'Mania memories - part 2

Every child has a hero, and in the late 1980s/early 1990s he was either Hulk Hogan or The Ultimate Warrior. Richard Parr revisits their historic unification title fight at Wrestlemania VI through to Wrestlemania X.

WRESTLEMANIA VI - 1st April, 1990

WWE Championship/Intercontinental Championship unification:

Hulk Hogan (c) v The Ultimate Warrior (ic)

Toronto Skydome, Tornoto, Ontario

The first Wrestlemania to be held outside of the United States, in Canada, would feature wrestling's two biggest and most popular stars of the time going at it with both of their belts on the line.

WWE Champion Hulk Hogan was facing the Intercontinental Champion The Ultimate Warrior. The match was set-up after The Ultimate Warrior won the Royal Rumble a few months before, where the last Superstar he eliminated was Hulk Hogan.

This match would provide a unique atmosphere for both competitors. As both were firm crowd favourites, before the bell would even ring it was clear that fans both in the arena and watching at home would be divided in their allegiances.

With the Toronto Skydome having been treated to both of the Champions' famous entrances, The Ultimate Warrior sprinting down to the ring and rattling the ropes, and Hulk Hogan parading down the aisle to 'Real American', it was time for the main event to get underway.

The match billed as 'The Ultimate Challenge' started off very slowly with a series of tests of strength. With various, shoulder blocks, shoves and Greco-Roman knuckle locks- neither man gave an inch, despite the Warrior being lighter and smaller than 'The Hulkster'.

Each superstar would have opportunities to control the match but neither really grasped it. At one point following a clothesline over the ropes by the Ultimate Warrior it was thought Hogan had blown his knee, but 'The Immortal One' was able to shake off the injury and continue unaffected.

As the match wore on referee Hebner was accidentally knocked down by The Ultimate Warrior. With the referee down both champions felt they could have collected the three-count. Hogan first had a chance when he planted the Warrior's face into the mat, and the Intercontinental Champion thought he had won following a suplex. But with the ref down the match was set to continue.

With the referee resuscitated The Ultimate Warrior created a golden opportunity to win the bout after he rammed Hogan into the steel post, outside of the ring. The Ultimate Warrior then rolled 'The Hulkster' back into the ring and incredibly lifted Hogan above his head to perform his famous gorilla press slam. With Hogan flat out in the middle of the squared-circle The Warrior bounced off the ropes to deliver a huge splash. As Hebner's hand slapped the mat for the pin count, remarkably Hogan kicked out.

As he had done in many main events throughout the years Hogan began to 'Hulk Up'. Once again the champion was impervious to pain. The crowd began to go wild expecting another incredible fight back. As he had done many times before Hogan kicked The Warrior down with the big boot to the face. He then bounced off the rope setting him up for the big leg drop. But as Hogan's massive thighs came crashing down onto the mat, The Ultimate Warrior squirmed out the way and then opportunistically splashed Hogan and quickly collected the 1-2-3.

Out of nowhere The Ultimate Warrior had defeated the champion Hogan. The 67,000 Toronto fans went ballistic as 'The Hulkster' presented the victor with his new WWE Championship belt and raised his arm. As promised the Ultimate Warrior had united the Hulkamaniacs with the Warriors.

WRESTLEMANIA VII - 24th March, 1991

WWE Championship:

Sgt. Slaughter (c) v Hulk Hogan

Los Angeles Sports Arena, Los Angeles, CA

Wrestlemania VI may have been held in Canada but Wrestlemania VII's main event was all about American patriotism. American Hulk Hogan was challenging Champion and Iraqi sympathiser Sgt. Slaughter, at the height of the Gulf war.

The main event was once again glittering with celebrity guests at Wrestlemania VII. Merla Marples rang the bell as guest timekeeper; Regis Philben provided guest commentary while Alex Trabek introduced both champion and challenger as guest ring announcer.

His first duty was to introduce the 'turncoat' champion Sgt. Slaughter who was accompanied by General Adnan and a chorus of boos. These jeers were quickly transformed to cheers and chants of U-S-A, as Hulk Hogan walked down to the ring with the stars and stripes in hand.

Having not only whipped and humiliated the challenger just one week before, Sgt. Slaughter had insisted that the match was now being fought under his rules. But this had no effect on Hogan as the chants of U-S-A inspired him into dominating the early stages of the match. Hogan subjected the champion to a barrage of back drops, atomic drops and clotheslines. Even a shot by a steel chair from Slaughter did not affect the challenger.

