10 Awesome Wrestling Matches On Otherwise Terrible WWE Shows

9. The Rock Vs. Hollywood Hogan - WrestleMania X8

The Rock The Undertaker Kurt Angle
WWE.com

WrestleMania X8 was unacceptably bad on a principal level because WWE, having monopolised the entire North American wrestling industry a year prior, boasted every resource available to them.

This informs much of the critical backlash against WWE in general: the promotion has no excuse to be terrible or even bland. WWE is more moneyed than any promotion ever.

'Mania X8 was a disaster. The main event reeked of arrogance, so much so that it would have been cathartic were it not so tedious. The idea that Triple H, babyface, could have gone last after Hulk Hogan Vs. the Rock - after yet more oppressive McMahon family melodrama in the build - underscored where everything was and where everything was headed.

The undercard was also just...dross. Which exciting former ECW or WCW star worked a feature singles match with Kurt Angle?

Why, Kane of course!

Booker T only got 6 nothing minutes with Edge. Steve Austin hadn't been less of a concern since January 1996 in a demotion against Scott Hall. The Undertaker Vs. Ric Flair was good for what it was, but virtually everything else was short, forgettable and small-fry.

Rock Vs. Hogan was pure, deafening pro wrestling magic - an expertly conducted symphony of crowd psychology highlighted by a masterful use of the space between moves - but as a referendum on the state of the company, 'Mania X8 was bleak.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!