Wrestlemania Count-Up – Wrestlemania XVIII (2015): The WWF Farewell
IMG Credit: WWE
Wrestlemania XVIII
Date: March 17, 2002
Location: SkyDome, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Attendance: 68,237
Commentators: Jim Ross, Jerry Lawler
Sunday Night Heat: Scotty 2 Hotty/Albert/Rikishi vs. Mr. Perfect/Test/Lance Storm
Storm is a serious Canadian wrestler and Albert now enjoys dancing under the nickname the Hip Hop Hippo. Perfect returned at the Royal Rumble and had a short but nice run. Jacqueline is guest referee here. Albert quickly charges into raised boots in the corner but comes back with a quick powerbomb for two.
Dancing ensues post match.
The opening video, narrated by Undertaker of all people to start, talks about how this is the biggest night of the year. Other names talk about how big this show is and they treat it like the only thing that matters all year. This fits well with the tagline of the show “The One And Only.” The only matches discussed are Hogan vs. Rock and HHH vs. Jericho, which are the only ones that really deserve attention.
Intercontinental Title: Rob Van Dam vs. William Regal
Regal is defending and Van Dam debuted last year during the Invasion. Rob starts with a quick spinning kick to the face so Regal already loads up his trademark brass knuckles. Van Dam is ready though and kicks them off his hand, only to miss an early Five Star Frog Splash attempt. A suplex and the Regal Cutter (arm trap neckbreaker) get two each for the champ and we hit the chinlock.
Rating: C. This went fine and was a nice way to get the show going. Rob was a fun act and one of the more popular guys on the roster at this point so giving him a title win in a quick match made sense. Regal is still a great choice for a midcard heel who can lose, get built up again in no time, and be evil all over again.
European Title: Diamond Dallas Page vs. Christian
Hardcore Title: Goldust vs. Maven
Crash chases Spike off.
Crash and Spike fight in the back when Al Snow speeds in on a golf cart with his own referee, only to crash through cardboard boxes. The Hurricane (a superhero) swings in on a rope and pins Spike to win the title.
JR and Lawler talk about what just happened and then show it again. IT WAS THIRTY SECONDS AGO!
Kurt Angle vs. Kane
Ric Flair vs. Undertaker
Rating: B. I liked this better than I remember as you had Flair going into his old school style and making the match last longer than you would normally see here. Undertaker beating him down slowly but surely worked as well with Flair getting his his hope spots where he could. Undertaker had to win here though and that worked very well.
Edge vs. Booker T.
Mighty Molly (Molly Holly as a superhero) hits Hurricane with a frying pan and steals the title.
Steve Austin vs. Scott Hall
Axxess video. A girl meets Undertaker and breaks into tears. Even as a heel, you can see that Undertaker is touched.
Tag Team Titles: Billy and Chuck vs. Dudley Boyz vs. Hardy Boyz vs. APA
Elimination rules. Billy and Chuck (Billy Gunn and Chuck Palumbo (a young WCW guy) as a very, shall we say, close team) are defending. Saliva plays the Dudleyz to the ring and their manager Stacy Keibler dances with the band. The APA jumps the champs to start and Bradshaw throws both of them with fall away slams. Chuck finally gets in a clothesline to Faarooq and the champs stomp him down in the corner.
Hall and Nash say Austin got lucky and plan an attack on Rock tonight. Hogan comes up and calls it off because he needs to do this one himself.
The Rock vs. Hollywood Hogan
Make no mistake about it: this is the main event. Hogan is here alone and instantly the biggest face on the roster because Toronto is an old WWF town. Rock is nearly booed out of the building for the second year in a row. They stare each other down and you can feel the energy. The bell rings and we get the big lockup with Hogan shoving him down and posing for a standing ovation. Hogan is only the heel in name only here and everyone knows it.
Big Show is at WWF New York.
The new attendance record is announced.
WWF World Title: HHH vs. Chris Jericho
HHH celebrates a lot.
The now traditional four minute highlight package closes us out.
Ratings Comparison
Rob Van Dam vs. William Regal
Original: C
2013 Redo: B-
2015 Redo: C
Diamond Dallas Page vs. Christian
Original: D+
2013 Redo: C
2015 Redo: D
Maven vs. Goldust
Original: N/A
2013 Redo: N/A
2015 Redo: D-
Kurt Angle vs. Kane
Original: C+
2013 Redo: C-
2015 Redo: C
Undertaker vs. Ric Flair
Original: B
2013 Redo: C
2015 Redo: B
Edge vs. Booker T
Original: C
2013 Redo: D+
2015 Redo: C-
Steve Austin vs. Scott Hall
Original: D
2013 Redo: C
2015 Redo: C-
Billy and Chuck vs. APA vs. Dudley Boys vs. Hardy Boys
Original: F
2013 Redo: D
2015 Redo: D+
Rock vs. Hollywood Hogan
Original: C+
2013 Redo: B
2015 Redo: B
Jazz vs. Trish Stratus vs. Lita
Original: F+
2013 Redo: D-
2015 Redo: D+
HHH vs. Chris Jericho
Original: C+
2013 Redo: C+
2015 Redo: B-
Overall Rating
Original: C
2013 Redo: C-
2015 Redo: B-
And the 2013 Redo:
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