1990 WWF

By Scott Keith on 9 November 2023

Good sir. Your reposting of old WWF PPV’s has me thinking a lot about the Hogan/Warrior match and Warriors subsequent failure as champion.
Here’s my question – does wrestling sometimes work itself into a no win situation? We know now that Warrior didn’t work as champion but based on the reactions he was getting and how he was booked you 100% have to give him a shot at the top right? Same thing with Sting in 1990. He doesn’t draw as champion but you have to give him the shot right?
Just curious on your thoughts.

Oh absolutely. You have to take the shot. We’ve litigated this one to death but the ultimate blame is with Vince McMahon for not having strong opposition ready for Warrior after he won the title. He was immediately doing dull midcard matches with Haku and Mr Perfect while they warmed Rick Rude up again, and it basically killed his aura as champion out of the gate. And again, I don’t even have the solution. There was no magic bullet to find a money drawing heel because Undertaker wasn’t a thing yet and Randy Savage was already beaten down by Dusty. Warrior needed a hot heel, like Barry Windham if they hadn’t fucked him up so badly.