10 DUMB WWE Title Changes (We Didn't Want To Admit Were GENIUS!)
2. Hulk Hogan (2002)
'Hulk Hogan: The Reprise'.
There was something poetic about Hulk being the final WWF Champion before the company changed initials to WWE on 6 May 2002. His return as part of the nWo had been shocking but so-so overall, then WrestleMania X8 occurred. There, everyone realised how much they'd missed Hulkamania on WWF programming since 1993.
The timing was fascinating. Triple H had returned amidst much fanfare in January, and he won the top belt at 'Mania from Chris Jericho. One month later, Hunter was staring at the lights for a nostalgia act. Backlash '02 was a love letter to those who'd dearly missed Hulk and others who'd had their fill of Hollywood in WCW's nWo.
It didn't last long (how could it - the man's hips and knees were turning to dust!), but capitalising on that sudden wave of hysteria for Hulkamania 2.0 was genius. It showed a willingness from the soon-to-be WWE to pivot, and proved that Triple H was business minded.