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In Transition: Bridging the Gap to Hulkamania

In Transition: Bridging the Gap to Hulkamania

Posted: Oct 7th 2024 By: Brian Damage - RingTheDamnBell.Wordpress.com

The launch of Hulk Hogan as WWF champion and the subsequent birth of ‘Hulkamania,’ was really the starting point for the World Wrestling Federation’s growth from localized territory to national expansion in the early to mid 1980’s. Before Hogan became champion, there needed to be a bridge created to have him be the conquering hero. For years, babyface Bob Backlund was the face of the WWF…but new owner Vince McMahon Jr realized that Backlund wasn’t the person he wanted as the crown jewel of his ever growing wrestling empire.

Vince Jr needed to get the WWF title off of Backlund and on to a heel temporarily, to transition to Hulk Hogan getting the belt. Back in those days, while not completely uncommon…it was a bit rare to have a babyface wrestle a fellow babyface for the top prize. That wasn’t what Vince Jr had in mind anyway…he needed a heel, universally hated by fans to create an aura around Hulk Hogan. The choice, as we know, went to the Iranian wrestler known as the Iron Sheik.

While the Iron Sheik was ultimately the choice, to unseat Bob Backlund and become the transitional WWF champion….he was certainly not the company’s first or only choice to be “the man” so to speak. As with life, not everything in wrestling is black and white. There are plenty of gray areas. In this particular case…there was plenty of gray area with the Iron Sheik as the choice to become the world champion.

Reportedly, there were a small handful of options other than the Iron Sheik and the decision caused a little bit of of a stir within. Sgt. Slaughter was considered at some point, as a potential choice to unseat Backlund, due to the vicious rivalry the two had with one another in the company in 1983. Vince Jr had other plans for Slaughter that included him becoming a patriotic babyface and nixed the idea.

‘The Magnificent’ Don Muraco was a favorite to some in the WWF’s hierarchy, who felt that he was the most polished of all the choices. He had the wrestling skills, the charisma and the look to conquer Backlund and there was a belief that Pat Patterson was really the person pushing for Muraco to get the nod. Alas, nothing came of this choice either.

The wrestler that was heavily rumored to have been chosen by Vince Jr initially was ‘The Masked Superstar’ Bill Eadie. He would later gain fame to newer fans as Ax of the tag team ‘Demolition.’ Vince Jr felt that he was perfect to be the transitional champion to bridge between Backlund and Hogan. The Masked Superstar was a solid talker and could help carry a match with Hulk Hoggan to make him look great as the new face of the WWF.

According to Eadie, it was Vince Jr’s father…Vince McMahon Sr that vetoed the idea. Vince Sr was still actively guiding his son during this time. While the elder McMahon was aged and battling health issues, he still had pull and say with his son. Eadie said that he had a very close relationship with Vince Sr and there was a mutual respect between the two men. Vince Sr allegedly felt that making the Masked Superstar a transitional champion and getting quickly beat by Hulk Hogan could potentially tarnish the career of the masked man.

When Vince Sr put his foot down on the Masked Superstar…Vince made the decision to go with the Iron Sheik. While certainly hated for his Iranian roots and his anti American gimmick….some believed that the gimmick was old and tired for 1983/84. Vince Jr felt he was the next best option to gain enough heat and patriotic emotions for the Hulkster. In the end, it really did not matter too much who the transitional champion was. Hulk Hogan was always the end goal. The Iron Sheik was able to get a world title credit to his resume and the national expansion of the WWF went into full steam.

