Yup, two updates today. In fact time permitting, I'm going to be updating continuously until I finish this thing. In hindsight, I mightve started this project a tad too late. But lets see if I can make up for it.
Skydome-Toronto,ON
April 01, 1990
It might've been April Fool's Day, but there was no joking around when it came to "Wrestlemania VI" For the first time ever the main event would be a Champion vs Champion match. WWF Champ Hulk Hogan would take on WWF Intercontinental (The WWF's Secondary title) Champ Ultimate Warrior. The winner of the match would win both titles.
Wrestlemania VI was also the first Wrestlemania held outside the U.S. as this edition took place in Canada.
This Wrestlemania was also a blockbuster at the box office as 67, 678 fans turned out to watch "The Ultimate Challenge" as the main event was billed.
No match was as anticipated as Hogan vs Ultimate Warrior. The hype, the buildup, the fan intrest was all HUGE leading up to this event. And it wouldnt disappoint
In what went down as one of the greatest matches in WrestleMania history, both Hogan and Warrior gave it their all for nearly 20 minutes. After Hogan escaped from a Warrior splash, the adrenaline began to run through his body and Warrior saw that all-too-familiar look in his opponent's eyes – Hogan was about to finish the Warrior off.
Hogan nailed the Warrior with a boot to the face and went for the patented leg drop to end the match. But at the last second, Warrior moved and nailed a stunned Hogan with a second splash to win both championships and the "Ultimate Challenge!"
In a true show of sportsmanship, Hogan handed Warrior the WWF Championship after the match. The two then shared an emotional embrace in the center of the ring.
For the first time ever, Hulk Hogan would LOSE in a Wrestlemania title match. It seemed like a new era had dawned in the WWF. What would the future bring to Wrestlemania?
Sports Arena-Los Angels, CA
March 24, 1991
Would the seventh edition of Wrestlemania prove to be lucky? This was quite possibly the most controversial Wrestlemania in terms of storyline. The U.S. was in the middle of the first Gulf War and Vince McMahon decided to cash in on American Pride. Firstly, Sgt Slaughter an All American character was turned into an Iraqi sympathizer. He would come to the ring in full Iraqi regalia and even an Iraqi flag. He would taunt the "American infidels" and challenged anyone to stop him.
Then at the "Royal Rumble" earlier that year, Slaughter defeated the Ultimate Warrior to capture the WWF title. He claimed to have gotten a congradulatory phone call from Saddam Hussien himself!
Finally, Hulk Hogan stepped up to the plate and challenged Slaughter for the belt and to fight for all of America.
Wrestlemania was orginally going to be held at the Los Angeles Colissuem, which holds 100,000 people. They had hoped to set a new attendance record that day. Unfortuneatley, because of security concerns (Ironically enough, due to the Iraq War they were exploiting) the event was moved to the Sports Arena. This marked the second time Los Angeles would host Wrestlemania, but the first time as a sole host.
The whole evening went off without a hitch and everyone in the building (And around the country) waited for Hogan/Slaughter to finally take place. The match got underway and it was ugly.
Though Hogan dominated the early part of the match, Slaughter did not roll over and surrender the championship. The evil Sarge delivered a brutal beating, and even bloodied the challenger.
But as was the case for most of Hogan's opponents, Slaughter learned that his evil intentions were not enough to destroy Hogan. Hogan would recover to defeat Slaughter, win his fourth WWE Championship and celebrate with the American flag in the center of the ring.
This Wrestlemania also marked the final appearance of the legendary Andre the Giant at a Wrestlemania event.
Hoosier Dome-Indianapolis, IN
April 05, 1992
Usually a basketball haven, the Hoosier Dome was host to "Wrestlemania VIII". Over 60,000 people jammed the Dome to witness the first ever double main event in Wrestlemania history.
One main event featured WWF Champion and living legend Ric Flair vs "Macho Man" Randy Savage. For weeks, Flair had wanted to take Savage's valet Ms Elizabeth from him and Savage was fighting not only for the belt but for her honor.
The other main event featured Hulk Hogan vs Sid Justice.Hogan and Justice had once been friends but the two man had a falling out and chose to settle their differences at Wrestlemania. This would be the first time that Hulk Hogan would not be in some sort of championship match at Wrestlemania since the fourth edition of the event.
Macho Man and Flair went first and it was a classic. Defeating Flair was hard enough. Defeating a crafty veteran – often called the "dirtiest player in the game" – who had eyes for Savage's valet, Elizabeth, proved even harder.
Savage was able to withstand the dreaded Figure Four Leglock and bloodied the champion before being able to cradle him up in a small package for the win and his second WWE Championship. Savage went on to hold the championship for five months before losing back to Flair.
In the final match of the evening, Hulk Hogan battled Sycho Sid. The match was billed as Hogan's final match, as he had recently announced his retirement from the ring.
Hogan had the match won until the mysterious Papa Shango interfered on behalf of Sid. It looked bleak for Hogan until Ultimate Warrior made his surprise return to even the score. The crowd went NUTS as the Warrior, who had been gone for almost a year, randown the aisle and cleared the ring. Hogan and Warrior celebrated in the ring as WrestleMania VIII went off the air.
So with Hogan retiring, it seemed that the WWF would have to move away for the "Hogan Era" and onto bigger and hopefully better things....
To Be Continued
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