10 WWE Mega-Pushes Fans Hated BEFORE Roman Reigns & John Cena
1. Lex Luger
More from 1993 here, and, earnestly, that year's 'Biggest Party Of The Summer' (well before they tightened up the branding of it) is well worth a look for Bret Hart's matches with both Doink and Jerry Lawer. But after you've stuck around for yet another 'Excellence Of Execution' against a Clown and a King, skim to the end to see the highest profile failure of the guy they were actually pushing.
A sub-Michael Bolton type wails that Lex Luger will "be your hero" despite endless footage to the contrary. His "Call To Action" tour saw him so ill-at-ease with greeting the general public you'd think it was 2020, despite being the guy supposedly supplanting Hulk Hogan as the new top star.
Vince McMahon's investment in his grand bus tour after Luger's July 4th slamming of WWE Champion Yokozuna was one of his biggest ever overspends, especially when he foolishly thought the minimal momentum would carry all the way through to the following March's WrestleMania. He had to fund it - the cheers weren't carrying it there.
The Lex Express had stalled in 1993, and by 1994 it was completely out of gas. Both he and 'The Hitman' staked a claim for victory the Royal Rumble, but a typically patient and obedient crowd made it awkwardly apparent who they'd selected as their next Champion.