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WWE in the 1990s: 10 iconic, era-defining photos and the stories behind them

By Matty Paddock
Modified Jan 21, 2020 07:56 IST
Two of WWE's biggest 90s stars, Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Undertaker met at Summerslam in 1998
Two of WWE's biggest 90s stars, Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Undertaker met at Summerslam in 1998

#9 International 'Mania

The Ultimate Warrior and Hulk Hogan lock horns in 1990.
The Ultimate Warrior and Hulk Hogan lock horns in 1990.

Throughout the 1980s, Hulkamania ran wild in WWE as Hulk Hogan established himself at the top of the company, and helped establish Vince McMahon's empire in the mainstream. From t-shirts, to movies, commercials, music albums, and a whole lot more, Hogan was very much the top dog in the worldwide professional wrestling industry.

As the 80s gave way to the 1990s, however, Hogan's powers were thought to be on the wane, with heads turned by the arrival and explosion into prominence of the Ultimate Warrior.

The Warrior was already Intercontinental Champion, but was believed by many to be, ultimately (pun intended), the figure who would assume Hogan's mantle and keep WWE at the forefront of the industry into the next generation. This image captures a moment during their iconic meeting at 1990's Wrestlemania VI. It was the first time 'Mania had been held outside of the United States, as it emanated from the SkyDome in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, with a huge crowd watching on as the face-painted, frenzied challenger snared the title from Hogan in what was seen, at the time, as a definitive passing of the torch moment. That did not end up turning out to be true, but the match stands out as iconic nonetheless.