WrestleMania XVIII Review

-3/17/2002 from Skydome in Toronto, Ontario

-Hosted by Jim Ross & Jerry “The King” Lawler

-Saliva sings…something to open the show. I can’t be bothered to care. How this was better than someone performing “Oh Canada” I’ll never know.

WWF Intercontinental Championship: Rob Van Dam vs. William Regal ©

Quick historical note. This would be the final time that the Intercontinental Championship was defended at Wrestlemania until this year when JBL defends against Rey Mysterio. That means that Wrestlemania 25 will be the first time that the WWE Intercontinental Championship has ever been defended at the companies biggest event. Seven years after the name change. Van Dam hits the ropes and delivers a spin kick and a clothesline. Standing moonsault by RVD gets two. RVD follows Regal into the corner, and gets a back elbow. Regal goes into his trunks for brass knucks, but RVD kicks them out of his hand to the floor. Regal ducks a roundhouse kick, but RVD hops to the second rope and delivers a one legged drop kick. Van Dam heads to the top for a five star but misses. Regal delivers a running kick and covers for two. Van Dam ducks a clothesline and delivers a crossbody for a two count. Backslide gets another two count for RVD, and Regal comes back with a suplex for two of his own. RVD reverses an Irish whip into the corner and hits Regal with a backdrop. Regal delivers a modified swinging neckbreaker, which gets two. Superkick connects for RVD, and sets up a rolling thunder attempt, which connects with the knees of Regal. Double underhook powerbomb connects for Regal getting another two count. RVD counters the Regal stretch into an inside cradle picking up a two count. Regal comes right back with a forearm to regain control. Regal goes for another double underhook, but gets driven to the corner by Van Dam. Regal gets whipped to the corner and hit with a dropkick. Whip to the other corner is followed by a monkey flip for Regal. Regal blocks a kick from Van Dam and delivers a half nelson suplex sending Van Dam to the floor. Regal fires Van Dam back inside and finds his brass knucks sitting at ringside. The referee sees them coming in and takes them away from him. Regal goes back to the trunks, but gets hit with a spin kick from RVD. Five-star frog splash connects there and gives Van Dam the win and the title at 6:20. Fantastic match for the limited time it got.

Winner: NEW WWF Intercontinental Champion-Rob Van Dam (Pinfall-Five Star Frog Splash **3/4)

-Lillian Garcia catches up with a grinning Christian, and they relive the events that led to this match. Christian turning on DDP after giving an assist in winning a match against Billy Gunn. Christian cuts an anti-Toronto promo to avoid the face pop.

WWF European Championship-Christian vs. Diamond Dallas Page ©

Christian gets a pop initially, but in a stroke of genius The Fink introduces him as now residing in Tampa, FL. Christian attacks DDP as he slides into the ring, as JR brings up DDP’s first Wrestlemania appearance also at Skydome as Honky Tonk Man’s chauffer. DDP hits the ropes and ducks a clothesline delivering a gut wrench gut buster. Clothesline by DDP sends both men to the floor, and Christian gets rammed into the barricade before being thrown inside. DDP mounts the second rope for 10 punches, but gets a low blow and then dropped on the top turnbuckle. Christian suplexes DDP on the top rope and then knocks him off the apron to the floor. Christian fires DDP back inside and puts the boots to DDP choking him in the corner. DDP comes firing back, and whips Christian to the buckle. DDP slides to the outside and looks to crotch Christian on the ringpost, but Christian pulls back and Page meets the post. Back inside Christian scores with a knee lift and locks in an abdominal stretch. Christian ducks a punch from DDP and delivers a reverse DDT backbreaker for a two count. Christian delivers a back elbow to a charging DDP in the corner, and heads to the top rope only to get slammed off. DDP gets up first and delivers a clothesline. Sit out powerbomb connects for DDP getting a two count. Christian comes back and counters a suplex attempt going for the unprettier. Page counters that into a Diamond Cutter attempt, but Christian blocks that. Christian heads into the corner, and DDT again tries the cutter. Christian blocks again and delivers a reverse DDT for two. Christian nearly loses his composure, and walks into a small package for two. Christian goes for a kick, but DDP grabs the leg spins him around and this time scores with Diamond Cutter, which picks up the win at 6:09. After the match Diamond Dallas tells Christian that even though he lost in front of 67,000 people he kept his composure, and he’s proud of him. Christian then naturally throws a fit. Match wasn’t much to write home about, as DDP was pretty much finished at this point. It wasn’t terrible though either.

