10 Things You Learn From Watching 1991 On The WWE Network
8. Sgt. Slaughter's WWF Title Win Felt Completely Underwhelming
There was only one reason WWF management picked Sgt. Slaughter to become WWF Heavyweight Champion at the Royal Rumble, and it was due to the ongoing Gulf War. Slaughter became a defector, sympathising with Iraq in time for a feud with the patriotic Hulk Hogan. Meanwhile, The Ultimate Warrior became little more than a pawn.
When Warrior had toppled Hogan in 1990 at WrestleMania VI, it looked like he'd be the biggest babyface in the company for years to come. Less than a full year after winning the belt, his reign was ended just so the WWF could orchestrate a storyline mimicking real-life events.
By 1991, Slaughter wasn't exactly in his prime. Next to Warrior, he looked out-of-shape and very unlike a WWF Heavyweight Champion. Indeed, interference from Randy Savage was the most memorable aspect of the title bout at the Royal Rumble, even more so than Slaughter's win.
His title triumph felt underwhelming at the time, and that odd feeling still lingers when watching back on the pay-per-view now.