Chris Jericho On His Match At WrestleMania 18 vs Triple H

AEW Star Chris Jericho joins Chris to discuss his thoughts on having to follow The Rock vs Hulk Hogan match at Wrestlemania 18.
Watch the full interview with Chris Jericho on my main ‪@ChrisVanVliet‬ channel here: • Chris Jericho On AEW's...
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[@CVVCLIPS]

Hit that subscribe button and watch the full interview with Chris Jericho on my main channel here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qJbdkmujbq90h8k

[@TimLoyalToWifeHaterFreeZoneA]

Love It CVVCLIPS Bro And You Just Made The List Junior.

[@donaldlandmeyer148]

The world title should go on last except when it's CM Punk 400 plus days as world champion at that

[@DemonMul]

I agree with Jericho because at that time in 2002, what bigger match could’ve headlined a WrestleMania besides Rock vs Hogan? And despite Jericho being Undisputed Champion at the time, they basically made him Stephanie McMahon’s proxy for her feud with Triple H.

[@Appalachianasshole41]

Hogan couldn't perform long enough for a main event match.

[@scarlettmichanco8023]

Austin/Goldberg, Austin/Hogan. That's it though

[@solkey1781]

@@Appalachianasshole41Can’t say that when that when Jericho/HHH only went like a minute and a half longer Hogan/Rock. Definitely could’ve main evented.

[@WillsonT011]

Stop playing games. We all know the son-in-law wanted to be in the main event over the bigger names😂😂😂

[@Appalachianasshole41]

@@solkey1781 hogan was a risk there was no guarantee he'd be able to do a good match. Youbdont end the show on a risk. Ypu also don't end the show on anything other than the title match.

[@Krillep]

The crowd was DEAD after Hogan vs Rock, totally exhausted. The air left the room...Jericho vs Triple H, people went home, and people were tired. Hogan vs Rock is THAT match that people will remember for ages. Up there with Hogan vs Andre. I'ver never seen anything like this ever again. Back in the day - the crowd loved the stars of the show - today, the crowd wants to be the star of the show. That's difference between this generation of pg fans and the old g's. Hogan is so emotional invested, it goes beyond the ring. Just look at the crowd. Guy is like He-man or Batman came alive. He's just larger than life.

[@fpshooterful]

I wasn't there live, but i did watch the PPV live. And... oh boy... the crowd just didn't have any juice left. But, ofcourse, "i am", HHH had to push for that mainevent.

[@DanJones-b5w]

I was at SkyDome for this. The Hulk/Rock match was to the fans the main event. There were so many great matches It was hard to continue to pop for all of them. The Jericho/HHH finish-everybody knew was going to happen, and when the bell rang, everybody flooded for the trains, not caring about HHH @@fpshooterful

[@anthonyanderson9303]

Yep then history repeated itself at WM 25 when HHH-Orton had to follow HBK-Taker.

[@benrichards399]

I'm curious though if the crowd would have still been on high if Hogan had won? I think there's a good chance the buzz would have carried throughout the rest of the event

[@fabio0352]

​@@benrichards399it was not about the buzz, because even if Hogan didn't won, the crowd still saw the return of Hulkamania and Hogan and Rock United to fight back the nwo. You couldn't Have had a better finish than that. It's simply that after all that rollercoster of emotions, there was no way you could Have followed that. Wm18 should Have ended with Rock vs Hogan

[@kaeso101]

Jericho is on point here..young fans will never understand how big Rock v Hogan was...it was truly a dream come true...a video game match come to life

[@Kbudo8]

The build up to the match I'd say was like no other. As a 10 year old, I legit thought Rock wasn't going to make it to Mania after Hogan hit the ambulance. I think what made the match so special is that nobody expected it to be so hype. All due respect to the high flyers, the technicians like Bret Hart, this was Pro Wrestling at its finest. 2 of the biggest performers of all time, reacting to the crowd, no steel chairs, no backstage interference, just 2 of the greatest putting on a show.

[@JamesSmith-sw3nk]

We were there for WM 18. We left after the Rock vs Hogan match, We had a 5hr drive to get home. I had lost my voice from cheering. The crowd was exhausted.

[@KlaySmith-mn6dj]

I’ve been to a wrestlemania. And I could not have lived with myself if I had left early.

