WrestleMania X8

This article is about the professional wrestling pay-per-view event. For the Nintendo GameCube video game named after this event, see WWE WrestleMania X8 (video game).
WrestleMania X8
Promotional poster featuring Hollywood Hulk Hogan and The Rock
PromotionWorld Wrestling Federation
DateMarch 17, 2002 (2002-03-17)
CityToronto, Ontario, Canada
VenueSkyDome
Attendance68,237[1]
Buy rate860,000[2]
Tagline(s)Icon vs. Icon
The Absolute Best Ever
The One and Only[3]
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XIX

WrestleMania X8 (also known as WrestleMania 18) was the 18th annual WrestleMania professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event produced by the World Wrestling Federation (WWF). It took place on St Patrick’s Day, March 17, 2002, at the SkyDome in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, the second WrestleMania at that venue after WrestleMania VI in April 1990. The event marked the final WrestleMania event held under the WWF name and the Attitude Era, as the company entered the Ruthless Aggression Era in April and renamed to World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) a month later. It was also the last WrestleMania held before the introduction of the brand extension just a week after the event. The record-breaking attendance for the SkyDome of 68,237 grossed approximately $6.1 million CAD ($3.9 million USD).[4] WrestleMania weekend also included WWF Fan Axxess at the Canadian National Exhibition's Automotive Building.[5] The stadium, now renamed Rogers Centre, won't see a major event until 2025 when Elimination Chamber: Toronto will be held.

This WrestleMania would be Hulk Hogan's first WrestleMania appearance in nine years, and his 10th overall. He competed in the first nine WrestleMania events, main eventing eight of those nine (an all-time record) (WrestleMania IV would be the only non main event pay-per-view for Hogan). After WrestleMania IX, Hogan left the WWF in late 1993, and signed with rival company WCW in 1994.

Eleven matches were contested at the event. The Rock defeated Hollywood Hulk Hogan in the main attraction dubbed "Icon vs. Icon", while in the final match, Triple H defeated Chris Jericho to win the Undisputed WWF Championship. In other prominent matches on the undercard Stone Cold Steve Austin defeated Scott Hall, The Undertaker defeated Ric Flair in a no disqualification match, and Rob Van Dam defeated William Regal to win the WWF Intercontinental Championship.

  1. ^ "WrestleMania X8". Pro Wrestling History. Retrieved 2008-02-23.
  2. ^ "WWE Pay-Per-View Buys (1993-2015)". Wrestlenomics. 25 March 2020. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
  3. ^ "WrestleMania X8 poster". CompleteWWE.com. Retrieved 2008-03-08.
  4. ^ Abreu, Donnie (2002-03-17). "WrestleMania X8 Sets Revenue, Attendance Records". WWE. Archived from the original on 2007-02-03. Retrieved 2008-02-23.
  5. ^ "Axxess kicks off WrestleMania weekend". SLAM! Sports. Archived from the original on January 15, 2013. Retrieved 2008-02-23.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)