>>13560205Almost any match from AEW is better than Rock vs Hogan. It had a lot of hype and nostalgia, but not much else. The match was billed as an “Icon vs Icon” clash, but it was more of a popularity contest between the two stars. The crowd in Toronto was firmly behind Hogan, despite him being the heel, and booed the Rock, who was the face. This created a confusing and inconsistent atmosphere for the match, as the wrestlers had to improvise and adjust their roles on the fly.
The match itself was slow and sloppy, with both men relying on their signature moves and taunts, rather than telling a compelling story. The match lacked any real psychology or drama, as both men kicked out of each other’s finishers multiple times, making them seem less effective. The match also had some botches and miscommunication, such as Hogan missing a leg drop and Rock hitting a spinebuster on the referee.
Dave Meltzer gave the match a three star rating out of five, which means it was an average match. However, Meltzer later admitted that this rating was too generous, considering the poor quality of the match. He said that the match was "a spectacle, but not a great match. If I were to rate the in-ring action, I would give it one star, maybe 1.5."
