How Wrestling Has Changed Since 9/11

4. Mr. America

The Rock Vince McMahon 9/11 SmackDown
WWE

Billed as a match "20 years in the making," Hulk Hogan vs. Vince McMahon at WrestleMania XIX came with the stipulation that the 'Hulkster' would have to "retire" if he lost.

Lose he did, and while Hulk Hogan disappeared from television, Terry Bollea did not. He quickly re-emerged as the masked Mr. America. The joke was that everyone knew it was Hogan in a mask as he retained "Real American" as an entrance track, did all of Hulk's moves, and, well... look at him. The disguise couldn't even fool McMahon, who called Mr. America out during his debut on an episode of Piper's Pit, thus continuing their feud, with Hogan wrestling Roddy Piper at Judgment Day and participating in an arm-wrestling match with McMahon for the benefit of Zach Gowen.

The gimmick ended when a June episode of SmackDown saw Mr. America finally unmasked and unveiled as Hogan. One week later, Bollea was gone from the company. Citing the Mr. America gimmick as one of the reasons, his long-held creative frustrations came to a head, so Vince made a song and dance about firing him on the 3 July SmackDown.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.