STW - WrestleMania X8 [Show Notes] (Patreon)

The 18th annual WrestleMania took place 20 years ago on March 17th, 2002. It is the infamous Skydome Mania which featured 2 of the biggest stars in professional wrestling squaring off for the first time in what is a dream match but let’s discuss how we get there.

We’re coming off No Way Out 2002 which featured the nWo of Hollywood Hogan, Scott Hall & Kevin Nash debuting. Before we go any further Bruce - the passing of Scott Hall. What can you say about The Bad Guy?

We discussed No Way Out in the archives so be sure to check it out…but the Raw after No Way Out and the show is focused on two things, setting up Hollywood Hogan taking on the Rock and Triple H getting his win back over Kurt Angle to regain his title shot against Chris Jericho.

In Chicago on Raw…as Dave Meltzer would write…”For generations of fans in different eras, they all have their moment. Hulk Hogan put on his best mic performance of his career while going back-and-forth with The Rock to set up the main event at Wrestlemania. What had at first seemed like a huge match on paper for the biggest show of the year, suddenly became a dream match transcending generations as the two went verbally toe-to-toe before an entranced crowd in Chicago.”

These two in the ring cutting a promo on each other is probably the best promo battle in the history of the WWF to set up one match. Meltzer calls it the main event early on in the build. Did you know it was the main event as soon as it’s done?

After the promo battle, it gets silly. Hall, Nash & Hogan attack Rock and sends him off in an ambulance. Then Hogan drove a forklift into it…this is an extreme angle that is just unrealistic. From the Observer: “It wasn't needed, as the mic work had already sold the match better than anything possible could have done. But maybe it was felt it was needed to do that something spectacular for the NWO's first TV appearance that was lacking at the PPV the night before, as well as try to give Raw more of a less predictable edge. We had first heard of the forklift destroying the ambulance plan about a week back, but it seemed to be geared toward happening at Wrestlemania or the Raw the day after, where Hogan would put Rock over, but the NWO would use that to get their heat back. That timing would have been better anyway, because they would need a big follow-up angle, and could keep Rock off television for several weeks to make it mean something, rather than have to rush him back due to only four weeks between PPV shows.”

I know that Rock has to be off TV for a couple of weeks due to the Scorpion King promo work…but is there a different way to do this?

Does the promo battle between Austin & Hogan even come close to Rock & Hogan? You knew watching that that the right decision had been made right?

Hall vs. Austin is also made for Mania. Why Hall and not Nash?

Is it odd to bring in Kevin Nash and really just have him there to be a cornerman for Scott?

It’s written in the Observer that Nash & Hall had a bit of heat on them coming off No Way Out. “Hall & Nash spent two days in Cincinnati earlier in the week in what appeared to be a political move. Some of the talent was upset at Raw when they arrived late, and in a limo. Even Rock and Austin don't get limo treatment. Their side of the story is that all three were asked to arrive at 11 a.m. for the PPV to meet with the creative team about their roles in the show. The team never arrived until 12:30 p.m. They were upset, feeling it was a rib to test them. As a result, for Raw, when they were asked to arrive at 11 a.m., they showed up at 2 p.m.”

Is this just … bad communication?

Was Austin vs. Angle the backup plan if something happened with Scott in the run up to Mania?

Kurt has said on his podcast that there was talk at the time for Kurt vs. Sting at this show…was that ever considered that you remember?

Also we’re still gearing up for the brand split. How much is the brand split held in consideration for the creative going in and coming out of Mania?

Undertaker, also on Raw, begins his push for his match against Flair by challenging him to wrestle him at Mania. Is this something Taker requested to do?

Was Ric ready for this type of match? Wrestling Vince in a no holds barred match at the Rumble is a whole lot different then Taker and his streak at Mania.

Kane and Angle get their program started at the next SmackDown. Was this just something thrown together to get them both involved at Mania and they were the last two guys without a dance partner?

Is this a disservice to them or good for them to get on the card?

Austin ends up kidnapping Hall on SmackDown and you can hear more about this in our nWo episode in the archives. Why was it so hard to craft creative for Austin & Hall do you think? Would it had been better with Austin & Razor?

