10 Times Outside Factors Totally Changed WWE WrestleMania

7. Who Knows, Honestly (WrestleMania VIII)

Hulk Hogan Sid Justice
WWE

Admittedly within the WWF's control (mostly), what became of WrestleMania VIII lives on as a fascinating insight into a bygone era.

The company had foreshadowed what was then the biggest match imaginable in all of pro wrestling at the time - and if held just three years prior, of all time. WWF Champion Ric Flair Vs. Hulk Hogan never did happen. The subjective, hazy history yields an inconclusive account. Did the match fail to draw big on the house show loop? Was the finish too much of political minefield to navigate?

Had Vince McMahon, despite building Flair as Hogan's new nemesis on television, really promised Sid Justice the WrestleMania main event? Was he that entranced by the sweating beef of a potential long-term Hogan replacement?

It's probably the sweating beef, let's be honest.

Elsewhere, trouble swarmed the Hoosier Dome far more effectively than Papa Shango did; the WWF at large was mired in sexual and steroid scandal, and its roster found itself in controversy of their own making. Even the self-anointed kid-friendly hero (and consummate professional) Bret Hart contravened the rules, and bladed in his match with Roddy Piper.

The arrest of Marty Jannetty, who had attempted to assault a police officer outside of a nightclub in a cocaine-fuelled fracas, put paid to his grudge match with former Rockers partner Shawn Michaels.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick (Creative Writing BA Hons) is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over a decade of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential UK 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 AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and 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!