Hulk Hogan & Ultimate Warrior
With many younger fans tuning into Professional Wrestling for the first time in the mid 1980's, the hero was Hulk Hogan. Hulkamania was running wild, defeating all forces of evil thrown at him from the Iron Shiek, to Andre the Giant, to the storylined jealousy of Macho Man Randy Savage. Hogan's matches were very formulaic, much like John Cena's in recent years, where the heel would dominate proceedings only for the face (Hogan/Cena) to claw back miraculously from the jaws of defeat and win the match. Fans began to need more energy, more power, more excitement in a top guy. It was at this point we were introduced to the Ultimate Warrior. The Warrior made his WWF debut in 1987. With his fast paced theme music, the Ultimate Warrior entered the ring distinctly by running straight to the ring and shaking the ropes, a stark contrast from Hogan's slow walk, pandering to the fans entrance style. Warrior made his way through the ranks of the WWF quickly, and by 1990 was headed for a collision course with Hogan. The two Superstars would clash at Wrestlemania VI, in one of the most remembered Wrestlemania main events of all time. In what could be seen as a testament to Vince McMahon and the WWF's belief in the time for a change, Warrior won this Champion vs Champion encounter. The Ultimate Warrior would go on to make successful Championship defences whilst, similar to John Cena today, Hogan would embark on feuds with further big threats such as Earthquake in which his tried and tested match formula would continue. Unfortunately in 1991 bridges between the Ultimate Warrior and the WWF would be burnt, but Hogan returned to the Championship picture in this time and regain the Championship from Sgt. Slaughter at Wrestlemania VII in 1991. Warrior would return at the following Wrestlemania (VIII) to assist Hogan, who was being attacked by Sid and Papa Shango after Hogan had defeated Sid. With a steroid scandal looming, Hogan left the WWF for a short while after this, whilst the Warrior went on to feud with Papa Shango and then went on to take on the Macho Man for the WWF Championship, however his popularity never seemed to reach the heights of his initial run in the company. Hulk Hogan and the Ultimate Warrior were on top of the WWF together at the turn of the 1990's. For the first time, fans were divided on who their favourite was and had differing reasons for preferring one over the other. When they clashed at Wrestlemania VI, it was a dream match for fans hoping that their choice would leave as WWF Champion. If WWE today can recreate the excitement and divide between fans that they did in 1990 with these stars, it could take Punk, the company and perhaps Cena to even higher heights.