15 Things You Didn't Know About WrestleMania (1995 - 2004)

4. WrestleMania X8 - Icon Vs. Icon Was Almost Austin Vs. Hogan

The year 2002 would see the long-anticipated return of the WWF's original icon, Hulk Hogan, as he took on the company's newest icon, The Rock. It was one of the first ever "dream matches" put on by Vince McMahon, but the original plan was to feature a different superstar. As popular as The Rock was throughout his run atop the sports-entertainment juggernaut, Stone Cold Steve Austin was always positioned just a hair above The Great One. Because of this, an Austin vs. Hogan main event was the match fans wanted to see in 2002 and the company knew it. Taking nothing away from Hogan/Rock, but Hogan/Austin was the true dream match as it would have pitted the company's two greatest superstars against each other. It was ver much on the drawing board but, regrettably, Hogan and Austin could not get on the same page due to a number of reasons and the match never took place. Austin has claimed that he didn't think Hogan could put on a good enough match as the reason for the missed opportunity. Jim Ross, head of talent relations at the time, has mentioned the finish and the question regarding who would go over as why the match couldn't get booked. What the company presented was a great consolation in Hollywood Hogan vs. The Rock, but fans can only wonder what would've happened had it had been Austin in there instead.