List of WrestleMania 9 The Impromptu Hogan Title Win Controversy

Yokozuna Defeated Bret Hart — Fuji Salt Interference

The Scheduled WM9 Main Event — WWF Title Changes

The scheduled WM9 main event saw Yokozuna defeat Bret Hart at 8:55 when Mr. Fuji threw salt in Hart's eyes, blinding him for the Banzai Drop pin — a controversial finish that used significant outside interference to end Bret's reign.

Fuji Challenges Hogan Immediately Post-Match

The Impromptu Challenge That Shocked the WWF

Before Bret Hart had even been fully tended to, Mr. Fuji grabbed the microphone and challenged Hulk Hogan — who was at ringside — to an immediate title match, leading to the most controversial 22 seconds in WM history.

Fuji's Salt Missed Hogan — Hit Yokozuna

The 22-Second Match That Changed WWF History

Mr. Fuji attempted to throw salt at Hogan as he had done to Hart — but missed and hit Yokozuna instead, allowing Hogan to hit the Big Boot and Leg Drop to win the WWF Championship in approximately 22 seconds.

Hogan's WWF Title Reign — First Appearance as 4x Champion

Hogan Won His Fourth WWF Championship at WM9

Hulk Hogan's WM9 title win was his fourth WWF World Heavyweight Championship — making him at that point the most decorated WWF Champion in history. However, the manner of the win drew widespread criticism.

Bret Hart's Reaction — Bypassed and Humiliated

Hart's WM9 Main Event Was Made Secondary

Bret Hart's WM9 scheduled main event was effectively reduced to a setup match for Hogan's impromptu title win — Hart was not consulted, not helped, and not acknowledged before Hogan immediately challenged for the title.

Hogan Threatening to Walk Out — WM9 Rumors

Online Wrestling World Reports Hogan Threatened WWF

Post-WM9, reports emerged that Hulk Hogan had allegedly threatened to leave the WWF unless he was given the WWF title at WM9 — a claim that has been widely cited as the reason for the impromptu match, though never officially confirmed.

Critical Assessment — Most Criticized WM Booking Ever

Retroactively Considered the Worst WM Main Event

The WM9 double main event is retroactively considered the worst booking in WM history by most wrestling historians and critics — Hart lost his title via interference, Yokozuna's first title reign was immediately ended, and Hogan won in 22 seconds.

Yokozuna Won Title Back — King of the Ring 1993

Hogan's Reign Ended Quickly — Didn't Appear as Champion

Hulk Hogan's WM9 title win led to one of the briefest, most controversial reigns in WWF history — Yokozuna won the title back at King of the Ring 1993, and Hogan reportedly barely appeared on WWF programming as champion before leaving.