10 Times WWE Got The WrestleMania Main Event Wrong

9. WrestleMania V: Randy Savage Vs. Hulk Hogan

Hogan Savage Wm V
WWE.com

What The Main Event Should Have Been: Randy Savage vs. Hulk Hogan

Huh? No, I haven't erred. And yes, I know it was one of the highest grossing WrestleMania cards ever for the longest time. And yes, I know the main event was the blowoff of a program that went back over two years in storyline terms. No, my issue is not the match but rather the result. I firmly believe Randy Savage should have retained, both for his sake and for Hogan’s. If he went over fans would have believed in him fully as someone on Hogan’s level, making him an even bigger draw down the line for when Hogan eventually usurped him. It also would have helped Hogan, whose big boot/legdrop act was become stale. Fans were starting to see through him as a one-trick pony who always won, and two years later resentment had become outright dislike. By Royal Rumble ‘92 his previous staunch support had turned into sheer disdain, with fans cheering uproariously when he was ousted from the match by heel Sid Justice.

Okay, having the heel go over Hogan at WrestleMania during the Hulkamania era might have been unpopular, but by the same token, Savage was very popular himself. He always had been, even when working Hogan years earlier during the peak of Hulkamania. Plus, he was drawing spectacularly on top. With Savage as champion on one loop and Hogan as the main draw on the other the WWF were breaking box office records on two fronts at the same time. Hogan didn't need the belt to draw, Savage did, so from a business perspective it was illogical to take the strap from him and put all eggs into the Hogan basket. As far as being a money-drawing megastar goes, Savage was never quite the same after that loss.

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.