WWE.com as a fun little poll up asking "who is the greatest legend of Wrestlemania" and offers the following choices: HBK, Austin, Orton, Jericho & Guerrero. I thought it might be fun to dissect these choices and determine who exactly deserves this title.

First thing is first... as much as I hate to say it; Jericho needs to be eliminated from this ballot. I personally believe Jericho has proved himself to be one of the greatest superstars in the business today and a true future hall of fame candidate, but Wrestlemania isn't his proving ground. His record is spotty at Wrestlemania (and that's to put to lightly) and he lost way more matches at mania then he's won. Jericho might have invented "Money in the bank" but he sure hasn't become "Mr. Money in the Bank" and while he did gain the European championship against Kurt Angle in his first Wrestlemania appearance and retained the IC strap against Regal in his second appearance he hasn't won since then. As much as it would like to say other wise, Chris Jericho is not the "greatest legend of Wrestlemania". 

Secondly, Guerrero should be eliminated due to circumstances beyond his control. Eddie defeated Test (big shock there) at Wrestlemania X-7, he teamed with Chavo to go after the Tag titles versus Benoit / Rhino and Haas and Benjamin at Wrestlemania XIX and lost that contest. Eddie greatest Wrestlemania moment sadly is tainted due to events beyond his control following his successful defense against Kurt Angle (there's nothing more to write about that night, other then it's a shame that Eddie is tainted in the process). Eddie final Wrestlemania appearance was at Wrestlemania 21 where he lost to Rey Mysterio, whom he co-held the tag team championship with. While it feels deny Eddie due to the mistakes of another you couldn't properly celebrate him as a Wrestlemania legend without the inclusion of another and sadly that takes him out of competition. 

We can eliminate Orton based on the fact that he has accomplished a great deal at Wrestlemania but hasn't proved to be in elite company... yet. Orton was a member of the Evolution versus Rock n' Sock Connection match at Wrestlemania XX and won, he lost to the Undertaker at Wrestlemania 21, Randy was pinned by Mysterio at Wrestlemania 22 in a triple threat, he was unsuccessful in the Money in the bank match at Wrestlemania 23 and finally defeated both John Cena and Triple H at Wrestlemania 24. Orton is going to only get better at this point and with his Royal Rumble win he's on the path to becoming one of the "greatest legends of Wrestlemania", but he's just not there yet.

This leaves us with “Stone Cold” Steve Austin and “The Heartbreak Kid” Shawn Michaels. Both men have contributed a great deal to previous Wrestlemania programs.

Michaels hold the moniker of “Mr. Wrestlemania” and it proves to hold true. Michaels appeared at Wrestlemania V (and lost with Jannetty to the Twin Towers), VI (and lost with Jannetty to the Orient Express), VII (and won with Jannetty defeated the Barbarian and Haku), VIII where he defeated the El Matador, IX where he was defeated by Tatanka, X, where he was defeated by Razor Ramon in the classic ladder match, XI where he was defeated by Diesel, XII where he defeated Bret Hart for the championship, 13… as just a featured commentator in the main event, XIV where he was defeated by Steve Austin, XIX where he defeated Chris Jericho, XX where he lost to Chris Benoit in the triple threat, 21 where he was defeated by Kurt Angle, 22 where he defeated Vince McMahon, 23 where he lost to John Cena and 24 where he retired Ric Flair.

The equals an impressive resume (and a never ending run on sentence) of 16 appearances (15 of which he was a performer), 6 wins and 9 loses. While the recorded number of wins isn’t that impressive the attendance is (unless you compared it to the gentleman who I consider the real “legend of Wrestlemania”) and a strong viable contender for “the greatest legend of Wrestlemania”.

“Stone Cold” Steve Austin doesn’t boast nearly as of an impressive resume as HBK, but what he lacks in substance he makes up for in style. At Wrestlemania XII, Austin defeated Savio Vega, at Wrestlemania 13 he lost to Bret Hart, at Wrestlemania XIV he defeated Shawn Michael to capture the championship, at Wrestlemania XV he defeated The Rock for the championship, X7 where he defeated the Rock for the championship (do I sense a pattern here?), X8 where he defeated Scott Hall, XIX where he was defeated by the Rock, 21 where he was featured on Piper’s Pit, 23 where he was the special guest referee for the “battle of the billionaires’”. That makes for five wins, two loses and two appearances for a total of 9 wrestlemania moments.    

Out of the five choices given, I'm going with HBK for the deserved win (he’s “Mr. Wrestlemania” for a reason), but frankly, due to the hall of fame announcement I can see fans getting emotional and voting with their heart and not their heads. No doubt about it, this is Steve Austin’s year to shine on his previous accomplishments and it is Austin's year to win any superlatives and being named the "greatest legend of Wrestlemania" just might be one of them (unless they pull a swerve and throw HBK in the hall of fame this year as well!).

Frankly I’m surprised the true "greatest legend of Wrestlemania" isn't listed in this contest, The Undertaker. I might be a huge Jericho fan and think considering all of these choices that HBK will walk away with the award but I believe winning 16 straight Wrestlemania appearances (more than anyone has an will ever do) and winning world championships on three of those occasions should be more then enough to be considered the greatest legend in Wrestlemania history.

Well, it was fun to dissect the choices and I’m sure the fans will vote for Austin or HBK (I doubt Jericho can pull this one off) and either choice is fine but let’s be clear that the dead man is the true “greatest legend of Wrestlemania”.