The WWF entered 1994 fully embracing "The New Generation" of WWF Superstars as they phased out the older generational wrestlers. The WWF's slogan was that it was the New Generation as they played vignettes indicated the passing of the torch. The WWF even unveiled a new logo that was called the New Generation WWF logo.
Many might have forgotten and the younger generation reading this might not realize the WWF could have been done in 1994. WWF owner Vince McMahon was indicted in 1993 on federal charges of distributing steroids to his wrestlers in the wake of a steroid scandal that dated back to 1991. McMahon stood trial during 1994 as he temporarily turned control of the WWF over to his wife Linda.
Various wrestlers and others were called to take the stand and testify against McMahon. One notable witness in the trial was Kevin Wacholz, who was known as "Nailz" in 1992. Wacholz said McMahon forced him to use steroids and said he "hated" McMahon resulting from their confrontation that got Wacholz fired in 1992.
The defense used this against Wacholz saying that he wasn't a credible witness and only testified against McMahon to get him thrown into jail so his testimony was eventually thrown out. Ironically, Wacholz trying to take McMahon down and get him thrown into jail and out of business ended up actually saving McMahon and the WWF.
What really saved McMahon and the WWF's ass was the testimony of Hulk Hogan. Hogan admitted he used steroids while in the WWF but said McMahon did not give them or force him to use them. Hogan's testimony got McMahon acquitted of all charges.
While McMahon was cleared he was far from out of the clear with the damage of his reputation along with WCW spending Ted Turner's money nearly put the WWF out of business. The WWF really struggled from 1994-1997 to compete with WCW and nearly went out of business in doing so.
WCW raided WWF's wrestlers, managers, and other on-air talent even if they're older they're still very recognizable. Those include Hulk Hogan, Randy Savage, Jimmy Hart, Sensational Sherri Martel, The Honky Tonk Man (briefly), The Big Boss Man, Earthquake, Bobby "The Brain" Heenan, and "Mean" Gene Okerlund.
The WWF had to move in a "New Generation" to fill the void of those who left. Those include Bret Hart, Shawn Michaels, Diesel, Razor Ramon, Yokozuna, Jeff Jarrett, Owen Hart, Lex Luger, and The Undertaker.
Yokozuna started the year as WWF Champion and was in a feud with The Undertaker as many felt the close to 600-lb. behemoth Yokozuna finally met his match against "The Deadman." They fought each other in a Casket match at January's Royal Rumble.
The Undertaker looked to have defeated Yokozuna to win the title. However, numerous heel wrestlers came out and attacked Undertaker and beat on him for several minutes until they finally put an unconscious Undertaker in the casket as Yokozuna won the match and retained the title.
It looked to be the end of The Undertaker, but smoke came out of the casket and he appeared on the jumbotron screen and vowed to be back as a shadowy figure supposed to be The Undertaker slowly rose from the casket to the ceiling. The Undertaker would not be seen for months as a storyline developed on the disappearance of the Undertaker.
Also at the Royal Rumble, Bret Hart teamed with his baby brother Owen Hart to take on The Quebecers for the WWF Tag Team Titles. Bret and Owen had problems dating back to the Survivor Series a few months before when Bret accidentally caused Owen to be eliminated during their elimination match.
Owen accused Bret of being selfish and holding him down and Owen wanted to prove himself and fight his older brother. Bret continued to refuse to fight his little brother and over Christmas, they patched things up and decided to team up to take on The Quebecers for the titles.
Bret "injured" his knee in the match. Bret kept fighting in the ring without tagging a fresher Owen in. Eventually, Bret's injury was too great and could not continue and the match was stopped with Bret and Owen losing to The Quebecers.
Owen was livid at Bret for not tagging him in as he was yelling as him while Bret was struggling to get to his feet. Bret finally got up and Owen kicked him in his bad knee to put Bret back down and turned Owen heel. Owen again said Bret was selfish and trying to sabotage his career and Owen wanted more than ever to beat his big brother to get out of the shadows.
Despite being injured, Bret competed in the Royal Rumble match with the winner to get a WWF Title match at WrestleMania X. Bret limped his way down to the ring. He would be among the final two along with Lex Luger, who they were trying to get to not compete since he would not get a title shot against Yokozuna due to him not beating him for the title last year at SummerSlam.
Luger was allowed to compete in the match and would get the title shot if he won despite Yokozuna and his manager Mr. Fuji getting a couple of Japanese hired guns (Great Kabuki and Tenryu) to try and take him out. Luger and Hart tried to throw each other over the top rope and both went over the top rope simultaneously. Both men's feet hit the floor simultaneously and both were declared co-winners of the Rumble.
