10 Stages Of The WWE Championship’s Devolution: From Prize To Prop
7. Early Red Flags
In the wake of the early 1990s steroid scandal, Vince McMahon Jr. was forced to indulge his macrophilia more inventively.
The enormous Yokozuna was booked as a spiritual successor to Andre The Giant, in that he kayfabe dominated the landscape as this unbeatable, gigantic monster. This Yokozuna had no Hulk Hogan to eventually vanquish him - Vince McMahon, you suspect and has been widely reported, never saw Bret Hart as the guy - so McMahon had the actual Hulk Hogan dethrone him immediately after he captured the win. The new Hulk Hogan, Lex Luger, did not pan out, and his physique triggered...concerns, so McMahon had to relent. Bret Hart once again became WWF champion one year later at WrestleMania X - and thus began a game of literal push and pull, a never-ending battle with his audience.
Diesel, McMahon's Bret Hart replacement, was a tall, tall guy - a kayfabe 6'10" - and he rounded the rugged edges of his biker gang bada** persona by asking him to smile for the kiddies. Diesel was gathering steam, but there were no genuine, irresistible urge to see him to rule the promotion. He was Vince McMahon's idea of the WWF champion, an early example of the belt making the man - not his public's. The battle with them raged on.
Both WWF champions taught fans an invaluable lesson - one which remains unheeded to this day. Vince McMahon has a specific vision for what he markets as sports entertainment, and prestige is only factored in when a storyline, or a Hall of Fame ceremony, demands it. Aesthetics, always, trump talent. Which is perfectly logical - he's not in the business of amateur wrestling - but the prize has to mean something.
Around Diesel's waist, it was worn to literally prop him up. He didn't prop up business, which felt as small time as the title.