Winner: STILL WWF European Champion-Diamond Dallas Page (Pinfall-Diamond Cutter **)

-The Coach catches up with The Rock. The Rock was at the height of his game at this point getting all over Coach for not praying properly, and working the crowd like no one before him or since. Its almost a shame he was this good, because he became too good to be a wrestler anymore.

WWF Hardcore Championship: Goldust vs. Maven ©

Goldust finds gold trash cans under the ring for use during this match. JR reminds us that 24/7 rules are in effect. Goldust attacks at the bell heading the floor and firing Maven into the barricade. Goldust sets Maven on the barricade and dives off the apron with a forearm. Goldust scores with a cookie sheet, and fires Maven back inside. Goldust tries a slingshot into the trash can, but Maven blocks it and delivers a Van Daminator with the trash can. The kick misses horribly, but Goldust sells it anyway and it gets two. Goldust goes for a suplex, but Maven gets a small package for two. Goldust delivers a neckbreaker getting another two count. Front facedrop suplex connects for Goldust who heads outside and grabs a golden shovel. He stomps on the shovel causing the handle to hit him in the face. Goldust sets a trash can in the corner, and whips Maven into it getting a two count. Goldust finds a gold trash can lid, but Maven finds one too, and they both take each other out. Spike Dudley runs in with a referee and pins Maven to win the title at 3:16. Crash Holly runs down and chases Spike through the crowd, and Maven and Goldust follow close behind. I’m fully in favor of bringing this title back. Santino Marella with the hardcore title and 24/7 rules is a license to print money.

Winner: NEW WWF Hardcore Champion-Spike Dudley (pins Maven-Trash Can Lid *)

-Drowning Pool stops by to sing…something else. Is this a wrestling show or a rock concert?

-Spike and Crash continue to fight in the locker room, when Al Snow (with referee Teddy Long riding shotgun) attempts to run over Spike with a golf cart. They crash and burn into a stack of boxes, and that allows the Hurricane to fly in on a rope and kick Spike to pick up the pin and the title. Have I mentioned that this could so work right now with the expanded roster that does nothing every week?

Kurt Angle vs. Kane

Angle cuts a pre match promo making fun of the Olympic Figure Skaters from Canada who was awarded a gold medal in a judging scandal at the previous months Olympics. Angle attacks with the ring bell before the match can start, and pounds away at Kane. Angle scores with the German suplex, and continues to stomp away. Kane comes back with a series of rights and a back elbow. Angle gets whipped into the ropes and Kane slams him down with a double hand choke slam. Kane scores with a clothesline, and delivers an uppercut. Kane charges into the corner, and Angle moves following up with a splash. Angle delivers a belly-to-belly overhead suplex and then hits a pair of clotheslines. Angle stomps away at the head of Kane, which had suffered head trauma in the weeks leading up to this match. Angle chokes out Kane on the second rope, but Kane comes right back with an uppercut. Angle whips Kane into the buckle and scores with a back suplex for two. Angle locks in a front facelock, but Kane powers out throwing Angle away. Angle comes right back with a kick, but runs into a sidewalk slam. Kane goes for a suplex, but Angle counters into a trio of rolling Germans picking up a two count. Angle goes to the top rope and scores with a flying clothesline. Angle goes upstairs for another, but Kane catches him with a clothesline of his own on the way down. They trade blows in the center with Angle winning the battle with a knee to the gut. Angle hits the ropes and runs into a big boot from Kane, and he follows up with a backdrop. Kane delivers a clothesline in the corner, and hits a powerslam for a two count. Kane follows Angle into the corner, and runs into a back elbow. Kane comes back with a chokeslam, but Angle gets his hand on the bottom rope breaking up the three count. Kane goes for the chokeslam, but Angle goes for the mask to provide a distraction. Angle slam connects, but Kane is out at two. Angle locks in the ankle lock, but Kane kicks out of it. Angle goes right back to the ankle lock, but Kane gets to the ropes to break the hold. Angle wont let go of the leg so Kane delivers an enzaguri. Kane heads to the top rope, but Angle charges up and slams Kane off the top. Kane counters an Angle slam into a chokeslam attempt. Angle counters out of the chokeslam and rolls up Kane with his feet on the ropes picking up the pin at 10:43. Kind of a weak finish, but the match was very solid. Angle was in Flair mode at this point where he could carry a broomstick to 3 stars.

