10 Times WWE Got The WrestleMania Main Event Wrong

6. WrestleMania VII: Hulk Hogan Vs. Sid Justice

hulk hogan sid
WWEcom

What The Main Event Should Have Been: Hulk Hogan vs. Ric Flair

When Ric Flair signed for the WWF in 1991, fans everywhere salivated at the prospect of finally being able to see the ultimate WWF vs. WCW dream match: Ric Flair vs. Hulk Hogan. But after a dry run on house shows around the loop failed to pull in the audiences officials expected, plans for a Hogan-Flair showdown at WrestleMania VIII were shelved, with Vince commenting that they had left it too long to bring Flair in and run the bout.

Flair was still given the WWF Championship and a match with Randy Savage, but it was left in the middle of the card so that Hulk Hogan could take centre stage in what was billed as his unofficial retirement match. Hogan’s departure was down to the wave of ill-feeling towards him in light of recent steroid allegations, with Hogan such a lightning rod for controversy that both McMahon and the grappler himself realised the time was right to step out of the limelight.

The man he chosen for Hogan to do that with was the massive Sid Justice, another ex-WCW alum who had jumped ship to the WWF in 1991. Sid was everything McMahon wanted in a wrestler, and the WWF honcho had him pegged as the company’s next Hulk Hogan. Two problems: Hogan didn't want to put Sid over and do the right thing on his way out - as was industry convention - and Sid didn't want to be a babyface. Vince McMahon was giving him the keys to the kingdom and offering him the chance to be the man in the WWF, and Sid said no. The tepid bout with a lame DQ finish that Hogan and Sid contested left most fans wishing that the WWF had gone with the Flair-Hogan dream match instead.

Contributor
Contributor

The author of the highly acclaimed 'Titan' book series, James Dixon has been involved in the wrestling business for 25 years as a fan, wrestler, promoter, agent, and writer. James spent several years wrestling on the British independent circuit, but now prefers to write about the bumps and bruises rather than take any of them. His past in-ring experience does however give a uniquely more "insider" perspective on things, though he readily admits to still being a "mark" at heart. James is the Chief Editor and writer at historyofwrestling.co.uk and is responsible for the best-selling titles Titan Sinking, Titan Shattered, and Titan Screwed, as well as the Complete WWF Video Guide series, and the Raw Files series.