I content the problem was that Hogan was still around and took what should have been Warrior's 1st feud post Mania against Earthquake. Earthquake was the only legitimate monster main event heel they had at the time and instead of following the formula that worked for them for over 5 years and feeding that heel to the champ, they instead gave that feud to Hogan. Even though Warrior was the champ he did not get the top program. That killed the momentum he had as it was apparent that Hogan was still the champ just without the title based on the program.
Warrior should have had the program Hogan had with Earthquake in the spring/summer/fall of 90. Then after he slays the beast, he moves on to Macho as he did back then only this time holding the title against Slaughter (Slaughter gets himself DQed and along with Macho continues to beat down Warrior until Hogan makes the save to set up his match with Slaughter as it was just minus the title). We get a Slaughter/Macho v Warrior/Hogan match at SNME and then after Warrior defeats Macho at Mania you begin year 2 of his title reign with him just as hot as he was after Mania VI.
100% agree, anyone who says otherwise, Warrior would of been red hot in 2nd year as champion, and could of gone on for a 3rd year as champion.
In defense to poor house shows. The WWF roster just wasn't as strong after Warrior become champion, it was no fault to the Warrior, the roster just wasn't as good after WM6. Take into account all the roster changes and losses. Andre retired, Demolition did a complete 180 from faces to heels, and then a 3 man group, Ax and Smash were never the same, Hart Foundation were splitting up, the tag division was smaller, and SNME was all but done.
One of the strong points during the 80s was the Hogan and Andre feud, and Hogan had such strong and over competition like Andre, Piper, Savage and others. Compare Hogan v Andre to Warrior v Earthquake, feud didn't happen, but its not the same. And Warrior v Rude was no Hogan v Savage Mega Powers feud either.
So besides all that, why his run didn't last longer, No doubt Vince was scared stiff of a change, but not only that, I bet he thought Hogan was the golden cash cow, and at that time he was prolly more worried about money then anything else. Why else did Savage run end like it did. He never won again until Hogan retired. Undertaker won, but only had the belt a week. I bet Vince wanted Hogan to win the 92 Rumble, and if not that I bet Vince wanted Hogan to leave WM8 as the champion, but Hogan said otherwise. Just how bad Vince ran things, I mean look at how WM9 went down, and how its gone down with Cena.