History TearJerker / WrestleMania

-->'''Reigns:''' {{I did what I had to|Do}} at [=#WrestleMania=] but it doesn't change the fact Deadman held the yard down for years. For that...[=#ThankYouTaker #Respect=]

* Wrestling/ChrisBenoit winning the World Heavyweight Championship at ''[=WrestleMania XX=]'', and his celebration with then-WWE Champion Wrestling/EddieGuerrero. This is very sad HarsherInHindsight, since both would be dead within three years, especially given the circumstances behind Benoit's death.

* At ''[=WrestleMania=] XXX'', Wrestling/TheUndertaker's Streak is broken by Wrestling/BrockLesnar. As Lesnar and Wrestling/PaulHeyman leave the ring celebrating, Taker and by extension the entire crowd are just left stunned by what had transpired as if they still can't believe it happened. After the reality finally sinks in, Taker just...leaves the ring, acknowledging his defeat as the crowd chants "Thank you Taker!"

* Wrestling/RoddyPiper and Wrestling/BretHart's match at [=Wrestlemania VIII=]. After a grueling match where the younger Bret managed to consistently overpower Roddy, even after the Rowdy One started fighting dirty, Roddy launches Bret into the ref and knocks the official out. Knowing that anything he does before the ref recovers won't get him disqualified, Roddy goes for the ring bell and is about to bludgeon Bret with it... when he's bombarded with a cascade of boos from the crowd. Roddy looks around, almost disbelieving at the people who up until that point had been ''his'' fans until [[FallenHero he crossed the line.]] [[spoiler: The tears turn happy when Roddy takes a moment and then throws the bell away to finish the match ''right'' win or lose.]]

* ''[=WrestleMania=] 33'': The main event was The Undertaker vs. Roman Reigns. The Undertaker starts off the match really dominant, with Reigns repeatedly pummeled and flung from the ring. Even after tiring, the only offense Reigns really gets is opportunistic attacks while Undertaker's guard is down. Yet as the match goes on Undertaker just... [[DentedIron falls apart]]. He struggles to even stand, takes the worst of every bump, ends up unable to even raise his hands to defend himself. [[DefiantToTheEnd But he won't stay down]]. What we end up with is an [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone increasingly tormented looking]] Reigns pummeling an old man, looking more like a beatdown than a fight. And however much the crowd wills it, Undertaker never gets a second wind. He just takes finisher after finisher, until finally... he doesn't get back up. The Undertaker loses to Reigns, bringing his record to 23-2. After the match was over, Undertaker took off his gloves, coat and hat, laying them in the ring, appearing to retire. Rather than a huge explosion of fireworks, the show ended with the lights going down, Taker's going echoing through the arena.\\\

Say what may be said about [[CreatorsPet Reigns]], but [[https://twitter.com/DeionGottaSTFU/status/848752920287989760 this picture of him backstage after the match]] kinda explains how much of a toll ending the Deadman's carrer has been for him. Moreso [[https://twitter.com/WWERomanReigns/status/848975420506742784 his tweet hours later]]:

--> '''Jim Ross:''' The boyhood dream has come true, for Shawn Michaels!

* ''[=WrestleMania=] 33'': The main event was The Undertaker vs. Roman Reigns. The Undertaker starts off the match really dominant, with Reigns repeatedly pummeled and flung from the ring. Even after tiring, the only offense Reigns really gets is opportunistic attacks while Undertaker's guard is down. Yet as the match goes on Undertaker just... [[DentedIron falls apart]]. He struggles to even stand, takes the worst of every bump, ends up unable to even raise his hands to defend himself. [[DefiantToTheEnd But he won't stay down]]. What we end up with is an [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone increasingly tormented looking]] Reigns pummeling an old man, looking more like a beatdown than a fight. And however much the crowd wills it, Undertaker never gets a second wind. He just takes finisher after finisher, until finally... he doesn't get back up. The Undertaker loses to Reigns, bringing his record to 23-2. After the match was over, Undertaker took off his gloves, coat and hat, laying them in the ring, appearing to retire. Rather than a huge explosion of fireworks, the show ended with the lights going down, Taker's going echoing through the arena. On a side, say what may be said about [[CreatorsPet Reigns]], but [[https://twitter.com/DeionGottaSTFU/status/848752920287989760 this picture of him backstage after the match]] kinda explains how much of a toll ending the Deadman's carrer has been for him. Moreso [[https://twitter.com/WWERomanReigns/status/848975420506742784 his tweet hours later]]:

