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WrestleMania X8 was the eighteenth edition of World Wrestling Entertainment's annual WrestleMania pay-per-view. It took place at the SkyDome (now known as the Rogers Centre) in Toronto, Ontario on March 17, 2002. The themes for this event were "Tear Away" by Drowning Pool and "Superstar" by Saliva.
Card and Results
William Regal (C) vs. Rob Van Dam
Regal tried to hit the brass knucks early, but Van Dam kicked them out of his hand. Van Dam tried for the Five-Star Frog Splash but missed and the match continued. Later Regal picked up the knucks again after knocking RVD out of the ring, but RVD kicked them away again and got the Frog Splash for the pin.
Result: RVD by pinfall, new WWF Intercontinental Champion
European Championship Match
Diamond Dallas Page (C) vs. Christian
Prior to this match, he said that it was his dream to wrestle at WrestleMania, despite wrestling at all of the major WCW pay-per-view events and being WCW World Champion. DDP got the win with the Diamond Cutter.
Result: DDP by pinfall, still WWF European Champion
Hardcore Championship Match
Maven (C) vs. Goldust
Goldust had the upper hand, pulling a golden shovel from underneath the ring and throttling Maven with it. While Goldust was on the outside, however, Spike Dudley ran to the ring and covered the prone Maven for the pin under 24/7 rules. He didn't have time to celebrate, though, as Hardcore Holly ran down to the ring and chased Spike out through the crowd.
Result: Spike Dudley over Maven by pinfall, new WWF Hardcore Champion
After the scheduled match, the battle for the Hardcore belt continued backstage between Spike and Hardcore Holly. At one point, Al Snow (with referee Teddy Long) drove a golf cart into the fray, missing Holly and Spike and plowing into some cardboard boxes. Then, from out of nowhere, The Hurricane "flew" in and covered Spike for the title!
New Hardcore Champion: The Hurricane
Kurt Angle vs. Kane
Angle clocked Kane with the ring bell before the match started, getting things going early. Angle attempted Kane's own flying clothesline but Kane countered with a clothesline of his own. Kane hit the Chokeslam but Angle was too close to the ropes. Angle hit the Angle Slam shortly thereafter for a two-count, then locked Kane in the Ankle Lock. Kane would not submit, kicking out of the move several times. Finally, frustrated that his signature moves and a subsequent belly-to-belly suplex off the top rope could not defeat Kane, rolled him up using the ropes for leverage for the pin.
Result: Angle by pinfall
Hardcore Interlude
The Hurricane, fleeing from possible challengers for the Hardcore title, ends up in the ladies' locker room, and uses the opportunity to spy on some of the Godfather's Hos. He is soon discovered, however, and the Godfather chases Hurricane away.
The Undertaker vs. Ric Flair (no disqualification)
The Nature Boy went after Taker early, however Taker soon got the upper hand by smashing Flair into the ring post on the outside. Taker savagely beat Flair for several minutes thereafter, culminating in a top-rope superplex. Taker went for the pin and would probably have gotten it, but pulled Flair off the mat after a two count. The match continued and Flair was eventually able to snare Taker in the figure-four leglock. Taker, however, countered it by pulling Flair off the mat by the throat and hitting a chokeslam. After only getting a two-count, Taker knocked out the referee in frustration, and Arn Anderson used the opportunity to hit the ring and nail Taker with a spinebuster. Taker recovered, putting Anderson in the Dragon Sleeper, than fending off Flair with a big boot when he tried to make the save. Taker then got the pin with the Tombstone. Taker's WrestleMania record improves to 10-0. Following the match, Undertaker clotheslines the referee into unconsciousness.
Result: Undertaker by pinfall
The backstory to this match involved a Japanese endorsement deal and Booker wearing glasses to look smart. Edge kicked out of Booker T's Scissors Kick and nailed Booker T with the spear. Edge followed it up with the Edgecution and gets the win.
