> Here's a potential Blog question...when Hogan balked at dropping the title to Bret in '93, did Vince ever pitch losing to Luger instead? Luger was the heir apparent to the title for the rest of the year anyway, and if Hogan's beef was just that Bret was "too small" (which is such a ridiculous notion now in hindsight), surely Lex would have be
en "big" enough. Was Hogan deciding to quit the only thing that made Vince even think to turn Lex face? I have to wonder, because when you think about it, it's weird that Vince seemed to forget all about his plans for Bret at that time and focus on Luger for the rest of the year.>
Yeah, the Luger thing was pretty last minute, although I'm intrigued by the notion of Hogan putting Luger over. That might have actually worked, although at the point we're talking about, Luger was regarded as little more than a midcard act by pretty much everyone. It definitely is funny that no one put two and two together and asked Hogan to do that job, though.
King of the Ring 93 is one absolutely surreal ppv.
ReplyDeleteIDK.. Luger v Hogan was still a dream match people really wanted to see in 1993.
ReplyDeleteJBL went from midcarder to world champion so fast he should have been selling a neck injury from the whiplash.
ReplyDeleteI wonder why they waited 6 years to give The Undertaker another chance at the belt. He would have been another candidate.
ReplyDeleteThe WWF destroyed all future dream matches by their handling of the Hogan/Flair feud, petering it out over a few house shows.
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing that the first televised WWF match between them didn't happen until the 21st century.
Actually, Taker got a crack at the belt at Rumble 94 vs Yokozuna.
ReplyDeleteSecondly, Taker didn't "need" the belt. The gimmick outshines the title.
Hogan puts over Ultimate Warrior then sabotages Warrior's title reign just so he could get back on top. He probably would have done the same thing to Luger.
ReplyDeleteMy bad, should have said another chance to hold the belt.
ReplyDeletePeople tend to rag on Luger around this time, but I always saw him as a main eventer, especially with the Lex express push. We've all spoken about no putting the belt on him at SS 93 as one of the biggest blunders ever, but still don't see why people think of him like the decided to push Bart Gunn or something to the top.
ReplyDeleteHogan had already mentally checked out of WWF by that point.
ReplyDeleteIs the WWE network running like hot shit for anyone else? I have the internet speeds to watch live Twitch streams at 1080p for hours on end but the moment I want to watch an old PPV on the network, I get shit resolution and constant stopping
ReplyDeleteAgreed. I always thought of Luger as a Main Event player. I didn't watch WCW prior to 94, so the only knowledge I had of him was from the Apter magazines of the time. That being said, his look and general persona made me a believer.
ReplyDeleteLuger has 3 moves. A clothesline, a military press and the WWE elbow. He used just two of them for his entire WCW career. Every match just 2 moves.
ReplyDeleteI get what you're saying. And looking back, you're correct. Taker would have been a good choice. However at the time, Taker was still Deadman. He was 100% gimmick. The gimmick exists outside of the title. In other words, Taker would not have elevated the title. He was over and giving him the belt wouldn't have got him "more over".
ReplyDeleteWe need one of those signs caravan parks use that says ''It has been -INSERT NUMBER- days since the last Luger thread.''
ReplyDeleteWWF blew - Flair/Hogan, LOD/Demolition, Hogan/Luger
ReplyDeleteWhy would he fight for the WWF belt? It's a toy.
ReplyDeleteRight, he was dreaming of mainstream stardom with Thunder in Paradise. We all know how that ended up.
ReplyDeleteIn the long shadow of Nightboat
ReplyDeleteBack in the 80s, Luger was pegged as the next Hogan.
ReplyDelete