The Lapsed Fan: Dave Meltzer on WrestleMania 18

[@mattthomas1442]

I was in attendance for a RAW in Detroit for either the go home show before Wrestlemania or the week before. It was the NWO vs. Austin and The Rock. And I'm not sure what it sounded like on TV but live that crowd was so pro Hogan and even Nash(I'm sure partially due to the fact that he was from Detroit) and against Austin and The Rock. You could tell then that there was no way that The Rock wasn't going to get boo'd out of the building at Wrestlemania and Hogan cheered.

[@waxoftriple9]

I remember reading in Hogan's book that Vince had Hogan fly on VKM's private jet down to his home in Florida on the day of WM to get his red and yellow gear. Hogan comes back with the gear right before it starts and they decide not to have him come out in the red and yellow.

[@anthony10antoniou]

Chris Arctor I think it's after mania match vince says that. He changes his mind coz next night on raw he still wore black.

[@BeeBumper]

Later the Rock says there is one problem, you're still wearing the colours of the NWO, and he tear it off and the red and yellow are there, it ed to the tag match as well.

[@PGO_Gaming]

Yeah, Scott Hall and Kevin Nash felt they got their feet taken out from under them the day before Mania when they were told that the finishes were changing for Wrestlemania.

[@vampirascoffin870]

facts it was suppose to be nwo take over at the end of the show with all 3 winning & taking out everyone but of course things change

[@ZakynthosDiamandis]

Hogan v Rock was what Hogan v Sting should have been - Hogan passing the torch. This is essentially why WCW declined - because they didn't, or maybe couldn't move on like WWF did.

[@dallaslockrey2492]

Why do these all cut short mid sentence? Are there longer versions?

[@NoName-cz3wn]

The guy mentioned at the 6 minute mark is almost certainly Jimmy Hart or Brutus Beefcake.

[@adam9310]

I thought the exact same thing. Gotta be Jimmy.

[@talljohnny6381]

Hogan got cheered and jumped by the outsiders in Toronto and did the pose that night. Then showed up in Montreal still with the nwo shirt...... Your the journalist, explain what happened correctly. FTS

[@maroonporsche]

Austin should’ve just jobbed to triple h in the main event. That’s better than Scott hall atleast 😂

[@markmenning1804]

I liked it that they made it the world undisputed championship. They should have had the WWF champion defend it in Mexico and Japan. Then not much longer they had 2 world championships. 🙄

[@joeygana8864]

Austin didn’t want to get Booed, and he would of, not as much as the Rock Did, but it would of been 50/50, or 60/40 Hogan

[@waxoftriple9]

Damn. Imagine if the 4-man tournament to unify the WCW and WWF belts had been Austin, Angle, Rock, and Triple H. Nothing against Jericho personally but at that time it was a mistake, should have been Austin.

[@justanaverageperson544]

Chris Arctor I disagree. Jericho out of all was the most relevant in both WWF and WCW during the MNR (as mentioned im the interview Austin had a noteworthy but ultimately hampered WCW run) He also was the lowest guy on the rung meaning he had most to gain. It wouldn't have mattered to Austin or Rock's career as much as Jericho. It's still a feather in Jerichos cap today where it would've been a footnote to anyone else involved.

[@sheriffdraws8789]

And Jericho went straight to the midcard after that lmaooo

[@BeeBumper]

LOL they're wrestling journalists? No Hall and Nash attacked at WM18 after the match.

[@MattSingh1]

*You're a douchebag.*

[@Redhotshawntexas]

Why don’t they remember every aspect of every match of every organization like me, the mark I am 🫵😂

[@MattSingh1]

@@Redhotshawntexas *Great and accurate comment/observation. Brutal put-down.* 👍🤣

[@harshbeniwal4661]

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[@stonekold10x]

No disrespect to Rock but it would have been better if it was Austin Vs. Hogan

[@22srs22]

Stone Cold wasn't nearly ass hot as The Rock was in 2002.

[@NoName-cz3wn]

Texan Yakkle that's not really true. Austin had cooled off because of the heel run but the fans were starting to get tired of the Rock. I like both equally but I wouldn't say one was far ahead of the other in 2002.

[@22srs22]

Nah, they started getting tired of Rock at Summerslam and that was only because of him leaving for movies, and they were only against The Rock because of Hogan here. They still loved Rock for most of 2002.

[@stonecoldbsr9110]

BULLSHIT AUSTIN WAS HOT IN 02 HE WAS SELLING THE WHAT SHIT AT THE TIME HE WAS OVER AS FUCK

[@22srs22]

Did you hear his pops tho? He barely got one in X8 compared to Rock and Hogan.

[@harshbeniwal4661]

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[@romans52345-cy3tq]

The guy doing the interview's voice is so annoying