Result: Edge by pinfall
Hardcore Interlude #2
Backstage, Coach is asking The Hurricane some questions about the Hardcore Title when Mighty Molly(!) sneaks up from behind and clobbers her Hurri-sensei with a frying pan. Referee in tow, Molly gets the pin.
New Hardcore Champion: Mighty Molly
Stone Cold Steve Austin vs. Scott Hall with Kevin Nash
Much interference by Kevin Nash; the match is virtually a handicap match, with Nash knocking out two referees, until Nash is finally ejected. Hall hits Austin with the Stunner for a two-count, but Stone Cold retaliates with two quick Stunners of his own for the win.
Result: Austin by pinfall
Four Corners Elimination Match for the WWF Tag Team Championship
Billy Gunn and Chuck Palumbo (C) vs. The APA (Faarooq and Bradshaw) vs. The Dudley Boyz vs. The Hardy Boyz
The APA was eliminated first when D-Von Dudley pinned Bradshaw following the 3-D Dudley Death Drop. Matt Hardy pinned Bubba Ray a few minutes later after the Swanton Bomb from Jeff. Hardy. Billy and Chuck got the win when Chuck pinned Jeff after Billy Gunn hit him with one of the title belts.
Result: Palumbo over Jeff Hardy by pinfall, Billy and Chuck still WWF Tag Team Champions
Hardcore Interlude #3
Mighty Molly slinked around backstage looking out for possible challengers, when a door she was about to walk past suddenly slammed and hit her in the face. Christian peeked out from behind the door with a referee, then made the pin.
New Hardcore Champion: Christian
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. Hogan tapped out but the ref was down, thus unabling The Rock to get the win via submission (Hogan has only been defeated via submission once throughout his career as of March 2002). 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. 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.
Result: The Rock by pinfall
Triple Threat Women's Championship Match
Jazz (C) vs. Trish Stratus vs. Lita
The hometown girl, Trish, was very much favored in the match, and came down to the ring in skintight maple leaf tights. The end of the match saw Jazz throwing Trish out of the ring, then hit a vicious fisherman buster on Lita to retain her title.
Result: Jazz over Lita by pinfall, still WWF Women's Champion
Hardcore Interlude #4
Christian, celebrating his win, was about to get into a cab and leave SkyDome when Maven cradled him from behind, winning the title back. Maven then escaped in Christian's cab.
New Hardcore Champion: Maven
Undisputed WWF Championship Match
Chris Jericho (C) with Stephanie McMahon vs. Triple H
Triple H had returned from a serious quadricep injury in January to win the Royal Rumble, but was still working the injury angle, coming to the ring with the leg bandaged. Jericho and Stephanie exploited HHH's injury, hitting him there numerous times, until Jericho locked in the Walls of Jericho. HHH reached the ropes, and then gave Stephanie the Pedigree after she tried to interfere. Y2J hit HHH with a chair, but HHH would not be denied, hitting Jericho with the Pedigree to recapture the Title and complete his comeback.
Result: Triple H by pinfall, new WWF Undisputed Champion
Trivia
- WrestleMania X8 was Hulk Hogan's first WrestleMania in 9 years and his 10th appearance.
- WrestleMania X8 was Ric Flair's first WrestleMania event in 10 years, and his 2nd WrestleMania appearance.
- WrestleMania X8 broke WrestleMania VI's attendance record which took place at the same arena.
- This would be the last WrestleMania to use the WWF initials and logo as the World Wrestling Federation 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."
- So far this has been the only WrestleMania to feature the Undisputed WWF Championship.
- 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 lost his match.
- 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, in 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.
- Edge was in attendance at WrestleMania VI, which was at The Skydome. 12 years later, he's wrestling at A WrestleMania and in Skydome with Booker T.
- Believe it or not, WrestleMania X8 was Diamond Dallas Page's second WrestleMania in the SkyDome. DDP was also a part of WrestleMania VI when he drove the car that took The Honky Tonk Man and Greg Valentine to the ring.
- This was The Second time at Wrestlemania that The Undertaker Did not Compete in a normal match