WrestleMania X8

This article is about the professional wrestling pay-per-view event. For the Nintendo GameCube video game named after this event, see WWE WrestleMania X8.

WrestleMania X8
File:Logo-wm18.jpg
Promotion	World Wrestling Federation
Date	March 17, 2002
City	Toronto, Ontario
Venue	SkyDome
Attendance	68,237
Buy rate	1.68
Pay-per-view chronology
← Previous No Way Out 2002 Next → Backlash 2002

WrestleMania X8 was the eighteenth annual WrestleMania professional wrestling pay-per-view produced by the World Wrestling Federation. It took place on March 17, 2002 at the SkyDome in Toronto, Ontario. The event was the second WrestleMania to take place in the Toronto metropolitan area (following WrestleMania VI). The record-breaking attendance for the SkyDome of 68,237 resulted in gross receipts of approximately $6.1 million CAD ($3.9 million USD).

WrestleMania X8 was the final WrestleMania to be promoted under the World Wrestling Federation name. The theme song for WrestleMania X8 was "Tear Away" by Drowning Pool. The recap video theme was "Superstar" by Saliva. Drowning Pool performed the theme song live, as well as "The Game" during Triple H's entrance. Saliva performed "Superstar" live, as well as "Turn the Tables" during The Dudley Boyz's entrance.

The commentators for the event were Jim Ross and Jerry "The King" Lawler. The Spanish commentators were Carlos Cabrera and Hugo Savinovich. Howard Finkel did the ring announcing for the bouts.

Match results

• Sunday Night HEAT match: Rikishi, Scotty 2 Hotty and Albert defeated Mr. Perfect, Lance Storm, and Test (w/Jacqueline as special guest referee)(3:06)
  • Rikishi pinned Mr. Perfect after a Banzai Drop.
• Rob Van Dam defeated William Regal to win the WWF Intercontinental Championship(6:19)
  • RVD pinned Regal after a Five-Star Frog Splash.
• Backstage, Lillian Garcia interviewed Christian over his upcoming match against Diamond Dallas Page. Christian denounced his hometown Toronto and announced he currently resides in Florida.
• Diamond Dallas Page defeated Christian to retain the WWF European Championship(6:08)
  • DDP pinned Christian after a Diamond Cutter.
• Jonathan Coachman interviewed The Rock on his match against Hulk Hogan. Mocking Hogan's commandments, Rock made Coach say his prayers before asking "What'cha gonna do when The Rock runs wild on you?"

File:The Rock vs Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania X8.jpg

Hulk Hogan and The Rock battle in their "Icon vs. Icon" matchup

• WWF Hardcore Champion Maven fought Goldust to a no-contest in a Hardcore match(3:15)
  • The match ended when Spike Dudley ran to the ring and covered the prone Maven for the pin under 24/7 rules.
• The battle for the Hardcore belt continued backstage, The Hurricane "flew" in and pinned Spike for the title.
• Kurt Angle defeated Kane(10:45)
  • Angle pinned Kane with a roll-up using the ropes for leverage.
• The Undertaker defeated Ric Flair in a Street fight(18:47)
  • Undertaker pinned Flair after a Tombstone piledriver.
• Edge defeated Booker T(6:32)
  • Edge pinned Booker after a Edgecution.
• Mighty Molly pinned Hurricane to win the Hardcore Title after hitting him with a frying pan, Hurricane was being interviewed by Jonathan Coachman.
• Steve Austin defeated Scott Hall (w/Kevin Nash)(9:51)
  • Austin pinned Hall after three Stone Cold Stunners.
• Billy and Chuck defeated The APA (Faarooq and Bradshaw), The Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray and D-Von) and The Hardy Boyz (Matt and Jeff) in a Four Corners Elimination Match to retain the WWF Tag Team Championship(13:50)
  • D-Von pinned Bradshaw following the 3D.(3:25)
  • Matt pinned Bubba Ray after a Swanton Bomb from Jeff Hardy.(11:48)
  • Billy pinned Jeff after hitting him with one of the title belts.(13:50)
• Backstage Christian pinned Molly to win the Hardcore Title after slamming a door in Molly's face.

Triple H winning the Undisputed Championship

• The Rock defeated Hulk Hogan(16:23)
  • Rock pinned Hogan after two Rock Bottoms and a People's Elbow.Rock pinned Hogan after two Rock Bottoms and a People's Elbow.Rock pinned Hogan after two Rock Bottoms and a People's Elbow.Rock pinned Hogan after two Rock Bottoms and a People's Elbow.Rock pinned Hogan after two Rock Bottoms and a People's Elbow.Hogan was supposed to be the heel in this match, having run down an ambulance containing The Rock with a semi truck a few weeks previous. However, the fans turned on Rock and cheered for Hogan to win. Every time Hogan touched The Rock, the crowd erupted in thunderous cheers; likewise, any offense by Rocky was met by a chorus of boos. Alas, The Rock put a hurting on the Hulkster. The Rock slapped on the Sharpshooter. This would have been only the third time Hogan has been defeated via submission. The first time was at WCW Monday Nitro in 1997 when he was defeated by Lex Luger, then later in the same year at WCW Starrcade when he was defeated by Sting). The Rock let go of the hold and tried to revive the ref, but Hogan gave him a low blow. Hogan got The Rock in his own Rock Bottom. Hogan covered but only got a two-count. The Rock gave Hogan a Rock Bottom of his own but Hogan kicked out. Hogan 'hulked up' and got the Leg drop but The Rock kicked out. The Rock finally got the pin with two more Rock Bottoms followed by the People's Elbow, which turned The Rock into a face in the eyes of the SkyDome crowd once more. After the match, Hogan offered his hand to the victorious Rock, and the Rock took it to the cheers of the fans. As Rocky was leaving, Nash and Hall chided Hogan for his conciliatory attitude and started to attack him, but Rocky made the save and then as a sign of respect, The Rock stopped Hulk from leaving the ring and asked him to pose for the crowd.(26:57)

Afterwards Rock saved Hogan from a beatdown at the hands of Hall and Nash.