Winner: Kurt Angle (Pinfall-Rollup ***)

-Hurricane tries to sneak out of the arena with the belt, and finds his way into The Godfathers dressing room. He peeps on the ho’s comparing breast size, and then gets caught. Godfather comes to the hos rescue and Hurricane scurries away.

-Recap of the events leading to Ric Flair and The Undertaker

No Disqualification Match: The Undertaker vs. “Nature Boy” Ric Flair

This was during the Flair is the kayfabe co-owner storyline. Taker had to goad Flair into this match by attacking son David and Arn Anderson. Flair charges into the ring and hammers Taker to the floor. Flair tackles Taker onto the announce table and delivers a series of right hands. Taker delivers a knee lift to give him time to get back in the ring, but Flair follows him and again pounds Taker to the floor. I’m not sure what is weirder. Short hair on Taker, or Flair in his second WWF run with a full head of hair. Flair aged in dog years since WCW closed down. Flair dives off the apron and gets caught by Taker who drives him into the ringpost. Taker fires Flair into the ringsteps, and then back into the ring. Flair meets him coming in and pounds away again in the corner. Taker comes firing back sending Flair into the corner and delivering a series of soup bones. Taker whips Flair into the corner, and then rams him into the top buckle. Taker fires Flair into the corner again sending him upside down and over the top to the apron. Flair tries to run the apron, but Taker meets him with a big boot sending him to the floor. Taker takes a page out of Flair’s book telling him “now we go to school” and pounds away at Flair as he is seated in the timekeeper’s chair. Flair gets busted open, as Taker continues to pound away at the wound. Taker fires Flair back into the ring, and delivers a boot to the forehead. Taker fires Flair back into the top buckle, and after another series of soup bones Flair hits the mat with a Flair flop. Flair comes back with a series of chops, but gets quickly whipped into the buckle and clotheslined. Taker whips Flair into the other corner, and delivers another clothesline. Flair gets set up on the top rope, and Taker goes up with him delivering a huge superplex. Taker goes for the cover, but pulls Flair up at two. Flair comes firing back with a chop, but Taker goes right back on offense with a boot to the face. Taker goes to the floor and delivers an elbow to Flair on the apron. He turns Flair on his stomach, and then dives off the apron with a legdrop. Taker covers again, but pulls up Flair at two again. Taker hits the ropes and misses an elbow drop. Flair fires back with a series of chops, but Taker again takes control with a right hand. Taker goes to the top rope and goes for old school, but Flair pulls him off the top. Flair delivers a chop, and hits the ropes running into a sidewalk slam from Taker, which gets two. Taker hits the ropes and goes for a big boot, but Flair moves and Taker crotches the top rope. Flair hammers away with a series of chops and a right hand sending Taker to the floor. Flair goes to the floor and rakes the eyes to buy him some time. Flair finds a lead pipe off of Taker’s bike and hammers Taker with it busting him open. Taker drives Flair into the ring apron, and then rams him into the guardrail in the aisle. Flair comes back with a metal sign and hammers Taker with it all the way back to the ring. Flair pounds away at the wound on Taker, but hits the ropes running into a chokeslam attempt. Flair gets out of that by going downstairs with a kick to the nuts. Single leg takedown from Flair sets up a figure four right in the middle. Taker is able to reach the throat of Flair and comes out of the hold with a choke, and delivers a chokeslam. Flair gets the shoulder up at two, and Taker pounds the forehead some more and another cover gets two. Taker drives referee Charles Robinson into the corner in frustration, and then goes to the floor to get the lead pipe. Flair goes low on Taker and delivers a series of chops and fires Taker into the ropes. Off the ropes Arn Anderson runs into the ring and spinebusters Taker to a huge pop. Flair covers but that only gets a two count. Taker goes and gets Anderson and busts him open with a right hand and then brings him in the ring and applies a dragon sleeper. Flair comes in with a steel chair and delivers a series of chair shots, but Taker fires back off the ropes with a big boot. Flair fights a last ride attempt, so Taker delivers the tombstone to pick up the win and go to 10-0 at 18:47. Match told a good story and provided some good moments, but was largely a punch and kick fest with Taker kicking the shit out of Flair non-stop. An entertaining match though no doubt.

