Seven WWE stars to headline WrestleMania in three different decades
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These stars have cemented their status as all-time legends.
‘The Grandest Stage of Them All,’ WrestleMania, is the pinnacle not just of WWE but of all sports entertainment. Every year, the show delivers unforgettable moments, epic matches, and career-defining moments for its superstars.
Headlining a pay-per-view event is a dream for every young star, and while some manage to realize this dream just once, others go on to not only headline the show multiple times but also cement their legacy as true icons of WWE.
Here we will take a look at such legends who have not only headlined the show multiple times, but have managed to headline it in three different decades.
Randy Orton
‘The Viper’ Randy Orton is the latest addition to the list as he first headlined the show in 2009 at WrestleMania XXV, where he challenged Triple H for the WWE Championship.
With his upcoming Undisputed title clash with Cody Rhodes, Orton is set to join this list of stars to headline the show in three different decades, as he headlined the 30th edition in 2014.
Also Read: List of 42 greatest WrestleMania moments in history (via WWE)
John Cena
The one and only 17th World Champion, John Cena, also etched his name in this list with his final Mania appearance against Cody Rhodes in 2025, where he bagged the Undisputed title to break the tie with Ric Flair and become the 17-time World Champion.
Cena’s other Mania main events in the past two decades, starting with his first main event in 2006 against Triple H, and his other main events in the last two decades against The Rock and Daniel Bryan.
The Undertaker
The Undertaker already sits at the top of the list of most Mania appearances with 27 and is also in the list to headline Mania in three different decades. His first Mania main-event came during the 13th edition in 1997, and the Deadman has headlined four more Mania editions, including in 2008, 2010, 2017, and 2020.
The 2020 edition was his final WrestleMania appearance, where he battled AJ Styles in a boneyard match. This was also Undertaker’s final in-ring appearance to date.
Brock Lesnar
‘The Beast Incarnate’ Brock Lesnar first headlined the ‘Grandest Stage’ in 2003 against Kurt Angle. He then went on to headline multiple Mania editions, including in 2015, 2018, 2020, and 2022.
While Lesnar lost the Undisputed Championship to Roman Reigns in a “Championship Unification” match, but with this appearance, he secured his place on this list.
Stone Cold Steve Austin
‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin, despite his inactivity in the recent decade, has headlined Mania in three decades, with his most recent in-ring appearance at the 38th edition against Kevin Owens in 2022 being one of the main events.
On the other hand, Austin’s first Mania headline was against Shawn Michaels at the 1998 edition, where the WWF Championship was up for grabs.
The Rock
Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson has transformed into one of the biggest names in Hollywood since transitioning from pro-wrestling. However, during his time, Johnson has main-evented multiple Manias, with the 1999 edition against Stone Cold being his first main event.
Johnson has also headlined the show in 2001 against Stone Cold once again, and his main events in 2012 and 2013 against John Cena have confirmed his entry into this very elite list.
Shawn Michaels
Shawn Michaels became the first superstar to headline WrestleMania across three different decades, highlighting his remarkable longevity at the top of the food chain in the promotion.
He headlined the event in 1996, 1998, 2004, 2007, and 2010, spanning from his breakthrough main event in the mid-90s to his iconic retirement match in 2010 against The Undertaker. This was his last in-ring singles appearance, as he did make his return for a one-off match alongside Triple H to battle The Brothers Of Destruction (Kane & The Undertaker) at Crown Jewel 2018.
Who are the WWE superstars that have headlined WrestleMania in three different decades?
The seven superstars are Shawn Michaels, Stone Cold Steve Austin, Brock Lesnar, The Undertaker, The Rock, John Cena, and Randy Orton. Each has main-evented WrestleMania multiple times across at least three separate decades.
When and where will WrestleMania 42 take place?
The 42nd edition of the PLE will take place as a two-night event on Saturday, April 18 and 19, at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nevada.
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Abhijit Singh is a budding sports journalist with over three years of experience in the field, and a photographer capturing stories through his lens since 2018. With a background in philosophy and political science, he brings a thoughtful, analytical edge to his reporting where every word is guided by curiosity and intent. Whether he's capturing the emotion of a moment or unpacking the deeper narratives within the game, Abhijit’s work is rooted in insight and passion. When he’s not covering sports, he’s often exploring new ideas through reading, traveling or just procrastinating.