41 Most Disgusting Promotional Tactics In Wrestling History RANKED

23. 1991 - WWE Exploits The Persian Gulf War

Hulk Hogan Sgt Slaugther Wrestlemania 7
WWE.com

You’re not really allowed to say this, but the big picture booking between Royal Rumble and WrestleMania VII was really something. The arrangement of the key players, that is - not the content of the material.

In a sensational match at the 1991 Royal Rumble, Randy Savage cost the Ultimate Warrior his WWF title to the benefit of Sgt. Slaughter. The sceptre shot finish was incredible; Warrior was ordinarily useless at selling, but here, he sold the hell out of a blinding headache. Hulk Hogan stepped in to save the day from the turncoat transitional champion, and, completing the happy ending brace on the grandest stage, Savage turned face to reunite with Miss Elizabeth in one of the most moving WWE angles ever.

The problem?

WWE promoted WrestleMania VII against the backdrop of the Gulf War: a two-phase conflict led by the United States against Iraq and Saddam Hussein. In a televised angle, Slaughter burned a Hulk Hogan t-shirt. If it wasn’t already phenomenally obvious what the WWF was getting at here, the “hidden meaning” of the transgression they really wanted to commit, the t-shirt was attached to a stick - like a flag! - before Slaughter set it ablaze. Vince McMahon allegedly wanted to go all the way, before a petrified Slaughter, who had taken to wearing a bullet-proof vest, refused.

The war resulted in 292 coalition casualties. It is doubtful in the extreme that their bereaved families took comfort in Hogan dropping the leg to return the winged eagle home, where their sons, brothers and fathers had not.

This was awful, exploitative trash - a very worthy award winner.

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Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!