10 Wrestling Moments More Important Than You Realised
5. The WWF Signs Marc Mero
It's no stretch to say that Vince McMahon, Jim Ross and Vince Russo were more interested in Sable than Marc Mero when they met the new-hire's wife in 1996. All three agreed that she was a star in the making, but McMahon had high hopes for Marc too.
That's why he signed Mero to the fed's first ever guaranteed contract.
Oh yes, Marc Mero changed WWE history forever. He sat down with McMahon and thrashed out terms on a tasty deal in 1996 that ensured a hefty wedge of cash whether he caught fire with WWF fans or not. In the end, his 'Wildman' gimmick didn't work, but Mero got paid every cent of his agreement anyway.
This was probs a reaction to Scott Hall and Kevin Nash defecting to WCW during the same summer. Panicking slightly, Vince tweaked prior company policy (giving "opportunities" more than guarantees) and offered Mero financial assurances nobody else got before him.
Downside guarantees became the norm shortly thereafter.