10 Best Ways Wrestlers Recovered From WWE WrestleMania Defeats

8. Hulk Hogan

Hulk Hogan The Ultimate Warrior
WWE

Defeat: It seemed like the peerless Hulk Hogan had been usurped by a shiny new toy when The Ultimate Warrior beat him to become new WWF Champ at 'Mania VI. 'The Ultimate Challenge' didn't go Hulk's way, and announcers referred to Warrior as the star of the 90s.

Recovery: Not for long.

Within minutes, Hogan managed to steal attention back his way by handing the belt to his conquerer and leaving the ring like a wounded soldier. It was a masterful display of spotlight hogging (fans serenaded Hulk as he left rather than focusing on Warrior) and showed there was life in the old dog yet.

When he was ready to, Hogan returned to the WWF and set about the task of yet again becoming the focal point. By late-1990, he was already outshining Warrior. By 'Mania VII, Hulk was back in the saddle as champion - it was like nothing his prior defeat had never happened.

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Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.