10 Wrestlers That Would've Been WWE Champion Without Hulk Hogan
8. Kerry Von Erich
Despite winning the Intercontinental Championship within a month of his debut, when Kerry Von Erich came to WWE in 1990, he was past his prime.
In 1986, Kerry had lost his foot due to injuries stemming from a motorcycle accident and developed addictions to painkillers and cocaine soon after. By the time 1990 came around, Von Erich was not the performer he was 6 years earlier when he defeated Ric Flair for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship in Texas Stadium, and his struggles had only worsened eventually leading to his 1993 suicide.
In the early 80s, as a famed member of the legendary Von Erich family, Kerry had viewed seen as a top prospect and future superstar by many within the industry. While Kerry's father Fritz ran World Class Championship Wrestling (WCCW), Vince McMahon was expanding the World Wrestling Federation and could've made use of the Modern Day Warrior much sooner than 1990, had Hulk Hogan not been a mainstay at the top.
Knowing that Vince built his early empire by plucking the most gifted and popular talents from territories all over the western hemisphere, Kerry Von Erich would've been an easy selection for Vince to use as one of his early WWF Champions.