How WWF Got So Big

Debuting in December 1983, ‘The Incredible’ Hulk Hogan came out adorned in his now-signature red and yellow sporting a t-shirt which read ‘Hulkamania’ on the back. He crushed the midcard heel Bill Dixon in easy fashion. On the following episode of Championship Wrestling, Hulk aligned himself with Bob Backlund against the hated Wild Samoans, affirming his position as a good guy. Hogan’s rise to the top was exponential, and by the end of January, the Hulkster had toppled The Iron Sheik to become WWF Champion.

Remembering his discovery of the power rock music had on audiences at the Cape Cod Coliseum, McMahon used Hogan as a bridge between MTV and WWF. The Rock ’n’ Wrestling Connection was formed. Utilising the rise of cable television, McMahon established WWF in the mainstream.

In 1983, WWF on-screen manager Captain Lou Albano had a chance meeting with rising pop star Cyndi Lauper. The singer’s manager suggested the pair worked together on an upcoming project, and Albano landed himself an acting role in the music video for one of Lauper’s biggest hits. Playing the role of Cyndi’s father in the video for ‘Girls Just Want to Have Fun’, Lou Albano was regularly seen by the younger viewers of MTV. This led to further collaboration between Lauper and WWF.

In their first televised show on cable, WWF’s ‘The Brawl to End It All’ featured promo packages and one match. The dominant Women’s Champion, The Fabulous Moolah (who had been reigning since 1978) lost the title to Cyndi Lauper’s chosen superstar, Wendi Richter. Endorsed by the megastar Lauper and being shown on MTV, helped WWF enter the pop culture zeitgeist.

Nationally, WWF continued to go from strength to strength. Adhering to the philosophy of all or nothing, McMahon made a gamble that would either cause the company’s trajectory to skyrocket or cause it to plummet into financial oblivion.