The Lapsed Fan: Dave Meltzer on WrestleMania 8

As part of The Lapsed Fan's 30-week WrestleMania journey, the Wrestling Observer's Dave Meltzer weighed in with his recollections of each event. Here, Meltzer discusses WrestleMania 8 in 1992.
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[@robrusso1271]

Love the WrestleMania reviews thanks for ALL the uploads

[@waxoftriple9]

In hindsight yeah, Flair v. Hogan WM 8 looks huge on paper but honestly I'm glad they went with Flair v. Savage as that rivalry was beautiful. Kind of like looking back and going they should have done Hogan v. Austin at WM 18 instead of Hogan v. Rock. But then you wouldn't have that great story of Hogan-Rock and what came of it.

[@CometVS]

Neither Hogan or Austin wanted to do the job to each other, from what I read.

[@vampirascoffin870]

​@@CometVSAustin at least had a reason , Hogan just doesn't like putting people over nuff said

[@robrusso1271]

My all-time Favorite WM! Being a an Wrestling smark born in (1977) my 2 all-time favorite Workers Randy Savage/Ric Flair made that show! In hindsight this was the 1st time hearing Dave Meltzer or anyone for that matter curbing the WAR OF WORLDS between Hogan/Flair. Great insight loved this

[@henrikschmidt3964]

I recall WWF initially announced a steel cage match with Jake and Savage. It is out there somewhere in an alternate universe.

[@theshooter2000]

Vince McMahon is supposedly a genius, but he couldn't get Hulk Hogan & Ric Flair with the NWA title to draw? WCW got them to draw & break not only WCW records, but I believe they sold out the building they were at & did a huge PPV buyrate. Hogan didn't even have a match before BATB 1994. THAT'S how you book a legendary rivalry.

[@dantegood2195]

theshooter2000 Ric Flair wasnt much of a draw by 1991 (nwa/wcw business had been collapsing for years with flair on top constantly) Those wcw buyrates you're referencing in 1994 were good by wcw standards, but not "monster" by industry standards or anything.

[@theshooter2000]

Hogan had a debut match with little to no angle built up and did 1.02 buyrate against Flair in 1994. In what era and on what planet is that not a good buyrate?

[@dantegood2195]

theshooter2000 it was a good buyrate, not huge.

[@justinroark88]

theshooter2000 they did house shows leading up to Mania, and they had little in-ring chemistry together.

[@TheeCoachg]

And if they did that in WCW,the buyrate in WWF would have been double because 1. It was Wrestlemania 8,which imo had a very long build up time to it and 2) Vince’s marketing. Just Flair vs Hogan with WWF’s colorful spin and production would have over compensated any stale in-ring chemistry. It could have ended in DQ with Sid interfering and Warrior saving the day as he did.

[@GenXtasy]

Great uploads

[@ultimog3739]

One man gang went on the stretcher at superbrawl 91

[@joshct9426]

my 2nd fav Mania ever. loved the Hart/Piper match And Macho man vs Flair was GREAT! So much good stuff on this card. Sid vs Hogan was dumb but oh well

[@davidfrederick3375]

Im not sure what interview I heard this in...The reason why no Flair-Hogan match was they almost immediately started them on house shows and one on one promos. But apparently their house shows didnt draw business BUT ironically nor did they PROMOTE the feud enough at the house shows. It was a belief that the Flair-Hogan fantasy heat of the two 1980's world champions was already dying out. They already reached the beginning of the end of the primes. Its a thought. Heck they have a Dayton, OH tv taping that was never seen before the L.A. shows.

[@DemoSonicScreamer1]

In retrospect we should have seen the Bret push coming. He was already a 2 time IC champion and actually main evented SS at Wembley as IC champ. It was odd timing though. Fans had no time to get used to Bret as champion. He just was one Saturday morning. I would have kept the Savage/Flair program going a while, maybe done Flair/Warrior with someone screwing Warrior to set up his next feud (Nailz was rumored, or maybe a debuting Yoko). Bret wins the Rumble and takes the title from Flair, then post WM do the Flair/Perfect match to write Flair out. As far as Hogan and Flair goes, yes it was the match of the two dominant guys of the 80s, but truth be told I don't think they were really ideal opponents. Hogan's biggest money was drawn against two types of opponents: 1) Huge behemoths like Andre, Studd, Bundy, etc. 2. Live wire crazy smaller heels like Savage or Piper. I guess you can add in the "tag partner who turns" bit to include Orndorff, also Savage there too. Flair is none of those things. Hogan needed to sell like crazy and do the Superman comeback, whereas Flair spent a lot of his typical matches being beaten from pillar to post before eeking out the win. It's a match where it is tough to figure out who is doing what. Flair worked well with big dudes (Koloff, Luger, Sting) but Hogan wasn't the sort of guy who just beat someone up and tossed them around like those guys. In the end I think Flair/Savage is easily the better natural match, while Sid does fit the mold of a Hogan heel (even if it sucked).

[@dantegood2195]

Uncle Freddy, Dave Meltzer!!!!!!

[@markmenning1804]

What did think of Papo Shango cursing the Ultimate Warrior?

[@donthugthedoodlebug4618]

Flair vs Savage was a much much better match than Flair would have had with Hogan! And to be fair to Hogan he loved his monster heels and Sid was THE monster heel at the time! Also Flair wouldn't have got a "good match" out of Warrior, Vince would have had Warrior go over strong on Ric, maybe even a squash match!

[@redfield1007]

Is there a wrestlemania 34 review yet?

[@stuartmorris6299]

For anyone who like facts, Hogan was set to leave after WM8. Thats why they didnt headline, simple.

[@bassclay100]

hogan semi retired couldn't leave as champ !!!! why no one brings that up!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@travismcdonald6576]

Plus the steroid thing was looming over him.

[@bassclay100]

true but by bringing back warrior they knew he was juicing

[@MrAdrenaline1982]

That didn't stop him from winning the strap at Wrestlemania 9.

[@bassclay100]

That was the only reason he did the show he's comes out of retirement for a few months then leaves it was pointless

[@TheeCoachg]

Hogan could have won by DQ from Sid interfering and then Warrior saves the day. Hogan can leave and Flair can drop the belt to Savage or Warrior at Summerslam.

[@marcpjoyner]

For Meltzer to act like they just buried Flair is absurd. He came in strong, they deemphasized the NWA belt once the lawsuit happened. Flair was given Heenan and Perfect as mouthpieces. Flair went over at the Rumble to be world champion. Yeah, he was buried. Sure

[@stuartmorris6299]

Hilarious how Meltzer seems so convinced he's rigjt despite obviously making things up on the spot.