7 Most Ridiculous Ways To Build Towards WWE Matches
Indian arm wrestling, imaginary friends and crucifixion...
The most established way of building up to a big blowoff match on pay-per-view between two wrestlers is to have them compete for a title. If that option isn't open, performers have often fought over women, ego or blind hatred for one another. Then, there are those occasions when WWE management get a little creative.
Sometimes, even when there is a championship on the line it just isn't enough for those in charge. In today's climate, the WWE Network ensures there is less stress when attempting to hype a pay-per-view. It wasn't always that way, surely explaining why some of the hair-brained schemes on this list took place.
All of the rivalries included here ended up in a pay-per-view collision. It's exactly how WWE got to that point that goes under the microscope, plot points that just beg to be examined. Someone believed these angles were the ideal way to build interest and convince customers to stump up the cash.
From custody of young children and the destruction of inanimate objects to blatant religious imagery and bizarre pre-match rituals, here are 7 ridiculous ways WWE have hyped up major pay-per-view showdowns...
7. Hulk Hogan Becomes Mr. America (Roddy Piper Vs. Mr. America, Judgment Day 2003)
Vince McMahon facing Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania XIX felt like a big deal. The Street Fight ordeal was logical given Hogan's status as one of McMahon's biggest ever draws. Hulk won the 'Mania match, before Vince in storyline forced the legend to sit out the rest of his contract at home.
This led to the debut of Mr. America on the May 1, 2003 episode of SmackDown. Appearing on Piper's Pit, Hogan wore gaudy USA-themed colours complete with a mask and the Mr. America character even used Hulk's old 'Real American' theme music.
The entire situation was supposed to build towards a re-tread of Hogan vs. Piper, only with the former under his Mr. America guise, at Judgment Day. A short affair, the bout only went a little over 5 minutes. The Mr. America character was retired just over one month later.
In the character's defence, the joke played towards it obviously being Hogan under the hood. That's fine, although it was hard to believe that Vince McMahon, Piper or anyone else could be fooled by the ruse. In 2003, nobody really needed Hulk Hogan vs. Roddy Piper, especially not with such an asinine gimmick involved.