10 Shocking Moments When Wrestlers Risked Losing Their Jobs
2. Child's Play
It wasn't hard for Vince McMahon to be dismayed with Hulk Hogan's behaviour in 1993, but in many ways he only had himself to blame.
Feeding 'The Hulkster's ego, McMahon elected to end WrestleMania 9 with Hogan defeating new Champion Yokozuna in seconds after the sumo star had cheaply dethroned former titleholder Bret Hart.
It was a hugely disappointing scene for the followers the 'Hitman' had amassed since bravely taking on the headline role in the absence of Hogan, Ultimate Warrior and others whilst the company faced huge scandal in 1992, but had those fans been exposed to his actions with the title in Japan, they'd have only been more enraged.
Less than a month after the WrestleMania controversy, Hogan was in Japan for a pre-booked match with The Great Muta, and completely disgraced the belt in an effort to politic his way into IWGP Title contention. In a pre-match promo, he called the title a 'stepping stone', but upped the ante in his post-match press conference in referring to the revered strap as a 'toy' and 'a trinket or ornament on a Christmas tree'.
Hogan was virtually impervious to punishment of course, but wouldn't appear in front of a crowd once between his title victory and King of the Ring defeat to Yokozuna one month later. He was off screens for another nine years following the loss.