Reimagined: Lex Luger’s Run In WWE

While Lex Luger’s WWE run was certainly memorable, most fans and insiders believe it was only a fraction of what it could have been. Lex was with WWE from 1992 to 1995. His first official televised bout was at WrestleMania 9, which indicated that the company had big plans for him. Some may forget that Luger had appeared on television at the prior WrestleMania. Originally, Luger was selected as the face of the ill-fated World Bodybuilding Federation, or WBF. 

Throughout Luger’s run in WWE, many feel that his failure to capture the WWE Championship at SummerSlam in 1993 cemented his ultimate fate. Following the bodyslam challenge on the USS Intrepid, Lex Luger was somewhat abruptly recast from a self-absorbed villain to a conquering patriotic hero. This transition would prove to be more challenging than anyone initially realized. The company would initiate a never before seen campaign for Luger that resembled something of a politician running for office. Therefore, their hesitation in putting the title on Luger made it seem for naught. 

We will reimagine Luger’s booking for this exercise, starting when he signed up with the company. Some events involving other wrestlers will also be slightly altered to serve this hypothetical narrative. Let’s start Luger’s journey, where it began in the WBF. The WWE announces a special PPV event that will showcase the top competitors in the WBF, culminating in its first officially recognized title holder. This is where the impetus for Luger’s WWE run will be reimagined. 

WBF/Royal Rumble 1993

At the inaugural WBF event, Luger is showcased and inevitably crowned its first “champion.” A ceremony is held to anoint Luger at the end of the show. During his speech, Lex spots a highly familiar face, none other than Hulk Hogan, in the crowd. He acknowledges Hogan and initially offers the Hulkster, his hand in respect. Hogan accepts the handshake, but Lex continues. 

“You know, Hulkster, you are the biggest icon the sport of pro wrestling has ever known.” “And most people accept that as a fact because you wrestle for WWF. “But some of these people may know, including yourself, that not only do I know my way around a gym, but I also know my way around a ring.” “For years, you've contended that you have the largest pythons in the world,” but here I stand as the WBF champion. “So Hulk, what do you say?” “You and I have a pose off, you name the time and the place,” and I'll show why I am the complete package.” 

Hulk smiles and nods, indicating that he accepts Luger’s challenge, which brings the show to a close. It was later announced that Luger and Hogan would face off in a pose at the 1993 Royal Rumble. The stage is set, and while Luger gets cheers from the audience, Hogan’s popularity ultimately wins out. As Hulk celebrates, Lex furiously attacks him from behind with a weight bar, humiliated and outraged at his defeat. Officials arrive to detain Luger, but the damage is done. Lex Luger made his first statement in WWE at the expense of its biggest star. 

WrestleMania IX

Luger’s sadistic attack leaves The Hulkster sidelined for several weeks. Hogan returns to WWE in March and addresses his condition and then his attacker. “Lex Luger is an insecure coward, brother.” He shook my hand and looked into my eyes, and I saw the envy, dude.” “Luger, you may pump some serious iron, brother, but deep down, you know all of your strength is not enough to withstand the power of Hulkamania!” If it’s a fight you were looking for, all you had to do was ask, Lex.” “So I'll be seeing you in Las Vegas, brother, at WrestleMania IX; whatcha gonna do, when the largest arms in the world run wild on you!!” 

Hogan poses to close the segment, and later the WWE announces that it will be Lex Luger vs Hulk Hogan in a grudge match at WrestleMania in Caesars Palace. The two exchange promos, and a face-to-face briefly get physical, but most of the interaction is saved until Mania. At the bell, Hogan is all over Luger. He completely dominates Lex until Luger reverses an Irish whip outside the ring, and Hogan’s back collides with the ring post. Luger pounces on Hulk's injured back, now even more exacerbated by the Royal Rumble attack. 

Hulk won’t quit, but Luger has him severely injured, it seems. He hits a power slam, but Hogan kicks out. He body slams Hulk three times in a row and then attempts a slam on the floor after exposing the concrete. The referee prevents this, which gives Hogan an opening. Hogan “Hulks up,” back in the ring, but it’s obvious he is in sheer pain. He manages to hit the boot/leg drop combo, but the latter sends shockwaves up his spine. Hogan cannot make the cover, giving Luger enough time to recover. 

