20 year anniversary of Hogan/Warrior Ultimate challenge!!!

[The Idiot]

Actually...it was 2 days ago, but I figured I'd bring it up since nobody else has.

20 years, wow. I remember listening to this on scrambled TV at my friends house. Easily the most anticipated match in history. Face vs face match was very rare back then. Not only that...but also champion vs champion, and the two most popular guys in the business. This match is still talked about to this day.

Historic. Can't believe it's been 2 decades.

Feel free to discuss...or talk about Wrestlemania 6 as a whole. Fantastic event.

 

[Fallen Angel 21.3]

I really don't see the big deal bout Hogan/Warrior. I mean Hogan was an okay type wrestler he was the ultmate baby face and the Warrior was a crazy asshole who in my mind didn't deserve that title match. I mean what kind of a guy who would hold up somebody for money and if he didn't get said money not perform for there fans, yes i know thats a different show but really the Warrior was overrated, wasn't good. I mean come on his damn entrance was longer then his matches and it suprised that he was able to go in the ring longer then 2 minutes. The fact is who cares about that match i mean wrestle mania has had a lot better matches that should be remember then this match

 

[The Idiot]

Let me guess...this was way before your time?

I never claimed that it was a 5 star match. After reading around this forum it seems like that's all that matters around here...how many stars a match gets.

This was such a big moment in my childhood. The most anticipated match ever. I can talk about it all day...but I'm probably wasting my time because you would have had to experience it yourself.

Like I said...it was the first time anything like this ever happened. It was an epic match and a historic night. Being that it was exactly 20 years ago...I figured I'd bring it up to the old school wrestling fans, if there's any left.

 

[Austin 3:16 4-Life]

Old school wrestling fan right here! Thanks for making this post. I also remember watching this match with my pops (RIP) as a youngin. I was so torn, but was jumping up and down when Warrior pulled out the win.

I'm with the OP, it was definately my first time not knowing who to cheer for. Funny now that I think about it, I just sat my 8 year old daughter down to watch WM 26 and she went through what I did with Hogan/Warrior while watching HBK/Taker!

20 years......damn time flies.

 

[vertigolowe]

The Royal Rumble of the same year was the first ppv that I saw. My initial introduction into wrestling was the buildup to the Ultimate Challenge. That match and Roddy Piper vs. Bad News Brown are the two I still look back on foundly. I think that was the match that Piper came out with half of his body painted black too.

Sure the match(es) weren't anything spectacular by today's standards, but remember that this was before the influx of lucha guys and pre-ECW so there weren't really many 'great' matches back then.

For me the anniversary is more about how long I've been watching wrestling regularly than any real importance of the match.

One thing that really bugs me in hindsight is the title vs. title thing. After Warrior won the match he had both titles (World & IC). The WWF higher-ups (go Jack Tunney!) determined that it was too demanding for a wrestler to hold and defend both titles so they let the Warrior choose which one to keep and then vacated the IC. (On a quick side note I always love when they do things like grant a shot at 'any' title when we all know that it's gonna be a world title.) I guess the idea was that they couldn't have Warrior drop the IC before mania because it would have made him look weak and thus not worthy of beating Hogan.

As for the stuff Fallen Angel said about Warrior, yeah he's a lunatic and yeah his matches are generally crap. This was pre-internet and I was 10 so I had no idea about anything other than what was presented on TV. Vince and Jesse (or Bobby & Gorilla) said that it would be the biggest match in history so that was all I cared about.

Anyway, thanks for bringing back a few memories that I hadn't thought of in a while.

 

[The Idiot]

Your welcome, guys. It was such an awesome night.

I remember watching the Hart Foundation completely dismantle the Bolsheviks in under a minute. Of course, my parents wouldn't let me order pay-per-views so me and my buddy had to watch it in the other room on scramble tv (if you remember those days, lol). It was basically like listening to the radio which made it that much more suspenseful.

The worst part of the night for me was when Jannetty got salt thrown in his eyes by Mr. Fuji, lol. I was a huge Rockers fan.

 

[Fallen Angel 21.3]

Let me guess...this was way before your time?

I never claimed that it was a 5 star match. After reading around this forum it seems like that's all that matters around here...how many stars a match gets.

This was such a big moment in my childhood. The most anticipated match ever. I can talk about it all day...but I'm probably wasting my time because you would have had to experience it yourself.

Like I said...it was the first time anything like this ever happened. It was an epic match and a historic night. Being that it was exactly 20 years ago...I figured I'd bring it up to the old school wrestling fans, if there's any left.

Your damn right it was before my time and i just don't see the point i mean hey it was 26 years ago that roddy piper was in the first wrestle mania, it was 18 years ago that the undertaker began the wrestle mania streak, or it was 23 years ago that Ricky the Dragon Steamboat and Macho Man Randy Savage had the greatest wrestle mania match of all time. All i am saying is that there have been alot more important stuff that happen at the biggest stage then just Hulk Hogan vs. the Ultimate Warrior.

