The wrestling world by no means noticed a babyface flip fairly like Lex Luger’s in 1993. Seemingly out of nowhere, WWE reworked the villainous “Narcissist” Lex Luger right into a patriotic, All-American hero, with the drama unfolding aboard one of many U.S.’s most historic struggle vessels. Luger took to X to mark the thirty first anniversary of this memorable, albeit considerably uncommon, second in wrestling historical past. “31 years in the past at this time. It by no means will get previous!!! Blissful 4th to all who have fun our nation’s birthday,” Luger’s publish stated.
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31 years in the past at this time. It by no means will get previous!!! Blissful 4th to all who have fun our nations birthday🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/yg7n8woYEm
— Lex Luger (@GenuineLexLuger) July 4, 2024
The “Stars and Stripes Problem” was a WWE exhibition/publicity stunt that occurred in New York Metropolis on the usS. Intrepid, a WWII-era plane service, on July 4, 1993. It was meant as a kayfabe championship celebration for Yokozuna, who had simply gained his second WWE Championship from Hulk Hogan in June. With Hogan out of the image, McMahon wanted a brand new prime babyface to be a reputable menace to the 500-lb. Samoan-turned-Japanese character. A number of members of the WWE roster, in addition to skilled athletes from different sports activities, took their flip trying to carry Yokozuna. Simply as the duty appeared unattainable, in flew Luger by way of helicopter to avoid wasting America. Luger was capable of slam the huge WWE Corridor of Famer, bringing the followers aboard the boiling-hot warship to their ft. WWE’s latest prime babyface was born.
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The flip labored, no less than for some time. Luger loved a semi-successful run close to the highest of the cardboard, main-eventing SummerSlam 1993 and co-winning the 1994 Royal Rumble. In the end Vince McMahon was unconvinced of his personal experiment, and hesitated to offer Luger the belt. The “All-American” gimmick would finally develop stale, and Luger made his very notorious leap to WCW in late summer time 1995 — a lot to the shock of his former employer.
