WrestleMania IX marked a significant departure from its predecessors. The bright yellow and black color scheme signaled the arrival of the New Generation era and a Monday Night Raw-style presentation, while the outdoor venue at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas represented a bold experiment. However, the conclusion saw the WWF Championship return to Hulk Hogan after a year’s absence, overshadowing the fresh direction.
But it wasn’t just the main event that felt off about WrestleMania IX. The entire card was riddled with questionable booking decisions that muddled the WWF’s outlook for 1993 and beyond, leaving a tangled mess of storylines and outcomes. Two major factors influenced early 1993 WWF: the steroids scandal and a shift in the roster. The scandal had moved from the prescribing doctor to Vince McMahon himself, prompting him to secure the WWF’s power structure in case he faced prison time. Additionally, the steroid scrutiny and other issues led to the dismissal of several megastars, including The Ultimate Warrior and The British Bulldog. With such major stars gone, how did WrestleMania IX fill the gaps?
Sid Justice, who refused to submit to steroid testing, was no longer in the spotlight. Hulk Hogan, previously absent after WrestleMania VIII, was also out of the picture. Vince McMahon, intent on pushing the New Generation, kept the Macho Man Randy Savage off-screen in favor of fresh faces. Ric Flair had returned to WCW, further complicating the landscape.
WrestleMania IX ended up featuring a weak roster. With uncertainty surrounding the company’s future, McMahon seemed to believe that bringing Hogan back could restore some of the old glory, even at the expense of the New Generation push for Bret Hart. Hogan, a long-standing sure thing, did not resonate with the fans as expected, and he did not leave the belt with Hart, thus failing to strengthen the New Generation.
The broadcast booth was in transition. WrestleMania IX introduced Jim Ross from WCW, beginning his legendary WWF tenure. This was also Bobby Heenan’s last pay-per-view before heading to WCW. The third commentator, the eccentric Macho Man Randy Savage, contributed memorable lines that were both entertaining and nonsensical:
- “The grapes were great and the chicks were cool…”
- “They’re hanging from the rafters in the Coliseum… if the Coliseum had rafters… but I tell you what it has, it has columns and they’re hanging from the columns.”
This three-man booth, with Macho Man’s absurd commentary and Heenan’s jabs at Ross, was arguably the most entertaining aspect of the show.
The opening match featured Shawn Michaels defending the Intercontinental Championship against Tatanka. With an 18-month undefeated streak, Tatanka was a credible contender. However, with Marty Jannetty fired, the anticipated Michaels-Jannetty WrestleMania payoff was lost. Tatanka made a fine substitute, and the storyline with Sensational Sherri, who had previously been attacked by Michaels, added some intrigue. Luna Vachon replaced Sherri in Michaels’ corner, but her gothic appearance clashed with Michaels’ persona. The match ended with a count-out, preserving Tatanka’s streak but keeping the title on Michaels. The aftermath shifted focus to a Sherri-Luna rivalry that went nowhere, leading to Sherri leaving for WCW and Luna being paired with Bam Bam Bigelow.
The Steiner Brothers, having joined the WWF before the 1993 Royal Rumble, should have been in a Tag Team Title match against Money Inc. However, Hogan’s return pushed them out of that spot. Instead, Hogan teamed with Brutus Beefcake for a Tag Title shot against Money Inc., while the Steiners faced the Headshrinkers in a match that turned out to be the best on the card. It also marked Jim Ross’s first use of the term “slobberknocker,” which Heenan cleverly quipped about.
Crush, once considered a potential new face of the company, was overshadowed by the gimmick of Doink the Clown. Despite Matt Borne’s skill with the character, the match was dull. Crush was defeated by a second Doink, though the WWF’s attempt to create confusion about the second Doink fell flat.
Next, Bob Backlund, who had never been pinned in WWF TV before, was defeated by Razor Ramon in a match with no storyline or build-up. Backlund, who had been protected for years, suffered his first pinfall loss to Ramon, who seemed disinterested throughout.
Hogan received the longest match of the night, in a tag team bout against Money Inc. Despite the build-up, a tag title run for Hogan seemed unlikely. The match ended with Hogan and Beefcake getting disqualified, allowing Money Inc. to retain their titles. The involvement of IRS’s briefcase and subsequent chaos did little to strengthen the storylines. The match between Lex Luger and Mr. Perfect was meant to be intriguing, but it lacked significance. Luger, who would soon become the Lex Express, was already on a different trajectory by SummerSlam, making this match feel like filler.
The Undertaker faced Giant Gonzalez in a doomed matchup, as Gonzalez’s wrestling ability was severely limited. The match was short and ended with a DQ after Undertaker recovered from being “knocked out” by chloroform. Their SummerSlam rematch was similarly disappointing, reflecting the WWF’s struggles with a talent turnover. The main event featured a surprising turn. Yokozuna, built as an unstoppable heel, seemed set to defeat Bret Hart. However, Hogan returned to challenge Yokozuna, and after a quick victory, regained the WWF Championship. This moment, though spectacular, did little to advance long-term storylines.
It’s reported that Vince McMahon planned a torch-passing storyline similar to Hogan vs. Ultimate Warrior from WrestleMania VI, with Hogan set to lose to Hart at SummerSlam. Hogan, however, chose to regain the title and then lose it to Yokozuna at King of the Ring 1993 before leaving for Hollywood. Hart’s autobiography supports this, given Hogan’s tendency for self-preservation. WrestleMania X, with its successful re-direction and Bret Hart regaining the title, proved to be a far superior show compared to WrestleMania IX.
