Speaking of wrestlers who were supposed to be the second coming of successful characters, Lex Luger is the most notable. At first, Luger wasn't even intending to wrestle in the WWF. Instead, he signed a contract to be the face of Vince McMahon's new World Bodybuilding Federation in the early-1990's. When that experiment failed, Lex moved on to another one. Following a brief period as the 'Narcissist', Luger was shifted from heel to babyface and given a colossal push. In July, 1993, he hit Yokozuna with a body slam, trading his villainous character for the red, white and blue of North American patriotism. The WWF pushed him hard, and it became clear that McMahon felt Lex could be a replacement for Hulk Hogan going forward. Fans disagreed, taking to the dynamic performances of Bret 'Hitman' Hart instead. People didn't seem to want another Hulk Hogan, they wanted something different. That became abundantly clear when both Luger and Hart were announced as co-winners of the 1994 Royal Rumble match. Fans in attendance cheered more loudly for Bret, making Vince keenly aware that his pet project was not destined for the top of the card. Following WrestleMania X, Lex was shunted down the ladder of importance. He'd later grow frustrated and leave for WCW in 1995.
