10 Iconic Wrestling Images That Show History Repeating
3. The Leader Of The Old Generation
There was a familiar feeling to Diesel's sudden reimagining as WWE Champion and "Leader Of The New Generation" when he managed to secure the industry's top prize in November 1994.
The company chose Madison Square Garden as the place to conduct the transitioning of the title from new Champion Bob Backlund to 'Big Daddy Cool', just days after the former had defeated Bret Hart and the latter had turned babyface on Shawn Michaels. Backlund had performed 'The Hitman's duties once before, losing the gold to the Iron Sheik in order to pass it off to Hulk Hogan in another short match inside WWE's home base.
The comparisons were intended - WWE aimed to present their next great hope as being even better than the original to try and will a second Hulkamania into existence - but they were superficial at best. The setting, nature and key players provided all the necessary echoes, but Diesel wasn't the man to drag an entire industry out of its near-fatal rut.