Winner: The Undertaker (Pinfall-Tombstone ***)

-Michael Cole catches up with Booker T who says he’s a highly educated man who aced Einstein’s Theory of Relatives.

Booker T vs. Edge

Ahh yes, the epic feud over a Japanese shampoo commercial. They trade blows at the outset, and Edge gets the better of it. Booker hits the ropes and delivers a shoulderblock. Edge comes back with a dropkick and modified bulldog for two. Booker comes back with a stun gun and a spin kick for two. Booker clotheslines Edge over the top to the floor, then dives off the apron with an axe handle. Booker goes to the top rope and delivers a missile dropkick for two. Booker fires away with a chop, and a series of stomps in the corner. Edge fires back with a chop, but hits the ropes and runs into a spinebuster that picks up a two count. Booker heads to the top rope but gets crotched. Edge hits a hurracanrana off the top, but Booker botches his part of it and lands on him. Edge ducks a clothesline and delivers a spinning heel kick. Booker gets a knee to the gut and goes for the scissor kick, but Edge counters. Edge hits a spinning heel kick off the top for a two count. Booker leapfrogs out of the corner, and goes for a rollup, but Edge counters into a slingshot. Edge goes for a spear, but Booker moves and Edge hits the buckle. Booker gets a spinnaroony, and delivers a scissor kick for two. Booker goes for the book end, but Edge hip tosses out of it. Edge hits the spear, but it only gets a two count. Edge gives an Edge-a-roony and delivers the Edgeacution, which picks up the win at 6:34. Edge gets the nice hometown win, but this felt like a Raw match.

Winner: Edge (Pinfall-Edgeucution **)

-Jonathan Coachman catches up with The Hurricane, but Mighty Molly interrupts and hits Hurricane with a frying pan to pin him and win the Hardcore title, before scampering off.

-Recap of the events leading to Austin and Hall

”Stone Cold” Steve Austin vs. Scott Hall (w. Kevin Nash)

What a trip down the card for Austin here. No wonder he walked out a few months later. Austin attacks right away, and stomps away at Hall in the corner. Hall hits the ropes and runs into a back elbow. Austin delivers a series of chops in the corner, but Hall comes firing back with right hands. Hall ducks a back elbow off the ropes, but Austin scores with the Lou Thesz press and the FU elbow. Austin hammers Hall’s head into the top buckle several times, and Hall finally bails to the floor. Austin heads out after him, sending Nash into the post in the process. Austin fires Hall into the ringsteps and fires Hall back in the ring. Once inside Hall scores with a kick and clothesline for a two count. Hall delivers a series of chops in the corner, while Nash takes the top turnbuckle pad off in the corner. Hall whips Austin into the exposed steel, and kicks him to the floor. Hall distracts the official allowing Nash to deliver some blows on the floor. Hall goes to the outside, and fires Austin back inside. Hall follows Austin from corner to corner with a clothesline on both sides. Nash scores with the fall away slam for a two count. Austin hits the ropes and after both guys block armdrag attempts Hall hits a clothesline. Hall continues by choking Austin on the second rope, and then when the ref breaks him Nash gets a shot in from the floor. Hall stomps Austin down in the corner, and again when the ref pulls him away Nash delivers a shot. Hall hits the ropes and walks into a spinebuster from Austin putting both guys down. Back to their feet Hall hammers away at Austin, but hits the ropes and walks into a stunner. Nash pulls the official out of the ring to stop the count and knocks him out. Nash heads into the ring and hammers Austin down before sending Hall to the floor for a chair. Nash locks in a full nelson, but Austin comes out of that with a low blow. Austin delivers a stunner to both Outsiders, but there is no ref to count. Jack Doan runs out to make the count, but Nash comes up and elbow drops him before he can deliver the count. Nash gets thrown to the floor, and Hall goes for the Outsider Edge. Austin blocks that and backdrops Hall to the floor. A host of officials come to ringside to eject Nash from the proceedings. Austin stalks Hall on the floor and delivers a series of right hands before firing Hall back inside. Austin goes for the stunner again, but Hall blocks it firing Austin into the ropes. Hall hits the stunner, and the referee slides in but Austin kicks out at two. Hall goes for the stunner again, but Austin blocks it sending Hall to the buckle. Austin delivers two stunners for good measure and picks up the win at 9:51. This match here just reminds me why I’m glad Austin got out when he did, because it was over. The magic was gone. Fun little match, but I don’t want to see Steve Austin floundering in mid card matches.

