12 Biggest WWE Storylines Ever (And How You Never Saw Them Coming)

12. Hulk Hogan Saves Bob Backlund As His Friend In 1983, To Sideline Into The Title Shot

When Hulk Hogan returned to the World Wrestling Federation as Bob Backlund's mystery partner in an angle with the Wild Samoans in late-1983, it wasn't the mammoth heel that left the organisation for Hollywood years earlier.

'The Hulkster' had gained significant acclaim in his Rocky III role that had carried over to an AWA run that promoter Verne Gagne persistently refused to go all in on. Having not been booked to dominate and run the territory as its champion, Hogan's head was turned by a Vince McMahon rocket-strapping that made them both millionaires.

A mammoth response from the live crowd was an indicator that the Chairman had made exactly the right call, and the company doubled down on his arrival with a ringing endorsement by former top babyface Backlund as he tacitly stepped aside.

"He's changed his ways, he's a great man...I'm gonna give him a hand and good luck" were the last words from the history-making former champion as he passed the torch to new type of company figurehead.