Warrior v Diesel - Who was better as WWF champ?

[Raine]

Alot of people claim both of these guys were flops when they held the WWF title.

Ultimate Warrior - Held the WWF title for around 10 months after beating Hulk Hogan clean at WM6, was groomed as the next big thing and Hogan's sucessor. Problem was he never really had any memorable feuds or matches until the Savage feud right at the end when he lost the title to Slaughter. Hogan was supposedly trying to sabotage Warrior's reign behind the scenes.

Diesel - Won the WWF title from Bob Backlund the day after Survivors 1994, after turning face on HBK, holding the title for an impressive calender year. Majority of his main event title defences were dire. Survivor Series 1995 vs Bret Hart was easily Big D's best match as champion. Turned heel again seconds after dropping belt to Bret, post champion heel character was far more enjoyable than smiley Big Daddy Cool, perhaps should have turned heel mid reign, rather than after?

Who was better for you and why?

[cordless2016]

Diesel. While the overall state of the WWE wasn't good, I felt that Diesel was a good champ and put on some good matches w/ HBK, Bret, Razor, and Sid. I think it was just bad luck that he was champ during a down period, but he was entertaining, especially towards the end of his run as a heel.

I was too young to watch Warrior as champ, but from what I've seen, he was a poor replacement for Hogan. His promos, while funny to laugh at, we're god awful, and was even worse in the ring than Hogan.

Diesel for me.

[jammer311]

I think Diesel was a better champion. Warrior had 2 ppv title defenses, one against Rude, which Rude carried, the other vs. Slaughter that the belt changed hands. Big D had many title matches, against guys like Bret, HBK, Sid, Mabel, and Bulldog. And all the Raw matches he did against guys like Owen, Jarrett, and Bigelow. I definitely think Diesel was a better champion. But then I may be a bit biased, since I am a huge Kevin Nash fan.

[jakksking1]

This is a tough one, as I think they both were awful champions. I feel both put on pretty bad matches in my opinion, while champions. The good matches they did have were carried by far more talented wrestlers. Having said that, i'd give the slight edge to Warrior as the ratings were still high, as opposed to Diesel's reign. Other than that, I think its a wash.

[Johnny Wrestling]

Considering Warrior was more over and he got the title cleanly from Hogan becoming a double champion, I gotta go with him.

[jasonphoenix1]

Diesel was the better champ.

[ToastMaster General]

Gotta go Diesel, seemed like to me that Warrior's reign was a wasted idea. Warrior barely did anything as WWF Champion. Diesel on the other hand did have good to great matches with most of his opposition, Sid and Mabel not withstanding, it just sucked he lost his edge. If we had a 1996-era Diesel as Champion, I'm sure alot of people would change their tune on Kevin Nash. Plus Diesel's 94-95 feud with Bret Hart was epic at the time and still holds up well, I can never get enough of those two fighting it out in their primes, the Survivor Series '95 title match between them is probably my 3rd favorite WWF title match overall next to Warrior-Hogan and Angle-Benoit.

[Deleted]

Both were terrible champions but both had some great matches during their reigns thanks to some great opponents. Have to go with Diesel though.

[Stinger TNA]

Big daddy cool for me. I think as many have touched upon, if diesel was a heel then he would have been great as champ with taker etc chasing the belt. Similar to hbk in the fact that he was a very White meat babyface as hbk says when that wasn't cool in the wrestling business anymore. Grinning an smiling ruined hi character a bit

[wccwfan4life]

Warrior was never highlighted as champion. His entire lackluster run is the fault of the WWE alone. They continued to book Hogan in the company's main programs, thus making their champion an afterthought. No way around this. Warrior was not treated like the champion. However he still put asses in seats at the leve events. Something Nash failed at.

I like Kevin but Diesel up until 96 was boring as wet paint. Warrior was awesome.

[Deleted]

This is a good question.

As stated above, even when Ultimate Warrior was WWF Champion he still played second fiddle to Hulk Hogan. However, when Diesel was WWF Champion he really was "the guy".

I'd say Diesel was the better champion but both title reigns were total failures.

[wccwfan4life]

Nov 1, 2011 22:23:19 GMT -5 @bashcrashwiley said:

This is a good question.

As stated above, even when Ultimate Warrior was WWF Champion he still played second fiddle to Hulk Hogan. However, when Diesel was WWF Champion he really was "the guy".

I'd say Diesel was the better champion but both title reigns were total failures.

Gotta disagree with you on two points here.

