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The biggest show anywhere
By DREW MCANULTY -- Ottawa Sun
Along theatre row, the marquee lights are flashing, advertising such blockbuster productions as The Lion King and Mamma Mia.
But of all the stage shows in this neck of town, none could compare to the one at SkyDome on Sunday night, where more than 68,000 fans shelled out a combined $6 million for the hottest ticket in town.
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Triple H crowned WWF Champion
By JOHN POWELL & JOHN F.
MOLINARO -- SLAM! Wrestling
TORONTO -- It was not one for the aged, that's for sure. The elder legends of professional wrestling, namely
"Hollywood" Hulk Hogan and "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair went down to defeat at WrestleMania X8 from the SkyDome in
Toronto, Ontario. Instead, it was young lions like Triple H - who defeated Canada's Chris Jericho to become the
new WWF World Heavyweight Champion - and Rob Van Dam - who won the WWF Intercontinental Title from William Regal -
ascended that lofty ladder of fame and fortune.
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Hogan passes torch at WrestleMania
By CHRIS GRAMLICH -- SLAM! Wrestling
There's something about Wrestlemania that is magical and timeless, as cliche as that may sound. Despite the WWF's fortunes, the talent, or lack thereof, the nonsensical angles, the wrestlers in costumes, the announcers in togas or the celebrity successes and failures over the years, the word Wrestlemania still has the ability to generate excitement, no matter what era.
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House full of Maniacs
By PERRY LEFKO -- Toronto Sun
Oh, Canada. Wrestlemania, edition X8, returned to Toronto yesterday for the first time in 12 years and it was an event covered in Canadiana.
FULL STORY
New champs and chumps
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Record crowd watches Rock defeat Hogan
By By SHI DAVIDI - BENSON LEE -- Canadian Press
TORONTO (CP) -- The Rock laid the smackdown on Hollywood Hulk Hogan at Wrestlemania X8 Sunday night, sending a boisterous and record-setting SkyDome crowd of 68,237 into a frenzy.
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Big bucks spent
By JACK BOLAND -- Toronto Sun
Thousands of wrestling fans huddling to keep warm outside the SkyDome last night seemed to have no problem getting last-minute tickets to WWF's WrestleMania X8.
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Mat war grips fans
By JACK BOLAND and PHILIP LEE-SHANOK -- Toronto Sun
Almost 70,000 wrestling fanatics filled SkyDome last night to watch Wrestlemania X8, sport entertainment's biggest spectacle of the year.
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'Mania strikes Hogtown
By TIM BAINES -- Ottawa Sun
The World Wrestling Federation's theatre of the absurd added plenty more chapters to its legacy last night.
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Cafe soaks up perks
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McMahon looked north before XFL
By PERRY LEFKO -- Toronto Sun
Before Sherwood Schwarz bought the Argos in 1999, Vince McMahon wrestled with the idea of purchasing the team.
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Vince makes split decision
By PERRY LEFKO -- Toronto Sun
The much-anticipated split in the World Wrestling Federation roster ranks is close to happening. "I've been wanting to do this for some time but didn't quite have all the horses to do it. Now we have the horses," WWF owner Vince McMahon told The Toronto Sun. "I would suggest it will be imminent."
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McMahon uncommitted
Past stars not on radar
By PERRY LEFKO -- For SLAM! Sports
People hoping to see Goldberg or Sting in the World Wrestling Federation better not hold their breath.
FULL STORY
McMahon King of the Ring
Vince McMahon on split with Bret Hart
McMahon on WWF empire
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Dome's day for fans
By PHILIP LEE-SHANOK -- Toronto Sun
WrestleMania X8, the Super Bowl of professional wrestling, will do something today that even the Toronto Blue Jays haven't done lately -- sell out the SkyDome.
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Axxess ends with a whimper not a bang
By JOHN POWELL -- SLAM! Sports
No Hogan. No Rock. No Jericho. No Stone Cold. Fans who bought tickets for the closing session of WWF Axxess thinking that the three day fan festival would close with a bang as it has in the past were disappointed to find it ended with a whimper Saturday night.
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WWF lends a hand to Canadian charities
By PEJMAN RAMEZANPOUR -- SLAM! Wrestling
During today's Fan Axxess event, the WWF donated $12,500 to the Special Olympics and the Make-A-Wish-Foundation.
