When Hulk Hogan left WWE in 1993, Vince McMahon found himself in a tough spot, needing to find a new face for the company. McMahon, who favored wrestlers with a bodybuilder physique, initially tried to pass the mantle to the Ultimate Warrior after WrestleMania 6, but that didn’t pan out.
Lex Luger had been on Vince’s radar since his start with Jim Crockett Promotions in 1987. After signing first with McMahon’s World Bodybuilding Federation (WBF) and then WWE in 1993, Luger appeared poised for stardom when he body slammed WWE champion Yokozuna aboard the USS Intrepid on July 4th. Although this moment seemed like just the beginning of Luger’s rise, it ended up being the pinnacle of his WWE career.
Luger, who had spent four years with WCW where he frequently switched between heel and babyface roles, had a rocky start in WWE. After joining Vince’s bodybuilding venture, a serious motorcycle accident delayed his wrestling debut. When he appeared at the 1993 Royal Rumble with his "narcissist" gimmick, it failed to catch fire with the audience. His midcard status continued after King of the Ring, and he struggled to gain momentum.
With Hogan gone, McMahon needed a new patriotic hero. Luger’s dramatic entrance on the USS Intrepid to challenge Yokozuna on Independence Day made him an instant fan favorite. However, their SummerSlam match ended in a count-out, and Luger never secured the WWE Championship, as McMahon hesitated to fully back him.
In 1994, Luger tied with Bret Hart at the Royal Rumble, but ultimately, fans favored Hart, who went on to headline WrestleMania 10 against Yokozuna. Despite further opportunities, including a match at WrestleMania influenced by interference from Mr. Perfect, Luger never reclaimed the main event spotlight and eventually returned to WCW.
Fan Take: For WWE fans, Lex Luger’s story is a reminder of how timing and fan connection can make or break a wrestler’s rise, even with incredible talent and memorable moments. His career highlights the challenges WWE faces in finding the right hero to carry the company and how critical fan support is in shaping wrestling history.