Billy & Chuck win the tag team titles from Tazz & Spike to begin their build to their match at Mania against the APA. Was the tag team division at this point anything to write home about?

Jericho and Stephanie come together to combat Hunter in Jericho’s quest to defend his title and Stephanie to gain revenge on her husband who left her at the altar. Jericho & Stephanie together … Was Stephanie overshadowing Jericho?

Did Jericho look like shit with her?

Could these two had a top program without her? Or did Stephanie add something to it?

Basil Bozinis passes away on February 18th. This isn’t a name well known but you signed him, John Cena & Aaron Aguilera together from UPW. He’s released due to drug issues in 2001. What do you remember of Basil and why you recommended him to be signed?

It’s reported in the Observer that Scott Steiner had issues with his physical with Dr. James Andrews and he wasn’t going to be signed. How big a disappointment is that for you?

3 weeks out from Mania and the show is sold out for $3.96 million - breaking the record of Mania the year before in Houston. Ratings haven’t improved even with the nWo debuting - but is the gate of Mania a sign of business or just a sign of how strong the brand of Mania is?

Christian attempts to retire on Raw to Arn Anderson but DDP came out and requested him to join him under his wing. What is this story Bruce?

Rob Van Dam wins an IC title shot at Mania by defeating Big Show and Lance Storm in a three-way. RVD vs. William Regal is quite the styles clash. The Observer speculates that the reaction internally from Edge vs. Regal at No Way Out is that it was time to move on from the match. Is that how you remember it?

Jazz defeats Molly Holly to retain the Womens title but it’s the angle afterwards that is the story. Jazz locks on the STF on Molly after the match which leads to all the agents coming out and bringing Molly out on a stretcher. One of the agents - Arn Anderson - is attacked by Taker and Arn bleeds a gusher. The angle is that Taker is trying to find ways to make Flair accept his challenge. What did you think of Arn bleeding all over the place here?

Jericho is put over Angle on Raw to give him a big win going into Mania. Having your heel champion go over another heel is a hell of a way to build him up to take on the monster Hunter is it not?

From the Observer: “There was a backstage shouting match after Raw on 2/25 involving Jericho, HHH and ref Brian Hebner. Jericho was apparently mad at Hebner for screwing up the finish of the Angle match. HHH then stuck up for Hebner and blamed the screwed up finish on Jericho, and tried to get the others involved to get heat on Jericho”

Do you remember this?

Now things get messy Bruce. “the APA went to ref Tim White's bar, "The Friendly Tap" in Providence, which they always do angles from when they are in town. When they got in there, they spotted a bunch of guys from Chaotic Wrestling playing the roles of drag queens and homosexuals. They had guys dancing with transvestites and hitting on each other. APA looked very uncomfortable, especially when a large man, as big as Bradshaw, hit on Bradshaw. Segment ended with Billy & Chuck jumping the APA as if it was all a set-up. Bradshaw was hit with a pool cue and Faarooq had a beer bottle busted on him. A pinball machine was also destroyed in the melee.”

Holy shit…Bruce. What is there to say?

Austin vs. Mr. Perfect is in the main event and it’s just not good. Was Curt just a one hit wonder with his performance at the Rumble?

SmackDown is taped in Boston and it’s…a memorable show to say the least. Austin chases the nWo away … which Meltzer describes as it’s got to be a rib because of making Nash - who has bad knees - run - and Austin pulls out a gun with a net but it doesn’t work the first time and it just looks terrible to the crowd. Eventually it works and it’ll be cleaned up for TV…but thank goodness this takes place on Smackdown right?

Also later on - actually I’ll just read this whole section from the Observer. “Show pinned Regal in a non-title finish that had to be booked by Russo. Regal hit Show with the Knux. Show then falls forward, right onto Regal, who is squashed and pinned. Booker was doing a supposed shampoo commercial for Japanese TV. Tajiri made fun of him, calling him "Buckwheat on crack." Stephanie & Jericho had a segment where Stephanie started yelling at Jericho that he didn't get her the right hand lotion. At first, Jericho was about to yell at her, but stopped himself and went to get her new lotion.”

