Ultimate Warrior vs. Hulk Hogan at Wrestlemania VI

It was the Ultimate Challenge; Title vs. Title. But in reality, it was hero vs. hero, icon vs. icon, best friend on the playground vs. best friend. This was the match that we 9-year-olds fought over. We argued every day when this match was announced. Who was better, and who would win?

Though Hulk Hogan was only 36 years old at the time, his bald head made him look much older. Vince McMahon had been trying to replace his greatest star almost as quickly as Hogan was balding. On the other side, 31-year-old Ultimate Warrior represented a younger generation, even if he wasn’t that much younger. Warrior had more defined muscles, he wore flashy neon colors that were popular at the time, and he not only had a full head of hair, but that hair flowed wildly as the Warrior ran to the ring. Vince had found his man, the man to take over Hulk Hogan’s place.

As a wrestling historian, I must say, that doing a face vs. face match to change the guard of your company has MANY risks. Starting with Danno O’Mahony beating Jim Londos, which ended with Londos endorsing O’Mahony and the crowd rejecting it. Having a popular babyface champion lose to another babyface runs the risk of turning the audience against your next hero. And these are the lessons we must take into this historic match.

The Build

For the second time, Wrestlemania was a stadium show. But unlike last time which saw Hogan/Andre by far the biggest attraction in wrestling, Vince needed a new rival for Hogan to fill the Toronto Sky Dome. To do that, he needed the biggest match, but after years of destroying large monsters, no heel could be a believable threat to Hogan. For Hogan to sell out the SkyDome, he needed someone to match him, someone as equally unbeatable. Enter the Ultimate Warrior.

Over 67,000 people filled the SkyDome, as this match had a curiosity factor. Add in the build-up which Jesse Ventura didn’t know which side to pick, and you had the debate of the year. You had Hogan, the champion, bigger, maybe stronger, who had defended America from the Iron Sheik, Nikolai Volkoff, and the French Andre the Giant. But many of my friends were now going for the new guy, the Ulitmate Warrior, the man who talks in the story, who looks like a comic book hero, and who runs to the ring and gets everyone hyped before the match even starts.

The Match

As both men enter the ring, the crowd is going crazy. This is a card solely sold on one match, and one match only, and these fans were ready for it. It appeared that Hogan was more of the fan-favorite than Warrior, something that will be noted for decades after this match. Of course, this match starts with a test of strength, as we have to establish that both men are very strong. Hogan is very noticeably bigger, which he uses to his advantage early on. Hogan seemingly wins the test of strength, then after Warrior tries to go outside to follow Hogan, Hogan takes control of the match.

Throughout most of the match, Hogan is pounding on the Warrior. He’s trying to get sympathy for him and make the crowd cheer Warrior. Hogan did try to make Warrior that night matter what he said, the match flowed in a way which you rooted for the Warrior if you were casually watching. Of course, Hogan did have to get in one of his bear hug spots, where Warrior makes him pass out and the crowd cheers for Hogan to wake up. But other than that, the match was laid out (with Pat Patterson) to get Warrior over.

And then the big ending. Hogan kicks out of the Gorilla Press Slam, Hulks up, and then misses the Atomic Leg Drop, which Warrior splashed Hogan for the 3 count and then Hogan kicks out at 3 and a half. Though much is made of this kick-out, you must remember Iron Sheik kicked out from Hogan’s pin at 3 and a half when Hogan won the title. This is not the burial that many make it out to be.

Aftermath

After Hogan loses, he looks to the heavens like God forsaken him. Warrior is celebrating. Earl Hebner tries to hand Warrior both titles, but he only takes the Intercontinental title, instead, Hebner has to give back the WWF title to the people at ringside. Hogan goes outside and gets the WWF title, then presents the title to Warrior. It’s a classic moment, one which people remember. And much like Londos congratulating O’Mahony, people remember the old champion and this makes the old champion even more popular. In the moment though, it appears the crowd is happy Warrior is the champion.

This match was a thing of legend. Hogan/Warrior got 3.75 stars from Dave Meltzer, which for a Warrior match was very high. For years afterward, the Warrior was solidified as a star, having this moment made him. But much like Londos in the 1930s, Hogan’s popularity after this match would increase. His display of good sportsmanship and disbelief gathered sympathy from the crowd, something Hogan had admitted to wanting after the match. He did not believe Warrior could sustain being the face of WWF for long, and well, Hogan was right. Less than a year later, Warrior would lose the title to Sgt. Slaughter, which was all a setup to get Hulk Hogan the title once again.

Legacy

Hogan/Warrior takes its place among the greatest matches in wrestling history. You, the readers, voted this match as one of the greatest for a reason. It lives in wrestling history for it’s action, and story of two great heroes fighting each other. Superman vs. Batman, Captain American vs. Iron Man, Godzilla vs. King Kong, and Hulk Hogan vs. the Ultimate Warrior. In the end, wrestling history crept up and Warrior suffered the same fate as others who beat another babyface for the title. But, that doesn’t take away the great moment this match was. For this, I inducted Hulk Hogan vs. the Ultimate Warrior into the Wrestling Headlines dot com Hall of Fame!

Wrestling Headlines.com welcomes Ultimate Warrior vs. Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania VI nto the Hall of Fame class of 2024.

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