10 Best Years To Be A WWE Fan
8. 1992
A year that looked lesser-than on the surface - The Ultimate Warrior's original biceps and Hulk Hogan were all missing for most of it, allegedly for many of the same reasons - instead produced some of the best in-ring action in the company's history and one of the biggest (legitimate) capacity crowds of all time.
Ric Flair's Royal Rumble was a fabulous statement of intent from 'The Nature Boy' and the organisation in general about what it meant to hold the top title carried forward - a mantle gainfully held up by Randy Savage's second stint with the strap later that year.
An undercard bursting with potential finally began to realise it too. Bret Hart stole WrestleMania with a blistering effort against Roddy Piper that stuck in Vince McMahon's head long enough to give him the top prize later that year and Shawn Michaels went from strength to strength having kicked off his singles career with what has gradually grown into the greatest tag team break up angle ever.
Change was happening by force and much of the 1980s audience were ready to call time on their interest in wrestling in general, but 1992 was a hybrid of both the perfect sendoff to those and a brave new frontier for those still engaged.