Hogan faces Rock at Wrestlemania; Triple H may win
title
Men in Tights
Ed De La Garza
The World Wrestling Federation's version of the New World Order is a
huge failure.
Photos courtesy of World Wrestling Federation
Hulk Hogan (left) and The Rock (right) will meet for the
first time in the squared circle for Sunday's Wrestlemania X8.
It's not the same as the renegade group that debuted in now-defunct
World Championship Wrestling. Before the Internet
wrestling community knew about coming story lines even before the wrestlers,
swerves were far more important.
Scott Hall was still known as Razor Ramon. Most fans didn't know he
had signed with WCW. All they knew was that a WWF star
had shown up on Nitro and declared war. This was followed by Kevin
Nash's appearance, the havoc he and Hall raised on
then-WCW president Eric Bischoff and the defection of Hulk Hogan.
But now, all you have are three over-the-hill former stars still acting
"hip." Only one — Hall — has a shred of actual wrestling
ability. Now, the group that revolutionized wrestling and made WWF
owner Vince McMahon change direction is irrelevant.
It wasn't Hall, Nash or Hogan who turned WCW into a major player. It
was the idea behind the NWO: that an outside
organization was attempting to destroy the competition.
Rated X-8
It's the granddaddy of all wrestling pay-per-views. No matter how lame
some angles may seem, time stops one Sunday each
spring for wrestling fans around the world. It may not be in Houston
this year, but Wrestlemania X-8 (7 p.m. Sunday, PPV) will
feature the federation's biggest icons. And yes, it's apparently more
hip than saying "18" or "XVIII."
As usual, the following previews and predictions are provided for entertainment
purposes only and should not be used to place
illegal bets.
Main event: The Rock vs. Hulk Hogan
They're not wrestling for any hardware, but since there's no Triple
H vs. Steve Austin bout on the horizon, this is the money
match.
Hogan and the rest of the NWO damn near killed The Rock in full view
of cameras by crashing an 18-wheeler into an
ambulance carrying the People's Champion. Then the Hulkster got the
pin on Rocky at Raw.
It's not Hogan at his prime, but love him or hate him, he put the WWF
on the map in the 1980s. Just don't expect a technically
sound match. Prediction: The Scorpion King.
Undisputed Championship: Chris Jericho (champion) vs. Triple H
Triple H is gunning for his fifth federation championship. Jericho's
just trying to stay near the top of the card. Trips jobbed at last
year's Wrestlemania. Prediction: The Game — with or without Stephanie
McMahon's interference.
Steve Austin vs. Scott Hall
Of the three NWO members, Hall was the only one I was looking forward
to seeing wrestle again. His behavior and attitude kept
him from being remembered as one of the best big men, but Hall carried
the Outsiders — and he might carry this match. I hate
picking against the local boy, but the NWO has to win one of its matches.
Prediction: Hey yo.
The rest of the card
Ric Flair will bleed badly in a battle for respect against the Undertaker;
the APA, Dudleys and Billy/Chuck will wrestle for the Tag
Team titles; Lita and Trish Stratus will attempt to steal Jazz's Women's
Championship; Kane will confront Kurt Angle in some
fashion; and Edge will face Booker T in a hastily created feud.
Predictions: 'Taker continues his unbeaten streak at Wrestlemania; the
APA leaves with the titles; Lita reclaims the strap; Kane
hurts Angle; and Edge defeats the Spinarooni.
