WrestleMania X-8 comes to us from Toronto, only the second time WrestleMania emanated from outside the United States and this WrestleMania saw the return of the legendary Hulk Hogan, after a nearly nine year absence, taking on The Rock. Nash and Hall returned, with Hall taking on Stone Cold Steve Austin. Triple H returned after a nearly one-year absence and winning the Royal Rumble to face Undisputed Champion, Chris Jericho. Ric Flair returned to WrestleMania after a ten- year absence to face the sinister Undertaker in a No DQ match.

That’s a pretty stacked card by any measure and that’s only the big name matches. So, does this incredibly stacked and star-studded card live up to its potential? Let’s find out!

Opener

We open with Saliva singing the theme song of WrestleMania X-8 (or one of them, at least) and a video montage of the feuds going into WrestleMania.

After that, we get a promo by the superstars about what WrestleMania means for them and the business.

JR and Lawler are back together at ringside.

Intercontinental Championship Match: William Regal vs Rob Van Dam

RVD comes out to a great pop. Regal gets no reaction or very quiet boos.

These guys worked really well together, which is a little surprising since neither of them have a traditional wrestling style, but the contrasting unusual styles worked really well.

Winner: RVD by pinfall after hitting a Five Star Frog Splash.

Highlights: RVD kicking the brass knuckles away from Regal.

Comments: This was a really great start to WrestleMania.

We go backstage where Christian is mocking DDP’s self-help guru gimmick. Lilian Garcia asks him about his feud with DDP. Christian says that since he’d used DDP to get back to winning, he didn’t need him anymore.

European Championship Match: Diamond Dallas Page vs Christian

Christian gets a great hometown pop, despite being the heel, and changing his hometown to Tampa, Florida. DDP gets an okay pop from the crowd.

This was an okay match. I can’t say it’s the best I’ve seen from either guy before, but it wasn’t bad.

Winner: DDP retains via pinfall after hitting the Diamond Cutter. DDP tells Christian that he’s proud of him for not losing his temper, even though he lost. Christian throws an absolute fit

Highlights: Christian being secure enough to throw a temper tantrum on PPV TV. DDP leaving through the crowd.

Comments: This would be DDP’s only appearance at WrestleMania as a competitor, he would retire later this year due to injuries. This would also be the last WrestleMania for the European Title, as it, along with the Hardcore and Intercontinental Titles would be unified before the IC belt was unified with the World Heavyweight Championship.

Hardcore Championship Match: Maven vs Goldust

Goldust is out first to a good pop. Maven is out next and he gets an okay pop.

As far as hardcore matches, this wasn’t quite as fun and chaotic as previous ones, but it was still okay.

Winner: Spike Dudley gets the win by pinning Maven (anyone can join the match under Hardcore Rules), even brought his own ref. As Spike celebrates, Crash Holly shows up and chases Spike backstage, with Goldust and Maven in hot pursuit.

Highlights: Spike getting the victory. The gold trashcans and shovel.

Comments: This would be the last WrestleMania for the Hardcore Championship. It would be unified with the European and Intercontinental Championships. The final Hardcore Champion was Rob Van Dam.

Drowning Pool gives us the story of our Undisputed Championship match.

Backstage, we find Crash Holly going after Spike Dudley. Spike and Crash are almost run over by Al Snow in a golf cart with a ref, but Al hits a wall of cardboard boxes. Spike manages to get away, but is ambushed by Hurricane Helms, who flies away before Al Snow can get to him.

Kurt Angle vs Kane

Angle actually gets a good pop, along with the ‘You Suck’ chant. Angle trashes the Canadian pairs figure skaters, who were robbed of their gold medals by a corrupt Olympic judge. Kane gets a really good pop.

This was a really good match up. The contrast in styles worked really well for both guys.

Winner: Kurt Angle by pinfall, putting his feet on the ropes.

Highlights: Angle hopping up and down with frustration

Comments: I enjoyed this match. I don’t remember why these two were having a match at WrestleMania, but this was a good one.

Backstage, Hurricane is carefully making his way around the arena, when he wanders into the shower are that Godfather’s ladies are using. Not wanting to get caught he hides behind a dressing screen with a broom as protection (yes, they’re really going there). This is mostly just an excuse to have scantily clad women and juvenile humor in a scene, but it was funny anyway.