• • Afterwards Rock saved Hogan from a beatdown at the hands of Hall and Nash.
• Jazz defeated Trish Stratus and Lita in a Triple Threat match to retain the WWF Women's Championship(6:16)
  • Jazz pinned Lita after a fisherman's superplex.
• Maven pinned Christian to win the Hardcore Title as Christian was getting into a cab.
• Triple H defeated Chris Jericho (w/Stephanie McMahon) to win the WWF Undisputed Championship(18:41)
  • Triple H pinned Jericho after a Pedigree.

Trivia

• This was Hulk Hogan's first WrestleMania in 9 years and his 10th appearance.
• This was Ric Flair's first WrestleMania event in 10 years, and 2nd appearance.
• This was Kevin Nash's first WrestleMania in 6 years and his 4th appearance.
• This was Scott Hall's first WrestleMania in 7 years and his 4th appearance.
• This was the first time Triple H wrestled as a face for a world title at WrestleMania. This was also the first time since WrestleMania XV that he wrestled as a face.
• WrestleMania X8 broke WrestleMania VI's attendance record which took place at the same stadium.
• This would be the last WrestleMania to use the World Wrestling Federation initials and logo as the company would change to World Wrestling Entertainment as a way of avoiding the constant court battles with the World Wildlife Fund which now makes full use of the initials "WWF."
• This is the only WrestleMania to feature the Undisputed Championship. Conversely, it is the last WrestleMania before the WWE Brand Extension.
• This is the second WrestleMania event to be held at the Toronto SkyDome (the first being WrestleMania VI). Ironically, both events featured Hulk Hogan, and both times he was the fan favorite (though at X8, it was unplanned), he fought a younger and equally (if not more) popular wrestler, he lost his match, and he befriended his opponent after the match ended. Hulk Hogan's match also made him the only wrestler to compete at both Toronto WrestleManias.
• This is the last WrestleMania appearances of Kevin Nash and Scott Hall to date.
• For the second year in a row, William Regal opened WrestleMania with an Intercontinental Championship match and he lost both.
• The Undertaker defeated Ric Flair at WrestleMania X8, taking his undefeated WrestleMania record to 10-0. The Tombstone that Ric Flair took actually proved to be real, which lead to Flair suffering minor headaches. Ric Flair's taking on the Tombstone, however was voted as one of the best takings in WWE, followed by The Rock's takings on the Stone Cold Stunner.
• The 'fan' that Ric Flair attacked during the angle leading to the match was actually Paul London.
• The legendary Arn Anderson made his second Wrestlemania appearance here, interfering in the Flair/Taker contest, attacking Undertaker and saving his best friend Ric Flair. This was a throwback to the legendary Four Horsemen stable of the 1980s NWA, led by Ric Flair containing Arn Anderson, Ole Anderson, and Tully Blanchard.
• WrestleMania X8 was the second WrestleMania at the SkyDome for Edge and Diamond Dallas Page. Edge was in attendance at WrestleMania VI, and Page drove the car that brought the Honky Tonk Man and Greg Valentine to their performance at that same WrestleMania.
• The first three matches in this WrestleMania were for the Intercontinental, European, and Hardcore Titles. To this date, this was the last time any of these belts were defended at WrestleMania since they were all deactivated later in the year. The IC Title, however, was brought back in 2003 two months after WrestleMania XIX. Even though the Intercontinental Champion has participated in matches at WrestleMania XX, WrestleMania 21, and Wrestlemania 22 the title was not on the line. (Randy Orton at WrestleMania XX participated in a Handicap 3-on-2 Match, and Shelton Benjamin at WrestleMania 21 and WrestleMania 22 was in the "Money In the Bank" Ladder Matches)
• Both Drowning Pool and Saliva attended the event. As well as performing their respective themes for WrestleMania X8, "Tear Away" and "Superstar", Saliva also performed "Turn the Tables" for the Dudley Boyz' entrance and Drowning Pool performed their rendition of "The Game" for Triple H's entrance.
• WrestleMania X8 was held on Test's birthday. He wrestled in a match prior to the event itself.
• This was the first WrestleMania that Hulk Hogan wrestled as a heel. All the other times he participated as a babyface.
• This was Booker T, Chuck Palumbo, Maven, Jazz and Rob Van Dam's first WrestleMania appearance.
• This was the first time Edge won via Pinfall at a WrestleMania.
• The two nWo wrestlers, Hollywood Hogan and Scott Hall who competed both stole their opponent's finishing moves during their matches.
• Hulk Hogan was ejected out of nWo after getting beat by other 2 nWo members Scott Hall and Kevin Nash on Monday Night Raw following the event.
• This marks DDP's last WrestleMania appearance to date.

References

• WrestleMania X8 Sets Revenue, Attendance Records

External links

• The Official Website of WrestleMania X8
• WrestleMania X8 Comprehensive Recap