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Canada has always had a deep connection with professional wrestling and the WWE. Some of the greatest superstars from Bret Hart to Edge come from the country and have etched their legacy in the company. Canada has also been the site of several legendary pay-per-views that have left a lasting memory.
Whether it be WrestleMania or another major show, Canada creates the perfect atmosphere for memorable events that feature amazing matches and iconic moments.
The fans are always energetic and ready to give their all to cheer on their favorites. They are also there to boo those that they dislike. Sometimes, that doesn't always correlate with WWE's storytelling.
There have been 12 different pay-per-views taking place in Canada. From the Grandest Stage of Them All to one of the most controversial moments in the history of the business, Canada has been the setting of many important events. In this article, let's take a look at the five memorable WWE pay-per-views which took place in Canada.
5) WWE Backlash 2004 - Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
WWE marketed WrestleMania 20 as the event where it all began again. The following month, Backlash 2004 delivered an entertaining lineup from the RAW brand with feuds being completed and new stars stepping up. The show was headlined by a WrestleMania rematch where Chris Benoit defended the World Heavyweight Championship against Triple H and Shawn Michaels.
The Triple Threat Match was billed as "The Final Encounter," so all three men held nothing back in an all-out war. Benoit had the hometown advantage of being from Edmonton and used that to his advantage by submitting HBK with the Sharpshooter. This fantastic bout would be enough to make this a memorable event, but it might not even be the best match on the show.
Randy Orton was in the midst of his original Legend Killer run and had a wonderful Intercontinental Championship run going. Mick Foley was his fiercest rival and looked to finally settle the score with Orton in a Hardcore Match with the gold on the line. It was a proving ground for the Evolution member and showcased why many billed him as the future of the industry.
WWE Backlash 2004 also featured a good Edge vs. Kane clash, a solid Shelton Benjamin vs. Ric Flair opener, a great Victoria vs. Lita battle and a fun Chris Jericho vs. Christian and Trish Stratus handicap match. There were some duds with Tajiri vs. Jonathan Coachman and La Resistance vs. The Hurricane and Rosey. Despite those contests, this event has a little bit of everything.
4) WWE Canadian Stampede - Calgary, Alberta, Canada
1997 was a banner year for WWE. There were several superstars that stepped up and improved greatly over the course of those 12 months. The major shows delivered for the most part, but the head of the pack had to be Canadian Stampede. It was truly a predecessor to the NXT TakeOver formula that has been a success the past few years.
It was a four-match card with an intense Mankind vs. Hunter Hearst Helmsley brawl, a very good Taka Michinoku vs. The Great Sasuke showcase and a hoss battle of The Undertaker vs. Vader for the WWE Championship. The show was headlined by the Bret Hart-led Hart Foundation vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin and a team of babyfaces.
The Hart family were treated like royalty and received a raucous reaction from the Calgary crowd. The fans were on their feet and heavily behind the hometown heroes. Owen scored a pinfall win for his team, pinning Austin. There were simply no holes in this lineup and it is one of the best major shows in WWE history.
3) WWE WrestleMania VI - Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Babyface vs. babyface matchups are so rare in WWE. WrestleMania 6 was the first pay-per-view to take place in Canada. The SkyDome in Toronto, Ontario made for the perfect setting for an event of this magnitude. Headlining the show was the first-time-ever contest with Hulk Hogan defending the WWE Championship against Intercontinental Champion The Ultimate Warrior with both titles on the line.
The Ultimate Challenge lived up to the hype and delivered a brilliant spectacle for fans. Warrior defeated Hogan and became the first man to hold both major titles in the WWE.
There were other quality bouts in the evening with Brutus Beefcake vs. Mr. Perfect and Million Dollar Man Ted Dibiase vs. Jake The Snake Roberts. The main event carries the show and is what many fans remember about this.
2) WWE Survivor Series 1997 - Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Sometimes a WWE event is memorable for infamous reasons above all else. That is exactly the case with Survivor Series 1997. The company was in the midst of a creatively rich year, but WWE Champion Bret 'The Hitman' Hart was on his way out of the company and set to defend against his real-life rival Shawn Michaels in his home country of Canada.
From the Centre Bell in Montreal, Quebec, the fans witnessed history before their eyes. The Heartbreak Kid put the Sharpshooter on The Hitman and Vince McMahon demanded the bell to be rang. The Chairman screwed his long-tenured top star and the scenes that followed were surreal. Hart spat in McMahon's face before destroying the commentary table and equipment at ringside.
The show also saw Stone Cold Steve Austin regain the WWE Intercontinental Championship from Owen Hart, Kane dominated Mankind and Ken Shamrock was the sole survivor in a five-on-five elimination match against the Nation of Domination. There was definitely some entertainment sprinkled throughout the card, but the main event and post-match antics will be something everyone never forgets.
1) WWE WrestleMania X-8 - Toronto, Ontario, Canada
WWE WrestleMania 18 might just be the only event that is remembered for the right reasons, unlike Survivor Series 1997. The Show of Shows returned to the SkyDome in Toronto and featured one of the biggest dream matches in the history of the business.
Hollywood Hulk Hogan returned to WWE along with Scott Hall and Kevin Nash of the NWO. On his first night back on Raw, The Rock confronted the legend and challenged to a showdown at WrestleMania 18. The NWO brutally assaulted and took out The Great One on that night, setting the stage for a bitter rivalry to be concluded at the Grandest Stage of Them All.
The Toronto crowd shocked everyone with their undying support of Hollywood Hulk Hogan. They were given the leader of the NWO, but all the people saw the red and yellow Real American. The Rock and Hogan put on a spectacle that had every fan on the edge of their seat before the People's Champion defeated the Immortal One.
The show also saw Triple H defeat Chris Jericho to win the WWE Undisputed Championship. Jazz retained her Women's Championship over Trish Stratus and Lita.
Rob Van Dam won the Intercontinental Title over William Regal as well. There was solid wrestling up and down the card with Kurt Angle vs. Kane and a wild Undertaker vs. Ric Flair clash. WrestleMania 18 is everything that Canada could have wanted from the Grandest Stage of them All.