 

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Spotlight in History

  • 1967 Chati Yokouchi & Togo Shikuma def. Danny Hodge & Skandar Akbar for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
  • 2005 Lance Cade & Trevor Murdoch def. The Hurricane & Rosey for the WWE RAW World Tag Team Titles
  • 2005 Ric Flair def. Carlito for the WWE Intercontinental Title
  • 2015 Sons of Texas (Moonshine Mantell & Killer McKenzie) def. The Imperialists (Charlie Haas & Griffin) for the NWA-TXO Tag Team Titles
  • 2021 Thrash def. Jermaine Johnson for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
  • 2021 Reed def. Thrash for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
  • 2022 Fuel def. Koko for the UWE Heavyweight Title
  • 2022 Fuel def. Koko for the UWE Apex Title

Week of Sun 09-13 to Sat: 09-19

  • 09-13 1967 Brute Bernard def. Bull Curry for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 09-13 1974 Jose Lothario def. El Gran Markus for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 09-13 1987 Eric Embry became the WCCW World Light Heavyweight Champion
  • 09-13 2008 Dustin Heritage def. Kenny Campbell for the IZW Impact Division Title
  • 09-13 2008 Impact, Inc. (Johnny Z & Bernie D) def. Nathan Sensation & Striker for the IZW Tag Team Titles
  • 09-13 2008 Shawn Sanders def. Kevin Morgan for the OECW Heavyweight Title
  • 09-13 2008 Martin Justice became the OECW Southwestern Champion
  • 09-13 2009 3rd Rail def. Maniac Mike for the SWCW Hardcore Title
  • 09-13 2009 Maniac Mike became the SWCW Hardcore Champion
  • 09-13 2014 J. R. Orullian & Running Wolf became the NAW Tag Team Champions
  • 09-13 2014 The Trenchcoat Mafia (Ryan Reed & Billy Ray [1st]) def. J. R. Orullian & Running Wolf for the NAW Tag Team Titles
  • 09-13 2014 The Trenchcoat Mafia (Ryan Reed & Running Wolf) became the NAW Tag Team Champions
  • 09-13 2020 Dimitri Alexandrov def. O’Brien for the ASP Heavyweight Title
  • 09-13 2025 Michael H became the NAW Openweight Champion
  • 09-13 2025 Jupiter Jones def. Frankie Lee for the RDW Iron Man Title
  • 09-13 2025 Sgt. Hartman def. Floyd Maystorm for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
  • 09-13 2025 Floyd Maystorm def. Sgt. Hartman for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
  • 09-13 2026 Tuff Love (Cade Lovee & Cole Lung) def. GBA (Drake Gallows & Colton Kinnamon) for the RDW Tag Team Titles
  • 09-13 2026 Nate Bourne def. Ricky Wingrave for the RDW Iron Man Title
  • 09-13 2026 Malik Mayfield def. Will Chambers for the UWO Heavyweight Title
  • 09-13 2026 Lunchador def. Max Leon for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
  • 09-13 2026 Max Leon def. Lunchador for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
  • 09-14 2007 Dane Griffin def. Montego Seeka for the UWF06 Light Heavyweight Title
  • 09-14 2007 Dane Griffin became the UWF06 Texhoma Champion
  • 09-14 2013 Team Bull (The Bronze Bull & Bobby Starr) def. What Wrestling Should Be (Jermaine Johnson & Jordan Jacobs) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
  • 09-14 2013 The Oakhurst Fire Mafia (Chief Mike & Keebler) def. The P. I. N. K. Nation (Ray Martinez & Tommy Toops) for the SRPW Tag Team Titles
  • 09-14 2019 MVP def. Chavo Guerrero, Jr. for the WCR Heavyweight Title
  • 09-14 2024 Original Renegade became the NAW Openweight Champion
  • 09-14 2024 Umbra def. Trench Blythe for the WAH Spotlight Title
