WWE News: The Rock and Hulk Hogan comment on the 16th Anniversary of the "Icon vs Icon" match

What’s the story?

Earlier this week, two of WWE’s biggest icons of all time, The Rock and Hulk Hogan, took to social media in order to recall their historic “Icon vs Icon match” at WrestleMania X8, back in the year 2002 in Toronto Ontario, Canada.

In case you didn’t know…

In the build-up to WrestleMania 18, The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin were engaged in a feud against the trio of Hollywood Hulk Hogan, Kevin Nash, and Scott Hall—The New World Order—and prior to WrestleMania X8, the nWo squared off in a three-on-two handicap match against the duo of Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Rock on an episode of Raw, which resulted in Hogan pinning The Rock following a Leg Drop.

At WrestleMania X8, The Rock finally avenged his pinfall loss to Hogan when “The People’s Champion” pinned the leader of the nWo following two Rock Bottoms and a People’s Elbow, and after the match, the two men seemingly shook hands in respect, before Hogan was savagely attacked by his fellow New World Order stablemates, Kevin Nash and Scott Hall.

However, The Rock returned and saved Hogan from further attack and as a sign of respect, the former WWE Champion stopped Hogan from leaving the ring and asked him to pose for the crowd, turning “The Hulkster” into a face for the first time since 1996.

The heart of the matter

In their very recent Instagram posts, WWE Hall of Famer and veteran Hulk Hogan weighed in on his WrestleMania X8 bout against The Rock, as he stated on the social media that never will an arena shake to its foundation with electricity like it did on the night of WM18.

Additionally, The Rock regarded on IG, that 16 years ago at WrestleMania X8, “The People’s Champion” had the honor of making history and breaking records with ‘The Immortal’ Hulk Hogan.

In addition, The Rock noted that almost a year prior to his historic match against Hollywood Hulk Hogan, WWE Chairman Vince McMahon apparently asked “The People’s Champion” regarding how he felt about bringing Hogan back to the WWE and creating the main event of WrestleMania. Lastly, The Rock claimed that it was initially him who told Vince McMahon to promote this match as an Icon vs Icon match, with the winner going down as the greatest of all time.

What’s next?

The Rock is currently busy with his fascinating lifestyle in the Hollywood, but we can certainly expect “The People’s Champion” to return to the WWE some point down the road. As far as Hulk Hogan is concerned, his WWE contract is currently terminated, however, in the past, we have witnessed the likes of Triple H claiming that Hogan is indeed open to a possible return to the WWE as well.

Author’s take

The epic showdown between The Rock and Hollywood Hulk Hogan definitely remains as one of the most iconic matches in pro wrestling history of all time and this match, in my opinion, lived up to all its hype.