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

#7 "Is Hulkamania dead?"

Hulk Hogan is blasted by a 'photographer' at King of the Ring 1993

Those were the very words uttered by a shocked commentator, Jim Ross, as viewers attempted to soldier on through the broadcast of WWE's 1993 King of the Ring pay-per-view after having just seen Hulk Hogan assaulted in horrific fashion.

Come '93, Hogan's already unsteady status as a full-time performer in the company was starting to raise its head as a problem. Knowing that he was ultimately destined for movies, acting and - as it transpired - WCW, Vince McMahon needed a way to move Hogan out of the spotlight and to get the title on Yokozuna, WWE's choice to be the dominant heel of the new generation. While there was no love lost between Hogan and McMahon, the Chairman of the Board did not want to lose or destroy the power and status that Hulkamania had amassed for his promotion over the prior ten years.

The plan, then, was for Yokozuna to claim the belt in typically heelish fashion, leaving Hogan's reputation as a superhero relatively in tact in the eyes of fans. They opted to have a 'photographer' hop up on to the apron to take an ill-timed photo with Hogan, who had been shaping up to put Yokozuna away at the match's conclusion. At that moment, though, the would-be snapper's camera 'exploded' right in the champ's face, leaving him, it appeared, totally blind. Visually, the explosion was convincing, even if Hogan's selling was less so! Unlike in late 1991 when The Undertaker defeated Hogan to win the WWF Championship, this truly was the end of Hulkamania (at least for 9 years). Hogan wrestled for the WWF for the next two months, mostly during the company's European tour, but was not seen on TV again until 2002.