10 Biggest Wrestling Scandals Of The 1990s
The naughty nineties were a bad time for professional wrestling.
In many ways, WWE and the 1990s were made for each other. Both are celebrations of excess, loud, brash, and completely ridiculous. They both attract fans and critics in equal measures, often among weird middle-aged men.
Wrestling and the '90s are both no strangers to scandal. So, when you combine the two, you get no end of salacious incidents. Luckily for you, we've collated ten of the biggest into one bite-sized collection. You're welcome.
It helps that there were three major US promotions thriving in the 1990s, two of whom were engaged in a bitter war that involved some of the most underhanded tactics the business has ever seen. The other one was run by Paul Heyman, which speaks for itself.
Across WWE, WCW, and ECW, there were many moments that have since gone down in wrestling infamy. As a result, this list contains a number of unsavoury details, including references to violence, sexual assault, and death. Reader discretion is advised.
While the '90s are heralded as something of a golden age by modern wrestling fans, it's important to remember that they were far from perfect.
10. The Fingerpoke Of Doom
The January 4th 1999 episode of WCW Monday Nitro was set to have a blockbuster main event. Kevin Nash vs. 'Hollywood' Hulk Hogan for the World championship. nWo Wolfpac vs. nWo Black and White. What could possibly go wrong...
The two big men squared up against each other, ready to throw down. Then, Hogan jammed Nash in the chest with his finger, sending the former Diesel tumbling to the ground in comical fashion. Hogan pinned Nash to win the title, as the audience watched on in confusion.
It transpired that this was all a ruse between Hogan and Nash to reunite the two factions of the New World Order. This so-called 'Fingerpoke of Doom' robbed fans of their big match and shattered WCW's credibility. Many commentators have credited this moment that sparked the long journey to the company's eventual fiery demise.
To make matters worse, on the same show, Tony Schiavone spoiled the main event of a pre-taped episode of Raw. Hundreds of thousands of people changed the channel to watch Mankind defeat The Rock for the WWE championship. Many of them never changed back.