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Linda McMahon runs a tight business
By JASON BOTCHFORD -- Toronto Sun
It's not often one of the world's most-powerful CEOs allows herself to be ridiculed in front of millions. For Linda McMahon, though, it's just another day at the office.
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CANADA'S TRISH STRATUS A MAT STAR
WRESTLEMANIA PUMPS TORONTO BUSINESS
FANS KEEN ON NIAGARA FALLS ATTRACTION
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WWF fans thrilled with Axxess
By BOB KAPUR -- SLAM! Wrestling
TORONTO -- For several years, the days leading up to WrestleMania were preceeded by WWF Fan Axxess, the interactive experience where fans can meet their
favourite WWF Superstars and enjoy other WWF-themed events. I was always a
big fan of the concept of Axxess, especially after seeing a clip from one
held many years ago, where Mr. Fuji was running a race in a full tuxedo
while fans cheered him on -- man, would I have loved to be there.
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WWF not "axxess"ible in eyes of
fans
By JON WALDMAN -- SLAM! Wrestling
TORONTO -- The Friday night session of WWF Fan Axxess left fans
wanting more, but not in a good way. Long lines and limited autograph appearances were highly visible throughout the four-hour event, which
took place at the Automotive Centre at the Canadian National Exhibition.
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Rookies ready to shine
Lesnar, Orton impress at Axxess
By DONNIE ABREU -- SLAM! Wrestling
TORONTO -- Friday's daytime edition of WWF Fan Axxess gave me the opportunity to contrast the old and the new. On the west end of the building is the WWF Hall OF Fame display and the "legends" autograph area. Great stars of the past like Tony Garea, Pat Patterson, Gerry Brisco and Killer Kowalski have been on hand to sign souvenir books and pose for pictures. On the south side of the building, a ring has been set up and several matches staged. Thursday's bouts resembled what you might see on an episode of Sunday Night Heat: B level wrestlers taking on virtual jobbers. On Friday, things were a little different, as fans got a sneak peek into the future.
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Countdown to WrestleMania X8
SLAM! Wrestling's Predictions
This Sunday, WrestleMania returns to Toronto's SkyDome after a 12 year absence. Will this year's edition rival
WrestleMania 6? Who will the fans cheer for? The Rock? "Hollywood" Hulk Hogan? Will this be Ric Flair's final walk down that sacred aisle? Will the SLAM! Wrestling staff finally be able to sleep again? For the answers to these and other questions, check out our exapanded, special, super-duper Countdown To WrestleMania X8. Not only will you read the opinions of most of our resident writers but we are pleased to welcome Ron Hutchison the trainer of Edge, Christian and owner of The Apocalypse Wrestling Federation as well as Ron Hutchison's Pro Wrestling Gym to our thinktank. We're not worthy! We're not worthy!
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Axess an exercise in excess
First night session has ups and downs
By STEPHEN LAROCHE -- SLAM! Wrestling
The Junk Yard Dog was in the house but not the wrestling legend who passed
away a few years ago. As the second session of WWF Fan Axess took place last night, Tracy Murray
and Jerome "Junk Yard
Dog" Williams of the Toronto Raptors kicked off the festivities in the Pizza
Pizza Arena.
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Stratus the ultimate WWF Diva
By JACK BOLAND -- Toronto Sun
She is bubbly, beautiful, blond, buxom. She is Trish Stratus. A WWF Diva deluxe, she's also the new cover girl of the Divas 2002 magazine being sold exclusively at Fan Axxess and at this Sunday's WrestleMania X8.
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WrestleMania, slamdunk or air ball?
Down The Ramp
By NICK TYLWALK -- SLAM! Wrestling
The seconds are ticking down on the clock. It's all
come down to this. You've worked too hard all year to
fail now, especially since everyone is watching. You
know you can do it. Even though people have their
doubts, deep down you know you have the talent to pull
this off. Not much time left - no time to get
nervous. Take your best shot and give it everything
you've got.
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History of WrestleMania
Austin turns heel at WM X-Seven
By JOHN POWELL -- SLAM! Wrestling
Their rivalry propelled the World Wrestling Federation to the top of the business and ushered in the now fizzling pro wrestling boom.