* ''[=WrestleMania=] 33'' ended with the Undertaker losing to Wrestling/RomanReigns, bringing his record to 23-2. After the match was over, Undertaker appeared to retire, taking off his gloves, coat and hat, laying them in the ring. Rather than a huge explosion of fireworks, the show ended with the lights going down, Taker's going echoing through the arena.
** Undertaker starts off the match really dominant, with Reigns repeatedly pummeled and flung from the ring. Even after tiring, the only offense Reigns really gets is opportunistic attacks while Undertaker's guard is down. Yet as the match goes on Undertaker just... [[DentedIron falls apart]]. He struggles to even stand, takes the worst of every bump, ends up unable to even raise his hands to defend himself. [[DefiantToTheEnd But he won't stay down]]. What we end up with is an [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone increasingly tormented looking]] Reigns pummeling an old man, looking more like a beatdown than a fight. And however much the crowd wills it, Undertaker never gets a second wind. He just takes finisher after finisher, until finally... he doesn't get back up.
** Say what may be said about [[CreatorsPet Reigns]], but [[https://twitter.com/DeionGottaSTFU/status/848752920287989760 this picture of him backstage after the match]] kinda explains how much of a toll ending the Deadman's carrer has been for him. Moreso [[https://twitter.com/WWERomanReigns/status/848975420506742784 his tweet hours later]]:
-->'''Reigns:''' [[IdidwhatIhadtodo I did what I had to]] at [=#WrestleMania=] but it doesn't change the fact Deadman held the yard down for years. For that...[=#ThankYouTaker #Respect=]

** Say what may be said about [[BaseBreakingCharacter Reigns]], but [[https://twitter.com/DeionGottaSTFU/status/848752920287989760 this picture of him backstage after the match]] kinda explains how much of a toll ending the Deadman's carrer has been for him. Moreso [[https://twitter.com/WWERomanReigns/status/848975420506742784 his tweet hours later]]:

-->'''Reigns:''' I did what I had to at [=#WrestleMania=] but it doesn't change the fact Deadman held the yard down for years. For that...[=#ThankYouTaker #Respect=]

** Say what may be said about [[BaseBreakingCharacter Reigns]], but [[https://twitter.com/DeionGottaSTFU/status/848752920287989760 This picture of him after match]] kinda explains how much of a toll ending the Deadman's carrer has been for him. Moreso [[https://twitter.com/WWERomanReigns/status/848975420506742784 his tweet hours later]]:

** Say what may be said about [[BaseBrekingCharacter Reigns]], but [[https://twitter.com/DeionGottaSTFU/status/848752920287989760 This picture of him after match]] kinda explains how much of a toll ending the Deadman's carrer has been for him. Moreso [[https://twitter.com/WWERomanReigns/status/848975420506742784 his tweet hours later]]:

-->'''Reigns:''' I did what I had to at [=#WrestleMania=] but it doesn't change the fact Deadman held the yard down for years.
For that..[=#ThankYouTaker #Respect=]

* ''[=WrestleMania=] 33'' ended with the Undertaker losing to Wrestling/RomanReigns, bringing his record to 23-2. After the match was over, the Undertaker appeared to retire, taking off his gloves, coat and hat, laying them in the ring. Rather than a huge explosion of fireworks, the show ended with the lights going down, Taker's going echoing through the arena.

** This gets even sadder if you remember the way fans tend to insist pairing the two together as some sort of TooGoodForThisSinfulEarth relationship. In reality, Savage and Elizabeth had been together since Savage's days in his fathers wrestling promotion, and the whole "Match Made In Heaven" storyline in 1991 was simply one final desperate attempt to salvage their marriage. In the end, the two (in reality Randall Poffo and Elizabeth Hulette) were just two people trying to keep together in an INCREDIBLY divisive business, and it simply did not work out, with Savage outliving Elizabeth by almost a decade. And thats the way it is.

--> '''Jim Ross''': The boyhood dream has come true, for Shawn Michaels!
* Wrestling/ChrisBenoit winning the World Heavyweight Championship at ''[=WrestleMania XX=]'', and his celebration with then-WWE Champion Wrestling/EddieGuerrero. This is very sad HarsherInHindsight, since both would be dead within three years, especially given the circumstances behind Benoit's death, as a lifetime of steroid abuse and brain damage destroyed the man who had been Benoit and left a mindless monster who killed his family in a psychotic fit.

** For those who have followed Flair since his heyday of the early 80s, few things hammer down just how much time has passed than seeing a tired, balding old man taking his final fall in a Wrestlemania ring. Space Mountain might be the most famous ride in the park, but its also the oldest ,and there's only so much time left before its torn down.

* At ''[=WrestleMania=] XXX'', Wrestling/TheUndertaker's Streak is broken by Wrestling/BrockLesnar. As Lesnar and Wrestling/PaulHeyman leave the ring celebrating, Taker and by extension the entire crowd are just left stunned by what had transpired as if they still can't believe it happened. After the reality finally sinks in, Taker just...leaves the ring, acknowledging his defeat as the crowd chants "Thank you Taker!"