To decide who would get the title shot st WrestleMania X, a coin toss was decided with the winner to get first crack at Yokozuna for the title and the other to fight in a separate match but would get the winner of the coin toss winner-Yokozuna title match. Luger ended up winning the coin toss and got first crack at Yokozuna. Bret was put into a match with his brother Owen and would fight the Luger-Yokozuna winner at the end of the PPV.
Bret and Owen Hart opened the show at WrestleMania X on March 20, 1994 from Madison Square Garden, the site of the first ever WrestleMania 10 years prior. Bret and Owen put on a classic match to open the show and Owen pulled off the upset when he reversed Bret's attempt at a victory roll for the clean 1-2-3. Bret would not be disappointed as he got his title shot later that night despite losing.
Luger took on Yokozuna in the first WWF Title match. Mr. Perfect was the mystery special guest referee for the match. Luger nailed Yokozuna with his metal plate forearm and looked to have the match won. He also laid out both Yokozuna's managers Mr. Fuji and Jim Cornette.
Perfect was trying to clear the ring of Fuji and Cornette while Luger pinned Yokozuna. Luger wanted Perfect to count the pin so he can be the champion and put his hands on him getting his attention. However, Perfect disqualified Luger for putting his hands on him as he's a referee, screwing Luger out of the title.
Luger's push from the previous year ended as he dropped out of the main event title picture. Word is they wanted to put the title around his waist, but poor crowd reactions and maybe even word of Luger not being interested ended his push and he was relegated to mid card. He was supposed to have a feud with Perfect, but Perfect reinjured his back and would leave the WWF shortly after.
In the final match of the night, Bret Hart took on Yokozuna in the other World Title match. "Rowdy" Roddy Piper returned to the WWF for the first time in two years as he was the other mystery guest referee for the match.
Bret won the match and the WWF Championship back from Yokozuna, who he lost the title originally to the previous year at WrestleMania IX. As Bret was celebrating his second WWF Title reign, Owen was looking on as he believed he should be the number one contender since he beat Bret earlier that night.
WrestleMania X was the final WrestleMania appearance and final WWF wrestling match for Randy Savage. He fought Crush in a Falls Count Anywhere match. The way to win this match was you had to make sure your opponent doesn't re-enter the ring within 60 seconds after being pinned.
Savage was involved in a feud with Crush the previous summer after Crush was taken out of commission by Yokozuna. Crush returned and blamed Savage for not helping him and attacked Savage for not doing so.
Savage pinned Crush backstage and to prevent Crush from returning to the ring, Savage tied Crush's together and hung him upside down using a pulley and lever. Crush could not re-enter the ring so Savage was the winner. Savage remained a commentator the rest of the year before leaving the WWF to go to WCW at the end of the year.
WrestleMania X would mostly be known best for the thrilling Ladder match between best friends Shawn Michaels and Razor Ramon. Even though Michaels was involved in the first-ever Ladder match with Bret Hart two years prior, this Ladder match in particular would be the first official one to be televised on PPV.
Michaels had been feuding with Razor since Michaels had the Intercontinental Championship taken away from him the previous year and Razor won the vacant title. Michaels claimed to be the real Intercontinental Champion since he never lost the title in the ring and carried his old belt while Razor carried around the current one.
A Ladder match was held with both Intercontinental Title belts suspended high above the ring. You needed to get a ladder, climb up it, and retrieve both title belts to win the match and become the undisputed Intercontinental Champion. Razor won the match as he climbed the ladder to grab both belts in what was considered one of the greatest matches not only in WWF/E history but in pro wrestling history.
Michaels would take a break from wrestling following WrestleMania due to injuries, but remained on-screen by hosting his own talk show: "The Heart Break Hotel" as well as managing his bodyguard Diesel, who was now wrestling full-time in place of Michaels.
Diesel's first WWF in-ring exposure and success occurred at the 1994 Royal Rumble match. Diesel entered the 30-man battle royal seventh and quickly cleared the ring by eliminating everyone in the ring at the time as well as anyone who came into the ring.
Diesel looked unstoppable as he eliminated a record seven straight wrestlers, drawing praise from the crowd despite being a heel. Eventually, Diesel was eliminated when a group of wrestlers ganged up on him and threw him over the top rope. Despite being eliminated, Diesel got a standing ovation from the crowd on his way to the back.
