For over three decades, WrestleMania has been the backdrop for some of the most important and memorable moments in the history of professional wrestling.
Countdown to WrestleMania 31: 3 Best Moments from WrestleMania 2000
Over the course of this month, Sports World News will delve into all 30 installments of the WWE's marquee event and pick the three greatest moments in each one as part of a special countdown to WrestleMania 31 on Mar. 29 at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif.
In 2002, the WWE was the top wrestling promotion in the world following the collapse of WCW and as WrestleMania X-8 came around, the company once again entered Canada for the second time in the history of the event, and the first time in 12 years. After the much maligned Invasion storyline took up most of 2002, three notable faces that could have been used during that time period were about to make their WrestleMania returns as Hulk Hogan, Scott Hall and Kevin Nash "invaded" as the nWo.
Countdown to WrestleMania 31: 3 Best Moments from WrestleMania X-7 (17)
WrestleMania X-8 emanated from the Toronto SkyDome on St. Patrick's Day, Mar. 17, 2002, and 68,237 people packed the arena, which also housed WrestleMania VI in 1990.
Here are our three best moments from WWE WrestleMania X-8:
Honorable Mention: The Undertaker defeated Ric Flair in a bloody No DQ match to improve to 10-0 at WrestleMania.
3) Hardcore Hell: The WWE had a little fun with the Hardcore division as it was wont to do during this time period, having a revolving carousel of champions crowned throughout the show.
Maven came into WrestleMania X-8 as the Hardcore Champion and defended the title against Goldust, but the match ended when Spike Dudley made use of the 24/7 rule and pinned Maven after he and Goldust knocked each other out.
From there, the title changed hands in a series of backstage segments as The Hurricane and Mighty Molly each won the gold. Then, Christian, who had lost to Diamond Dallas Page in a European Championship match earlier on the show, won the title by slamming a door into Mighty Molly.
In the final segment involving the title, Maven rolled up Christian in the parking lot and stole his taxi to escape the SkyDome with the very championship he entered the night with.
2) The Bad Guy Returns: Scott Hall last appeared at the WWE's cornerstone event in 1995 when he lost to Jeff Jarrett in a match for the Intercontinental Championship at WrestleMania XI, but he returned for his first clash at the "Showcase of the Immortals" in seven years to battle "Stone Cold" Steve Austin at WrestleMania X-8.
Hall also had Kevin Nash, who hadn't appeared at WrestleMania since losing to The Undertaker at the 12th installment of the event in 1996, in his corner for the clash.
The bout wasn't anything to write home about as Austin was reportedly frustrated with his place on the card and the two Superstars didn't gel well, but it was still notable to see Hall and Nash back in the WWE and at WrestleMania after reaching new heights as original members of the nWo in WCW.
In the end, Austin hit Hall with a Stone Cold Stunner to end a match that spanned nearly 10 minutes.
1) Icon vs. Icon: Hulk Hogan returned to WrestleMania for the first time in nine years and the face of WWE's past took on its present as "The Hulkster" went head-to-head with The Rock.
The crowd was raucous and it was deafening in the SkyDome as flashbulbs filled the arena with a dream match no one ever expected to happen taking place in the center of the ring.
Though The Rock was the babyface, the Toronto crowd made it well known who they wanted to win, mercilessly booing "The Most Electrifying Man in Sports Entertainment" and cheering "Hollywood" Hogan as he fought in his first match at the biggest show of the year since WrestleMania IX in 1993.
After a back-and-forth affair, the classic encounter ended when The Rock hit back-to-back Rock Bottoms and then delivered The People's Elbow to win the match after thwarting off the traditional Hogan hulking up segment.
What followed was even greater, as Scott Hall and Kevin Nash -- annoyed at Hogan shaking The Rock's hand after the bout -- attacked "The Hulkster" and The Rock made the save, cleaning house with the future Hall of Famer.
Hogan and The Rock then did a classic pose together in what is to this day one of the most iconic WrestleMania Moments.
Hogan turned babyface at WrestleMania X-8 and though he was pinned for just the second time ever at WrestleMania -- the first being at the hands of the Ultimate Warrior in the same building nine years prior -- "Hulkamania" was still running wild.
Looking Ahead: Change was brewing in the WWE and a brand extension was about to provide a major roster shakeup while the "Next Big Thing" was about to be born at a highly entertaining WrestleMania XIX in 2003.
Rank-O-Mania: As we go through each year, we will rank each WrestleMania as it comes along. WrestleMania X-8 is a bit of a mixed bag as it contains an iconic moment with The Rock and Hogan, but little else. The Triple H vs. Chris Jericho WWE Undisputed Championship match was anticlimactic due to the obvious nature of "The Game's" win and the crowd being burned out from the Hogan/Rock match, which probably should have been the main event. Elsewhere, stars like Kurt Angle (faced Kane) were misused while Toronto's own Edge faced Booker T in a nothing match over a shampoo commercial, Canadian Christian jobbed to DDP and Toronto native Trish Stratus curiously lost her Women's Championship match. Odd booking and some mediocre matches led to this being a middle of the pack edition of the show. The WWE had the chance for something great, but other than Hogan vs. Rock, this card underwhelmed. WrestleMania X-8 finds its place between WrestleManias VII and V in eighth place.
1) WrestleMania X-7
2) WrestleMania X
3) WrestleMania VI
4) WrestleMania III
5) WrestleMania XIV
6) WrestleMania VIII
7) WrestleMania VII
8) WrestleMania X-8
9) WrestleMania V
10) WrestleMania XV
11) WrestleMania 2000
12) WrestleMania XII
13) WrestleMania IV
14) WrestleMania 13
15) WrestleMania I
16) WrestleMania XI
17) WrestleMania IX
18) WrestleMania 2
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