Winner: “Stone Cold” Steve Austin (Pinfall-Stone Cold Stunner **1/4)

-Highlights of WWF Axxess in Toronto

WWF Tag Team Championship Four Corners Elimination Match: The Dudley Boyz (w. Stacy Kiebler) vs. The APA vs. The Hardy Boyz vs. Billy & Chuck ©

Saliva plays the Dudleys down to the ring live, which naturally makes everyone elses entrance pale in comparison. APA attacks the champs as soon as they enter and Bradshaw starts with Chuck. Chuck hits the ropes and jumps into a fall away slam attempt from Bradshaw, but Billy comes in and delivers a neckbreaker which gets one. Bradshaw gets right back up with a big boot to Chuck, and delivers the fall away slam to Billy. Bradshaw delivers a pair of chops and a back suplex to Chuck, and makes the tag to Faarooq. Irish whip sends Chuck to the corner, but he comes out with a clothesline. Billy comes in and they double-team Chuck in the corner with some boots as Billy tags in. Right hand from Billy gets a two count, but Faarooq comes back with a powerslam. Tag to Bradshaw who comes in with a shoulderblock, and Chuck comes in for one of his own. Flatliner from Bradshaw gets a two count, and Billy tags in D-Von who gets met with a clothesline. Bradshaw hits the ropes as the Dudleys set up for 3D, but Faarooq meets Bubba and Bradshaw delivers a spinebuster. Billy comes back in illegally and pounds away at Bradshaw in the corner. Faarooq delivers a spinebuster on the floor to Chuck, and Bradshaw hits the clothesline from hell on Billy. Bradshaw turns around into a 3D though and D-Von pins him at 3:26. The Hardys come in and send Bubba to the rope connecting with a double backdrop. Double back elbow and elbow drops connect to D-Von getting a two count as Jeff makes the cover. Chuck gets sent for the ride and the Hardys hit a double team DDT as the Dudleys set up a table on the floor. Matt hits a baseball slide on Bubba as Jeff delivers a plancha on Bubba. Jeff kicks away at Bubba in the corner as they end up back inside. Whisper in the wind connects to Bubba, and Stacy gets up on the apron to flash her ass. Like every good gentleman Jeff smacks her on the ass and gives her a kiss before shoving her back to the floor. Jeff ends up on the shoulders of Bubba, and Billy comes off the top rope with a shoulder block. Bubba delivers a Bubba Bomb to Billy, and then drops an axe handle on Jeff. Bubba delivers an elbow to Jeff, and then a pair of brutal chops in the corner. Jeff gets whipped into the corner, and Bubba follows him in with a forearm. Jeff goes to the corner again, but hits Bubba with a double kick. Jeff hits the ropes and gets a backdrop from Bubba who covers for two. Bubba locks in a side headlock on Jeff, but Jeff comes back out of it sending Bubba into the ropes who makes the blind tag to D-Von. He comes in with a big time clothesline to Jeff who gets a two count. D-Von pounds Jeff down in the corner, and delivers a suplex for two. Bubba tags back in, and continues beating on Jeff who looks to be about 115 pounds here and has also not seen the sun since ’97. Its amazing how much bigger he has gotten…and he’s still small. Bubba ties up Jeff in the tree of woe, and steps down on Jeff’s jewels, but gets shoved to the floor by Matt. D-Von tags in, and chokes out Jeff while the referee is tied up with Matt. Jeff hits the ropes and runs into a back elbow from D-Von. Jeff reverses a reverse DDT attempt by D-Von into one of his own which puts both guys down. Bubba tags in, but Matt tags in as well. Matt comes in with a DDT to Bubba, and then throws D-Von to the floor. Billy & Chuck get shots as well sending them to the floor. Bubba scores with a suplex and goes to the second rope where the senton attempt naturally misses. Matt goes to the second rope and hits a legdrop for two. Bubba comes back with a slam, which sets up the whassup slam. Billy runs down the apron and pushes D-Von off the top though and through the table they set up at ringside. Matt delivers a twist of fate setting Jeff up to deliver the swanton, and Matt pins D-Von at 11:48 leaving just the Hardys and Dudleys. Chuck comes in with a clothesline to Matt and a superkick to Jeff for a two count. Jeff ducks a clothesline and delivers a double legdrop, and that brings in Billy who fires Jeff to the floor. Side effect connects for Matt to Billy, and Jeff is back up to tag in. Poetry in motion connects to Billy, and again to Chuck. Twist of fate connects to Chuck, and Jeff connects with a swanton. The ref is tied up with Matt though which allows Billy to score with the Famouser. Matt clotheslines Billy to the floor, but Chuck crawls over to cover Jeff but only gets a two count. Chuck argues with the official, and Billy comes in with the belt nailing Jeff. Chuck makes the cover and that finishes at 13:49. It was a little slow in the middle, but the finish was spectacular. Fine little match.