 

[The Idiot]

Your damn right it was before my time

That answers everything. No need to get all bent out of shape. I know there have been other great things to happen at Wrestlemania in the past 26 years. But that's all irrelevant because I'm talking about the 20 year anniversary of Wrestlemania 6....considered by many to be one of the biggest Wrestlemania's of all time.

 

[Fallen Angel 21.3]

That answers everything. No need to get all bent out of shape. I know there have been other great things to happen at Wrestlemania in the past 26 years. But that's all irrelevant because I'm talking about the 20 year anniversary of Wrestlemania 6....considered by many to be one of the biggest Wrestlemania's of all time.

How does it answer everything to be honest. I grew up in the 90's i saw Bret Hart and Austin, i saw Shawn and Bret in there famous Iron Man Match (which by the way was babyface vs. babyface match) wrestle mania 14 was my favorite. Also how is it the "biggest" Wrestlemania of all time. Did it break the record for having the largest indoor crowd no that was Wrestle Mania 3. Did it have alot of big names, No that couldn't be it every Wrestle mania has big names. In fact i don't even think there was any outside name that was on the card. So really please expline to what is so special about WrestleManai 6 other then Hulk Hogan vs. The Ultimate Warrior.

 

[The Idiot]

How does it answer everything to be honest. I grew up in the 90's i saw Bret Hart and Austin, i saw Shawn and Bret in there famous Iron Man Match (which by the way was babyface vs. babyface match) wrestle mania 14 was my favorite. Also how is it the "biggest" Wrestlemania of all time. Did it break the record for having the largest indoor crowd no that was Wrestle Mania 3. Did it have alot of big names, No that couldn't be it every Wrestle mania has big names. In fact i don't even think there was any outside name that was on the card. So really please expline to what is so special about WrestleManai 6 other then Hulk Hogan vs. The Ultimate Warrior.

I might as well talk to a brick wall.

You bring up the ironman match...yeah there's been other babyface matches, but did you not get my point about Hogan/Warrior being the FIRST and how unheard of it was back then?

The problem with you is you try and compare wrestlers from 20 years ago to the ones of today. It's like comparing Larry Byrd and LeBron James. Young kids have no appreciation for athletes/stars of the past because they didn't grow up watching them.

I said it was considered by many to be "ONE" of the biggest. I didn't even say greatest. I'm talking anticipation and overall show quality. There were 14-15 matches on this card all with their own storyline building up to the biggest main event in pro wrestling history (at the time).

This is an old school forum...isn't there an Attitude era forum you can post in?

 

[Fallen Angel 21.3]

I might as well talk to a brick wall.

You bring up the ironman match...yeah there's been other babyface matches, but did you not get my point about Hogan/Warrior being the FIRST and how unheard of it was back then?

The problem with you is you try and compare wrestlers from 20 years ago to the ones of today. It's like comparing Larry Byrd and LeBron James. Young kids have no appreciation for athletes/stars of the past because they didn't grow up watching them.

I said it was considered by many to be "ONE" of the biggest. I didn't even say greatest. I'm talking anticipation and overall show quality. There were 14-15 matches on this card all with their own storyline building up to the biggest main event in pro wrestling history (at the time).

This is an old school forum...isn't there an Attitude era forum you can post in?

Okay wow your wrong bout me because I have the upmost respect for those guys. Like Hulk, Jake the Snake, Roddy Rowdy Piper. Yeah they might not have grown up in my time but don't say i don't respect them. I do agree that yes a face vs. a face was unheard i just don't see the point about saying hey this match took place 20 years ago. Now like said before Hulk i do respect but the Warrior is the only problem I do have. He didn't give a shit bout the fans which u could see at summerslam. So why would you remind people about a man who shouldn't have been a wrestler. Its called the past for a reason so lets leave WrestleMania in the past and forget about it.

 

[The Brain]

Okay wow your wrong bout me because I have the upmost respect for those guys. Like Hulk, Jake the Snake, Roddy Rowdy Piper. Yeah they might not have grown up in my time but don't say i don't respect them. I do agree that yes a face vs. a face was unheard i just don't see the point about saying hey this match took place 20 years ago. Now like said before Hulk i do respect but the Warrior is the only problem I do have. He didn't give a shit bout the fans which u could see at summerslam. So why would you remind people about a man who shouldn't have been a wrestler. Its called the past for a reason so lets leave WrestleMania in the past and forget about it.

I don’t understand what your problem is. Fabulous Rougeau was simply reflecting on some memories of one of his favorite events. Not everything on the forums needs to be some sort of debate. What’s wrong with just sharing some memories? So what if Warrior was an asshole. We didn’t know or worry about things like that when we were kids. I’m not going to let it ruin my memories of the match. It was a special match and it was one of the most anticipated matches in mania history. I’m sure if you were watching back then you would have a different opinion of the match. Instead you already formed an opinion of the Warrior and used your behind the scenes knowledge of him to cloud your judgment of this match before you ever saw it. You mentioned HBK vs. Bret Hart from WM12. You know HBK wasn’t exactly a model citizen around that time. I will say that overall WrestleMania VI doesn’t rank very high on my mania list, but this match deserves the praise it gets. I just can’t figure out what your problem with this thread is. Especially that last sentence: “It’s called the past for a reason so let’s leave WrestleMania in the past and forget about it.” You realize this is the old school section right?

