Lex Luger opens up on what Vince McMahon told him about the WWE Championship. The WWE Patriarch wanted to replace a departing Hulk Hogan with him.
Hulk Hogan was the face of WWE. Vince McMahon turned his kingdom into an international empire, capturing the imagination of fans across the world, on the Hulkster’s back. However, with the face of the company on his way out, the WWE Chairman needed another star to carry on the mantel from him.
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Lex Luger was chosen as the man to become WWE’s next biggest babyface. The seeds were sowed when Luger bodyslammed then champion Yokozuna during a July 4th event back in 1993. This led to a feud between them that eventually resulted in a fight for the title at SummerSlam.
Lex Luger opens up on what Vince McMahon told him about the WWE Championship
Luger went on to win the match. However, due to the win coming as a result of a countout, Yokozuna retained the WWE Championship. Bruce Prichard has since said that the title was not given to the All American because he wasn’t drawing audience.
However, during a recent interv iew with Sean Waltman on his Pro Wrestling 4 Life podcast, the former WCW Champion revealed that Vince wanted him to become champion at Wrestlemania instead.
“In defence of Vince and the decision-makers at the time, Vince was really big… you know how much The Garden meant to Vince, right? Madison Square Garden, used to stare out the curtain the whole time. Vince told me, he never promised me the title, but Vince felt… Vince and I had a great relationship… ‘If I want to put the title on you, rather than do it at SummerSlam, I’d rather wait and do it at WrestleMania 10 at Madison Square Garden.’”
Luger went on to win the Royal Rumble along with Bret Hart the following year. Both men were given a shot at the title at Wrestlemania X. While Luger was disqualified during his match with Yokozuna, Hart overcame the champion to be awarded the title.
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