[@priincexavi5504]

You left early at WrestleMania??? 🤮

[@ashleyandre5567]

The Jerciho vs HHH last man standing match was ten times better than their WM main event

[@jamesmorant1406]

Yes it was

[@mrmoviemanic1]

Agree. Also I really loved their Hell in a Cell Match at Judgement Day 2002. Which funny enough was headlined by a match that didn't feel like a main event-worthy match in Hogan and Taker.

[@peytonlong5573]

What held them back was the whole Stephanie angle of it at mania that took away from Jericho

[@TheParappa]

I think the RAW match in 2000, where Jericho won the title until the descision was reversed, is their best match. The crowd was NUTS for that match and I was sitting infront of the TV jumping up and down when Jericho won. (and of course was really pissed of when he had to give the title back)

[@klsecond5755]

@@mrmoviemanic1 Vince wanted them to climb the cell with webs lol

[@thegoouch]

The Milli Vanilli shirt........ Jericho has such a great sense of humor!

[@brightblackgrouse6236]

Jericho vs Michaels at wm 19 is one of the best matches i've seen.

[@Foxo-Matti12]

I always thought that If Bret was cleared they should have had the hitman win the royal rumble and go on to face Chris Jericho in the main event. Doing that basically garantees you the people in Toronto will not be tired after Hogan vs Rock and would be pretty energetic for the Main Event.

[@williamjansen1]

While that main event would obviously have been brilliant, Bret was still bitter with WWE at the time. It was not simply a matter of him getting cleared.

[@kronos911]

​@@williamjansen1Bret could not have an actual wrestling match, especially with him trying to collect the insurance on his contract.

[@mr.d00m37]

Bret was heavily concussed at this point, his career had finished for over 2 years. Not to mention his ridiculous levels of heat with WWE.

[@Mr.Amazing1694]

I always thought a prime Bret vs. a prime Jericho would have been an amazing match.

[@anthonyanderson9303]

The rumor was they wanted to do Bret vs Angle that year.

[@madnomad3861]

Jericho mentioned the Off the record interview Triple H did before WM18 and if you watch that interview HHH says that Hogan vs Rock should be the main event of Wrestlemania and the host was actually kinda talking him out of it saying that the title match traditionally should be the main event

[@mcoeif]

Off The Record was a Canadian show. Saying Hogan-Rock should had main evented over HHH-Jericho, I guess, would have been seen as a slight to a main event that featured a Canadian (Jericho) in a Wrestlemania that was in Canada. Remember too that the host of that show, Michael Landsberg, was a huge jingoist when it comes to how Canadian wrestlers were being used in WWE and WCW.

[@robertharris4268]

I don’t think wwe could ever do a match like the rock vs hogan match that was like a once in a lifetime opportunity to see

[@stephenlydon7071]

Cvv I love the interviews. Keep up the good work.

[@CVVCLIPS]

Thanks, will do!

[@carlogz]

I only went to 1 Wrestlemania and it was X8! That entire crowd was fire and while Jericho vs Triple H had a huge Pop, Rock V Hogan was the match of all time and it was excellent. It sucks Jericho didnt seem to like his match with Triple H because that match was excellent too.

[@achilles9448]

The match between Hollywood hulk Hogan and The Rock at WrestleMania 18 is my favorite match ever because me and my cousin were huge fans of hulk Hogan growing up... And was even fans when Hollywood hulk Hogan became the leader of the NWO at WCW but we also like the Rock, but once we find out that hulk Hogan and The Rock were going to have a match at WrestleMania 18 we were rooting for hulk Hogan and I like to think that a lot of fans we were around my age at the time felt the same way because we grew up watching Hulk Hogan, And even though hulk Hogan was really successful in WCW it was part of the reason why WCW dominated WWE for almost 2 years.. i that he was still a WWE guy if that makes sense and we always wanted Hulk Hogan career with the WWE.. we went to watch WrestleMania at a friend's house who also huge wrestling fans And remember us jumping in the air and screaming when hulk Hogan hulk up because we really thought he was going to win and we wanted him to win and we were actually really sad that he lost even though we understand why the rock won because it was passing the torch.. there were still two more matches left on the card and it was the two championships matches but we didn't really watch it because all of our energy went into the rock and hogans match..

[@foosdontcry]

Jericho may come off as an ego maniac sometimes, out of character, but this was a very humble opinion from him

[@mycodingchannel9690]

the real ego maniac is the current booker of WWE and you can't dig that

[@IcyLife3956]

​@@mycodingchannel9690he's alright pal.

