Battle of the Decades - Year 2 - 1991 vs 2001
~1991~
Top Superstar: Hulk Hogan - 1991, much like 1989 was Hulk's return to having a dominate year as champion after not having the title the previous year. Hogan began the year finishing up his major feud from the previous year, Earthquake. As luck will have it, both men were the final 2 in the Royal Rumble. After finally ending the feud, Hogan could get back to trying to regain his World title. As luck will have it, the top spot opened wide when the Ultimate Warrior lost the World title due to Randy Savage. As America was getting set for their war in Iraq, Hulk began his war against Iraqi supporter, WWF World Champion, Sgt Slaughter. Although he would win the Title at Wrestlemania, their war would continue for many more months in fierce Desert Storm and handicap matches. Everyone from The Ultimate Warrior, Iron Sheik, to newcomer, The Undertaker was involved. Once the Summer began to come to an end, Hogan would be faced with two new challenges. First, was the rookie Undertaker who would defeat Hogan for the title (Only to lose it back a few days later) and the second was Ric Flair, fresh from WCW. Although the odds were normally against him, Hulk ended the year with a very impressive win-loss record.
Top Tag Team: The Legion of Doom - While teams like The Hart Foundation and The Rockers split apart in 1991, LOD sticked close together. Their main goal for the entire year was to become WWF Tag Team Champions. After being screwed out of a title shot by Paul Roma, LOD defeated Power and Glory at Wrestlemania in one minute. In the months that followed, they were attempting to get their match against champions, The Nasty Boys. At Summerslam they got their shot and became the first ever AWA, NWA and WWF Tag team champions. They would remain champions for the rest of the year.
Returning Superstar: Ric Flair - Many moons ago, the future Hall of Famer wrestled a few shows for the WWE. After reaching his breaking point in WCW, Ric returned to the WWE in the Summer. Leading up to his debut, Bobby Heenan kept talking about how the "Real World's Champion" was going to teach WWF Champion, Hulk Hogan a lesson. Flair made his return by defeating Tito Santana in a great 20 minute match. In between costing Hulk Hogan the world title, he engaged himself in a feud against an old rival in Roddy Piper. By December, Flair had became one of the top stars for the company.
Top Midcarder: Bret Hart - '91 was a year of change for "The Hitman." He started the year as one half of the tag team champions. However, by Wrestlemania he and partner Jim Neidhart were ready to give their singles run another try. It didn't take long for Bret to make a singles name for himself. He defeated IRS to win the final non-ppv edition of the King of the Ring and at Summerslam he defeated Mr Perfect for the IC Title. For the rest of the year he battled the likes of Skinner and The Mountie.
Sudden Departure: The Ultimate Warrior - Having been the World Champion for most of 1990, Warrior faced the challenge of finding a new role once he lost the title in January. At Wrestlemania he got revenge on Randy Savage by retiring him in an epic match. Following that event, he was attacked by The Undertaker and locked in a casket. Never before had something traumatized Warrior like the casket did. So to prepare for the next meeting, he enlisted the help of Jake Roberts to teach him the ways of the dark side. Little did he know that Roberts was darker than anyone knew. While all of that was going on, he was enlisted by Hulk Hogan to be his partner at Summerslam in a 3-2 handicap match. Warrior helped Hogan win, but he disappeared from WWE TV for the rest of the year afterwards.
Breakout Superstar: The Undertaker - Perhaps no one made a bigger impact than The Undertaker. Having just debuted in late 1990, in less than a year The Undertaker would become one of the biggest stars of the company. After defeating many jobbers, Taker pinned Jimmy Snuka at Wrestlemania. It was after that event that he would join forces with Jake Roberts to do Roberts bidding. All of that was nothing compared to his one year anniversary when he defeated Hulk Hogan for the WWF title. Although he would lose the title a few days later, everyone knew 'Taker was here to stay.
Top Feuds: - Hulk Hogan vs Sgt Slaughter - The WWF's version of the Gulf War
- Randy Savage vs Jake Roberts - The happiest day of your life turns into a nightmare
- Randy Savage vs Ultimate Warrior - The WWF isn't big enough for the both of them
- Earthquake vs Jake Roberts - Fear turns into death
~2001~
Top Superstar: Steve Austin - Having just return in the final few months of the previous year, Austin took over right where he left off. Winning the Royal Rumble and Wrestlemania and capturing the WWE World and Tag titles. April 1st at Wrestlemania he would turn heel and join forces with Vince McMahon. After finishing his feud with The Undertaker and the Canadian Chris's, Austin shocked the World by joining the Alliance. Once turning heel...er he started a few month long feud with Kurt Angle which would include them being allies for a month in the middle of the feud. By the end of the year, he had dominated the main event scene and had added 2 more title reigns to his resume.
Top Tag Team: The Dudley Boyz - The Dudley Boyz faced personal challenges unlike their peers in E&C and The Hardys by always remaining a solid team. The entire year they were always a top tag team who was either the tag team champions or challengers. Many teams came and went in '01, but only the Dudley Boyz remained.
Returning Superstar: Rob Van Dam - In 1997, RVD made wrestling news by joining the WWF in a feud against his own ECW. Move ahead 4 years and RVD is on ECW's side against the WWF. Having returned to the company in July, RVD was a solid fixture in the midcard (Having won the Hardcore Title a few times) and the main event (Competing in 3 main events).
Top Midcarder: Chris Jericho - Jericho did it all in 2001. He was IC champion early on, tag champion twice in the middle and near the end of the year, and by the end of the year he was in the main event feuding against The Rock and Steve Austin. One could say he was the perfect wrestler for the WWF that year. No one else was that diverse in feuding against lowcard, midcard and main eventer on any given night.
Sudden Departure: Jerry Lawler - The long time wrestling legend, debut for the WWF back in 1993. By 2001 he was the popular color commentator on Raw and Smackdown. However, then wife, Stacy Carter (The Kat) was showing negative attitude, she was released from the company. Being forced into protesting, Jerry Lawler quit. Just like that "The King", was gone from the company. After being gone for 9 months, Lawler made his surprise return in November. Turns out his divorce lawyer had been more busy than he was in '01.
Breakout Superstar: Edge - Like his Canadian predecessor 10 years before, Edge started off the year in a successful tag team. As the months passed though, Edge was slowly becoming more and more successful. Finally, after winning the King of the Ring, partner Christian turned on Edge. Not letting that get him down, Edge would win the IC title at Summerslam and would regain it from Christian at No Mercy. In the next month he would lose the IC title again only to win the WCW US title. At Survivor Series, Edge would win the IC title, unifying the two midcard titles.
Top Feuds:- Vince McMahon vs Shane McMahon - A year long battle involving the two biggest companies
- Chris Jericho vs The Rock - Friendly rivalry turns heated
- DDP vs The Undertaker - Stalking by night
- The WWF vs The Alliance - The dream turned subpar
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