10 WWE Champions That Completely Buried Their Challengers
9. Hulk Hogan (Challenger: Randy Savage)
The formation and subsequent breakdown in relations between Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage was perhaps the best ever exhibition of Vince McMahon's once-deft touch with the promoter's pencil. And long before he worried himself too much with the semantics of being thought of as such a thing.
In the 1980s, there was a crystal clear business rationale for the heroic Hogan to overcome raging Randy in order for WrestleMania V's climactic conclusion, but the subsequent summer of safety rematches sent Savage careering back down the card in such a manner that he barely featured at the following year's 'Show Of Shows'.
SummerSlam and Survivor Series clashes between 'The Hulkster' and Hollywood hanger-on Zeus were built on the back of Macho Man's graft, but it took a full year before Randy was rewarded with a programme against the Ultimate Warrior to help his character rebound from the debilitating losses.
Hogan was at it again in WCW, too. Savage's celebrations upon winning his first title were marred by an infuriating campaign of aggro from a wronged Hogan, before his third and fourth reigns with the title in 1998 and 1999 respectively were terminated 24 hours later by his longstanding frenemy.