Biggest names in wrestling who never made it to Mania.

[SirLucas]

I am thinking those who were alive and active during the time. But then by the time they retired, never had a taste of Mania


Mangum T.A. is a name that comes to mind, but his career was cut short during the early 80s. Who knows had he kept wrestling for another decade if he'd eventually get to WWE.

Superstar Billy Graham's career was winding down in the mid 80s, but we can at least say he got to Mania as a manager.

I am not going to include names like Lou Thez or Verne Gagne, who was finished from in the ring way before Mania came around.

But when you think of all the top talent from the 80s and 90s, are there any noticeable big names that never stepped foot inside WrestleMania? 

-Kevin Sullivan...mainly due to spending the majority of his career during that time in WCW.
-Larry Zbyszko....was in WWWF pre Mania, then went to AWA then WCW.

[Mochi Lone Wolf]

Antonio Inoki.

[BorneAgain]

Territory/WCW/ECW guys that didn't do long wrestling runs in WWE come to mind:

-The Midnight Express
-Ole Anderson
-Nick Bockwinkel
-Bruiser Brody
-Terry Gordy
-Stan Hansen
-Konnan
-Shane Douglas
-The Great Muta

[fw91]

Abdullah The Butcher

[Hypnosis]

Jushin "Thunder" Liger.

[Cyno]

Did Ultimo Dragon ever work Mania? I remember he had a very brief WWE run in 2003, but I wasn't watching at the time.

[Feyrhausen]

Feb 4, 2023 19:42:38 GMT -5 Cyno said:

Did Ultimo Dragon ever work Mania? I remember he had a very brief WWE run in 2003, but I wasn't watching at the time.

20. The infamous slip.

[BorneAgain]

Feb 4, 2023 19:42:38 GMT -5 Cyno said:

Did Ultimo Dragon ever work Mania?

Yes, and infamously tripped on his cape during his way to the ring:

Ultimo Dragon makes his entrance at WrestleMania 20

[yokohamacpfc]

Two guys who had long WWE runs but never got onto the mania card are the recently deceased Lanny Poffo (with WWF 1985-92) and Lance Storm (2001-2005, he had a pre-show match in this run).

Everyone else I can think of either never wrestled for them or had very short runs. Omega and TYB will probably join this list unless something surprising happens (which is likely bc of its wrestling). I'd like to think as long as HHH stays in charge he'll work out a way to bring in Okada for a one-off before he gets too old.

[XIII]

Nikita Koloff
Dr. Death
Terry Gordy
Freebirds

[jason1980s]

Feb 4, 2023 20:10:17 GMT -5 yokohamacpfc said:

Two guys who had long WWE runs but never got onto the mania card are the recently deceased Lanny Poffo (with WWF 1985-92) and Lance Storm (2001-2005, he had a pre-show match in this run).

Lanny deserved a PPV match even as a face. I think he was a stand in, in case one of the 2 battle royal guys couldn't make it. He and Mike Sharpe were pictured in a Chicago weigh in. He didn't make the PPV broadcast as a manager for VIII but at least got VI mania as a manager. The Genius character really helped his career take off.
I thought he should have gotten the Survivor Series 88 spot instead of Scott Casey. I'm sure he was there with his family or at least Randy. Maybe WWF didn't want him being shown so soon before Randy.

Kamala is a guy who came to my mind immediately on this thread. I know he was at the X-7 battle royal but during his time as an active performer with WWF he didn't get a spot on the III card, he came right after VIII and his match at IX was cancelled.

Are there any guys from WWF who missed a mania? I really can't think of any off hand other than guys mostly on the lower card in the 80s or 90s.

[Deleted]

Brian Pillman and Shane Douglas are probably the biggest names who were actually employed by the company.

Overall, most of the AEW roster probably fit into this category. Omega, Bucks, Cole, Page, Keith Lee, MJF etc.

[Oh Cry Me a Screwball]

Adam Cole stands out in the current era considering he was NXT champion for so long that a Mania appearance would seem like a foregone conclusion.

[Cranjis McBasketball]

Feb 4, 2023 19:46:13 GMT -5 BorneAgain said:

Feb 4, 2023 19:42:38 GMT -5 Cyno said:

Did Ultimo Dragon ever work Mania?

Yes, and infamously tripped on his cape during his way to the ring:

Ultimo Dragon makes his entrance at WrestleMania 20

He said his career goal was to work Mania. So he signed a deal, was put in a nothing match and slipped during his entrance.

Even still, mission accomplished.

[Mozenrath]

Feb 4, 2023 20:10:17 GMT -5 yokohamacpfc said:

Two guys who had long WWE runs but never got onto the mania card are the recently deceased Lanny Poffo (with WWF 1985-92) and Lance Storm (2001-2005, he had a pre-show match in this run).

Everyone else I can think of either never wrestled for them or had very short runs. Omega and TYB will probably join this list unless something surprising happens (which is likely bc of its wrestling). I'd like to think as long as HHH stays in charge he'll work out a way to bring in Okada for a one-off before he gets too old.

Lance is an especially bummer one in a way in that he almost got on the card I think a couple of times, and each time, plans changed.

[Renslayer]

Was thinking Kerry von Erich, but he was at mania vii

[evilone]

I was gonna say DDP but then X8 popped up. I cant even remember.

[Hypnosis]

Feb 4, 2023 19:46:13 GMT -5 BorneAgain said:

Feb 4, 2023 19:42:38 GMT -5 Cyno said:

Did Ultimo Dragon ever work Mania?

Yes, and infamously tripped on his cape during his way to the ring:

Ultimo Dragon makes his entrance at WrestleMania 20

My father thought Ultimo was drunk that night.

[Deleted]

Jushin Liger is one. I would have rather seen him used at Manua than an NXT Takeover.

Antonio Inoki is probably the biggest name who never appeared.

[LiamMcDuggle]

Did Tully and Arn get to a Mania as the Brainbusters?