[@mycodingchannel9690]

@@IcyLife3956 maybe now. But if you know WWE history, ya know.

[@nikhilhembrom8952]

But punk always bitch about cena vs rock maineventing wm 28 he forgets that he isnt a big star

[@kenterminateddq5311]

I like how Jericho doesn't have a massive ego and think he deserved to be in the main event of WrestleMania 18.

[@TheBlindEye90]

He has an enormous ego what are you talking about? Maybe not about this subject but he's an egomaniac tool.

[@mrmoviemanic1]

I love you Ken, but you and I both know that Jericho does have an ego.

[@alphanerd7221]

He thinks that snooze fest with Michaels was better than Angle Lesner.

[@bigolebot]

​@@alphanerd7221snooze fest? You have to be a dumbass surely

[@kenterminateddq5311]

I said a huge ego. Even Jericho doesn't think him and Hunter should close the show. @@mrmoviemanic1

[@dante5622]

HHH did the same thing at Wrestlemania 2009. He political made his title match the main event instead of HBK vs Undertaker.

[@mattm7798]

Well to be fair, no one thought the Rock Hogan match would be what it was. It was a decent build but no one was ready for the fans to come unglued for Hogan. Plus you had Jerichos horrendous title run up to that point...this one was not on HHH.

[@dxtremecaliber]

@@mattm7798but again its freaking Hogan vs Rock both in Top 4 of all time shit they should be the main event of WM18

[@Bugs-cd2bh]

​@@dxtremecaliberRock isn't top 4 all time, he was second fiddle to austin for a reason

[@ValRhapsody]

​@@mattm7798 Are you kidding me! They absolutely knew! They built that ppv based off Hogan and Rock, look at all the commercials

[@makwabear4078]

@@Bugs-cd2bhhe wasn’t Austin’s second fiddle. There were definitely points where Rock was the bigger draw and international star than Austin hence why Rock was more represented when WWE did global branding (video games, interviews, talk shows etc). Rock in WWE is easily top 5. Austin, Hogan, Rock, Taker and HBK round out the top 5 in WWE for me. Bret and Flair being just on the outside.

[@mrmoviemanic1]

I personally agree that they couldn't follow Hogan and Rock, but I fully agree Van Vliet that the match between Jericho and HHH was a great one that I think is a main event worthy, it just didn't get the loudest ovations nor the fan praise. But it was great for people like me who really enjoyed the work of the two men.

[@TherealHazlett]

It was like Austin vs Kane after the Hell in the Cell.

[@AD-ur1fk]

I noticed the company always hated on the rock . They never wanted to give him a big main event win to close out the show. He jobbed 3 straight wrestlmanias in the peak of his career, getting embarrassed for 2 of them. And wheb he won against Austin and hogan he wasn’t in the main event . They didn’t give it to him until a decade later with cena

[@theironshiek]

In hindsight hogan v Rock should been the main event but at that time it was always the title match that main event. The company needed a match like that to show them that it doesn't always need to be the title match to be the main event

[@ShaunInce123]

Yeah, Hogan vs Rock should have gone on last. That was the biggest match & the hottest story at the time going in to Wrestlemania 18.

[@frankcoronabeats]

I Can’t think of one Memorable Main Event Jericho ever did 😂

[@KrisBryant99]

Jericho is a such boring persona for the most part. That's why 😅

[@EyeMixMusic]

Jericho confirms that Hunter insisted on being the main event, and I have NEVER been less surprised. The only thing bigger than Hogan vs Rock was Hunter's ego.

[@thehealthspotuk]

Chris, you should put clips together on one video of what every one of your guests thought of rock v hogan - the best match of all time! Best wishes, Omar

[@TheConstructiveCritic888]

Me, my dad, and my brother watched that Wrestlemania (as we did all PPV’s and Wrestlemania’s), and we were just going WILD during Rock vs Hogan! And I’ll tell you what… I don’t remember who went on after that match or even before. Not a single match outside of that even mattered. I had to be reminded that it was HHH vs Jericho in the “main event.”

[@desmondmcdade4934]

I was there for the Shawn Michaels vs Chris Jericho match at WM 19!!!

[@mattm7798]

That was such a great match on so many levels.