Winners: STILL WWF Tag Team Champions-Chuck & Billy (Chuck pins Jeff-Belt Shot **1/2)

-Hall & Nash claim Austin was lucky, and they will take their frustrations out on the Rock. Hogan stops by though and asks them to stay out of it.

-Molly tries to escape with the Hardcore Title, but Christian slams a door in her face and pins her to win the Hardcore Title.

-Recap of the events that led to Hogan and Rock. Namely the epic promo where Rock issued the challenge. “Not as much as you, brother” still gives me chills.

”Hollywood” Hulk Hogan vs. The Rock

Hogan gets a monster pop for his entrance. They try to show all the pro-Rock signs in the audience, but there is no covering this up. The atmosphere in the building is absolutely electric. Epic staredown to start as the two men stare at each other, and then slowly turn to the crowd. These two guys have a sense for the moment like no two wrestlers before or since. Hogan shoves Rock into the corner at the outset, and the crowd goes absolutely bonkers. Hogan grabs a side headlock, and gets shoved into the ropes. Hogan comes off with a shoulderblock, and again the crowd pops like crazy. JR keeps calling it a mixed reaction which is downright laughable. This crowd is decidedly pro-Hogan. Hogan delivers a knee to the gut, and hammers Rock down. Hogan delivers a clothesline after screaming at Rock “You ain’t nothin’ meatball” ala Rocky III. Rock hits the ropes and delivers a flying clothesline to huge heel heat. Rock tells Hogan to just bring it, and they trade shoves. Rock delivers a series of right hands and sends Hogan to the floor. Rock follows him outside, and delivers an elbow to the back before throwing Hogan back inside. Rock hits the ropes, and blocks a backdrop attempt with a kick before delivering a clothesline. Rock goes for the Rock Bottom, but Hogan elbows his way out. Hogan fires Rock into the ropes delivering an elbow clothesline, and drops a pair of elbows. Hogan rakes the eyes with his boot, and gives Rock an Irish whip to the corner. Hogan follows Rock in with a clothesline, and whips him across again. Rock hits the ropes, and scores with a spear. Hogan comes back with a back suplex, which gets a two count. Hogan locks in an abdominal stretch, and then rolls up Rock for a two count. Hogan goes to the backrakes, which draws a huge crowd reaction from the Toronto crowd. Hogan mounts the second rope with four punches, and then he bites Rock in the forehead. Rock comes firing back with a series of chops, and mocks the crowd with the hand to the ear. Rock gets fired into the corner, but meets Hogan with a back elbow. Hogan comes back and scores with a chokeslam, and then chokes out Rock on the mat. Hogan takes his wrist tape off and continues choking out Rock to huge Hogan chants. Rock comes firing back with a series of rights, but Hogan answers by throwing Rock over the top to the floor. Hogan goes outside and fires Rock into the ringsteps. Hogan drops Rock on the barricade, and clears off the English announce table. Rock puts a stop to that, and rams Hogan’s head into the table. Rock grabs a steel chair, but the ref takes it away from him. That distraction allows Hogan to deliver a clothesline, and fire Rock back inside. Rock hits the ropes, and when Hogan sidesteps Rock collides with referee Mike Chioda putting him out. Hogan hits the ropes and runs into the spinebuster from Rock. Rock puts Hogan in the sharpshooter, and the crowd really gets on him for that. Hogan gets to the ropes, but there is no referee to break the hold. Hogan taps out, but still no referee. Rock tries to referee, as the crowd gives him a Rocky Sucks chant. Hogan scores with a low blow, and delivers a Rock Bottom. The ref slides over to make the count, but Rock is out at two. Hogan takes off his belt and whips Rock with it. Hogan sends Rock into the ropes and tries to deliver a right hand with the belt, but Rock ducks and delivers a DDT. Rock picks up the belt, and returns the favor strapping Hogan. Rock delivers the Rock Bottom, but Hogan is out at two and begins to Hulk up. The crowd absolutely goes insane for the Hulk up. Three punches, big boot, and legdrop connect, but Rock kicks out at two. Hogan goes for it again, but this time the legdrop misses. Rock comes to his feet and delivers another Rock Bottom. Rock picks up Hogan and delivers a third Rock Bottom. Rock nips up and delivers the peoples elbow, and that finishes at 16:22. Hogan offers a post match handshake, and Rock obliges effectively turning Hogan face officially. That brings out Hall and Nash, and they attack Hogan to cement his face turn. Rock runs in to make the save and Hogan and Rock clean house. Afterward Rock implores Hogan to pose for the Toronto crowd. This match proved that two guys don’t need to go out and put on a 40 minute wrestling clinic full of hammerlocks, cross armbreakers, corkscrew planchas, and shooting star presses to put on a classic. As I said for the McMahon street fight at X-Seven sometimes a match is greater than the sum of its parts. Yes Hogan was way past his prime. Yes they blew a few spots. But none of that matters. This match was an epic encounter between the two greatest performers to ever step in the ring. And isn’t that what the business is all about? Performances? These guys did it better than anyone else. One is the greatest who ever lived, and the other would have been had he stuck around long enough.

