall Victory Over Savage Greatest Match in WrestleMania History The closing sequence of Savage vs. Steamboat — with both men exhausted, the crowd on their feet for a sustained period, and near-fall after near-fall teasing the championship change — is the greatest sustained dramatic sequence in WrestleMania history. Steamboat's eventual inside cradle victory, coming after Steele prevented the ring bell shot, Savage fell on the bell and hurt his back, and Steamboat improvised brilliantly in the moment, created a championship change that felt completely earned and emotionally satisfying. The capacity crowd's explosion of joy when Steamboat's arm was raised is among the most authentic crowd reactions in WrestleMania history. | Steamboat's inside cradle pin — 22 near-falls | — | — |
| 4 | King Kong Bundy Bodyslams Little Beaver Most Shocking Villain Act of WrestleMania III In the context of the lighthearted midget six-man match, King Kong Bundy's sudden and vicious bodyslam of the much smaller Little Beaver was a genuinely shocking moment that silenced and then outraged the Silverdome crowd. The disqualification it caused was entirely appropriate, but the visual of the enormous Bundy picking up and slamming a midget wrestler remains one of the most jarring juxtapositions in WrestleMania history. | Bundy bodyslams Little Beaver | — | — |
| 5 | Adonis' Head Shaved Post-Match Roddy Piper's Perfect Farewell The image of Adrian Adonis having his head shaved by Roddy Piper, Brutus Beefcake, and others following the Hair vs. Hair match — with 93,000 fans roaring in celebration — was the perfect visual punctuation for Piper's WrestleMania farewell. The shaving of the villain, the reclaiming of Piper's honour, and the crowd's unrestrained joy made it one of the most satisfying post-match moments in WrestleMania history. | Adonis' head shaved by Piper and Beefcake post-match | — | Perfect visual conclusion to Piper's WrestleMania farewell |
| 6 | André the Giant's WrestleMania Entrance The Most Imposing Entrance in WrestleMania History André the Giant's entrance for the main event at WrestleMania III — accompanied by Bobby Heenan, wearing his ring jacket, walking slowly toward the enormous ring to 93,000 fans who were simultaneously in awe of his size and desperate for Hogan to overcome him — is the most physically imposing entrance in WrestleMania history. The contrast between André's massive frame, his deliberate pace, and the crackling electricity of the Silverdome created a sustained dramatic tension unlike anything previously experienced at a wrestling event. | André the Giant's main event entrance | — | — |