35 Years Of WWE WrestleMania Mistakes

18. WrestleMania X8 - The Rock Vs. Hulk Hogan Doesn't Go Last

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The closure of WCW meant that a hitherto impossible match between The Rock and Hulk Hogan could occur. It was a dream come true, as two of the biggest names in the history of professional wrestling squared off in a contest rightly billed as 'Icon vs. Icon'.

Though Hogan had left WWE in acrimonious circumstances, for nostalgic fans none of his early-'90s magic had departed. It became evident pretty quickly that the majority of the Sky Dome crowd were firmly behind 'the Hulkster', who was playing heel in the match. The Rock reacted on the fly, leading to one of the most electrifying crowds WWE had ever witnessed.

The bout stood alongside any of WrestleMania's previous seventeen main events - yet it was given second billing to Triple H's title conquest over Chris Jericho. By the time the closer came around, the fans were exhausted and disinterested; as far as they were concerned, the main event had been and gone.

Editorial Team
Editorial Team

Benjamin was born in 1987, and is still not dead. He variously enjoys classical music, old-school adventure games (they're not dead), and walks on the beach (albeit short - asthma, you know). He's currently trying to compile a comprehensive history of video game music, yet denies accusations that he purposefully targets niche audiences. He's often wrong about these things.