10 Biggest Swerves WWE Made Before WrestleMania

3. The WWF Abandons Ric Flair Vs. Hulk Hogan Idea (1992)

Sycho Sid Bret Hart
WWEcom

Ric Flair's jump over to the WWF during late-1991 made a dream match against Hulk Hogan possible. For years, wrestling fans had wondered who would win between the WWF's 'Hulkamania' creation and the NWA/WCW's more traditional 'Nature Boy'. Finally, such an inter-promotional fantasy could come to life just in time for WrestleMania VIII.

Hogan vs. Flair seemed like a no-brainer, not to mention exactly the kind of marquee match 'Mania was made for. Unfortunately for everyone waiting to see the inevitable, it wouldn't happen; running Hogan vs. Flair on the house show circuit didn't impress Vince McMahon, causing the WWF chief to cancel plans for the match to headline his biggest card of 1992.

Flair did win the WWF Title by coming out on top in the '92 Royal Rumble match, but he'd work with another company stalwart at 'Mania. Randy Savage was thrust into the title match and Hogan was removed, Hulk being moved sideways to feud with Sid Justice.

Justice eliminated Hogan from the Rumble bout, and that was the only storyline reasoning given on TV for squashing fan dreams. Incredibly, Hogan vs. Flair would never happen on WWF/WWE pay-per-view, but it was considered for 'Mania VIII.

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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.