As we count the days down to WrestleMania 34 on April 9, we here at Smark Henry want to do something different than our usual trivia promotion. Over the next two weeks, we'll be sharing and talking about our favorite WrestleMania moments in the hopes of getting some more this year.
WrestleMania has never been short of huge moments involving stars and personalities over the years. After all, the Grandest Stage Of 'Em All has always been the setting for these kinds of moments where pro wrestling and pop culture collide.
But nobody expected the kind of media attention and unexpected physicality one MMA legend (and future WWE star) would bring to the table at WrestleMania 31.
WWE COO Triple H (fresh from his sledgehammer-assisted win against Sting early in the night) and principal owner Stephanie McMahon came out to gloat the success of the event, citing 76,976 as the Levi's Stadium's new attendance record, only to be interrupted by future Hall of Famer The Rock. After a back and forth trade in barbs from two combustible sides, Stephanie immediately slapped the Great One, knowing he could not get back at her because of his unwillingness to hit back on a lady. But he knew someone who can, and she just happened to be among the crowd.
Ronda Rousey, then UFC Women's Bantamweight Champion and sporting a badass Vegeta shirt, accepted Rocky's offer to come into the ring. And let's just say things did not work out for the WWE's power couple.
It's not everyday you get to see big name personalities mix it up in the ring. But seeing a household name and one of the inspirations to what would become the Women's Evolution pretty much dominate the normally-untouchable Authority was a sight to behold. And when you consider how much of a wrestling fan she is, you could imagine how much of a big deal it was for her back then. It was such an amazing moment for one of the pioneers of women's MMA push to make such a huge splash, one that would be felt in the years to come.
In fact, her own time would come three years later.
Read our previous entries:
1. Daniel Bryan Wins The Big One At WrestleMania 30
2. Seth Rollins Cashes In At WrestleMania 31
3. Savage and Steamboat's Perfect Classic
4. A Tremendous Stunner
5. Edge's Superspear at WrestleMania X-Seven
6. The (Double) Turn of the Century
7. Destrucity Trumps Immortality
8. A New Era of World Champion
Photo from WWE
