10 WWE Title Changes That Shocked The World
5. Sgt. Slaughter (Royal Rumble 1991)
Vince McMahon's decision to replace Hulk Hogan with The Ultimate Warrior as the WWF's face of the 1990s wouldn't pan out in the long run. In fact, the attempt to run with Warrior would barely last a full year, and he was stripped of the title just as calendars settled into 1991.
Instead of an established, hard-bodied WWF heel like Mr. Perfect or 'Ravishing' Rick Rude being chosen for the role of successor, the soft physique of Sgt. Slaughter (at least compared to Warrior's heaving level of muscle) was brought back and recast as a traitorous villain who aligned with Iraq against his native United States.
If only because of McMahon's desire to capitalise on real-life tension, the unlikely Sarge became WWF Champ come the '91 Royal Rumble at Warrior's expense.
Most probably knew that Hulk Hogan would be the one to defend the honour of his country and vanquish Slaughter at WrestleMania, but it was still striking to see the ageing military man return to the company and take the WWF's top prize from someone who had been shoved down fan throats as the guy who would lead them through the next decade.