10 Wrestling Moments Everyone Misunderstood As Kids

8. Why Is Lex Luger A Goodie Now?

shawn michaels playgirl
WWE Network

The WWF threw everything at the Lex Luger push:

The old glory colour scheme. A helicopter. A very expensive bus. A parade of small children who were presumably paid to receive him as the third coming of Hulk Hogan. An absolutely amazing 1980s c*ck rock ballad - in 1993 - that Michael Bolton would have balked at for its oozing cheese.

But wasn't he an arrogant b*stard, like, the day before? He was the epitome of arrgoant; he was the Narcissist. How can you go from loving yourself and yourself alone, to somehow representing an entire nation? Donald Trump's presidency happened decades ago.

This new hero character stumped children everywhere. Most 30-something fans always knew Hulk Hogan as the talisman of the WWF. It was like he was always there. We didn't question Hogan. He was our hero. Luger was this imposter who broke our brains, but there was nothing to "get", not really. Vince McMahon just wanted another Hulk, and Luger was the result.

"What does it take to be a hero?" the aforementioned song went. The answer: absolutely bloody nothing! Just say you're a hero!

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and surefire Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!