[@Nothereman9999]

At the end of the day, the main event is the match your audience wants to see most, the match that gets them interested in the event itself. Rock vs. Hogan was that match and even WWE knew it. Just go look at the WM18 poster and you'll see one match advertised.

[@CYB3R2K]

One of those moments when wwe tried to push the young guys but THEY shouldn't got with that option.

[@juice5435]

Despite what anyone thinks, it’s only traditional to have the world title match in the main event. That’s for any ring type competition.

[@ValRhapsody]

what about Hbk vs Taker?

[@jamaali2358]

The title is a prop nobody gives a shit

[@louisglen1653]

Everybody in the lines at the SkyDome were there to see Hogan and Rock. The Jericho and HHH match were more like an epilogue to a story. Plus people I chatted with really didn't want to watch HHH beat Jericho!

[@michaelhood2109]

I remember watching this match with my family and when the crowd was divided, chanting both of their names at the same time , my sister said "it sounds like they're chanting hoagie"

[@JoeM40040]

Comparing stadium stampede to rock v hogan is wild

[@willglenn-bl9gm]

I have nothing against aew but i would really like to see chris have one more run in wwe 😄

[@Black_Adam911]

I was there. I don't even remember the last two matches afterwards. Hahaha.

[@bryanmack4054]

Bret and Steve at Wrestlemania 13 was third from last…I think a lot of people forget that.

[@josereyes1148]

Jericho smells the roses turning sour in aew and now he's speaking well of WWE Alot. What a politician.

[@_dreamz]

Not he mentioned something AEW did as an example while referencing Triple H; when Triple H has put his foot on AEW neck and is slowly rendering it breathless. Have you seen the AEW crowd lately, they're just there, it's completely silent.

[@mrowley7300]

Nash & Mable had to follow Michaels&Razor the title shouldn't always be the main event

[@mattm7798]

True...at SS92, the IC title match went on last, where it absolutely should have been.

[@johnnywalker5745]

If Chris Jericho vs Triple H didn’t main evented WrestleMania 18, Jericho might not be able to main event a WrestleMania when he retires.

[@leonskum7705]

HHH & Jericho were great mid-card draws.

[@atifqavi2054]

Gotta make the son in law look strong.

[@rockinrobbie1968]

Milli Vanillin. Hilarious !! Hahahaha.

[@jackkeithley4934]

There is no such thing as “one of the main events” there is only one Main Event.

[@Speedyreedy1218]

Wwf literally had a PPV called "Fully Loaded" and promoted it as a triple main event.

[@jackkeithley4934]

I know, they can promote it all they want like that, but then that defeats the point of the term "Main Event". If you just label it as "Two" or "Three" main events, then you have no "Main Event".@@Speedyreedy1218

[@ctv8555]

0:24 - 0:29 Damn ‼️

[@HoodieJordy]

Man, I’ll always love Jericho even if I think AEW is trash 😭

[@ohmannotnow272]

The whole point is that Triple H used the Hogan and Rock match as motivation to be better than that match. Triple H believe that he could make his match better than theirs. Jericho didn't believe. That's where the competition of prowrestling comes into play.

[@Rockleelives777]

It's not about belief when the crowd is dead.

[@jamaali2358]

Triple H was mark for himself because of that new York return pop but quickly found out he ain't rock or hogan

[@christianwitte406]

The problem was Triple H wasn't going to be putting on a good match that night. Chris did everything he could to get a good match outta him, but he just needed a better dance partner

[@mrmoviemanic1]

I disagree. Some really do enjoy that match and feel it's a worthy WrestleMania match, it's just not as good as other classics from them.

[@alphanerd7221]

There isn't one.

[@stevenbryant8160]

Jericho always had banger matches triple h just not tonight

[@asadmalik2464]

Y2J HHH wasn't even bad lol it gets way too much hate. Yh obvs rock hogan should've main evented but if my uncle had a vagina he'd be my aunty, ykno

[@jaysco5257]

Using Stadium Stampede was a terrible analogy lol typical Y2J and AEW. Smelling their own farts. Basking in the ambience.

[@Speedyreedy1218]

CM Punk: Upset that he didn't main event WM. Jericho: Upset he DID main event WM.

[@Yodhavu291]

Roman reigns main evented 3 wrestlemania and punk dont even got 1 really

[@Speedyreedy1218]

@@Yodhavu291 What does Roman have to do with Punk and Jericho? If Punk didn't walk out, maybe he would've main evented.