FULL REVIEW
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Axxess kicks off WrestleMania weekend
By DONNIE ABREU -- SLAM! Wrestling
TORONTO -- WWF Fan Axxess opened at the Canadian National Exhibition's Automotive Building on Thursday morning and did not disappoint. Hundreds of fans lined up outside the building hours before the official ribbon cutting ceremony. On hand to open the event were WWF Canada President Carl DeMarco, Orangeville Ontario's own WWF Superstar Edge, WWF Superstar Lita, and Toronto Mega-Mayor Mel Lastman
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WWF set to make big announcement
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WrestleMania 18 contest winners
The SLAM! Wrestling/Stewart House Publishing WrestleMania contest is now over. Over 200 entrants entered the contest for a shot at winning a pair of tickets to WrestleMania 18 on Sunday. Did you win?
CONTEST WINNERS
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WWF expands PPV theatre network
TORONTO - World Wrestling Federation Entertainment, Inc. today announced that it has expanded its Pay-Per-View Theatre network to meet the demand for WrestleMania X8. On Sunday March 17, 2002, twelve new theatre locations will broadcast World Wrestling Federation Pay-Pay-View events to major cities across Canada.
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History Of WrestleMania
Stone Cold champion at WM XIV
By JOHN POWELL -- SLAM! Wrestling
As predicted in SLAM! Wrestling's Countdown To WrestleMania, disgraced boxer "Iron" Mike Tyson betrayed D-Generation X leader Shawn Michaels slapping a faster than your average three count handing Austin his first reign as WWF World Heacyweight Champion.
FULL REVIEW
WRESTLEMANIA 1 REVIEW
WRESTLEMANIA 2 REVIEW
WRESTLEMANIA 3 REVIEW
WRESTLEMANIA 4 REVIEW
WRESTLEMANIA 5 REVIEW
WRESTLEMANIA 6 REVIEW
WRESTLEMANIA 7 REVIEW
WRESTLEMANIA 8 REVIEW
WRESTLEMANIA 9 REVIEW
WRESTLEMANIA 10 REVIEW
WRESTLEMANIA 11 REVIEW
WRESTLEMANIA 13 REVIEW
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Austin wins title at WM15
By JOHN POWELL -- SLAM! Wrestling
They call it the "granddaddy of them all". WrestleMania, it's the sports-entertainment biz. Most years it lives up to the pomp and circumstance. Not so in 1999.
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Wrestlemania returns to Canada
By BENSON LEE AND SHI DAVIDI -- Canadian Press
TORONTO (CP) -- Wrestlemania is returning to Toronto -- and so is Hulkamania. The World Wrestling Federation's annual extravaganza of sports entertainment invades the city's SkyDome on Sunday, featuring the return of the legendary Hulk Hogan to a Wrestlemania ring after an almost decade-long absence.
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What's wrong with Wrestlemania?
DONNIE ABREU -- Slam! Wrestling
This year's edition of Wrestlemania is receiving a lot of attention because of the number of main eventers involved in 4 different matches but think about the number of main eventers or former World Champions on the current WWF roster who have not been given a match with less than two weeks to build a feud or proper backstory. It would appear to me that the writers have been so busy setting up hot programs for the top three bouts, they have completely forgotten about some very important members of the roster.
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WrestleMania line-up fails to impress
ROSS WILLIAMS -- Slam! Wrestling
I'm not particularly looking forward to WrestleMania. Certainly an auspicious start to my first submission to Slam! Wrestling but I'm a pretty straight to the point kind of guy. As a wrestling fan, with the biggest card of the year in our sights and the ratings edging up following the nWo revival, surely I should be extremely excited about the current state of play. The truth is that, as much as I want to get hyped up about Mania, I find myself growing more and more sceptical by the day.
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Wrestling fans to get Axxess
JOHN POWELL -- Slam! Wrestling
As part of the WrestleMania festivities, the WWF is once again giving fans the rare opportunity to get up and close and personal with its superstars during WWF Fan Axxess. At a press conference held at SkyDome today, the World Wrestling Federation announced its plans for Axxess, the three day fan festival which gets underway at the Automotive Building at the National Trade Centre at Exhibition Place in Toronto on Thursday, March 14th to Saturday, March 16th.
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Booker T captures her heart
By IRENE PAPAKONSTANTINOU -- Toronto Sun
Brenda Graham wrestled with the idea of leaving her husband at The Toronto Sun building and going home with WWF superstar Booker T yesterday.
Graham -- the winner of a Sun contest for a pair of ringside tickets to WrestleMania X8 and the opportunity to meet Booker T -- likes men who are "rough around the edges."
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