Winner: The Rock (Pinfall-Peoples Elbow ****)

-The Fink announces the new Skydome attendance record of 68,237. Can someone explain how they broke Wrestlemania VI’s attendance when they have that massive stage now that they didn’t have before?

WWF Women’s Championship Triple Threat Match: Jazz © vs. Lita vs. Trish Stratus

These ladies had absolutely no chance at following that last match. Trish gets all decked out in the maple leaf, but it doesn’t matter. The crowd is just drained after Hogan and Rock. Lita and Jazz start the fight before Trish even gets to the ring. Trish runs in and pulls Jazz off of Trish and they put the boots to Jazz. Jazz hits the ropes and kicks Trish in the face, and delivers a right hand to Lita. Jazz gets a half crab on Trish, but lets it go to meet Lita with a double arm chicken wing. Jazz hits a legdrop on Lita for two, and then a double arm suplex. Jazz delivers a kick to Trish sending her to the floor, but Lita scores with a monkeyflip. Lita hits the ropes and delivers a hurracanrana, and fires Jazz into the buckle. Tilt-a-whirl slam connects for Lita getting a two count on Jazz. Jazz comes back dropping Lita on the top rope, and sets her up for a super-plex. Trish comes in and rolls up Jazz for two. Lita comes off the top with a crossbody to Trish, but Trish rolls through for another two count. Jazz delivers a shot to Trish, but gets a clothesline from Lita. Trish comes back with a chick kick to Lita and a bulldog for a two count. Jazz comes right back with a big splash to Lita to get a two count. Jazz ducks a clothesline from Trish, and delivers a fisherman’s suplex but Lita makes the save. Jazz hammers Lita to the floor, and Trish comes back scoring with a reverse DDT for two. Lita makes the save, and the two faces trade blows. Lita hits a shitty backdrop, and goes for a twist of fate to Trish, which is blocked. Lita gives it to Jazz then, and comes back with a bodyslam to Trish. Lita tries to rip her shirt off, but even botches that. Lita dives off the second rope, but falls into the knees of Trish which allows a rollup from Trish for two. Trish comes out of the corner and delivers a shoulderblock to Lita. Trish gets a backslide on Jazz for two, and then Lita backdrops Jazz to the floor. Trish blocks a back suplex, but gets thrown into the turnbuckle. Lita goes to the top rope, but gets crotched by Trish. Jazz knocks Trish off the apron, and delivers a fisherman’s suplex to Lita off the top to pick up the win at 6:17. Match was horrible, and the dead crowd killed it even more. Why they didn’t give the hometown girl the big win is beyond me.

Winner: STILL WWF Women’s Champion-Jazz (Pinfall-Fisherman’s Superplex ¼*)

-Christian tries to leave, but Maven sneaks up behind him and rolls him up to regain the Hardcore title. He then steals Christian’s cab and hightails it out of the arena.

