Paid Members ShortOrderCook Posted February 19, 2014 Paid Members Share Posted February 19, 2014 I mentioned in the WrestleMania 16/17 thread how I quite enjoy going back and thinking how a WrestleMania card could have been bettered. We all love fantasy booking WrestleMania and i'm fascinated to discover what plans WrestleManias have had, only for the end result to be much different, this years perhaps being one of the best cases for that there's been. As it's now WrestleMania season I thought this could be a fun series of threads in the run up, rewriting past WrestleManias like a few did with 16 in the aforementioned thread.  Decided to start with WrestleMania X8, mainly because I think it was fucking rotten and because the potential to create something spectacular was there more than ever with the talent they had on the books at the time. It's probably my least enjoyed WrestleMania of all. Here's what the actual card was:   IC title  Rob Van Dam vs William Regal  Euro title  DDP vs Christian  Hardcore title  Maven vs Goldust  Kurt Angle vs Kane  No Holds Barred  Undertaker vs Ric Flair  Edge vs Booker T  Stone Cold Steve Austin vs Scott Hall  Tag Title Elimination match  Billy and Chuck vs The APA vs The Dudley Boyz vs The Hardy Boyz  ICON vs ICON  Hollywood Hulk Hogan vs The Rock  Womens Title Triple Threat  Jazz vs Trish Stratus vs Lita  Undisputed WWF title match  Chris Jericho vs Triple H   The card had RVD capturing his first IC title from Regal and a bunch of Hardcore title shenanigans which featured Hurricane, Molly Holly and Christian taking the belt but Maven left with it just as he walked in, I think. Kane and Angle was thrown together very late in the game and was meaningless, both deserved something much more significant. Austin was in there against Hall and he was that pissed off with how things were here he infamously fucked off for a bit right after. Edge and Booker T had a match that derived from an angle over a shampoo commercial. This was Edge having his first major singles outing at WrestleMania in his hometown at the venue he as a kid attended WrestleMania VI. The tag title match was just a case of getting them on the card for the sake of it. DDP and Christian was a waste of time. Undertaker and Flair was the highlight for me, the only match where I actually really enjoyed everything with the build up and the match itself, so i'd be reluctant to change that. The WWF title main event was pretty rubbish in just about every regard. And of course little needs to be said about Rock vs Hogan.  Immediately following this 'Mania Brock Lesnar debuted and the Brand Split occurred which changed things up significantly.  There's got to be about a million different ways this could go, so i'd be interested to see what you guys put together. I'm going to make an attempt myself in a bit, but i'll leave the thread open for you lot to give it a bash also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sexy Dad Posted February 19, 2014 Share Posted February 19, 2014 I agree, this show was one that could have delivered more from top to bottom. Still a decent watch looking back but the reality is that it is a one match show. Here is my go at rejigging the show.  The Rock (WWF Champion) vs Hollywood Hulk Hogan (Royal Rumble winner)  The first change I'd make to the card would be to make this match for the title and for it to main event the show. If The Rock had picked up the title from Jericho at No Way Out in a fatal four way of Rock, Jericho, Austin and Undertaker in a match mauled with NWO interference it'd have opened up a chance for Rocky to headline the show with the championship. If a surprise entry of Hogan had won the Rumble with assistance from Hall and Nash there would have been fireworks. I'd have Rocky go over in the same fashion but offer Hogan a rematch for Backlash.  Triple H vs Ric Flair Returning hero Triple H offers a challenge to his hero Ric Flair. The pair have a classic and respect fest at the end which leads to their alliance in Evolution down the road.  The Outsiders vs Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Undertaker - No DQ The NWO could have cost both Austin and Taker chances at winning the gold at No Way Out as Hogan wanted to knock off the number one guy of today, his equivalent The Rock. Austin and Taker take exception to this and want to oust these two men which turned their back on their beloved WWF back in 1996. The two teams slog it out in a bloody brawl but The Outsiders pick up the victory as this was the period of The Undertaker being a bit of a bastard and he and Austin let their egos get the better of one another. Outsiders come out with a major win, Austin and Undertaker have a feud as neither had too much to do at this point and the streak wasn't really a major thing at this point.  