Few matches in our lifetimes have so much build up, so much energy pouring out of every magazine, TV show, or pay-per-view, and such a great payoff as we had on this day in wrestling history, April 2, 1990, at WrestleMania 6.
It was dubbed the Ultimate Challenge as the WWE’s top two faces rode the tidal wave of energy from the fans to this moment in time. It marked he first time in the promotion’s history that the WWF World Heavyweight Championship and the Intercontinental Championship were both up for grabs for the winner.
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Months in the making
Hulk Hogan was the top face in professional wrestling throughout the 80s. He was the one most of us looked two as a hero an idol as he was a larger than life persona that embodied what we all wanted to be like.
The Ultimate Warrior was frenetic energy looking to explode. He was intensity personified whenever he stepped into the ring to face his opponents. He was the outsider, the underdog. He was the raw energy and power we all wished we could possess.
Starting with the Royal Rumble in January, the build up was slow, but consistent as both laid waste to their opponents.
But what really stuck out with this WrestleMania was how the main event continued to be something we all wanted to see. It continued the legacy from the previous four WrestleManias where the world championship was on the line in the main event.
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Following the previous year’s main event storyline of the Mega Powers Explode, these are arguably two of the greatest main events of the era as they were both between the top stars in the world.
Passing of the torch
Vince McMahon had been searching for the next Hulk Hogan as he didn’t expect Hogan’s popularity to last as long as it had, and considering the Warrior’s physical appearance and following, it made sense for him to become the new face of the World Wrestling Federation by beating Hogan clean. It was the first time that had happened in nearly a decade.
It didn’t over as smooth as one would think, as pointed out by @awrestlinghistorian, Hulk Hogan admitted in 2006 that his handing the Warrior the belt was his way of stealing the spotlight. While it may have for some, for many, it came across more as good sportsmanship and did more to propel Hogan’s popularity as a standup guy instead of being vain.
(Special thanks to @awrestinghistorian for the following transcript)
“It’s awesome to go out and be able to perform at that level in front of that many people in a match that had the kind of chemistry it did. Will I be able to remember it exactly like how I did that night? I don’t think so, but…everything worked. Just to get that place in my career as The Ultimate Warrior and had a match with Hulk Hogan even if the finish was different would’ve been something in itself, but the fact of the matter is the finish of the match was the way it was. That time in the history of sports entertainment, it was magic.
“If you don’t have the charisma then the other stuff doesn’t matter. There were plenty of guys that have mocked me and The Ultimate Warrior character and criticized it that came there with bags and bags and bags of wrestling moves, they never made it like The Ultimate Warrior character did.” – The Ultimate Warrior Shoot Interview DVD 2005.
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This day in wrestling history is great for another reason as this match helped galvanize many fans’ love of wrestling, including a young Adam Copeland (Edge) in the front row. Everything we see inspires someone in some way, and that’s part of the magic of the grandest stage of them all.
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