What Could Have Been: WrestleMania 8

WrestleMania 8 encompasses one of the most interesting time periods in the WWF's history. 1992 was a major "transition year" for the WWF. The company was coming off the heels of accusations of steroid use amongst the roster, and the era of "Hulkamania" was starting to wind down. Large roster turnovers were also on the horizon. Superstar names such as Hulk Hogan, Jake Roberts, Sid Justice, the Legion of Doom, Roddy Piper, and others would all leave the company within the year.

The turning tide was also apparent in the creative direction of the product. Perhaps nothing illustrates this more than when researching the variety of changes that were made to the plans for that year's WrestleMania. In this edition of "What Could Have Been," let's look back at some of the matches that were supposed to occur at WrestleMania 8 before a major overhaul of the card.

Hulk Hogan vs Ric Flair

Ric Flair vs Hulk Hogan

When Ric Flair came into the WWF in the fall of 1991, a “dream match” between the stalwart of the NWA and the Hulkster at WrestleMania seemed inevitable. A storyline between the two men started quickly, and the match was even formally announced on WWF television. However, it didn't work out due to a variety of factors.

For one, the feedback from house show loops headlined by Hogan versus Flair was not as positive as one would have hoped.

Second, Hogan was moving on to try his hand at Hollywood full-time. Due to this, it was rumored that a finish to the match could not be agreed upon because Vince McMahon didn't want Hogan to take an absence as WWF Champion, but also did not want a heel (Flair) to leave Mania with the belt.

Due to these creative and logistical issues, plans changed to Flair versus Savage instead, with Macho Man winning the title.

Randy Savage vs Jake Roberts

The "Snake Bite" incident

Leading into WrestleMania 8, Randy Savage was involved in a heated feud with Jake Roberts. Roberts had not only had his pet cobra bite the arm of Randy Savage, but even laid his hands on Miss Elizabeth!

Creative was seemingly leading to one final blow-off match between the two at the WrestleMania event. It was rumored the match could be inside a steel cage, which was headlining many house shows at the time. or even have a “Loser Leaves Town” stipulation since Roberts was eyeing a backstage role with the company.

But due to previously mentioned issues with the Hogan versus Flair program, Savage instead replaced Hogan in the title match at WrestleMania. This left Roberts to begin a feud with then-partner The Undertaker.

The Undertaker would turn face for the feud, leading to a seven-year run as one of the company's top good guys. Roberts’ role as an agent never panned out, and he would leave for WCW not long after.

Legion of Doom vs Money Inc or Natural Disasters

Legion of Doom

Heading into WrestleMania 8, Hawk and Animal were in the midst of a six-month plus reign as WWF Tag Team Champions. They appeared to be on a collision course with rivals Earthquake and Typhoon of the Natural Disasters.

However, LOD surprisingly dropped the titles to the newly-formed team of Ted Dibiase and IRS in February, at a house show no less. This was reportedly due to Hawk failing a drug test and having to serve a suspension.

The Natural Disasters then abruptly turned face to become the good guys and challenged Money Inc for the titles at WrestleMania instead.

Ironically, the Legion of Doom made their return to the company at the event, along with former manager Paul Ellering. Had it been known in February that Animal and Hawk would be able to return to the ring in time for WrestleMania, perhaps a match between Money Inc and the Road Warriors could have been built. Instead, we got Money Inc vs Natural Disasters, and the LOD would ultimately leave the company in August of that year for a nearly five year hiatus.

Shawn Michaels versus Marty Jannetty

The Rockers broke up on The Barber Shop

The breakup of The Rockers on an edition of The Barber Shop is one of, if not the most memorable tag team blowup in wrestling history. Images of Shawn Michaels throwing Marty Jannetty through a glass window are etched in the minds of wrestling fans everywhere.

So it seemed inevitable that the former tag team partners would face off at WrestleMania that year. That is, until Jannetty’s recurring personal issues derailed those plans.

Reportedly, Jannetty got himself into some legal trouble while he was away from the company selling his injuries from the Barber Shop attack. He was then released from the company in March 1992 for various reasons.

Michaels would instead open WrestleMania 8 against Tito Santana. Jannetty would return to the WWF in October that year and reignite his feud with Michaels. The feud culminated in a one-on-one match between the two finally taking place at the 1993 Royal Rumble.

The Undertaker versus Sid Justice

Undertaker vs Sid Justice

Perhaps no two wrestlers' WrestleMania fates were more radically altered in 1992 than the Undertaker and Sid Justice.

In the summer of 1991, Undertaker was a major heel and would go on to defeat Hulk Hogan to win the WWF Championship (albeit for less than a week) in November. Sid was being groomed as the “next big thing” to potentially replace Hogan was the top babyface in the company.

Could Sid Justice have ended the Undertaker's WrestleMania streak before it even started? Rumors suggested that the early plan was for the two to meet in a match at WrestleMania.

However, due to a variety of circumstances, by early 1992 the Undertaker was a newly turned babyface. Sid had himself turned heel and was set to face off against Hogan at WrestleMania instead.

Furthermore, if the match had happened, Sid would reportedly have been penciled in to get the win. This would have helped to continue his push as the heir apparent to Hogan, but also would have ended “The Streak” of the Undertaker before it even began!