The pendulum would however swing to the champion after Hogan uncharacteristically decided to climb to the top rope. With Hogan set to fly from the top, General Adnan grabbed Hogan by the foot allowing Slaughter the opportunity to seize control of the match.

Sgt. Slaughter clearly had a game plan as he began to dissect 'The Hulkster'. The champion used a collection of backbreakers, a chair shot and a Boston Crab to focus on the lower back and kidneys of Hogan. The pain wasn't only going to be on Hogan's back though. Once Hogan finally escaped the punishment of the Boston Crab he was busted wide open with a chair shot to the face.

With blood dripping from his forehead Hogan was strapped into Sgt. Slaughter's excruciating Camel Clutch. Hogan somehow eventually lifted Slaughter up onto his back but it completely sapped all of his energy and the champion crashed him straight into the turnbuckles.

To add insult to injury Sgt. Slaughter then laid the Iraqi flag over the bloody Hogan and went for the pin. But Hulk Hogan would never be defeated in such an embarrassing manner. After kicking out at two he began to 'Hulk Up' in a way that only 'The Hulkster' can.

Hogan ripped the Iraqi flag in two and then began to do similar to Sgt. Slaughter. The champion's face became new friends with Hogan's foot as he laid victim to the big boot. The famous Hulk Hogan leg-drop followed and resulted in the only possible outcome: the pin for a three-count.

With his face a crimson mass of blood Hogan waved his US flag as he celebrated becoming the WWE Champion for a third time.

WRESTLEMANIA VIII - 5th April, 1992

Hulk Hogan v Sid Justice

Hoosier Dome, Indianapolis, IN

Despite a title not being on the line and the fact that the 'Macho Man' Randy Savage was defending his WWE title against Ric Flair; Hulk Hogan's star power meant that his match against Sid Justice was last on the card at Wrestlemania VIII.

Hogan had faced an extreme array of opponents in his Wrestlemania history but none as maniacal or as crazy as Sid Justice. As Bobby Heenan remarked "He's not all there".

After being introduced and accompanied by Doctor Harvey Wippelman, Sid attacked Hogan before he was even able to get through the ropes. With 'Real American' still blaring around the Hoosier Dome Hogan fought back and then finally the match was able to officially start.

With Sid being one of a small group of men who tower above Hogan, it was unsurprising that as the match began with a test of strength that Justice took command of the match.

With Wippelman providing a useful distraction, Sid was able to chokeslam Hogan. Sid then began to pummel 'The Hulkster' outside the ring with a mysterious medicine bag.

Back in the ring Sid started to wear down 'The Hulkster' by putting pressure on his shoulder. This gave Hogan a chance to 'Hulk Up' but before he could gain any kind of momentum Justice stopped proceedings with a sidewalk slam.

Sid would then take his chances to victory to another level as he power-bombed Hogan to the mat. Expecting to pick up the victory, Hogan then kicked out on two and this time he was able to properly 'Hulk Up'.

After a big boot failed to knock down Sid, Hogan slams Justice down to the mat and then executes the patented leg-drop. Just like Hogan did to the powerbomb, Sid also was able to kick out on two.

Not being able to take any more Wippelman then enters the ring and interrupts into the match. The referee then signals for the bell. Before any kind of decision can be announced Papa Shango makes his way towards the ring and joins Justice in assaulting Hogan.

With Hogan tangled into the ropes, the famous music of The Ultimate Warrior begins to ring around the arena. The pumped-up former champion then sprints to the ring and sends Papa Shango flying to the outside with a clothesline. Sid then smashes a chair into the back of the Warrior but the now escaped Hogan snatches the chair off Justice forcing him to scurry out of the ring and the Hoosier Dome.

As Hogan is announced the winner by disqualification, the main event rivals of Wrestlemania VI begin to celebrate.

WRESTLEMANIA IX - 4th April, 1993

WWE Championship:

Yokozuna v Bret 'The Hitman' Hart (c)

Caesers Palace, Las Vegas, NV

WRESTLEMANIA X - 20th March 1994

WWE Championship:

Yokozuna (c) v Bret 'The Hitman' Hart

Madison Square Garden, New York, NY