Hardy Boyz (Tag champs) vs The Dudleys - Losing team must disband  This could have been a good send off to the feud between these two teams opposed to lumping them in with APA and Chuck and Billy. This could have been used to separate Jeff and Matt for the brand split leading to the V1 character for Matt. The match wouldn't need TLC or a cage, the drama of the losing team being split up could have heightened the emotions. Either of these teams hugging in the ring at the biggest show of the year realising their careers had changed forever would have been huge.  Edge vs Kurt Angle Bring their great feud and matches forward a couple of months. This would have done Edge a better service in his hometown.  Hardcore fuck around Maven vs Regal vs Goldust vs APA vs Christian vs DDP vs Hurricane vs Spike I'd limit all the pinfalls backstage into this brawl too. Anyone can win.  Chris Jericho vs Rob Van Dam This was a fresh match up and dream match of sorts at the time. It'd have been a hell of a lot better at the time than Jericho vs Triple H and RVD vs Regal. Definately not from a payday stand point for Y2J though admittedly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Truth Posted February 19, 2014 Share Posted February 19, 2014 Hogan vs Rock should have been last match of the night. The crowd reaction was phenominal. Truely electrifying lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
King Pitcos Posted February 19, 2014 Share Posted February 19, 2014 I'd keep some of it the same. Winners in italics.  The Main Event The Rock vs Hollywood Hogan  Undisputed Championship Stone Cold Steve Austin (champion) vs Triple H  TAG TEAM ACTION* Brothers of Destruction vs Hall and Nash (or a handicap with X-Pac if Nash was too injured to do much)  Big Ladder Match for the Intercontinental William Regal (champion) vs Edge vs Jeff Hardy vs Matt Hardy vs Rob Van Dam vs Booker T  Old Man vs Younger Man Ric Flair vs Chris Jericho  Singlets Mr Perfect vs Kurt Angle  European Championship DDP (champion) vs Christian  Tag Team Championship Four Way Billy and Chuck (champions) vs APA vs Dudley Boyz vs Spike and Tazz  Women's Championship Triple Threat Stephanie McMahon (champion) vs Lita vs Trish Stratus  Hardcore Championship Clusterfuck Maven (champion) vs Test vs Goldust vs Hurricane vs Whoever else fancies it throughout the event   *I'm sure at the time I'd have booked an Outsiders win to keep the nWo strong, but I'm writing it now. So fuck the nWo being strong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paid Members air_raid Posted February 19, 2014 Paid Members Share Posted February 19, 2014 Outsiders come out with a major win, Austin and Undertaker have a feud as neither had too much to do at this point and the streak wasn't really a major thing at this point. Â Cause and effect, that would kind of fuck up a lot of the drama surrounding some of Undertaker's best matches at Manias over the last ten years or so though, wouldn't it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paid Members IANdrewDiceClay Posted February 19, 2014 Paid Members Share Posted February 19, 2014 Imagine if Scott Hall ended the streak only to be sacked in May for getting pissed up on a plane? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sexy Dad Posted February 19, 2014 Share Posted February 19, 2014 Outsiders come out with a major win, Austin and Undertaker have a feud as neither had too much to do at this point and the streak wasn't really a major thing at this point. Â Cause and effect, that would kind of fuck up a lot of the drama surrounding some of Undertaker's best matches at Manias over the last ten years or so though, wouldn't it? Â Yes, but this is hypothetically changing something from a different time period. Rebooking a show in a certain time perimeter. Nobody in the office was planning Undertaker's matches and victories based around the fact that Shawn Michaels might come back in a bit and might need a good storyline to retire in eight years time. They weren't bargaining on Undertaker facing Leviathan from OVW at Wrestlemania 23 either so didn't want the streak kept hot for that one. Â I wasn't applying hindsight to it as a different card could have ultimately had a domino effect as could Scott Hall not getting sacked and Nash not getting injured. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Callum1993 Posted February 19, 2014 Share Posted February 19, 2014 So you'd end the streak Sexy Dad?  I'd have done:  Icon vs Icon- Stone Cold Steve Austin vs Hollywood Hogan  Austin goes over in the same fashion as Rocky did originally. Hogan still turns face and the show ends with those two celebrating in the ring.  WWE Championship:  Chris Jericho vs The Rock vs Kurt Angle  Angle wins the Rumble and costs Rocky vs Jericho in a rematch at No Way Out. Gives us a big Triple Threat at Mania with Rocky going over. Then you could do Rock vs Hulk for the title at Backlash.  