10 DUMB WWE Title Changes (We Didn't Want To Admit Were GENIUS!)

2. Hulk Hogan (2002)

Paul Heyman WWE Title
WWE

'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.

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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.