Moving on…

Flair attacks Undertaker after he beats Al Snow with a lead pipe and tells him he’ll never wrestle him but if he touched Arn again Taker would find out why he’s the dirtiest player in the game. You knew at this point you were getting David - who’s in OVW at the time - involved. Did Ric have any objections or was he happy to have David be part of the show?

It’s announced that the shampoo hair commercial went to Edge instead of Booker - so that’ll line up a match between the two at Mania…a Japanese shampoo hair commercial Bruce…

On February 27th the WWF is in big trouble. Not the company but the initials…as a court in England upholds the original ruling that the WWF cannot use the initials for marketing outside the United States. Is this a panic inside the company?

There’s a tour of the far east with the WWF selling out the Yokohama Arena with 16,000 fans for a $1.1 million gate, Singapore draws 11,023 fans for a $732,098 gate, and Kuala Lumpur draws 14,000. This is one of the more successful tours at the time is it not?

It’s reported in the Observer that Carl DeMarco had reached out to Bret Hart about appearing at WrestleMania since it was in Canada. “DeMarco suggested Hart referee the HHH vs. Chris Jericho WWF title match. The plan called for this to be unannounced, and to sneak him into the building and not let any of the wrestlers see him, until he showed up before the crowd. DeMarco tried to sell Hart on the idea because that way, there would be no tangible business advantage for McMahon, and Hart's name wouldn't give the WWF any added revenue, using the lure of the elusive surprise pop, which in Toronto, where Hart may still be the most popular wrestler, would more than likely have been huge.”

Where does this idea come from?

It got as far as a meeting scheduled for March but when Bret told DeMarco he didn’t think there was any way he could do it the meeting was canceled. Was Vince disappointed?

Meltzer would print business comparisons from 2001 to 2002. Here are the breakdowns:

“Estimated average attendance 2/01 10,462

Estimated average attendance 2/02 8,776 (-16.1%)

January 2002 7,329

Estimated average gate 2/01 $303,826

Estimated average gate 2/02 $282,785 (-6.9%)

January 2002 $232,050

Percentage of house shows sold out 2/01 41.2

Percentage of house shows sold out 2/02 42.1

January 2002 29.2

Average Monday night rating 2/01 4.94

Average Monday night rating 2/02 4.58* (-7.3%)

January 2002 4.64*

Average Smackdown rating 2/01 4.22

Average Smackdown rating 2/02 4.08 (-3.3%)

January 2002 3.98

Merchandise per head average 2/01 $7.54

Merchandise per head average 2/02 $9.33 (+23.7%)

January 2002 $7.25

*Because of lack of Nitro competition, direct comparisons are misleading. A more fair comparison would be comparing the second hour from each year (since it went unopposed last year) which would reveal a more valid -10.4% year-to-year decline

Notes: The monthly business report for the first time in about a year isn't all that negative. While there continue to be annual declines in every category, the declines aren't nearly as significant as they've been in every prior month. More importantly, in every category except for Raw ratings, the promotion has shown significant increases from January levels. As far as NWO short-term impact, it has been a boost. Not only did the company take in an estimated (and at this point any figures are a very vague estimate) $1.4 million extra on the PPV. The house shows in late February were also way up, but it would be misleading to attribute that to anyone new since those tickets were mainly sold ahead of time. March comparisons with February at house shows would be more valid. The merchandise average, which skyrocketed this month as compared to last month, also would be invalid because it started picking up in late January, and the average pre-NWO for the month and post-NWO are almost identical. So while some would look at the houses at the end of the month and those merchandise numbers and claim a cause and effect, there is none valid until next month. For TV ratings, it has only been a few weeks and that is where there should be a noticeable improvement. In the case of Raw, if anything, it has been a major disappointment. Raw averaged a 4.54 rating this year pre-Hogan and a 4.64 with Hogan and the NWO. Smackdown averaged a 3.97 pre-Hogan and a 4.15 post-Hogan. If the numbers stay at this level it does mean a little, but the thought is the initial response would be the biggest, and with the exception of the 2/21 Smackdown, every number has been a disappointment with the exception of the 3/4 Raw, and that's because the reality of the situation had set in by then. To show just how impressive the merchandising was last month, even though attendance was down 16.1%, the merchandise sold at arenas (which make up the bulk of merchandise sales for the company these days) averaged $81,880 per show, a slight increase from $78,883 last year at this time.”