After continuing to target Hulk’s injured back, Luger puts him in a submission move that some WWE fans have never seen before; the torture rack. Hogan hangs on for an excruciating 3 minutes before eventually passing out. The referee has no choice but to call the match in Luger’s favor. The crowd is stunned, as in his first official match, Lex Luger has beaten the immortal one. Later in the night, Yokozuna successfully defeats Bret Hart for the WWE Championship. 

King Of The Ring 1993

Once again, we don’t see Hogan for several months. Luger occasionally gloats about putting Hulk on the sidelines but primarily works squash matches on Superstars and the brand new Monday night show, Raw. Finally, on a May edition of Raw, Luger is scheduled to face Mr. Perfect in the main event. After defeating Perfect in a relatively competitive match, Luger gets the win. As he celebrates, “Real American” comes over the speakers, and Jimmy Hart leads Hulk Hogan to the ring. Luger emotes a combination of amusement and surprise. 

There is a stare-down, and finally, Hogan breaks the silence. “For the last decade, brother, the strongest force in the entire world was Hulkamania.” “I slayed giants and beasts from every corner of the globe, dude.” But after I faced you at WrestleMania, Luger, some of my Hulkamaniacs, couldn’t help but wonder if the immortal one had now become mortal.” “And I'll admit, there were days when I wondered that myself.” “But the power of Hulkamania eventually got me out of that hospital bed and then into the gym, and now the Hulkster is back in the ring.” 

Hulk continues, “In my absence, Luger, I can see in your eyes that you believe you are the King Of The WWF.” “But you have not dethroned the strongest force on the planet.” “At King Of The Ring,” I want you in this ring, one more time.” “I'm coming to you like a man, face to face, dude, which is a lot more than you've done for me.” Luger hesitates but begins to speak. “You know, Hulk, contrary to what you might think, I respect you.” “But there comes a time when even the mightiest of men must make way for the mightier.” “I have nothing to prove to you, Hulk; however, I will face you under one condition.” “If I beat you, and I will, you must leave the WWF forever.” 

Hulk stands shocked, as does the crowd. Luger leaves the ring and continues to face Hogan, walking backwards slowly, and smirking. Finally, in a burst of adrenaline, Hulk shouts, “you’re on, brother!!!” Real American plays as Hogan poses and gestures to the crowd. Lex continues to look on, shaking his head but does show just a fraction of concern before turning and leaving. The announcers play up the stipulation as something that could change the entire landscape of the company. 

The match at KOTR begins with a test of strength, that Luger gets the slight upper hand in but boots Hogan to the gut, anyway. From there, we get a solid 12-minute match that ends when Hogan misses the leg drop, and Luger recovers to hit a stiff-looking running forearm/clothesline. Lex gets the 1-2-3, shocking the crowd. The announcers are incredulous as everyone begins to accept that Hulk Hogan is now gone from WWE. Surprisingly, Lex looks a little torn. He realizes how much Hulkamania meant to these fans but also knows he did what he needed to do. 

As Luger slowly exits, Jimmy Hart and officials help Hogan to his feet; Jim Cornette, Mr. Fuji, and WWE Champion, Yokozuna make their way to the ring. Yoko feels disrespected for taking a backseat to Hogan in the main event, and now he will make a statement. He begins to assault Hogan as Lex watches on from the entranceway viciously. The crowd pleads for Luger to help as Yoko demolishes their fallen hero. As Yoko sets Hogan up for the Banzai Drop, Lex finally sprints to the ring. He tosses Cornette and Fuji out of the ring, getting Yoko’s attention. Lex and Yoko then come face to face and stare one another down. 

After a moment, Yoko slowly backs away and leaves the ring. Lex Luger then helps Hogan to his feet, holds up Hogan’s arm, and acknowledges him one last time. He leaves Hulk to bid farewell to the crowd, who poses for what the audience assumes will be the final time. The announcers touted how much Hulk Hogan has meant to the WWF and how the company will never be the same. They then wonder if the company could be in good hands with Lex Luger. 

USS Intrepid 

Aside from a post-match attack on Luger at the hands of Yokozuna, little needs to change about this angle. The night following KOTR, Lex is having a match with IRS. After defeating IRS, Lex is ambushed by Yoko, Fuji, and Cornette. Yoko leaves Luger lying to build heat for the July 4 event on the USS Intrepid. This allows Luger’s face turn to be in motion without suddenly switching to being a good guy out of necessity. 

SummerSlam 1993

We will be abandoning the entire Lex Express angle. This did more to damage Luger, second only to not capturing the Championship at SummerSlam. Therefore, the build to SummerSlam will be based on Cornette’s and Luger’s promos. At this point, we can assume that Lex has acquired credibility with the fans after two high-profile wins over Hogan. Luger is being primed to become the face of WWE in the wake of Hogan’s departure. 

