Warrior v Diesel - Who was better as WWF champ?

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.

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.

Diesel was the better champ.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.