Undisputed WWF Championship-Triple H vs. Chris Jericho (w. Stephanie McMahon)©

Drowning Pool treats us to a very shitty version of Triple H’s theme live as he heads to the ring. JR sells the quad as being hanging by a thread during the entrances. Jericho goes for the quad right away, but HHH fights away from him. HHH connects with a backdrop, and a clothesline. I need to mention how dead silent the crowd is for the “main event” It’s downright embarrassing. Jericho hits the ropes and runs into a high knee, but HHH goes to the quad to sell the injury. HHH charges at Jericho, but gets backdropped over the top the floor. Jericho poses on the top rope, and HHH comes up slamming him off the top into the front row of ringside. HHH suplexes Jericho back into ringside area, and then clears off the Spanish Announce Table. Jericho fires back with a series of kicks to the quad and fires HHH back inside. Jericho chop blocks the injured leg, and kicks away at the quad. HHH comes back with a spear, and then drops a series of elbows on the knee. HHH works the leg of Jericho with a series of kicks, but Jericho goes to the eyes. HHH ducks a clothesline, and then delivers a knee breaker. HHH locks in the figure four, but Stephanie gets on the apron and rakes the eyes. HHH picks Steph to the apron, and Jericho tries to make the save but HHH moves and Jericho hits her instead. HHH fires Steph into the ring and goes for a pedigree, but Jericho comes off the top with a missile dropkick to make the save. Jericho slides to the floor and wraps the injured leg of HHH around the ringpost. HHH goes to the floor, and Stephanie delivers a kick. Jericho goes outside and throws HHH back inside delivering a series of elbow drops on the knee. Jericho slams the knee of HHH into the mat, and slides outside wrapping the knee around the post again. Steph delivers a slap and Jericho goes to the floor delivering a ringpost figure four. Back inside HHH tries to comeback, but Jericho takes him back down with a drop toehold. Jericho locks in a spinning toehold, and grabs the ropes for extra leverage. HHH kicks Jericho off sending him into the ringpost. HHH ducks a clothesline from Jericho and scores with a neckbreaker. Clothesline gets a two count for HHH, and then delivers a facebuster. HHH delivers a spinebuster, which gets another two count. Jericho reverses an Irish whip and sends HHH into the turnbuckle sending him over the top to the floor. Jericho clears off the announce table as Stephanie distracts the official. Jericho puts HHH on the announce table and goes for the Walls of Jericho on the table, but HHH kicks off and goes for the pedigree. Jericho counters with a backdrop sending HHH through the Spanish table. Back inside Jericho delivers a lionsault, which gets a two count. Jericho goes for the Walls again, but HHH punches out. Jericho charges but gets sidestepped sending him into the corner. HHH tries for the pedigree, but Jericho again goes to the leg and takes HHH down. This time Jericho is able to lock in the Walls. HHH nearly passes out from pain, but gets a second wind and reaches the ropes. Stephanie distracts the referee again allowing Jericho to bring a chair into the ring. He charges at HHH, but HHH gets the boot up and Jericho ends up eating the chair. HHH then delivers a DDT on the chair, and the ref gets two. Stephanie grabs a chair and goes to hit HHH, but the referee takes it from her. She shoves the referee away, but turns around and is eye to eye with HHH. She eats a pedigree as the crowd finally pops for some good ole fashioned domestic violence. The ref checks on Steph allowing Jericho to deliver a chair shot which gets two. Jericho goes for the pedigree, but HHH reverses into a slingshot. He sends Jericho into the second rope, but Jericho lands there and tries to jump off. He meets the boot of HHH who delivers the pedigree to win the title at 18:42. This match had so much working against it. For one HHH wasn’t close to 100% yet, and didn’t really trust his leg so he wasn’t ready to go. Rock and Hogan had previously sucked all the heat out of the building. Everyone in the arena knew HHH was winning, and that hurt because the Canadian crowd probably would have preferred Jericho, but since they knew he wasn’t winning they chose indifference. They tried, but they just didn’t have it tonight.

Winner: NEW Undisputed WWF Champion-Triple H (Pinfall-Pedigree **)

The 411: Outside of Hogan-Rock this show is largely forgettable. Flair and Taker provided some nice moments as well, but the colossal blunder of putting HHH and Jericho on last killed any heat that match might of generated. Hogan-Rock is an epic classic, but everything else is just there. It wasn’t a bad show, but it was certainly nothing special.
Final Score:  6.0   [ Average ]