10 DUMB WWE Title Changes (We Didn't Want To Admit Were GENIUS!)
3. Hulk Hogan (1993)
When Bret comes crashing down, and it hurts inside. You've gotta call Hulk, and he'll turn the tide.
Those are definitely not the lyrics to Hogan's iconic 'Real American' entrance track, but they should've been back at WrestleMania IX. Bret Hart fell short to towering heel Yokozuna in the PPV's main event, then big bald Terry strolled out to defend his honour by...scooping the glory and ending the night as WWF Champion again.
A lot of folks look back on this and hate on Hogan for suddenly winning the title, but the federation's reason for doing it makes perfect sense. They'd tried to send Hulk out to pasture with The Ultimate Warrior in 1990, and again in coming years. By '93, all attempts to replace Hulkamania had failed, so Vince McMahon wanted to see if there was anything left in Hogan.
He knew he could always come back to Bret if things failed, which he did. Mr. Fuji firing out a challenge on the knackered Yoko's behalf was ridiculous, but WWF loyalists popped huge for Hulk becoming a five-time champ. This was worth doing, if only to find out if the Hulk marketing machine would chuck some much-needed cash into fed tills.