DX vs The Outsiders  I know HBK didn't return for a bit after Mania but if possible i'd try to get him back here for this. The Outsiders go over after HHH turns on Michaels.  The Undertaker vs Ric Flair  I enjoyed this feud so I'd have kept this as it was.  Tag Team Turmoil  Billy and Chuck vs the Hardy Boyz vs the Dudley Boyz vs APA  Billy and Chuck go over.  IC/European Title Unification match  William Regal vs Edge vs Rob Van Dam vs Christian  Edge wins here in his hometown to unify the belts.  Battle Royal for a Future Title Shot  Kane vs Booker T vs Mr Perfect vs Eddie Guerrero vs Test vs DDP vs Lance Storm vs Val Venis vs Rikishi vs Big Show.  Kane goes over.  Womens Title  Trish vs Lita Jazz  I'd keep this the same with Jazz winning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sexy Dad Posted February 19, 2014 Share Posted February 19, 2014 So you'd end the streak Sexy Dad? Â In 2002, yeah. Now, not so much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paid Members ShortOrderCook Posted February 19, 2014 Author Paid Members Share Posted February 19, 2014 They had only just began to recognise Undertakers streak, it'd be shit to end it just as they began making reference to it. They definitely were talking about it. It was first mentioned at X7 and they'd started to make a bit of a deal of it here, with Undertaker holding up his hands to signal 10 after defeating Flair, then becoming 10-0. Also, Undertaker was full on heel at this point. I know I said rewrite but I guess I should have made some rules. Let's say you can rewrite from the Rumble onwards, but let's not make too many turns. Also Sexy Dad, you've left Booker T and Kane off the card who were pretty prominent at the time. Â Pitcos, who's the 4th team in your tag title match? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paid Members JNLister Posted February 19, 2014 Paid Members Share Posted February 19, 2014 Main change I'd make is to have Real American cued up to play right after Rock and Hogan run off Hall and Nash. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
King Pitcos Posted February 19, 2014 Share Posted February 19, 2014 Pitcos, who's the 4th team in your tag title match? Spike Dudley and Tazz. I was just editing the post there now to add them and my winners! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paid Members wandshogun09 Posted February 19, 2014 Paid Members Share Posted February 19, 2014 TAG TEAM ACTION Brothers of Destruction vs Hall and Nash (or a handicap with X-Pac if Nash was too injured to do much)  Singlets Mr Perfect vs Kurt Angle  I like these two ideas especially. Just from their interaction in the Rumble, I'd have been really up for Angle vs Perfect at WrestleMania.  I'm sure it's been discussed to death before but what was the main reason for going with Hogan vs Rock instead of Hogan vs Austin? Not that I had a problem with Hogan vs Rock, just wondered. Was it just an issue of who goes over? I wouldn't have thought Hogan would've been against losing to Austin, considering he lost to Rock anyway on the show and went on to put Angle and Lesnar over pretty big in the following months. He lost to Triple H and Undertaker as well in that run. Was Hogan vs Rock always first choice? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
King Pitcos Posted February 19, 2014 Share Posted February 19, 2014 I'm sure it's been discussed to death before but what was the main reason for going with Hogan vs Rock instead of Hogan vs Austin? Not that I had a problem with Hogan vs Rock, just wondered. Was it just an issue of who goes over? Austin turned it down, I think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DCW Posted February 19, 2014 Share Posted February 19, 2014 Undisputed Title:  Rock vs Jericho vs HHH.  HHH was roided to bits,so at least Rock and Jericho could have a passable match around him.Rock could drop the belt to Hogan at Backlash and head off back to Hollywood.  Austin vs Hogan  Was nostalgia money in Hogan,and Austin was knackered at this stage anyway.Hogan tells Hall and Nash to piss off when they try to interfere,thus turning face.  Taker vs Flair  No need to change this.  Edge vs Kurt Angle  Angle beats Edge with a roll up.  IC Title:4 way elimination  RVD vs Regal vs Kane vs Booker T  RVD gets the popular win,pinning Booker last.  Tag Team titles: Table Match  Hardyz vs APA vs Dudleys vs Chuck+Billy  May as well go with the freshest team.Rico helps them lob Matt through a table for the win.  Same backstage Hardcore title stuff.Bossman to leave as champion though.  Womens Title:  Trish vs Jazz vs Molly  Lita was shite,less messy having Molly in her place instead.  Euro Title:  Christian vs DDP vs Mr.Perfect  Would have been cool to see Perfect win at Mania again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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