Besides competing in WrestleMania, the superstars get to have the most fun they’ll have all year. They bring their families out and see as many fans as possible. They go to whatever parties are happening in the vicinity of the arena or stadium. Being part of WrestleMania is a fun week for the entire roster and the city that WWE takes over for the week.
Related: Ranking Undertaker's First 10 WrestleMania Matches, From Worst To Best
Take all of that fun, emotion, and adrenaline and multiply ten fold when not only are you wrestling at a WrestleMania, but The Showcase Of The Immortals just happens to have taken over your hometown!
10 Rob Van Dam And Sabu - WrestleMania 23
Not only did both Rob Van Dam and Sabu train under Sabu’s uncle, the Original Sheik, but the extreme duo also did so in their home state of Michigan. Years later, both men would make to the grandest stage of them all at WrestleMania 23 in Motown’s Ford Field! They teamed up with fellow ECW Originals, Sandman and Tommy Dreamer against the ECW New Breed.
9 Tony Nese, Zack Ryder & Curt Hawkins - WrestleMania 35
Emanating from the shadows of New York City, WrestleMania came to the WWE’s home base again for WrestleMania 35. It was part of the pre-show, but Long Island natives and former partners, Zack Ryder and the 269-losing streak of Curt Hawkins came home to challenge Dash and Dawson, The Revival.
Related: FTR: The Final 10 Matches From Their WWE Career, Ranked From Worst To Best
Meanwhile, fellow Long Islander and Mikey Whipwreck trainee, Tony Nese challenged Buddy Murphy for the Cruiserweight Title. It was the first time ever that three New Yorkers made it to WrestleMania and challenged successfully for titles.
8 Trish Stratus - WrestleMania X8
How’s this for WrestleMania jitters - you’re working in your first-ever WrestleMania match, challenging for the Women’s title, and not just in your home country - but your hometown! Toronto’s own Trish Stratus may have been unsuccessful in claiming gold, but plenty of fans certainly remember her coming to the ring wearing an iconic outfit - adorned in the colors of the Maple Leaf and working a pretty great women’s match for the time.
7 Shawn Michaels - WrestleMania XXV
Wrestling and Texas go together like chocolate and peanut butter. From the Von Erichs to The Funks, to the Guerreros, and all superstars in between, there are so many superstars to have to come from The Lone Star state.
Despite being a big ol’ degenerate, Shawn does wear his love of his home state on his sleeve. The San Antonio native made the drive for the first-ever Texas mania he got to be a part of. At the 25th Anniversary, The Heartbreak Kid would clash in the instant classic now folklore-like match against The Undertaker.
6 The Road Warriors - WrestleMania 13
In the Windy City, the city’s most favorite sun, CM Punk once commandeered the WWE title to thunderous applause. The only thing missing was that it didn’t take place at WrestleMania.
The last WrestleMania of the New Generation took place from The United Center, and featured a Chicago Street Fight. You can’t really have a Chicago Street Fight without two of the baddest men that ever walked the streets of Chicago - The Legion Of Doom. Hawk and Animal teamed up with Ahmed Johnson in a victorious effort against The Nation Of Domination.
5 Bam Bam Bigelow - WrestleMania IV
Throughout his entire career, Bam Bam Bigelow was proud to have been announced from Asbury Park, New Jersey. He also goes down in history as being one of the best big men in the entire sport. Prior to big Jersey venues doubling for “The Shadows Of New York City,” WrestleMania IV was the first WrestleMania to hail from New Jersey’s Atlantic City, just about an hour’s drive on The Garden State Parkway. At Bammer’s first mania, he came up short during the WWE title tournament against The One Man Gang.
4 The Rock - WrestleMania XXVIII
It had been eight long years since The Rock competed at WrestleMania. But one night after WrestleMania 27, the match between he and John Cena was set for Miami - The Great One’s adopted hometown, where the former blue-chipper had played ball for the Miami Hurricanes.
Related: 5 Matches The Rock Should Have Won (& 5 He Should Have Lost)
For the first time ever, WrestleMania had announced the main event a year in advance and The People’s Champ for the first time at a WrestleMania was amongst his hometown people as he defeated John Cena to an electric ovation.
3 Naomi - WrestleMania 33
Naomi is one of the most underrated wrestlers on any roster. The hard work began to pay off in early 2017 when she would win the Smackdown Women’s title.
But after a small injury, she dropped it back to Alexa Bliss and worked very hard to rehab and be able to win back the title not just at The Granddaddy Of Them All, but in her hometown! The former Orlando Magic cheerleader was indeed able to make it to the world’s largest thrill ride to reclaim her gold.
2 The Undertaker - WrestleMania X7, XXV
Despite being announced as hailing from Death Valley for his entire career, The Undertaker was born and raised in Houston, Texas. Shortly before WrestleMania X7, The American Bad Ass let the world know that Death Valley certainly extends to Texas.
Related: 10 Facts You Need To Know About The Undertaker's Tattoos
He rode into X7 with an 8-0 record in his first WrestleMania encounter with Triple H. Eight years later when The Phenom returned to Houston, he collided with fellow Texan Shawn Michaels in their instant WrestleMania XXV classic.
1 Stone Cold Steve Austin - WrestleMania X7
After a long and grueling rehab, Stone Cold stomped and stalked his way to the ring at WrestleMania X7 to once again challenge The Rock for the WWE title.
The Victoria, Texas native had nothing but a thunderous and partisan crowd to cheer him on in his journey to reclaim the gold. The Houston crowd couldn’t even care less that he had seemingly turned heel to side with Vince McMahon, who helped him win the title.
Next: 10 WWE Wrestlers Whose Careers Lasted Longer Than You Think
