10 Things You Didn't Know About WWE Backlash
4. Hulk Hogan Sets A Record
As per all reports at the time, Triple H himself actually made the call to drop his newly-won WWE Undisputed Championship to the recently-reformed Hulk Hogan at Backlash 2002.
Even though it had been just over a month since he'd heroically dethroned Chris Jericho following exhaustive rehabilitation from his 2001 torn quadricep, 'The Hulkster' was red hot following his own WrestleMania moment with The Rock, and 'The Game' presumably saw the benefit of a short-term boost and the inevitability that he'd get a belt back soon enough.
He was half right.
Hogan gave the company a surprising option for a quickie reign during a wave of remarkable nostalgia since his February return. And though traditional business metrics ultimately rendered the decision flawed and the title was switched across to The Undertaker at the very next pay-per-view, the six-time titleholder etched a place in history by the virtue of his victory. After winning his first WWE Championship in 1984 and last at the 2002 event, the eighteen year gap represents the biggest space between any male performer's bookending title victories within the company. Amongst other acknowledgments, it reflected a level of staying power few within the industry ever achieve and gave Hogan an unexpected final moment with the industry's top title.