WWE History Volume 6: Hulkamania Running Wild

#7 Hulkamania loses the championship

Hogan was seeing double when Earl and twin brother Dave Hebner both appeared on Saturday Night's Main Event

Hulk Hogan was unquestionably the greatest, most famous pro wrestler in the world during his 1980s run with the WWE.

The Hulkster had turned back every challenger put in his path. Roddy Piper. Harley Race. King Kong Bundy. Even Andre The Giant.

But it was believed that Hulk Hogan's years long title run had grown a bit stale. Also, the Hulkster and Vince McMahon were setting their sights on conquering Hollywood, with Hogan as the star of their films.

However, even though the WWE wanted to take the belt off of Hogan, they didn't want to risk damaging the franchise that was Hulkamania. So a serpentine scheme was concocted, involving Bobby Heenan, Million Dollar Man Ted Dibiase, Andre the Giant, and one senior WWE referee--and his twin brother.

After failing to buy the WWE championship from Hogan, Dibiase used his money to bribe official Dave Hebner. The results were Hogan losing the title through treachery rather than a clean loss. Hulkamania was preserved, and the title could now be passed on to Hogan's successor, Macho Man Randy Savage.