[@MrTdang89]

The fact that they had a womens triple threat afterwards was an embarrassment, that should of been the first match

[@Kbudo8]

I know, I think their intent was to calm the crowd down because they knew Rock Vs Hogan was going to get the crowd worked up

[@stevenbrazzell5016]

What was the buffer match

[@SuperNitroZ64]

Triple threat Women's Championship match between Trish Stratus, Jazz and Lita.

[@markleeks6024]

I love Chris Jericho, but did he seriously just compare Stadium Stampede to Hogan Vs. Rock?

[@AhsanKhan-eo8dv]

Didn't the same happened at WM25?

[@ShaunInce123]

Yup. Shawn Michaels vs Undertaker was on before, the crowd was alive for that match. Then it completely died with Triple H vs Orton

[@handleunavailable]

Sad thing is, Triple H vs Jericho was REALLY good, but after Rock/Hogan it was never gonna be able to top it.

[@RaulSHermano]

This is all you need to know about HHH.

[@Trumpisgod]

The stadium stampede was the gayest thing I’ve ever seen in wrestling. I wish it hadn’t gone on at all.

[@Bobdinkins666]

Insurrection air fryer

[@fabio0352]

Truth is you just could not follow The Rock vs Hulk Hogan, no matter what match you brought to the table, it could have never been able to follow that. Triple H s ego knew that, he just didn't care...

[@MTSpade]

comparing rock/hogan to stadium stampede lol rock/hogan is rock/hogan, ss is a gimmick created during covid that should never be as big as it was

[@Rockleelives777]

HHH has had a couple mania main events fall flat. His match with Orton and Wrestlemaina 2000. Notice the Mania matches he puts people over are the ones people actually like from him

[@madnomad3861]

But every WM he main evented did a great PPV buyrate

[@mrmoviemanic1]

@@madnomad3861 I know right. He was the perfect villain and at times a good face. I don't personally think the main event needs to always be the final match as I do believe you can have a few main event levels matches on 1 Mania. But to argue Triple H didn't help sell any Mania is very revisionist history and kinda filled with people who just don't like the dude. I mean WM2000 had it been Rock vs HHH was one of the biggest feuds ever. WM20 Is considered by some to be the greatest match of all time, WM21 Is considered by many to be one of the best storylines of all time. WM22 Triple H was cheered so much they turned him face. WM28 I feel broke it's record not just because of Rock vs Cena but because of Triple H vs Undertaker in Hell in a Cell.

[@dominiclowe3640]

​@@madnomad3861not because of triple h

[@dominiclowe3640]

​@mrmoviemanic1 WM 28 was because of rock vs cena and WM 29 was the second highest bought mania and what was the main even oh yeah rock vs cena and triple h was not the reason people bought those wrestlemania's

[@madnomad3861]

@@dominiclowe3640 how do you know that? He's been in the main event of 7 different wrestlemanias and every one had a big buyrate. It's not a coincidence

[@FilmThePoliceFTP]

Stadium stampede was LAME

[@peytonlong5573]

Wrestlemania 18 I remember it was better than I expected but I remember I wrote down the match card I wish would’ve happened instead The Rock vs Hogan main event Kurt Angle vs Jericho co main event undisputed title Austin vs Taker Triple H vs Ric Flair Hardys vs Dudley’s table match Tag titles Lita vs Trish women’s title Edge vs Christian European title RVD vs Booker T vs Regal IC title Kane vs Kevin Nash w/ Hall

[@peytonlong5573]

Winners The Rock Angle Taker Triple H Dudley’s Lita Edge RVD Kane

[@dominiclowe3640]

I do kinda wish they did hogan vs austin

[@peytonlong5573]

@@dominiclowe3640 the idea of it is cool but Hogan definitely needed a guy like The Rock to keep the pace of the match good

[@Speedyreedy1218]

You're wasting HHH'S monster pop for a match against Flair? DUMB.