Nothing about the match between Luger and Yoko at SummerSlam needs to change. It was a solid bout for its time. All that needs to be altered is the finish. Now, there is the temptation to give Yoko an “out" of sorts, preserving his heat for an eventful rematch. But I believe it’s more important to make Lex look strong. So after missing the banzai drop, Lex hits two running forearms, followed by a body slam to get the pinfall. Lex Luger rightfully becomes the WWF Champion at SummerSlam 1993. 

Royal Rumble 1994

This changes things significantly with Luger walking into Royal Rumble as the champion. We don’t want to sacrifice the events leading up to the spectacular Bret/Owen Hart match at WrestleMania 10, so this poses a tricky problem. It’s also essential to preserve The Undertaker/Yokozuna rivalry that began at Survivor Series in 1993 and was integral to both men's careers. Therefore, everything on the Royal Rumble card remains relatively the same, with Luger defending his title against Bam Bam Bigelow. Bam Bam had been gaining steam in 1994 with the tough and eclectic Luna Vachon at his side. 

Bam Bam was being presented as a mid-card heel at this point, so it wouldn’t be much of a stretch to frame him as a viable PPV opponent for Lex. Bret Hart’s night stays relatively the same, with him being the sole survivor in the Royal Rumble instead of sharing the victory with Luger. And, of course, Yoko and Undertaker have the exact match, essentially, just without the WWF title being up for grabs. Instead, this will be billed as a #1 contenders match. Therefore, coming out of the Royal Rumble, two #1 contenders are heading into WrestleMania season. 

WrestleMania 10

WrestleMania 10 plays out similarly to how it did; however, instead of Yoko walking in as the champion, and Luger, one of the challenges, their roles are switched. Bret and Owen still have their opening match masterpiece, and Bret is still a bit vulnerable walking into his title match later in the night. For his part, Luger defeats Yoko in a shockingly quick fashion. After two big forearms and a body slam, Luger hoists Yoko up for the torture rack. Yoko holds out as long as he can but submits, giving Lex the victory. The burst of strength takes its toll on Luger’s back, making him and Bret battle weary. 

Bret and Luger feel each other out as this is their first singles match. After some back and forth, Luger targets Bret's ailing knee. He goes on the offensive and becomes increasingly more aggressive. However, Bret stays in the fight and targets Luger’s back at every opportunity. At one point, Bret hits a massive superplex, but is too hurt to make a cover. As he finally does, Luger kicks out at two. 

Luger recovers and goes for the torture rack, but somehow Bret reverses it into the sharpshooter. After much struggle, Lex can reach the ropes. Exhausted, both men sell the effects of the other’s offense. Luger sets Bret up for the forearm, but at the last moment, Bret ducks and counters with a crucifix roll-up for the 1-2-3. Bret Hart is your new WWF Champion, and Luger is visibly stunned. His incredulity appears to turn into rage, but he shakes Bret's hand when the Hitman extends it. Luger leaves the ring, but it’s apparent that he is upset. 

King Of The Ring 1994

Lex's metamorphosis is gradual, and he remains an honorable baby face. He is set to get his rematch at the King Of The Ring. In the lead-up, he shows more signs of a turn to the dark side. He has several opportunities to soften Hart up before the match but opts to save him from attacks by Owen instead. Lex Luger vs Bret Hart is laid out as a baby face match, but the shift in Luger’s temperament is subtle. 

When the match finally arrives, we get a 25-minute classic that sees both Luger and Hart pull out all the stops. This time, Bret gets the Duke with the sharpshooter, forcing Lex to tap out. This is the final straw for Luger as he seethes in pain and humiliation. He refuses Bret's handshake and storms to the back. The announcers are sure to point out Luger’s uncharacteristic behavior, before going off the air for the night. 

Eight days later, Lex is booked in a tag match with Tatanka on Raw. After a miscommunication between the two, Luger abandons his partner to be double-teamed by IRS and Bigelow. Again, the announcers point out how problematic Luger’s behavior is growing to be. Tatanka confronts Lex on Raw the following Monday, and the latter is hardly apologetic. This begins a several-week saga between the two that sees Luger becoming increasingly despondent outside the ring and more aggressive inside of it.