Diesel took Michaels' place in the ring while Michaels became his manager. Diesel defeated Razor Ramon to win the Intercontinental Championship during an episode of WWF Superstars in April 1994 for his first wrestling title in the WWF and in general.
Diesel was now climbing the top of the WWF ladder. As Intercontinental Champion, Diesel was named number one contender to Bret Hart's WWF Championship and faced him for the title at King of the Ring. Hart brought his brother-in-law and former Hart Foundation tag team partner Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart back to the WWF to be in his corner and watch his back from any attacks from Michaels.
Diesel looked to beat Bret for the title with the Jackknife Powerbomb, but Neidhart ran into the ring and attacked Diesel, getting Bret disqualified but allowing Bret to keep the title. Neidhart quickly ran out of the ring as Diesel and Michaels beat on the champion after the match as he wasn't there for Bret. Bret was wondering what Neidhart's motives were.
Neidhart would show his true intentions later that night as he helped Owen Hart beat Razor Ramon in the finals of the King of the Ring tournament to become the new King of the Ring. Owen declared himself to be the "King of Harts" and would be the number one contender to Bret's WWF Title. Neidhart was now paired with his other brother-in-law Owen.
Also at King of the Ring, Roddy Piper had his first match in over two years against Jerry "The King" Lawler. Lawler had been insulting Piper since Piper returned to the WWF at WrestleMania X. Lawler even brought a skinny teenager who dressed like Piper and insulted him and made him kiss his feet.
Piper brought the skinny kid to the ring with him at King of the Ring as he was in Piper's corner. The kid helped Piper defeat Lawler. Piper would disappear after and would not appear on WWF programming until the next year's WrestleMania.
Diesel along with Michaels would feud with their real life best friend Razor Ramon over the summer for the Intercontinental Championship. Michaels returned to in-ring action in August 1994 and Michaels and Diesel teamed up to beat The Headshrinkers at a house show to win the WWF Tag Team Championship. Diesel was a double champion as he was one-half of the Tag Team Titles as well as the Intercontinental Champion.
The next night at SummerSlam '94, Diesel defended the Intercontinental Championship against Razor Ramon as Razor brought Chicago Bears legend Walter Payton with him to prevent Michaels from interfering as the event was held in Chicago.
Diesel held Razor as Michaels was about to Superkick him, which he called "Sweet Chin Music." However, Razor moved out of the way and Michaels accidentally kicked Diesel, allowing Razor to pin him and win back the Intercontinental Championship. This would be the beginning of the end of the Diesel-Michaels partnership.
The main event at SummerSlam was a Steel Cage match for the WWF Championship between Bret and Owen Hart. "The British Bulldog" Davey Boy Smith returned to the WWF that night as he was sitting at ringside and he was in Bret's corner to prevent interference from Jim Neidhart.
The Steel Cage match between Bret and Owen was another classic match between the two brothers and stellar technicians. After over a half-hour, both Bret and Owen were climbing out of the cage simultaneously. Bret slammed Owen's head onto the cage and Owen fell with his leg getting trapped in the cage as he was stuck. Bret managed to reach the floor and win the match.
Neidhart attacked Hart immediately after the match as he and Owen brought Bret back into the cage, locked the door so no one could get in, and double-teamed him. Davey Boy Smith climbed the cage and entered to help Bret out and chase Owen and Neidhart out.
The other main event at SummerSlam saw the return of The Undertaker against the imposter Undertaker in what was kind of a stupid angle. The Undertaker had not been seen since losing the Casket match at the Royal Rumble in January as he took time off to rest a back injury.
Throughout the spring and summer of 1994, clips of The Undertaker were seen on various places around the country. "Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase, who originally brought The Undertaker in the WWF in 1990, claimed he had The Undertaker and would bring him back to the WWF.
In the summer, The "Undertaker" returned only it wasn't Mark Calaway; instead it was Brian Lee, an impostor dressed and acting like The Undertaker. Lee was in fact Calaway's real life cousin and even looked like him. Many called him "The Underfaker." Undertaker's manager Paul Bearer said the real Undertaker would return at SummerSlam and take down the impostor.
The real Undertaker finally appeared at SummerSlam. He was wearing purple gloves, boots, and tie to the ring replacing the gray one he used to wear and was being worn by the impostor. The real Undertaker defeated DiBiase's fake when he reversed the impostor's Tombstone Piledriver attempt and gave him three of his own for the win as The Undertaker was back and better than ever.
Before the year was out, The Undertaker got revenge on Yokozuna by defeating him in a Casket rematch at the Survivor Series. Actor Chuck Norris was at ringside as he prevented any heels from interfering in this match unlike their Royal Rumble encounter. Yokozuna disappeared until WrestleMania XI in April 1995.
