Now, I know the WWE Network has their own show called Rivalries where they discuss some of the biggest rivalries that existed in Pro Wrestling. Rivalries like Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels that blended real life disgust of each other with on-screen chemistry. It is true, the two eventually exploded and created some of the greatest matches we have ever seen in the WWE.
However, not all rivalries were as long as intertwined with real life. Actually, the Undertaker and Yokozuna were friends outside of the ring. Both were members of the infamous BSK (A real-life backstage faction).
At the same time, the rivalry between the Undertaker and Yokozuna was just as good, maybe even better than the rivalries of real-life enemies.
For some reason (perhaps his size and character), Vince McMahon loved to pit the Undertaker against the monsters of the WWE. This included Kamala, The Giant Gonzales, and Yokozuna. These Original Monsters among men (sorry Braun you were not the first) wreaked havoc on the WWE until they came across the WWE's resident gravedigger: The Undertaker. As I reminisce on the trajectory Vince was creating at the time, he was creating a space where the Undertaker would have the historic and rooted presence he had in the WWE. In a way, in the early 90s, the Undertaker was the protector of the WWE by protecting against these Original Monsters among men. It was here that the Undertaker created his legacy and was able to exude his mystique and mystical presence on the WWE.
This blog post is dedicated to one of these historic Undertaker feuds: Undertaker and Yokozuna. Yokozuna (of Samoan Ancestry from the great Anoa'i wrestling family) was billed as 6'4 and 550 pounds. At times he was billed upwards of 641 pounds. However, at his debut, he was only 505 pounds. He made his way into the WWE in 1992. In his pay-per-view debut, Survivor Series 1992, he defeated the much smaller Virgil (former manager of Ted DiBiase). [Fun Fact: Both Undertaker and Yokozuna made their pay-per-view debut at Survivor Series]. Yokozuna would continue have huge success as at the very next pay-per-view Royal Rumble 1993, Yokozuna would go on to win by eliminating the Macho Man Randy Savage.
This is the first interaction Yokozuna and the Undertaker would have. It will signify the beginning of a long-standing feud.
Sidenote: Doesn't the Undertaker look so cool in that jacket...excuse me, Dreamy. LOL
At the same time, the rivalry between the Undertaker and Yokozuna was just as good, maybe even better than the rivalries of real-life enemies.
For some reason (perhaps his size and character), Vince McMahon loved to pit the Undertaker against the monsters of the WWE. This included Kamala, The Giant Gonzales, and Yokozuna. These Original Monsters among men (sorry Braun you were not the first) wreaked havoc on the WWE until they came across the WWE's resident gravedigger: The Undertaker. As I reminisce on the trajectory Vince was creating at the time, he was creating a space where the Undertaker would have the historic and rooted presence he had in the WWE. In a way, in the early 90s, the Undertaker was the protector of the WWE by protecting against these Original Monsters among men. It was here that the Undertaker created his legacy and was able to exude his mystique and mystical presence on the WWE.
This blog post is dedicated to one of these historic Undertaker feuds: Undertaker and Yokozuna. Yokozuna (of Samoan Ancestry from the great Anoa'i wrestling family) was billed as 6'4 and 550 pounds. At times he was billed upwards of 641 pounds. However, at his debut, he was only 505 pounds. He made his way into the WWE in 1992. In his pay-per-view debut, Survivor Series 1992, he defeated the much smaller Virgil (former manager of Ted DiBiase). [Fun Fact: Both Undertaker and Yokozuna made their pay-per-view debut at Survivor Series]. Yokozuna would continue have huge success as at the very next pay-per-view Royal Rumble 1993, Yokozuna would go on to win by eliminating the Macho Man Randy Savage.
However, it was the next big pay-per-view that cemented Yokozuna's legacy. At WrestleMania IX, Yokozuna wrestled against Bret Hart for the WWF World Heavyweight Championship. Bret had Yokozuna in his signature Sharpshooter, however, Yokozuna's ever faithful manager, Mr. Fuji, threw salt in Bret's eyes allowing Yokozuna to gain the victory and the WWF World Heavyweight Championship.
After Yokozuna's defeat of Bret Hart, Hulk Hogan came to the ring to help Bret Hart. It was then that Mr. Fuji challenged Hulk Hogan to a match against Yokozuna, and after Fuji accidentally threw salt in Yokozuna's eyes, Hogan regained the title. [What a friend, Hogan comes to "help" Bret and ends up walking away with the title. That is how you put the face of the company over. But as we see now, the WWE loves to make their old time heroes (Brock Lesnar) the champion.)
After Yokozuna's defeat of Bret Hart, Hulk Hogan came to the ring to help Bret Hart. It was then that Mr. Fuji challenged Hulk Hogan to a match against Yokozuna, and after Fuji accidentally threw salt in Yokozuna's eyes, Hogan regained the title. [What a friend, Hogan comes to "help" Bret and ends up walking away with the title. That is how you put the face of the company over. But as we see now, the WWE loves to make their old time heroes (Brock Lesnar) the champion.)
By the time of the 1993 King of the Ring, Yokozuna's weight had increased from 505 pounds to 550 pounds. In two months, he gained 45 pounds. Yokozuna challenged Hogan to a title rematch and with help from a Japanese photographer, Yokozuna beat Hogan after hitting with a Banzai drop. Hogan would leave WWE and Yokozuna began telling everyone he had killed "Hulkamania".
As a celebration, he and Mr. Fuji began a bodyslam competition to see who could bodyslam the massive Yokozuna. Many superstars tried including Macho Man Randy Savage. However, it was Lex Luger who finally body slammed Yokozuna and would become the new challenger for the WWF World Heavyweight title. At SummerSlam, the two squared off. Yokozuna's weight had increased again to 568 pounds. During the match, Luger hit Yokozuna with a forearm (which had a metal plate in it from a motorcycle accident) and knocked Yokozuna out of the ring unconscious. Yokozuna was counted out, however, he did not lose his title. The feud between Luger and Yokozuna continued and the two, and their respective teams squared off at Survivor Series 1993.
As a celebration, he and Mr. Fuji began a bodyslam competition to see who could bodyslam the massive Yokozuna. Many superstars tried including Macho Man Randy Savage. However, it was Lex Luger who finally body slammed Yokozuna and would become the new challenger for the WWF World Heavyweight title. At SummerSlam, the two squared off. Yokozuna's weight had increased again to 568 pounds. During the match, Luger hit Yokozuna with a forearm (which had a metal plate in it from a motorcycle accident) and knocked Yokozuna out of the ring unconscious. Yokozuna was counted out, however, he did not lose his title. The feud between Luger and Yokozuna continued and the two, and their respective teams squared off at Survivor Series 1993.
SURVIVOR SERIES 1993: FEUD WITH THE UNDERTAKER BEGINS
I detailed Yokozuna's meteoric rise in WWE because his feud with the Undertaker began a year after his WWE debut and he was already a two-time WWF World Heavyweight Champion. He had already defeated Bret Hart, Hulk Hogan, Jim Duggan, and countless other WWE Legends. In just one year Yokozuna wreaked havoc on the WWE. The detailed account of his first year in WWE sounds like many superstars' first five years in the WWE. Especially considering pay-per-views were only one every 2-4 months. This means that Yokozuna played a major role in every pay-per-view of the year.
This feud started when the Undertaker announced his membership on Lex Luger's team:
This is the first interaction Yokozuna and the Undertaker would have. It will signify the beginning of a long-standing feud.
Sidenote: Doesn't the Undertaker look so cool in that jacket...excuse me, Dreamy. LOL
-Britt
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