10 DUMB WWE Booking Decisions (We Didn't Want To Admit Were GENIUS!)

4. Hulk Hogan’s Sudden ‘Mania IX Title Win

WWF Invasion 2001 Steve Austin Paul Heyman Shane Stephanie McMahon Alliance WCW ECW
WWE.com

Hulk Hogan has become an easy target for several reasons. One of them is that Hulk just doesn't help himself, and spews things that are obviously garbage with each passing interview. He also takes the brunt of the blame for what happened back at WrestleMania IX, but he shouldn't. This was Vince McMahon's call.

It was a logical one.

Yokozuna crushed Bret Hart in the main event to become WWF Champ, then Hogan marched out to defend Bret’s honour. He ended up winning the belt after Mr. Fuji made an impromptu challenge, and Hulkamania was set to run wild on the fed yet again. Loads of fans dump on this, but Vince was only going back to something he knew worked whilst looking for his next hit.

Although true Hulk on top in 1993 wouldn’t work out long term, it's still nowhere near the clanger some claim. In fact, going back to Hogan temporarily whilst trying to build a "new generation" in the background made sense from a business perspective.

McMahon was trying to buy himself time.

Contributor

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.