Savage vs. Steamboat
I’m watching the True Story of Wrestlemania and they brought up a great point about the match that I hadn’t considered before.While the match was great, it did something far more important: it invented the Wrestlemania moment.
Think back for a bit. Wrestlemania II didn’t have anything that really stands out. You could go with Liberace at Wrestlemania I or maybe the main event itself but those pale in comparison to Savage vs. Steamboat. It established the concept of the really other good match on the card that everyone wanted to see and could be remembered aside from the big main event. That idea has been a standard for Wrestlemania almost every year and something almost everyone looks forward to.
The match is great and one of the best ever, but it’s more important than good.
I think the fact that it shared the space as Hogan and Andre helped as well.
For example, had the match been at mania 2, it would still be considered a classic, and your point about the wrestlemania moment still stands. But I think the fact it shared a stage with one of, if not the biggest match of all time, yet is still talked about, really shows all the talent that it doesn’t matter where you are placed, if you try your hardest, you will be remembered regardless of what else happens at mania.