10 WWE Matches That Were Spoiled Before They Happened
4. Hulk Hogan Vs Sgt Slaughter (WrestleMania VII)
WWE had done such a distasteful job of promoting their heel Champion Sgt Slaughter in 1991 that business fell of a cliff as a result. Buyrates weren't returning to prior year peaks, whilst a WrestleMania headlined by the military deserter Champion and previous meal ticket Challenger Hulk Hogan had to be moved from 100,000-seater to 16,158 non-sellout down the road due to fan disinterest.
Or a "security risk", obviously.
Regardless of the hideous storyline that preceded it, the result wasn't ever in doubt. That said, Hogan's certain dominance over the pantomime villain Slaughter's near-the-knuckle character had rapidly become presumably had an impact on the contest's drawing power.
Never before or possibly since had a WrestleMania main event result been so locked in - the sheer state of Slaughter's pre-match patter made his loss a necessary inevitability. This wasn't the era of needing several more televised matches between the two over the next few months, nor even a point where a Hogan mach wouldn't go on last on the 'Show Of Shows'.
The fans were going home happy, even if their number only matched about an eighth of WWE's expectations.