Continuing where we left off, these set of WWE Champions have a little someone we like to call Hulk Hogan, maybe you have heard of him?
SUPERSTAR BILLY GRAHAM
DEFEATED: Bruno Sammartino
WHERE: Baltimore, MD
WHEN: 04-30-77
“The man of the hour, the man with the power, too sweet to be sour!” That was how Superstar Billy Graham described himself, and who could argue? Graham was perhaps the single most influential performer of the past 30 years, and the mark of that influence can be found in Superstars ranging from Hogan to Scott Steiner.
Clad in tie-dye and feathered boas, the Superstar was a sign of things to come, and boasted a chiseled, muscular physique that was very unique at the time. During the late 1980s, he made a brief return to WWE competition, and even enjoyed stints as a manager and broadcaster
BOB BACKLUND
DEFEATED: Superstar Billy Graham
WHERE: New York, NY
WHEN: 02-20-78
Bob Backlund utilized his supreme technical and mat wrestling skills to take down and defeat “Superstar” Billy Graham. Graham, who was traditionally a rule breaker, had the rules broken on him for a change. Backlund had Graham in a pinning predicament, but Graham got his foot on the ropes. The referee was out of position to see the champ’s foot, though, and his hand hit the mat for the three count giving Backlund his first WWE Championship.
In the end, this reign as WWE Champion turned out to be far more succesful than Backlund's second reign, which lasted a mere three days in November 1994.
THE IRON SHEIK
DEFEATED: Bob Backlund
WHERE: New York, NY
WHEN: 12-26-83
The Iron Sheik became WWE Champion the day after Christmas in 1983 when he defeated Bob Backlund at Madison Square Garden. The victory was a controversial one, as Backlund's manager Arnold Skaaland threw in the towel, as Backlund refused to submit.
The Iron Sheik left WWE in 1988, and popped up in WCW in 1989 for a brief period of time. He then reappeared in WWE in 1991 by the side of former enemy Sgt. Slaughter as Colonal Mustafa. After that brief stint, he reappeared again in 1997 as a manager of The Sultan. His last appearance was at WrestleMania X-Seven as The Iron Sheik returned for one night only, winning a Gimmick Battle Royal and re-igniting his rivalry with Slaughter in the process.
HULK HOGAN
DEFEATED: The Iron Sheik
WHERE: New York, NY
WHEN: 01-23-84
Hulk Hogan is arguably the most famous WWE Superstar of all time. World Wrestling Entertainment was never the same after Hogan replaced an injured Bob Backlund and defeated The Iron Sheik for the WWE Championship on January 23, 1984, at Madison Square Garden. A phenomenon was born.
After a brief appearance at Raw Homecoming in October 2005, Hogan would not return again until July 2006. Along with daughter Brooke, the Hulkster appeared on Saturday Night's Main Event. There, the Hogans were accosted by Randy Orton, who eventually RKOed Hogan onto a car and challenged him to a match at SummerSlam. Hogan accepted, and his perfect SummerSlam record stayed intact when he pinned Orton at the Biggest Party of the Summer.
ANDRE THE GIANT
DEFEATED: Hulk Hogan
WHERE: Indianapolis, IN
WHEN: 02-05-88
Andre the Giant was the largest athlete the world had ever seen, and was sports-entertainment’s most famous attraction throughout the 1970s and much of the 1980s. Standing 7 feet 4 inches tall and weighing between 475 and 540 pounds over the course of his career, he truly earned his nickname of “The Eighth Wonder of the World.”
Shortly after his passing in 1993, Andre was posthumously honored as the first inductee into the WWE Hall of Fame, truly capping his legacy as one of the best ever. More so than for any individual accomplishment, Andre will always be remembered for the years he reigned supreme as the most famous Superstar in sports-entertainment.
-- BoneDaddy
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