During a Raw, Tatanka is approached by Ted Dibiase. Dibiase claims that Luger has always been out for himself and suggests he should do the same. Thus, we essentially get the actual storyline, only with the roles reversed. Lex points the finger at Tatanka, labelling him a sellout when Luger has. We get the exact match at SummerSlam 1994, only with Lex turning heel instead. Lex Luger is now the featured member of The Million Dollar Corporation. 

Survivor Series 1994

Heading into the 1994 Survivor Series, Luger is now a suit-wearing heel, not unlike his Horsemen days in JCP. He leads the Corporation into victory over Team Tatanka at the 1994 Survivor Series. Later in the night, The Undertaker seizes his revenge on Yokozuna, stemming from the Royal Rumble earlier in the year. The following night on Raw, The Undertaker has a one-on-one match with King Kong Bundy that ends in a disqualification when Luger attacks The Undertaker on Bundy’s behalf. Lex puts the dead man in the torture rack for several agonizing minutes as officials plead with him to release the hold. However, after Lex finally relinquishes, The Undertaker sits up. 

Luger continues to stomp away at him, but The Undertaker will not stay down. The Phenom is weakened, though, and can’t fully get to his feet. Luger and company abscond to the dressing room, with Lex looking astonished at Taker's imperviousness. The announcers speculate that Luger will have significant repercussions for his actions. The Undertaker once again disappears from WWE television for several weeks. 

Royal Rumble 1995

In early January, Luger announces his entry into the Royal Rumble match. He vows to go to WrestleMania and win the world title for a second time, which is now held by Diesel. Luger enters the match at #15 and cleans the house, eliminating everyone but HBK and Davey Boy Smith. As Luger sets his sights on Davey, the lights go out, and the crowd loses their mind when they come back on. The Undertaker stands behind Lex, and the latter is the only one who doesn’t realize it. Luger slowly turns and is met with a tombstone pile driver. The lights again go out, and when they are turned back on, Taker is gone, but the statement is made. A bewildered Davey Boy Smith eliminates Luger from the Rumble.

WrestleMania XI

Ted Dibiase opens Monday Night Raw and is furious. He says he regrets the day he brought that ungrateful freak, The Undertaker, into the WWE. He wants officials to reverse the decision on Luger’s elimination, claiming outside interference should not be allowed. The gong goes off, and Taker and Paul Bearer make their way to the ring. Bearer tells Dibiase that his Undertaker would like to have a word. “You are right, Mr. Dibiase.” “It was you who introduced the dark side to the WWE, but since then, we have chosen vastly different paths.” “Much like you, Lex Luger is a man ruled by avarice, desperation, and fear.” 

The Undertaker continues, “Now that Lex Luger has made the foolish decision to target the creatures of the night, his journey has only one inevitable conclusion.” And that conclusion is to Rest…In…Peace.”

The crowd erupts as “Funeral March” plays over the PA. Ted Dibiase exits the ring, both enraged and concerned, as he realizes what has been done. Over the next few weeks, the stage is officially set, Lex Luger vs The Undertaker at WrestleMania XI. 

The Undertaker and Luger have more chemistry than expected, and their match is one of the best on the card. Of course, Luger succumbs to the Tombstone at a little over the 10-minute mark. To everyone’s surprise, Dibiase orders the other members of the Corporation to attack Luger, embarrassed by his loss. We're left to deduce that Mr. Dibiase has officially fired Lex Luger from the faction. The announcers wonder what is next for Lex Luger as he lies in the middle of the ring.

The Nitro Effect

Over the next few months, Luger seeks and mostly achieves revenge on every single member of The Corporation. Bundy, IRS, and Kama are all disposed of by Lex. At the 1995 SummerSlam, however, Luger is upset by a young upstart named Hunter Hearst Helmsley. This is the last we ever see of Luger in WWE, as he shockingly appears on the debut episode of Monday Nitro in early September. This officially marks the end of Lex Luger in WWE. It ends exactly how it did because Luger jumping ship was a pivotal moment in the Monday Night Wars. 

Looking back on Lex's WWE run, it’s easy to point out what went wrong. Questionable booking and character assessment are at the root of it. Luger’s time in WWE is a significant chapter in his pro wrestling career. In many ways, he was tailor-made for a company that glorified those with a chiselled physique. Arguably no one was more physically impressive than Luger in the 90s when it comes to pro wrestling. Had Luger come up through the Northeast system and not the more Southern-based promotions, perhaps he would have fared better in the land of titan. Lex Luger proved why he belonged on the top of the card when he captured multiple titles upon returning to WCW, including the biggest one of them all.