1. Diesel was never the guy, 93-97 was dominated by Bret Hart. Bret was the biggest overall draw WWE had, not to say he was a Hogan type draw but the WWE's biggest at that time. The belt no matter who it went to, always went back to Bret. Diesel's run was played around Bret getting his rematch and when he did, he beat him.

Not to mention that the company's marketing machine was still in Bret mode, video packages, vhs tapes, merch, main event matches. Diesel's fued was always second to Bret's with the exception of Mania 11.

2. Warrior suffered from all of the above as well, except monetary wise, HE DREW!

Warrior drew money as WWF champion and no numbers slipped. Politics are the only reason Hogan got it back.

[Bartman]

Nov 1, 2011 17:40:51 GMT -5 @wccwfan4life said:

Warrior was never highlighted as champion. His entire lackluster run is the fault of the WWE alone. They continued to book Hogan in the company's main programs, thus making their champion an afterthought.

Pretty much.

Warrior should have gotten the Earthquake feud.

[Deleted]

Hart Attack,

I see your point but when Diesel had the WWF Championship through 1995 he was in the main event. Bret Hart was stuck feuding with Hakushi, Jerry Lawler, Isaac Yankem, Pierre, etc. and was nowhere near the main event scene at that time...with the exception of Royal Rumble & Survivor Series which were both against...DIESEL.

However, when Ultimate Warrior was WWF Champion the guy who was in the main event every night was still Hulk Hogan.

See my point?

[Deleted]

Nov 2, 2011 1:54:32 GMT -5 @bashcrashwiley said:

Hart Attack,

I see your point but when Diesel had the WWF Championship through 1995 he was in the main event. Bret Hart was stuck feuding with Hakushi, Jerry Lawler, Isaac Yankem, Pierre, etc. and was nowhere near the main event scene at that time...with the exception of Royal Rumble & Survivor Series which were both against...DIESEL.

However, when Ultimate Warrior was WWF Champion the guy who was in the main event every night was still Hulk Hogan.

See my point?

yup Bash is correct here IMO.plus HBKs rise as a babyface started when Diesel was champ and to many-Bret included he felt it was "all about Shawn"from mid 95 to WM12.

I pick Diesel too.Warrior was a non entity as champ.

[wccwfan4life]

Nov 2, 2011 1:54:32 GMT -5 @bashcrashwiley said:

Hart Attack,

I see your point but when Diesel had the WWF Championship through 1995 he was in the main event. Bret Hart was stuck feuding with Hakushi, Jerry Lawler, Isaac Yankem, Pierre, etc. and was nowhere near the main event scene at that time...with the exception of Royal Rumble & Survivor Series which were both against...DIESEL.

However, when Ultimate Warrior was WWF Champion the guy who was in the main event every night was still Hulk Hogan.

See my point?

Warrior vs Rude went on last at Summerslam. Warrior headlined an SNME with Dibiase. Warrir was in the actual main events, he just wasn't in the biggest marketed program.

Just like Diesel. Diesel was in the main event, but Bret's programs got more tv time and Bret got all of the mainstream tv appearances as well.

So you're right about the main event thing, but i still gotta disagree about who was the focus of the show.

[Stinger TNA]

Nice to hear a good discussion.

[cordless2016]

From what I've seen of it, it always seemed like Warrior never got a fair shot at being "The Man" back in 1990. Yeah, Hogan was still around and they wanted to push him, but he could have taken a step back and given Warrior a chance to prove himself. Hogan, for about 90% of Warrior's title reign, was the main focus of the WWF.

Diesel, while in a similar spot, got a more fair chance IMO. Bret, still being the top draw, wasn't a Hogan type "Superman" character, so Diesel didn't have to worry about that, and Bret didn't try to overshadow Diesel like Hogan did to Warrior.

I thought that the two biggest problems w/ Diesel's reign is that he should have been a heel, and he also had Bret still being the top draw and Shawn's main event push during his title reign. Diesel was always more entertaining as a heel, and having Bret, Taker, and Shawn chase him would have been more entertaining than what we got IMO. Shawn could have turned face before WM11, and then unsuccessfully challenge Diesel for his title, w/ Diesel becoming the first heel to retain his title at WM. Shawn then could have gone onto the same build that he had, and Bret could have taken the title back from Diesel at Survivor Series.

[Deleted]

Agreed 100% with above. Diesel as face champion started out well but after he couldn't quite deliver in the ring against guys like Mabel, Sid, Bulldog, etc. the fans begin to turn. However, as heel he would've (and later did) had great matches with Bret, Michaels, Taker, etc.

[Deleted]

when you think about it 90% of nashs good stuff came as a heel.

post Champ Diesel,Outsiders etc.