The 5 most memorable WrestleMania world title victories

WrestleMania has become synonymous with world title changes over the years. WWE often pivots to a new star and gives them their crowning achievement at the biggest show of the year, in turn giving them momentum to carry the company into a new year post-WrestleMania.

However, it wasn't always that way. We didn't see one star defeating another star for the company's world title at a WrestleMania until WrestleMania V in 1989. Sure, Randy Savage won the title at WrestleMania IV in 1988, but that was the result of a tournament rather than someone dropping the belt.

The world title was not defended at the first edition of WrestleMania in 1985. Hulk Hogan retained the title over King Kong Buddy at WrestleMania II and Andre The Giant at WrestleMania III in 1987.

Things changed in 1989, though. The world title changed hands at every WrestleMania from 1989 to 1994. In 1995, Diesel retained over Shawn Michaels to break the streak of title switches.

There have been many memorable world title changes over the years at WrestleMania, so picking out just five was a challenge. However, in this list, we have compiled the absolute cream of the crop - the five most memorable title changes at WrestleMania in WWE history.

Hulk Hogan defeats Randy Savage (WrestleMania V)

Hulk Hogan vs. Randy Savage at WrestleMania V

We have to start with WrestleMania V - The Mega Powers Explode. Hogan and Savage built an incredible story beginning in the fall of 1987 up until their main event at WrestleMania V. One year earlier, Hogan was in Savage's corner as he was crowned champion. On this night, Savage defended the belt against his former friend as a heel.

Hogan won the the world title for the second time, beginning what would be a one year title reign. That brings us to the next match on our list.

Ultimate Warrior defeats Hulk Hogan (WrestleMania VI)

Ultimate Warrior defeats Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania VI in Toronto.

This was the first time that WWE tried to move past the Hulk Hogan era. The WWE Champion and Intercontinental Champion met in one of the most anticipated matches I can remember from my childhood.

It was a rare thing for Hulk Hogan to do a clean "job" to another star, but he did it here at Toronto's Skydome. In an unprecedented babyface vs. babyface WrestleMania match, the Warrior defeated Hulk in a moment that was supposed to see Hogan's eventual successor go on to a long and illustrious title reign.

Instead, the Warrior's reign ended up being underwhelming and WWE ran it back with Hogan the following year at WrestleMania in one of the most ill-conceived storylines in company history - Hogan defeated the "Iraqi Sympathizer" Sgt. Slaughter for the world title, a storyline that garnered WWE a lot of negative press.

Shawn Michaels defeats Bret Hart (WrestleMania XII)

Shawn Michaels wins the Iron Man Match at WrestleMania XII

One year after wrestling Diesel for the world championship at WrestleMania XI, Michaels found himself in the main event yet again at WrestleMania XII in Anaheim. For the second year in a row, Michaels won the Royal Rumble to set-up a WrestleMania title opportunity. This time, he found himself sharing the ring with Bret Hart in an Iron Man Match.

Michaels' subsequent victory during an overtime period after zero falls were recorded during the first 60 minutes of the match was the culmination of a boyhood dream, as WWE liked to remind us about on a weekly basis.

This was the start of Shawn's first WWE title reign. It would last until Survivor Series when he would be defeated by Sycho Sid. With Hart out of action for most of the year, the finish of WrestleMania XII was supposed to set-up a return match between the two at the following year's WrestleMania event. Unfortunately, that wasn't to be as Shawn forfeited the title in February 1997 (after regaining it from Sid the prior month).

Steve Austin defeats Shawn Michaels (WrestleMania XIV)

Steve Austin and Mike Tyson at WrestleMania XIV

The meteoric rise of "Stone Cold" Steve Austin throughout 1996 and 1997 culminated with his first world championship victory at WrestleMania XIV in early 1998.

Austin initially started turning heads when he won the 1996 King of the Ring tournament and gave the famous "3:16" speech afterward. That momentum was parlayed into a feud with Bret Hart that served to cement Austin as a main eventer in the promotion.

Austin won the 1998 Royal Rumble with Mike Tyson looking on from a luxury box. That same night, Shawn Michaels suffered a back injury during a match with The Undertaker that would keep him out of action until WrestleMania. The following night on RAW, Austin and Tyson had a memorable shoving match that drew attention from the biggest sports networks across the country. The importance of Tyson's involvement at WrestleMania can't be understated; it was absolutely huge for the promotion and helped make Steve Austin a household name.

Tyson served as the special guest enforcer at WrestleMania after officially joining Michaels' DX in the weeks leading up to the event. However, Tyson would end up turning his back on Michaels and knocking him out post-match. This was the last time Shawn Michaels would wrestle until 2002 but just the start of Austin's time atop the promotion.

Daniel Bryan defeats Randy Orton, Batista (WrestleMania XXX)

Daniel Bryan becomes Undisputed Champion at WrestleMania XXX

Daniel Bryan's path to the championship from the summer of 2013 to WrestleMania in early 2014 was one of the most memorable times in WWE over the last decade.

Bryan won the championship at SummerSlam the previous summer but only held it for a matter of minutes as Randy Orton cashed-in his Money In The Bank briefcase to take the title away from him. In the months after that, The Authority continued to be on television nearly weekly reminding everyone that Bryan wasn't someone that they saw as a main eventer.

And there was some truth to that. WWE didn't figure to have Bryan in the title picture at WrestleMania, but the fans forced their hand. Week after week, the momentum that Bryan and the "Yes Movement" continued to build upon was awe-inspiring. Eventually, WWE had to factor Bryan into the main event of WrestleMania or face a crowd hijacking the show at the Superdome. The Royal Rumble was proof of that as the fan base took out their frustration on a returning Batista.

What we had at WrestleMania XXX was Bryan taking part in two very good matches. First, he defeated Triple H to earn a shot at the title later in the show. Then, Bryan competed in the main event against Batista and Randy Orton (the two who were originally penciled in to headline the show) and walked away the undisputed champion.

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