The WORST Wrestling Story Every Year (1989-2025)

1991 - Hulk Hogan Vs. Sgt. Slaughter

Hulk Hogan Sgt Slaugther Wrestlemania 7
WWE.com

The programme between Hulk Hogan and Sgt. Slaughter was worse for what it represented, and how poorly it reflected on the WWF, than the actual plotting.

The actual plotting was really strong, when the story overlapped with Macho Man Randy Savage vs. the Ultimate Warrior; Savage’s unreal, intense performance level was so good at Royal Rumble 1991 that his frenzied assist got Slaughter over as a credible transitional champion.

Otherwise, this was lamentable stuff, and it was almost worse; Vince McMahon allegedly wanted Slaughter to burn the American flag, before relenting. Slaughter instead burned a Hulk Hogan t-shirt, which was attached to a pole. The WWF knew what they were doing there.

Slaughter was an Iraqi sympathiser who had betrayed America against the backdrop of a very real, ongoing Gulf War that would claim a gruesome total of casualties. The Immortal Hulk Hogan defended America, and in dropping the leg, saved the world. When you think about it, Hogan practically pinned Saddam Hussein right in the middle of the ring, Jack.

Inflammatory, exploitative trash, this was also pure desperation on the part of McMahon. He knew the glory days were fading, and his response was dementedly arrogant. He thought he could unite a nation with this crap; in the end, the great promotional genius couldn’t even draw a house. WrestleMania VII had to be downsized from the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum to the Sports Arena.

If Slaughter was such a mega-heel that his life was apparently in danger, why did so few people - 400,000, well down from WrestleMania V (767,000) and VI (560,000) - pay to watch him lose?

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Contributor
Contributor

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!