We get a recap of the issues between Flair and Undertaker and the implication that Taker was put up to this by Vince, to get Flair out of the WWF (something Vince had been trying to do for months).

The Streak: Undertaker vs Ric Flair – No Disqualification Match

Undertaker comes out on his motorcycle to a nice pop. JR comments that Undertaker is 9-0 and has never lost at WrestleMania. Again, this is used as a statement of why Flair will have a tall mountain to climb (Flair was 0-1 at WrestleMania). Flair gets a great pop, as expected.

This match gets physical very quickly. An extremely skilled ring vet, Flair might be, but he knows how to fight and takes it to Taker.

If you’re looking for one of Flair’s technical classics, look somewhere else. This match was rough and physical. It was still as good as you’d expect from Flair at this point in his career.

Winner: Undertaker by pinfall. Taker takes out Charles Robinson, aka ‘Little Naitch’ for the hell of it, I guess. Before leaving, Taker counts his WrestleMania wins on both hands, he is 10-0.

Highlights:

1. Arn Anderson coming to Flair’s aid and taking bumps with a bad neck.
2. Flair still being the Dirtiest Player in the Game.
3. Taker taking it to Anderson while clearly trying to not harm him.

Comments: This one of the best matches in the Streak, in my opinion.

We get a promo from Booker about his match with Edge where Booker tries to pretend he’s a genius, not sure why, but he is, and botching it. Apparently, he and Edge are feuding over hair care product endorsement that Booker thinks Edge stole from him.

Edge vs Booker T

Booker comes out to a minimal pop. Hometown boy, Edge gets a great pop, as expected. We get a reminder that at WrestleMania VI, Edge was in the ringside area as a kid and is now competing in WWF.

Okay, stupid feud aside, this was a good match. At this point, Booker and Edge were still primarily known for their tag team skills, so seeing them in a singles match is nice.

Winner: Edge by pinfall. The crowd loses it, as they should. Edge looks incredibly proud and emotional.

Highlights: Seeing the two members of the, arguably, most successful tag teams in WWF and WCW going at it in singles competition.

Comments: I enjoyed this.

Backstage, Hurricane is still trying to get out of Skydome with the Hardcore Championship. Coachman approaches him and asks about the scene with the Godfather’s ladies. Hurricane says he’s not a ‘Hurriperv’, but he is the Hardcore Champion. Mighty Molly approaches and recommends leaving on the Hurri-cycle, when Helms turns to go, Molly clocks him upside the head with a skillet and becomes the new Hardcore Champion, but for some reason, she runs back into the building, instead of leaving.

We get a recap of the Austin/NWO feud and why the NWO was brought to WWF.

Stone Cold Steve Austin vs Scott Hall (with Kevin Nash)

Austin is out first his usual great pop. Hall and Nash get a pretty good pop. This match gets physical very quickly, but it’s a really good match and we got to see Austin get some revenge.

 Winner: Austin by pinfall.

Highlights: Austin attacking Nash for the hell of it. Hall selling the Stunner.

Comments: This would the last WrestleMania appearance as in-ring competitors by Hall and Nash. They would make appearances during WrestleMania weekends, both being inducted into the Hall of Fame, and doing a run-in to back Sting in his match at WrestleMania 31. This would also be Referee Tim White’s last WrestleMania as a full-time ref. He’d be injured during the Hell in a Cell match between Triple H and Chris Jericho and after a one match return in 2004, retire as a ref.

We get a video about Axxess, which always looks like a ton of fun.

Four Corners Elimination Match for the WWF Tag Team Championship: Billy and Chuck vs APA vs The Dudley Boyz vs The Hardy Boyz

Dudleys and Stacey are out first to a great pop and they dance with Saliva, who sing them to the ring. APA don’t get nearly that good of a pop after that entrance. Hardys get a really good pop. Billy and Chuck get almost no reaction.

This match was really crazy right from the start, but it was a good match. Everyone seemed to want to eliminate Billy and Chucky.

Winner: Billy and Chuck by pinfall. The crowd is livid because Billy and Chuck spent most of the match outside the ring.

Comments: This would be Jeff Hardy’s last WrestleMania for a few years. He would be released in 2003 due to personal and work issues. He would return to WrestleMania in 2007.

Backstage, Hall and Nash are steamed over Austin’s victory. Nash says that the loss was a one-time thing and it won’t happen again. He then says they’ll take out what happened to them on Rock. Hogan comes up and tells them to stay out of his match with Rock, he wants to beat Rock on his own.

