Lex Luger enjoyed his time touring the United States on the Lex Express, but the long journey to SummerSlam 1993 was not easy for the ex-Superstar.
After Luger was denied a title shot against then-WWF Champion Yokozuna, Lex toured the U.S. rallying support for WWF President Jack Tunney to change his mind.
During his “Lex Expressed” podcast, Luger addressed his time on the bus. He said,
“It was an incredible experience that I would never change for anything. It was also grueling; behind the scenes, I was up at four in the morning to start doing radio, TV, morning news stations in the major markets all the way around the country. I rode on the bus almost all the time. I got to fly home once or twice for a couple of days and fly right back. It was grueling, but it was really good.”
Luger would earn a title match at SummerSlam but won by DQ meaning that the title did not change hands. Despite this, Lex celebrated in the ring to end the show.
On the podcast, Lex also discussed his previous gimmick in the WWF as ‘The Narcissist.’ He said,
“I loved ‘The Narcissist.’ I wish I could have done it for a couple more years. Man, that was custom-made for my personality back then. My real personality. Man, I wish I could have run with that for a couple of years before I went babyface, but I don’t know. There’s a lot of rumors that Vince [McMahon] said, ‘Hogan said he wasn’t coming back ever, full-time, and Bret [Hart] was threatening maybe not to stay full-time.’ So he kind of — I heard not desperate, but he really wanted a babyface.”
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Lex Luger and the Grueling Journey of the Lex Express
In the world of professional wrestling, there have been many iconic moments and storylines that have captivated fans. One such moment was the tour of the United States known as the Lex Express, which saw former superstar Lex Luger travel across the country to rally support for a title shot. While it may have seemed glamorous on the surface, the journey was far from easy for Luger.
The Lex Express tour took place in the summer of 1993, leading up to the highly anticipated SummerSlam event. Luger had been denied a title shot against then-WWF Champion Yokozuna, and he embarked on a mission to change WWF President Jack Tunney’s mind. Luger’s goal was to gather support from fans all over the country and prove that he deserved a chance at the championship.
During his time on the Lex Express, Luger faced numerous challenges. In an interview on his podcast, “Lex Expressed,” he revealed the grueling schedule he had to maintain. Luger would wake up at four in the morning to start doing radio and TV appearances, often visiting morning news stations in major markets across the country. He spent most of his time traveling on the bus, only getting to fly home once or twice for a couple of days before flying right back into the tour. It was a demanding and exhausting experience, but Luger acknowledged that it was also incredibly rewarding.
Eventually, Luger’s efforts paid off, and he earned a title match against Yokozuna at SummerSlam. However, despite his valiant efforts, Luger won the match by disqualification, meaning that the title did not change hands. Nevertheless, Luger celebrated in the ring to end the show, showcasing his resilience and determination.
In addition to discussing his time on the Lex Express, Luger also reflected on his previous gimmick in the WWF as ‘The Narcissist.’ He expressed his love for the character and wished he could have portrayed it for a few more years. Luger believed that the gimmick perfectly aligned with his real personality at the time and felt it was a missed opportunity to fully explore the character before transitioning into a babyface role. However, circumstances within the WWF, including the uncertain futures of Hulk Hogan and Bret Hart, led to a shift in direction, and Luger’s character underwent a transformation.
The Lex Express tour and Luger’s journey to SummerSlam 1993 remain significant moments in professional wrestling history. It showcased the dedication and hard work required to succeed in the industry, as well as the challenges faced by wrestlers both in and out of the ring. Despite not winning the championship, Luger’s determination and perseverance endeared him to fans and solidified his place in wrestling lore.
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