[@peytonlong5573]

@@Speedyreedy1218 massive pop is great and all but if you know anything about Triple H you know how deeply he respects Ric Flair and facing him at mania, also I was a little kid when I wrote that card so hindsight I’d change a couple things now obviously but that’s legitimately what I wrote down back then

[@aeallday]

Who’s gonna watch it with the volume off so that’s a dumb crutch

[@pro42opureblood]

speaking of revisionist history - watch europa the last battle

[@sirotahaggen]

I was there and Rock v. Hogan blew the roof off the house. Taker v Flair wasn't bad either, but it's true HHH v Jericho was a snoozer. Think I remember the look on ppl's faces leaving after the event as being either totally exhausted or disappointed with Rock going over

[@blakefranklin882]

I remember after that match, Wwe released a dvd called the game about Triple H and he pretty much confirmed he politicted to get their match to headline cuz "it wouldve pissed on every person that had the title in the main event". Meanwhile the very first mania didnt have a title match, Sid vs Hogan wasnt for the title and Bam Bam vs LT wasnt for the title

[@Speedyreedy1218]

He didn't politic. He's a traditionalist. WM11 having LT main event did piss on legends.

[@bloodeagle6458]

Sure you did...😒😒

[@charliedolengewicz2400]

This is why I don’t Jericho

[@mycodingchannel9690]

The real ego maniac is the current booker of WWE and you can't dig that

[@KTroy24]

The buffer match between the 2 main events was the Women’s championship 😂 watch all the snowflakes rage😂😂

[@TheFlamingPike]

Not only did they mess up by not having Hogan Vs. Rock as main event, they should've given the win to Hogan. When he pinned The Rock after the leg drop you could feel the crowd wanted it to happen. IMO at Wrestlemania you need to give what the crowd wants, just like when Hogan bodyslammed and beat Andre the Giant. It's the moment things either begin or they come to an end. You can't just have an ending that adds little to the table. However Rock and Hogan did very well by adapting to the situation during the match. In any case this match proved Hogan still had some fuel left in him, and IMO it showed he was still a bigger name than The Rock despite Rock's immense popularity.

[@ForeverDegenerate]

It's not about what the crowd wants. It's about what's best for business. If what the crowd wants IS best for business, then great, everyone wins. But that's rarely the case. In this instance, Rock needed that win more than Hogan because, as far as the business was concerned, they needed the Legend to put over the current talent. And Rock was the current face of WWE at the time. Also, up until Rock and Hogan were in front of the live crowd, this feud had been built with Rock as Face and Hogan as Heel. In a match like that, it's usually the right call to have the Face win. Yes, Vince COULD have called an audible once he gauged audience reaction, but he didn't because he's always been about pushing who HE wants to push, WWE Universe be damned. Besides, it was the perfect storytelling for Hogan's immediate Face Turn the next night.

[@TheFlamingPike]

@@ForeverDegenerate Here are my counter arguments :1) Rock gained nothing from that win. You talk about Hogan's next night because you remember it. Do you remember The Rock's next night? That's right. Nothing. Because his win meant nothing. 2) Business: Hulk Hogan outsold Rock in terms of merch, he only came second to Austin in WWE history. 3) If face wrestlers would always win at Wrestlemania, Roman Reigns would've dropped the belt a few times already. 4) You end up saying Vince calls the shots, so you contradict your first statement - it wasn't for the business, it just was because Vince was not trusting Hogan. Just like all bad decisions ( and the good ones, gotta admit ), it always ends up with Vince being at the center of it all.

[@ForeverDegenerate]

@@TheFlamingPike 1) How do you know Rock gained nothing from the victory? Just because nothing came of it the next night doesn't mean he gained nothing. Rock actually gained a lot. He got the nod and respect from THE Legend of the previous "Era," something even Austin never got. Whether it's thrown in the face of the fans or not, something like that goes a LONG way for someone's career. 2) Merch does not equal "Best For Business." It's, certainly, a large factor, but it's not the only factor. 3) I never said "always" and I never said "at Wrestlemania." What I said was in the situation of a Feud where you have an established Face versus an established Heel where the Heel has been "winning" the feud consistently, the blow-off match is usually booked to have the Face win and gain retribution. Rock had been constantly getting his ass kicked by the NWO leading up to this match. This was to be Rock's "revenge" for all of that by taking out the "leader" of the NWO. Rock going over just made sense from a story perspective based on how the entire feud had been booked up to that point. 4) I did not contradict my first statement. Vince did call the shots. And maybe he didn't trust Hogan. I can't say for sure, but I wouldn't be surprised. And who can blame the old man? If that's the case, then trusting Hogan was not what was "best for business" in Vince's mind. It wouldn't be the first time Vince felt this way (coughBRETcough). Also, Hogan isn't known for losing matches, especially at Wrestlemania. So when Hogan agrees to put someone over, you better take advantage of that. Vince knew this better than anyone. Your, arguably, biggest Superstar in history is willing to lose and put someone else over at Wrestlemania when they, historically, refuse. Taking advantage of that and not deviating from that course will ALWAYS be "best for business." I'm not saying you have to like the decision or even agree with it. I'm just saying you can't deny it was, objectively, the correct call to make.