In the summer of 1994, former WWF Champion Bob Backlund began acting out against the New Generation and the direction of the WWF, phasing out all the old "washed up" superstars. Backlund returned to the WWF in late 1992 and wrestled mostly as a squeaky clean babyface who was mid-card at best and was out of place in the day's trend of younger and more hip wrestlers.
Backlund was an accomplished amateur wrestler who had a successful pro wrestling career in the 1970s and early 1980s. He became the WWF Champion in February 1978 and held it until losing to The Iron Sheik in December 1983. His 2,135-day reign as WWF Champion is the second-longest reign all-time in WWE history only behind Bruno Sammartino. He left the WWF shortly after and wrestled various promotions and even briefly retired before returning in 1992.
On the July 30, 1994 edition of WWF Superstars, Backlund attempted to win back the WWF Championship from Bret Hart in a title match. Hart beat him to retain the title. Hart offered his hand after the match, only for Backlund to slap him in the face and then lock Hart into the Crossface Chicken Wing and refused to let go, doing damage to Hart's left arm and shoulder and neck.
Backlund "snapped" as he was meniacally screaming as he had a crazy look on his face and in his eyes. Finally, officials got him off of Hart as Backlund looked on in shock and disbelief at his hands as he could not believe what he had just done. Backlund became a heel.
Over the next few months, Backlund's personality and character changed. Backlund would wear business suits with a bow tie and suspenders. He would demand to be called "Mr. Backlund" and often talked down to people while showing off his vast intelligence and knowledge by using big words than no one could understand.
Backlund would blame the New Generation and the fans as reasons for his change as well as still believing he's the WWF Champion since he never lost the title in the first place. He lost the title to The Iron Sheik when he was put into the Camel Clutch when Backlund's then-manager Arnold Skaaland threw in the towel despite Backlund never submitting. Backlund was still bitter over the title loss and wanted it back.
Backlund would spend the next few months attacking wrestlers and other WWF personnel by locking them into the Crossface Chicken Wing, "injuring" them. Backlund got revenge on Skaaland for costing him the title by locking him into the Crossface Chicken Wing.
Backlund faced Bret Hart in a Submission match for the WWF Championship at Survivor Series. Backlund had Owen Hart in his corner with Bret having Davey Boy Smith in his corner. The way you win this match is to put your opponent in a submission move and the opponent's corner man has to "throw in the towel" to mimick Backlund's title loss to The Iron Sheik.
Owen interfered in the match attacking Bret and causing Smith to get knocked out when he moved out of the way and Smith slammed into the ring steps head first. Backlund locked Bret in the Crossface Chicken Wing and had him in it for several minutes.
With Smith knocked out cold, no one was able to throw in the towel for Bret to end the match. Owen pleaded and cried to his and Bret's parents, Stu and Helen Hart, who were sitting at ringside. After crying for his mom to please save his brother, Helen had enough and threw in the towel for Bret, giving Backlund the WWF Championship. Owen revealed it was an acting job on his part that he fake cried to his mom.
Earlier in the night at Survivor Series, Diesel and Shawn Michaels co-captained a five-man team against Razor Ramon and his five man team. All five members of Diesel and Michaels' team remained while only Razor was left.
Reminiscent of SummerSlam and again a few weeks earlier on WWF TV, Diesel held Razor for Michaels to once again Superkick him. Third time was not the charm as for the third time, Razor moved out of the way and for the third time, Michaels superkicked Diesel.
Three strikes and you are out as Diesel had enough. Diesel decided to go after Michaels and chased him to the back as all five members of their team were counted out as they tried to stop Diesel from going after Michaels. Diesel and Michaels' partnership was over as Diesel became a babyface for the first time in his career.
Diesel's babyface run started about as good as it could possibly be. Three nights later at a house show at Madison Square Garden on November 26, 1994, Diesel got a WWF Championship match with new champion Bob Backlund.
Diesel kicked Backlund in the gut and gave him the Jackknife Powerbomb for the 1-2-3 to become the new WWF Champion in what was then the quickest match in WWF/E history in just eight seconds. Kevin Nash became just the third person in WWF/E history to win the Triple Crown, joining Pedro Morales and Bret Hart. Nash is the fastest to accomplish the feat, winning all three championships in just seven months.
Diesel ended the year on top of the wrestling world and thanks to some luck and fortune, he got a chance to shine and be on top going into 1995.
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