Is this what you’re seeing internally?

With most of the crew in Japan and east Asia Raw takes place on March 4th…and Jericho … Undisputed World Champion who beat Steve Austin & the Rock in the same night back in December … is announced as not appearing because he was out shopping for Stephanie. Meltzer asks this question, “Have they ever castrated a world champion before Wrestlemania?”

Hall and Nash beat down Austin and bloody him up before Hall hits him with a stunner of his own. It was time for the nWo to get some heat on Steve. Did he have any issues with it?

DDP and Christian are having these segments that really are just not good. Did these two just not click? Also from the Observer… “The Christian retirement and going with DDP angle is the brainchild of Brian Gewirtz. Edge & Christian have always been friends of Gewirtz to the point of heat in the locker room, particularly when he'd script out the comedy stuff when they were together that got them over. There is heat over the Mania line-up in the locker room with Christian and Page's TV time making people think they will undeservedly get on the show, particularly if Hardys and Dudleys don't get a program. Actually, I figure Hardys and Dudleys will get on the show at the last minute in some sort of a tag team deal that they always throw out there. Because Mania is the biggest money show of the year by far, they try and let everyone who has worked hard all year share in the big payoff”

So your buddy Brian booking Christian like this Bruce?

Taker attacks David Flair during a training session with your brother Dr. Tom as Taker drags Flair into the bathroom and bloodies him up and promises Ric that his daughters were next. Thank god Ric agreed to the match for Megan’s sake…

Of note some of the wrestlers in this were the Maximo Brothers and Jay Briscoe. How’s that for a fun fact all these years later?

Angle vs. Hunter is the main event in a steel cage. From Meltzer: “HHH spiked Stephanie's favorite skin lotion and she broke out. She threw a tantrum of how horrible she looked. Jeez, the least they could have done was a decent make-up job so she looked horrible. Angle beat HHH in a cage match which was nothing more than us having to watch the head writer feed her ego. This was annoying to watch, and not in a heat way. It's hard for these two not to have a good match, and while I won't say they succeeded, they had 15:34 and the Van Dam match was better. HHH had it won with a pedigree when Stephanie came out, beat up Teddy Long and then did the Terry Gordy spot on HHH. Since they do that spot in every cage match, it means little now. Angle was about to walk out to win, but Stephanie ordered him back in the cage to put ore of a hurting on HHH because she wanted blood. HHH obliged, cutting his forehead and we had our third face blood of the night. HHH made a comeback with a DDT on a chair. As HHH was about to climb out, Stephanie came through the door like she was Stone Cold, hitting HHH with a chair and he crotched himself on the ropes. She nailed him with a second chair shot and tied him in the ropes. Do you realize how many superstars they would have today if HHH would have put any of them over this strongly. Stephanie then dragged Angle out the door to win. When this match was over, a blind man could see this company heading for problems and know exactly why”

What say you Bruce? Too much blood? Too much Stephanie?

It’s written in the Observer that it’s obvious internally that the nWo has been a flop. When did you realize it?

Was just Hollywood Hogan salvageable or was it just a creative disconnect?

Speaking of Hogan it’s discovered he’s got a broken rib when going over the match with Rock & Pat Patterson in Florida. Was there any threat to the match not happening?

Going into Mania many people are talking about how Hogan vs. Rock and Taker vs. Flair are the best stories going on. Do you think Hunter and Jericho could’ve been better without Stephanie being involved?

Raw on March 11th is described as dogshit by Meltzer and it’s pretty fitting. This is the classic episode of Raw that has Stephanie and Hunter arguing over their dog…and when the dog takes a shit in Jericho & Stephanie’s office Stephanie makes Jericho take the dog outside. He ties him to a limo of course. Then Stephanie leaves in the limo and of course it runs the dog over. Doesn’t kill him because the WWF doesn’t do murder…only breaks his leg.

Tell me Vince didn’t write this.