[@TheFlamingPike]

@@ForeverDegenerate 1) Reason: Because Rock was in his peak. He couldn't get any higher. Hogan on the other hand was returning. He had a momentum. A win at Wrestlemania was the right fuel. 2) Alright then, what do you want to talk about? Being a draw and selling tickets? Hogan still wins there, even after this Wrestlemania for sure. 3) At that moment in time people were getting tired of The Rock, just like they were getting tired of Hogan during his first run in WWF in the early 90's. Proof: the crowd that night. Best thing they could've done was give Hogan a clear win, and instead of having the nWo attacking Hogan after, they should've made the nWo trying to interfere with both guys in the ring working together to get them out of there. 4) I can say for sure he didn't trust Hogan. Hogan was older, Hogan had "betrayed" him in the past by going to WCW and being a threat for almost a decade for Vince's business. He wanted Hogan to understand he wasn't the leading man anymore. But that night, just that one night, he should've been. I deny it objectively. My initial post is all about that. We can debate over it if you want, I made my mind a long time ago. I made my mind the night I watched that Wrestlemania, years ago.

[@freddied8479]

Disagree, the match was a passing of the torch. It's what older wrestlers do, you put the younger guy over. Hogan winning would feel wrong, and he already had a history of not wanting to lose matches 😅

[@wrestlingtapes2036]

That’s because Triple is a known mid-carder like the rest of the Kliq

[@fredcasdensworld]

And if you think Jericho believes that, just realize if he wasn't in the main event of Mania 18 he would have been bitching about it for 20 years

[@tilltheendoftime-adventure8441]

I mean he probably did but then changed his mind after viewing the Rock and Hogan match as it was going. You see that and probably second guess if what you do is going to make any more pops happen. That's just a guess of course.

[@worldoftrollsdom]

Man Jericho is just so on point. I remember being blown away by rock v hogan which was just incredible...and tbh i didnt care for the main event. Similarly jericho v shawn was one of the greatest match of ages. Really couldnt agree more.

[@ThisIsHolyJJ]

I think it was DDP who said this many years ago, that Toronto crowds were known to favour heels, and Toronto was known to absolutely love Hulk Hogan. It's tough to imagine Vince being ignorant to this, but I guess he was just stubborn on maintaining the tradition of keeping the title match last. Kind of ironic because 10 years earlier they did the right thing and had Hogan vs Sid as the main event for WM8.

[@asoncalledvoonch2210]

Chris may be the most underappreciated mega star in wrestling history. He's gotten his flowers no doubt but he deserves a ton more in my opinion.. The term living legend is thrown around so much it's nearly meaningless nowadays but Y2J truly is a living legend.

[@turdferguson2839]

Lol of course hhh wanted to be the main event

[@javierbaeza375]

Probably Triple Boring did all in his power to be the main event

[@cultofgeeks]

That's bs about the "tradition" of the title match going on last at Mania. Where was this "tradition" at Mania 8 when Flair vs Savage for the title went on before Hogan vs Sid?

[@emmanuelmoses7249]

Triple H fought hard to make his match the main event. You can even watch some shoot interviews he did in 2002 before WrestleMania where he said the Title match should be the Main Event.

[@rodrigobarba930]

Of course he would want that.

[@mrmoviemanic1]

I mean who wouldn't. It's very much nowhere near as bad as some internet videos have made it out to be, but it wasn't Rock vs Hogan.

[@RaulSHermano]

Yeah and if he would in the Rock/Hogan spot, he would push to go on last. Clearly you dont know his politics

[@TL2354]

@@RaulSHermanoYou know his politics? You’ve worked with him?

