10 Wrestlers Who Secretly Changed WWE History

One of the most decorated grapplers of his era, Verne Gagne won 11 World championships before retiring to focus on running the American Wrestling Association (AWA). In the early 1980s, he was presented with a popular young star by the name of Hulk Hogan. 

Despite being the most over wrestler in the entire company, Gagne didn't like Hogan's style. Even when he was won round to the entire of putting the belt on him, he demanded an insane cut of The Hulkster's earnings as compensation. 

This was the final straw for Hogan. He accepted an offer from Vince McMahon to go back to WWE and, within a few months, he was their World champion. The rest, as they say, is history. 

Even if Gagne had made Hogan their champion, the AWA still wouldn't have become the dominant force in North American wrestling. It would have robbed the WWE of what would become their most important weapon, however. With Hogan at the wheel, the company went from regional powerhouse to global phenomenon. None of that would have happened had Verne just listened to common sense.