  • 09-14 2024 Pastor Brent def. Daniel Aaron Michalles for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
  • 09-14 2024 Jean-Claude def. Eddie LeVaughn for the WAH Heavyweight Title
  • 09-14 2024 Manico def. Billie the Kiid for the NAW Indigenous Land Title
  • 09-14 2024 Jeb Bingham def. Jastin Taylor for the BCW Heavyweight Title
  • 09-15 1969 The Medics (Medic #1 & Medic #2) def. Alberto Torres & Ramon Torres for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
  • 09-15 1980 Junkyard Dog & Terry Orndorff def. The Fabulous Freebirds (Terry Gordy & Buddy Roberts) for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Titles
  • 09-15 1986 Black Bart def. Chris Adams for the WCCW World Title
  • 09-15 2007 Sudden Impact (Sudden Impact 1 & Sudden Impact 2) def. Texas, Inc. (Bernard Funk & Tim Rockwell) for the ComPro Tag Team Titles
  • 09-15 2007 Anthony Jackson def. AWOL for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
  • 09-15 2007 Shane Morbid def. Justin Lee for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
  • 09-15 2012 Double D def. Aaron Neil for the IZW Heavyweight Title
  • 09-15 2018 Chavo Guerrero, Jr. def. MVP for the WCR Heavyweight Title
  • 09-15 2019 Chaz Sharpe def. James Southard for the ASP Inter-County Title
  • 09-15 2023 Jastin Taylor def. Sam Stackhouse for the BCW Heavyweight Title
  • 09-16 1975 John Tolos def. Al Madril for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
  • 09-16 1988 Michael Hayes & Steve Cox def. The Samoan SWAT Team (Fatu & Samu) for the WCCW World Tag Team Titles
  • 09-16 2005 Lily McKenzie def. Chiquita Suzuki for the SRPW Womens Title
  • 09-16 2006 Michael Barry def. Aaron Neil for the IZW Heavyweight Title
  • 09-16 2006 Ryan Davidson became the IZW Impact Division Champion
  • 09-16 2017 Paige Turner def. Erica for the IZW Womens Title
  • 09-16 2017 Skyler Fayden def. Riker for the UWE Heavyweight Title
  • 09-16 2017 Big Smooth & Zakk Sinizter became the UWE Tag Team Champions
  • 09-16 2022 Shane Taylor def. Johnny Bedlam for the TexPro Heavyweight Title
  • 09-16 2023 Red James def. Ozzy Hendrix for the EPW Internet Television Title
  • 09-17 1979 The Spoiler & Mark Lewin def. Kerry Von Erich & Bruiser Brody for the WCCW Texas Tag Team Titles
  • 09-17 2004 Bobby Dalton def. Shane Morbid for the SRPW Hardcore Title
  • 09-17 2008 Michael Faith became the TCB Heavyweight Champion
  • 09-17 2008 High Society (Al Farat & Thomas Trump) became the TCB Dual Kombat Champion
  • 09-17 2008 Michael Faith became the TCBW Heavyweight Champion
  • 09-17 2008 High Society (Al Farat & Thomas Trump) became the TCBW Dual Kombat Champion
  • 09-17 2010 Dane Griffin def. Cody Jones for the NWA-OK Texoma Title
  • 09-17 2010 Aerial Assault (Ky-ote Joe & Montego Seeka) became the NWA-OK Oklahoma Tag Team Champions
  • 09-17 2010 Michael Faith def. Dane Griffin for the NWA-OK Oklahoma Heavyweight Title
  • 09-17 2016 Mr. Nasty def. Brian Breaker for the UWE Heavyweight Title
  • 09-17 2026 T. J. Spade became the ASP WTF Champion
  • 09-18 1967 Chati Yokouchi & Togo Shikuma def. Danny Hodge & Skandar Akbar for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
  • 09-18 2005 Lance Cade & Trevor Murdoch def. The Hurricane & Rosey for the WWE RAW World Tag Team Titles
  • 09-18 2005 Ric Flair def. Carlito for the WWE Intercontinental Title
