Admittedly, I have not watched Wrestlemania. However, this should not disqualify any opinion on this matter, as the outlook being presented encompasses nothing to do with match quality or the angles built around the contests. It deals merely with the reality (what I believe it to be) of pro wrestling television, pay per view and otherwise. Simply put, it does not particularly matter what match headlined, therefore Undertaker vs. HBK did not need to main event the evening. So it wasn't a good move, it wasn't a bad move, in fact it was basically inconsequential.
Again, since I did not see the majority of the evening’s card myself, what can I do but go off the general consensus? Therefore, I have no problem believing Undertaker vs. HBK was a fantastic bout from all I’ve heard. What some seemed to call an early MOTY candidate. On the other hand, Triple H and Orton at the top of the card was largely said to have bombed according to most viewers. And I think this is where things get a little cloudy.
You see, hindsight being 20/20, yeah you probably want what might be called a Wrestlemania classic at the top of the card. Did WWE go into their biggest show of the year planning on their main event being a let down? They certainly didn’t want to disappoint all the people who shelled out to money to watch. I’m pretty sure they believed they built up that match well, and wanted a title showdown in the main. Well, that and the other title match ahead of Taker/HBK too. And it was a totally understandable move from that perspective. If this isn’t what most people wanted, I don’t think it would be the first time Vince didn’t see that. But life goes on all the same.
Yet, there is more to why it doesn’t matter. Undertaker’s big Wrestlemania streak was on the line…yet again. I’m guessing that was central to the build of the match (again, I really don’t watch all that much now so stick with me). And he didn’t lose at Wrestlemania…yet again. So I’m not seeing why simply being a very good match makes it deserving of being a sure main event instantly. Sure, both men have been there before. Both guys are highly capable. And it clicked that night. It just wasn’t the last match on the show.
But the fans still got to see it. If they were basing their PPV order on that match alone, they still saw it, and it was still apparently very good. Just because the two other title matches weren’t as good, isn’t reason enough to justify this being the Wrestlemania main event over them. And I would have argued the same for the title matches had HBK Undertaker headlined.
In summary, it doesn’t make a difference in my eyes. The fans still saw the matches they paid to see, it was a very good performance by both whether it was the first match on the card or the last, and I think the overall impression of the show as far as it’s legacy remains largely the same. Regardless of what match was at top.