* Wrestling/ChrisBenoit winning the World Heavyweight Championship at ''[=WrestleMania XX=]'', and his celebration with then-WWE Champion Wrestling/EddieGuerrero. This is very sad HarsherInHindsight, since both would be dead within three years, especially given the circumstances behind Benoit's death.

* Wrestling/RicFlair's retirement match at ''[=WrestleMania XXIV=]''. At the end, it became clear to Shawn Michaels he was facing a ShootTheDog situation. He was so overcome, he couldn't even "tune up the band" for the Sweet Chin Music. Instead, he only says "I'm sorry. I love you." After the pin, Shawn hugged Ric Flair, and was in tears all the way up the ramp. And given they were at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, that was a ''looooooong'' ramp.

* The end of the ''[=WrestleMania VII=]'' retirement match between Wrestling/UltimateWarrior and Wrestling/RandySavage. Savage was being berated by [[Wrestling/SherriMartel Sensational Sherri]], when she was attacked by a returning Wrestling/MissElizabeth. Savage then reunited with Elizabeth, and half the LA Memorial Sports Arena burst into tears over the raw emotion of the event. It set up a great summer storyline culminating in their ({{kayfabe}}) wedding at that year's Wrestling/SummerSlam.

* The end of the [=WrestleMania VII=] retirement match between Wrestling/UltimateWarrior and Wrestling/RandySavage. Savage was being berated by [[Wrestling/SherriMartel Sensational Sherri]], when she was attacked by a returning Wrestling/MissElizabeth. Savage then reunited with Elizabeth, and half the LA Memorial Sports Arena burst into tears over the raw emotion of the event. It set up a great summer storyline culminating in their ({{kayfabe}}) wedding at that year's Wrestling/SummerSlam.
* Wrestling/ShawnMichaels winning the WWF Championship at [=WrestleMania XII=] after an Iron Man Match with Wrestling/BretHart, fulfilling the "boyhood dream".
* Wrestling/ChrisBenoit winning the World Heavyweight Championship at [=WrestleMania XX=], and his celebration with then-WWE Champion Wrestling/EddieGuerrero.
** This is very sad HarsherInHindsight, since both would be dead within three years, especially given the circumstances behind Benoit's death.
* Wrestling/RicFlair's retirement match at [=WrestleMania XXIV=]. At the end, it became clear to Shawn Michaels he was facing a ShootTheDog situation. He was so overcome, he couldn't even "tune up the band" for the Sweet Chin Music. Instead...
-->'''Shawn Michaels:''' I'm sorry. I love you.
** After the pin, Shawn hugged Ric Flair, and was in tears all the way up the ramp. And given they were at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, that was a ''looooooong'' ramp.
* At Wrestlemania XXX, Wrestling/TheUndertaker's Streak is broken by Wrestling/BrockLesnar. As Lesnar and Wrestling/PaulHeyman leave the ring celebrating, Taker and by extension the entire crowd are just left stunned by what had transpired as if they still can't believe it happened. After the reality finally sinks in, Taker just...leaves the ring, acknowledging his defeat as the crowd chants "Thank you Taker!"

* The end of the [=WrestleMania VII=] retirement match between Wrestling/UltimateWarrior and Wrestling/RandySavage. Savage was being berated by Sensational Sherri, when she was attacked by a returning Wrestling/MissElizabeth. Savage then reunited with Elizabeth, and half the LA Memorial Sports Arena burst into tears over the raw emotion of the event. It set up a great summer storyline culminating in their ({{kayfabe}}) wedding at that year's Wrestling/SummerSlam.

** After the pin, Shawn hugged Ric Flair, and was in tears all the way up the ramp. And given they were at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, that was a ''looooooong'' ramp.

* Wrestling/RicFlair's retirement match at [=WrestleMania XXIV=]. At the end, Shawn Michaels was so overcome, he couldn't even "tune up the band" for the Sweet Chin Music. Instead...

* Wrestling/Chris Benoit winning the World Heavyweight Championship at [=WrestleMania XX=], and his celebration with then-WWE Champion Wrestling/EddieGuerrero.

** This is very sad HarsherInHindsight, since both would be dead within three years, especially given the circumstances behind Benoit's death.

* The end of the [=WrestleMania VII=] retirement match between Wrestling/TheUltimateWarrior and Wrestling/RandySavage. Savage was being berated by Sensational Sherri, when she was attacked by a returning Wrestling/MissElizabeth. Savage then reunited with Elizabeth, and half the LA Memorial Sports Arena burst into tears over the raw emotion of the event. It set up a great summer storyline culminating in their ({{kayfabe}}) wedding at that year's Wrestling/SummerSlam.