In another part of the arena, Mighty Molly is trying to find a place to hide with her Hardcore Championship. She races down a hallway only to be hit in the face with the top part of a Dutch door by Christian, who pins her to become the new Hardcore Champion.

We get a recap of the Rock/Hogan feud.

The Rock vs Hollywood Hulk Hogan

Hogan comes out to an incredible pop, heel or not. The dueling chants have already started. Rock also gets an incredible pop. And we get a Hogan/Andre level staredown. I still get goosebumps.

Hogan has never been the most technically sound wrestler, but this is one of those matches where it doesn’t matter how good or bad the wrestling was, the story it told was great.

Winner: Rock by pinfall. After the win, Hogan gets to his feet and offers Rock a handshake, that Rock accepts. After Rock leaves, Hogan is confronted by Nash and Hall which quickly turns into a beatdown. Rock comes to Hogan’s aid and the two of them fight off the Outsiders. Hogan turns to leave, but Rock convinces him to pose for the Hulkamaniacs, including Rock.

Highlights:

1. The staredown
2. Hogan wanting to win on his own.
3. Crowd not knowing who to cheer for
4. Rock telling Hogan to bring it
5. Hogan and Rock shaking hands.
6. Rock showing Hogan respect and letting him have time with the fans.
7. Rock still being a Hulkamaniac.

Comments: Even though it’s not the greatest match ever, I still enjoy this match every time I see it.

We go to WWF New York where Big Show is having fun.

Finkel says that WWF has set a NEW Skydome record:  68,237 fans.

Triple Threat Match for the WWF Women’s Championship: Jazz vs Trish Stratus vs Lita

Jazz is out first to no real reaction. Lita gets a better pop, but I think the crowd is waiting for the hometown girl. Trish gets a great hometown pop.

Lita and Jazz start before Trish gets to the ring and Team Bestie gangs up on Jazz. This match wasn’t the best in terms of technical skill, but it was still really good. All three women worked well together.

Winner: Jazz by pinning Lita, thus saving the hometown girl from taking the pin

Highlights: Lita not being able to get her top off and saying ‘f**k it’.

Comments: Even though Trish didn’t win, seeing how much she’d improved since her WrestleMania debut just two years before is astonishing. I enjoyed this match a lot.

Christian has made his way outside, where a cab is waiting. Thinking he’s home free, Christian runs to the cab and drops his stuff in it. Maven attacks Christian from behind, gets the pin, then takes off in the cab with Christian’s stuff and the Hardcore Championship he came in with. Christian throws another fit, and you can hardly blame him.

WWF Undisputed Championship Match: Chris Jericho (with Stephanie McMahon) vs Triple H

Triple H comes out first to a great pop, sang to the ring by Drowning Pool. Y2J and Stephanie come out to an okay pop. The pairing of Jericho and Stephanie is an odd one to me.

Given the real-life relationship between Triple H and Stephanie, seeing him and Steph ‘rough’ each other up is really funny because they were each trying very hard to be gentle.

This was a really good match and a decent story, real-life relationships aside.

Winner: Triple H by pinfall after the Pedigree. Triple H and the crowd celebrate his triumphant return to WrestleMania.

Highlights:

1. Triple H using the figure four
2. Stephanie and Triple H being enemies while trying to not hurt each other is seriously funny.

Comments: I really enjoyed this match and I’m glad the feud continued for awhile.

Overall Comments

So, did WrestleMania X-8 live up to the potential? Yeah, it did. This was a really stacked, star-studded card and all the matches delivered.

Music Acts: I’m very critical of WWE taking time out of WrestleMania let music acts perform, but I love what they were doing with live groups in the early 2000s: The bands that performed were there because they performed the theme song and/or were going to sing one of the bigger superstars to the ring. It didn’t take up time that could’ve been used on another match, the acts were quick and had an actual purpose. I wish WWE would do this again instead of having a half-time show.

Match of the Night: Rock vs Hogan. I believe the that THE title should always go last, but Rock/Hogan had more of a main event feel than the Triple H/Jericho match.

Hardcore Championship: I really liked the running Hardcore Match. It was a lot of fun and had some funny segments in it.

Final Thoughts: I really liked this show. I wouldn’t make a special effort to watch it just because, but it was a fun show.