  • 09-18 2015 Sons of Texas (Moonshine Mantell & Killer McKenzie) def. The Imperialists (Charlie Haas & Griffin) for the NWA-TXO Tag Team Titles
  • 09-18 2021 Thrash def. Jermaine Johnson for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
  • 09-18 2021 Reed def. Thrash for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
  • 09-18 2022 Fuel def. Koko for the UWE Heavyweight Title
  • 09-18 2022 Fuel def. Koko for the UWE Apex Title
  • 09-19 1979 Mike Sharpe, Jr. def. Mike George for the MSW Mississippi Title
  • 09-19 1982 David Von Erich def. Bill Irwin for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
  • 09-19 1988 The Samoan SWAT Team (Samu & Fatu) def. Michael Hayes & Steve Cox for the WCCW World Tag Team Titles
  • 09-19 2014 Simply Irresistible (Matthew Palmer & James Johnson) def. The Dark Circle (Mace Malone & Apoc) for the NWA-TXO Tag Team Titles
  • 09-19 2015 Loaded Guns (Jon Cross & Brandon Walker) def. The Rising (Riker & Abel) for the UWE Tag Team Titles
  • 09-19 2015 Brian Breaker def. Clint Cassidy for the UWE United States Title
  • 09-19 2015 Zakk Sinizter def. Anarchy [2nd] for the UWE Heavyweight Title
  • 09-19 2015 Jon Cross became the WFC Heavyweight Champion
  • 09-19 2019 MVP became the WCR Imperial Champion
  • 09-19 2020 Pastor Brent became the WAH Heavyweight Champion
  • 09-19 2021 Maui Mike def. Thrash for the ASP Mid-American Title
  • 09-19 2021 Brixton Barricade def. Brandon Barricade for the ASP All Time Title
  • 09-19 2021 Malik Mayfield def. Jerome Daniel Griffey for the ASP Livestream Title
  • 09-19 2021 Double D def. Jerome Daniel Griffey for the ASP 5-Star Title
09-18
  • Titan Yin Sep 18th Today!
  • Mr. Nabors Sep 18th Today!
  • Angel Reed Sep 18th Today!
  • Cisco Grimaldi Sep 18th Today!
  • Billy Robinson Sep 18th Today!
  • Adam Asher Sep 19th
  • Jerry Brisco Sep 19th
  • Yoshiaki Yatsu Sep 19th
  • Justin Lee Sep 20th
  • Bishop Simon Sep 20th
  • Randy Rhodes Sep 20th
  • Ethan Page Sep 20th
  • Boz Sep 20th
  • Joey Stixx Sep 20th
  • Pepper Martin Sep 20th
  • Greg Valentine Sep 20th
  • Chuck Singer Sep 20th
  • Ricky Morton Sep 21st
  • Connor Jones Sep 21st
  • Jack Brisco Sep 21st
  • Mike Chacoma Sep 22nd
  • Doug Somers Sep 22nd
  • Satine Sep 22nd
  • Harley D Sep 22nd
  • Red River Brawler Sep 22nd
  • Rocco Valentino Sep 23rd
  • O'Malley Sep 23rd
  • Cole Crittenden Sep 23rd
  • John J. Bishop Sep 24th
  • Joe Jones Sep 24th
  • Kai Fayden Sep 24th
  • Jason Bruce Sep 24th
  • Len Rossi Sep 24th
  • Connor Crunk Sep 24th
  • Clayton Bloodstone Sep 24th
  • Jimmy Garvin Sep 25th
  • Toots Estes Sep 25th
  • Angel [2nd] Sep 25th
  • Chief Mike Sep 25th
  • Ka$haNova Sep 26th
  • Lone Eagle Sep 26th
  • Jhamil O$Neal Sep 26th
  • Clifton Clinstock Sep 26th
  • Chris Matthews Sep 26th
  • Kendo Nagasaki Sep 26th
  • BB Sep 26th
  • Tyler Cordingley Sep 27th
  • Ben Miller Sep 27th
  • Angel Camacho Sep 27th
  • Alec Bisogno Sep 27th
  • Billy Ray [2nd] Sep 28th
  • Scott Lee Sep 28th
  • Trey Count Sep 28th
  • Rip Tyler Sep 28th
  • Tommy Prince Sep 28th
  • Kamille Sep 28th
  • Skandar Akbar Sep 29th
  • Ann Casey Sep 29th
  • David Sammartino Sep 29th
  • Bang Bang Bennett Sep 29th
  • Raymon Downey Sep 30th
  • Lady Starwind Sep 30th
  • Marlboro Slim Sep 30th
  • Kidd Riggs Sep 30th
  • Fred Urban Sep 30th
  • Seth Coburn Sep 30th
  • Hector Guerrero Oct 1st

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