10 WWE Matches That Delivered On Their Massive Hype

1. The Rock Vs. Hollywood Hogan - WrestleMania X8

WarGames NXT
WWE

Icon Vs. Icon worked as sublimely as it did because it created one of the most iconic ever WrestleMania matches and moments. Anything less would have represented total failure - but was it ever in doubt?

Yes. Hulk Hogan's WCW run was atrocious in the ring; once the (admittedly huge) novelty of his nWo heel turn wore off, it was business as usual insofar as the crowd reactions to his pitiful performances went. Late into his WCW stint, back in the red and yellow and fighting The Wall, Hogan's drawing muscle looked as shot as his physical being - and the pathetic WWFnWo reprise hardly helped fans reciprocate the astonishing hype hawked ahead of Toronto.

Hogan is one of the smartest ever wrestling politicians - but he needed only ears in the SkyDome to recognise that the fans were firmly on his side, riding a wave of wild nostalgia. With one flex of his 24 inch pythons, the alignments had changed: Hogan was now the face, Rock was now the heel - and the look of sudden delight etched on his face was mirrored by one of the hottest WWF/E crowds ever.

The match evolved from epic to industry-changing, and Hogan hadn't even applied a wrestling hold. That's why he's the greatest worker of all time.

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!