Yokozuna’s First 10 WWE PPV Matches, Ranked From Worst To Best
In late 1992, Yokozuna joined WWE and he pushed right to the top almost instantly in his WWE career. He was a top heel in the New Generation Era, and he was under the tutelage of Mr. Fuji. Jim Cornette also joined the Yokozuna camp as his American spokesperson. Yokozuna had an incredible WWE career, and he is a two-time WWE Champion.RELATED: WWE Icons: 10 Facts We Learned About YokozunaYokozuna had several noteworthy feuds throughout his career but he was at his peak in 1993. The wrestlers he feuded with were some of the all-time greats and that made Yokozuna look like a monster inside the squared circle. After his WWE Championship reign came to a halt in 1994, Yokozuna was on a decline, but fans saw Yokozuna compete in some remarkable matches on pay-per-view.
10 Yokozuna Vs. Hulk Hogan - WrestleMania 9
Yokozuna defeated Bret Hart to become the youngest WWE Champion in WWE history in the main event of WrestleMania 9. This should have been the start of a decent WWE Championship run for Yokozuna but Hulk Hogan intervened, and he challenged Yokozuna to an impromptu WWE Title match.
This proved to be a smart move from Hogan as Yokozuna and Mr. Fuji miscommunicated as Fuji accidentally threw salt in his charge's eyes. Yokozuna was powerless, and Hogan capitalized by nailing Yokozuna with his trademark leg drop to become WWE Champion for a record-extending fifth time.
9 Yokozuna Vs. Virgil - Survivor Series 1992
Survivor Series 1992 was the sight of Yokozuna's WWE pay-per-view debut. He collided with Virgil in a squash match. It was total domination from Yokozuna right from the word go as Virgil had no answers to stop Yokozuna in his tracks.
Virgil attempted a roll-up but Yokozuna outsmarted Virgil by flattening him. He clobbered Virgil to the ground, and he finished off with Virgil with his patented Banzai Drop to open up his account in WWE with a comprehensive victory.
8 The Foreign Fanatics Vs. The All-Americans - Survivor Series 1993
WWE Champion Yokozuna spearheaded Ludvig Borga, Crush, and Quebecers Jacques as the Foreign Fanatics in their traditional Survivor Series elimination match at Survivor Series 1993. Lex Luger, The Undertaker, and the Steiner Brothers represented the All-Americans, and they were on the other side of the ring.
Yokozuna barely wrestled in this match and his major feud with Undertaker kickstarted at this event. The reigning WWE Champion managed to contribute to one elimination by taking out Scott Steiner with a leg drop. Yokozuna missed the Banzai Drop on Undertaker, and he attempted to retreat to the locker room with Undertaker in hot pursuit.
7 Yokozuna Vs. Lex Luger - WrestleMania 10
At WrestleMania 10, Yokozuna pulled double duty, and he put the WWE Championship on the line against Lex Luger, who was co-winner of the 1994 Royal Rumble match. Former two-time Intercontinental Champion Mr. Perfect had a closer look at proceedings as the special guest referee.
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This was a forgettable WWE Championship match, and there was a possibility that Luger could finally add the WWE Championship to his collection. The finish was bogus as Luger pushed Perfect, and Perfect abused his power by disqualifying Luger for pushing him which allowed Yokozuna to retain the WWE Championship.
6 Yokozuna Vs. Bret Hart - WrestleMania 9
Yokozuna was bidding to become the first heel to walk out of WrestleMania as WWE Champion. Standing in Yokozuna's way was Bret Hart, and they closed out WrestleMania 9 in a mediocre WWE Championship match.
This was one of the worst matches in Hart's storied career. Yokozuna got tired, and the match finished prematurely. Mr. Fuji blinded Hart by throwing salt in the Hitman's eyes, and Yokozuna covered Hart to capture his first WWE Championship although his joy was short-lived as Hogan beat him in an impromptu WWE Championship match.
5 Yokozuna Vs. Bret Hart - WrestleMania 10
12 months removed from their WWE Championship match at WrestleMania 9, Yokozuna and Bret Hart dueled once more in a marquee WWE Title match at WrestleMania 10. Both Yokozuna and Hart had a match under their belt, and "Rowdy" Roddy Piper undertook special guest referee duties.
Their clash was marginally better than their WrestleMania 9 match. Yokozuna looked fitter, and he put on a decent performance. Ultimately, this night belonged to Hart who recaptured the WWE Championship for the first time in a year, and the locker room flooded to celebrate with him
4 Yokozuna Vs. Hulk Hogan - King Of The Ring 1993
After the debacle at WrestleMania 9, Yokozuna had the chance to regain the WWE Championship from Hulk Hogan at the inaugural King of the Ring event in 1993. Yokozuna got plenty of offense in the early proceedings and he controlled large portions of the match.
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Yokozuna had a refusal to stay down, and he powered out of Hogan's leg drop which rarely happens. However, a photographer appeared on the apron, and he flashed a fireball in Hogan's face. Yokozuna sent Hogan packing, and he became a two-time WWE Champion with a leg drop.
3 Yokozuna Vs. The Undertaker - Royal Rumble 1994
Yokozuna was deathly afraid of caskets, and his WWE Championship was under grave danger at Royal Rumble 1994 as The Undertaker was determined to beat him for the WWE Title. Their casket match wasn't a technical masterclass but the match was tons of fun to watch.
The Deadman was hugely popular with the fans, and many believed that he had a legitimate chance of ending Yokozuna's WWE Championship reign. Undertaker came close on several occasions but heels flocked out of the locker room to decimate Undertaker and help Yokozuna beat Undertaker to retain the WWE Championship.
2 Yokozuna Vs. Lex Luger - SummerSlam 1993
The WWE Championship was up for grabs in the main event of SummerSlam 1993, and Yokozuna defended the gold against Lex Luger. The storytelling was great, and whilst it wasn't an instant classic, Yokozuna and Luger had their working boots on.
Luger repeatedly kicked Yokozuna's leg to wear him down. Yokozuna grabbed a steel chair on the outside and he swang for Luger but the Lex Express moved out of the way. Luger battled on gallantly and there were several near falls but Luger clattered Yokozuna out of the ring, and he prevailed by count-out.
1 Royal Rumble Match - Royal Rumble 1993
There were huge stakes on the line for the winner of the 1993 Royal Rumble match as it was the first Rumble to award a Rumble winner, a WWE Championship match at WrestleMania. Yokozuna was the 27th entrant, and he wasted no time by eliminating Tatanka, Carlos Colon, and most impressively, he took care of Earthquake with ease.
All the remaining participants tried to eliminate Yokozuna but he powered through them with ease. Tito Santana, Yokozuna's future WWE Tag Team Championship winning partner Owen Hart, Repo Man, and Bob Backlund were Yoko's next victims. Yoko and Savage were the final two participants, and the Macho Man nailed Yokozuna with his patented elbow drop from the top rope. Ultimately, Yokozuna pushed Savage from the mat over the top rope to continue his push, and he won the 1993 Royal Rumble match punching his ticket to WrestleMania 9.