[@jamalwalker04]

I don't blame him for that I blame him for taking away Booker's moment at 19 Triple h at that point had already 1 won 2 mania main events he should've let Booker win that one

[@joe77750]

Chris is forgetting Hogan didnt have the best track record regarding his matches in WCW they were usually terrible, very short and ended with a run-in, McMahon was probably worried Hogan would under perform so putting the match in an attraction spot was the best thing

[@bloodeagle6458]

Yep nobody new how big that match was gonna be not Vince not the fans especially not hogan or rock and hogan went in as a heel and rock a baby face the crowd chose to flip it and being pros they did Jericho is talking out of his ass as usual

[@mikeg2491]

⁠@@bloodeagle6458hindsight is 2020, if the march wasn’t in Toronto it probably wouldn’t even gotten the pop it did and Hogan wouldn’t have returned to the red & yellow getting one last little career resurgence, It was a black swan event.

[@RG-lr4pk]

​@@mikeg2491Hogan was getting cheered every week. That's why Undertaker and Austin politicked to bury the angle.

[@vagabond4576]

Its easy to see it a mile away from the confrontations and hype. People already suspected Hulk Hogan was going to come back . The version of Hulk that had the biggest impact that people have been missing after years of being heel.

[@Mainlyeverything]

​@@mikeg2491toronto was one if Hogan best markets. You are right But Hogan was always going to get cheered. He got cheered the shows leading to WM too

[@dangxdc8348]

I understand VKM mindset that the Undisputed Championship is the most Important match on the card because it's about the current state of WWF... meanwhile Hogan vs Rock IS TRULY ONCE IN A LIFETIME with nWo going to shit afterwards. Hollywood Hogan babyface and once becoming WWE Champion WHICH ARGUABLY should have been the championship match against VKM at XIX. Who Made Who with WWE Championship on the line. LESNAR vs ANGLE in a IRON MAN GRUDGE MATCH: Girth and Testicular Tough

[@Ezer254]

🐐🐐

[@jpowers55]

Lita, Jazz and Trish followed Rock/Hogan and they had no chance. The best match should go on last. The match with the most fan interest should go last. If that match happens to not be for the World title then so what.

[@Speedyreedy1218]

I was bored with Hogan/Rock. 😴

[@dxtremecaliber]

okay okay, you again, we all already know you love Hunter lol

[@Speedyreedy1218]

@@dxtremecaliber ☺️☺️☺️

[@benbrown4899]

He's right. They never should have gone on after Hogan/Rock. It was a once in a generation match and they tried to go after it. Didn't work.

[@AGuyNamedRicky]

This is why Jericho is a GOAT, his understanding of psychology and booking, he’d probably book an awesome show

[@lilkeenan]

I agree, imagine if Cena and Rock went on before Punk and Jericho at WM 28, people would be leaving during the match

[@Speedyreedy1218]

I wanted to see Punk/Jericho and Taker/HHH. I didn't want to see Rock/Cena.

[@lilkeenan]

@@Speedyreedy1218 yeah ok

[@Speedyreedy1218]

@@lilkeenan To be honest, I never wanted to see any Cena or Rock match, so pairing them together was a miserable main event for me. I was like that about Austin too. Oh the days of Austin v. Rock were 😬 for me.

[@simenzelwedlamini]

@@Speedyreedy1218 miserable clown

[@MrTdang89]

Wrestlemania 18 is in my top 3 of best wrestlemanias of all time but wrestlemania 17 is the best WM in history for me

[@jamesmorant1406]

This seems to be a HHH thing we're every time he's in the main event the much before his steals the show

[@firstinstinct420]

Cool, because, Edge, Christian and Jericho were all on WrestleMania 18 and still going strong.

[@Drianadameluz]

Haha, who cares about stadium stampede?

[@g-dub5272]

They did same dumb ish with Taker vs HBK WM 2009

[@spiffy8576]

Never did I ever care about Triple H. Not a great wrestler or character, he was okay. Seth Rollins comes to mind as a current day wrestler that just is not interesting. No matter what he does, he sucks.

[@lukesmith9692]

HHH kissing Daddys but is why

[@anthonyodom6807]

Only thing I remember about HHH vs Jericho was his spray tan getting all over Chris lol

[@klsecond5755]

I never even noticed. Time stamp? Because that sounds hilarious.

[@MichaelPainter-v7w]

Triple h and especially Roman are the 2 guys with multiple bad Mania Main Events

[@Speedyreedy1218]

Wasn't bad.1