In case you haven’t figured it out by now my memories of the match are good ones. It’s true the babyface vs. babyface match was extremely rare in those days and to make it title for title made it all the more intriguing. The Warrior was really challenging Hulk Hogan in terms of popularity 20 years ago. I liked the Warrior, but deep down I was a Hulkamaniac. I wanted Hogan to win, but I knew the Warrior probably would. I was only ten years old, but I was already starting to become a little wise to the business. I sensed that going into the 90’s the WWF was ready to try to push a new superhero. Also since it was title for title I figured Warrior would win. Why would Hogan win the IC title just to immediately forfeit it because he was world champ? Despite my suspicions I still held hope that the Hulkster would win. The hype and anticipation was off the charts and I think the match delivered. These two used a very simple formula and the idea of less is more to put on a great match. They did a great job of playing to the crowd while showing their strengths and hiding their weaknesses to give us a memorable match.

 

[jmt225]

Hogan vs. Warrior was truly one of those matches you had to experience at the time it happened to fully appreciate it.

The whole Ultimate Good Guy vs. Ultimate Good Guy thing had not been done in the mainstream up to that point, so this was a HUGE deal. Everybody who was a fan of the WWF at the time, was also a big fan of BOTH the Ultimate Warrior and Hulk Hogan, and we were all put into the position for the first time where we wanted a specific wrestler to win, but yet we wouldn't be that disappointed if he didn't, since we liked his opponent so much.

Also, I would call Hogan vs. Warrior the most unpredictable match in pro wrestling history. No fan of the WWF at the time could have been 100% sure who was going to win it. Both had the big 'Superman' comeback and both seemed impossible to beat. How in the World was this match going to turn out?

Now, today... the match doesn't hold up, at all. The whole criss-cross, test of strength, one hour bear hug... man, what a fucking bore. But dude... if you were watching at the time it occurred, it compelled you and you were glued to that television screen, wondering who was about to get the best of the other person. It was exciting as hell, and it definitely should rank as one of the greatest matches to ever take place in the business, whether it holds up today or not.

 

[Slyfox696]

Your damn right it was before my time and i just don't see the point i mean hey it was 26 years ago that roddy piper was in the first wrestle mania, it was 18 years ago that the undertaker began the wrestle mania streak, or it was 23 years ago that Ricky the Dragon Steamboat and Macho Man Randy Savage had the greatest wrestle mania match of all time. All i am saying is that there have been alot more important stuff that happen at the biggest stage then just Hulk Hogan vs. the Ultimate Warrior.

No there hasn't. No one match has encompassed the very theme of Wrestlemania like the main-event of Wrestlemania 6 has. In the Hogan vs. Warrior match alone, you being to see the trend of Wrestlemania becoming THE premier show of the year, the pageantry and drama coming into play, you see the babyface vs. babyface for the World title, and you see a passing of the torch. All four of those elements have become almost a tradition of Wrestlemania as we've come to know them over the years, and they were all contained in this one match.

Wrestlemania 3? Yeah, it was was huge, and, in theory, it was a passing of the torch, but it really wasn't. Hogan had already been champion for 3 years prior to the match, so it wasn't quite the passing of the torch people make it out to be.


The success of Hogan vs. Warrior, both in the ring and behind the scenes was a major turning point in the history of Wrestlemania, and to trivialize that because you saw an overrated borefest of a match between HBK and Hart at Wrestlemania 12 (which, by the way, if you want to talk about true assholes, let's start first with HBK), is absurd and makes you look like a complete idiot when it comes to wrestling, especially considering HBK vs. Hart would never have happened had it not been for Hogan vs. Warrior.

So really please expline to what is so special about WrestleManai 6 other then Hulk Hogan vs. The Ultimate Warrior.

I just did. You're welcome.

Now, today... the match doesn't hold up, at all. The whole criss-cross, test of strength, one hour bear hug... man, what a fucking bore.

Oh, I disagree vehemently with that, the match is still a classic today.

That whole match tells a most remarkable story. If you notice, everything in that match is to show how Warrior is Hogan's equal, and Warrior is a worthy champion. When you're about to take the title from the Babe Ruth of wrestling, you HAVE to make fans see how you are every bit as good as the guy you're taking it from. And that's what the Warrior vs. Hogan match was, from the beginning to the end. It was the constant back and forth, where each man took each other to new heights, and finally, they both make their Superman style comeback...but Warrior is just a LITTLE better and edges out Hogan.

The whole match is about passing the torch to someone who is now a more worthy champion than Hogan is.


How can any fan of professional wrestling consider that a bore? Go back and watch it again, and watch how that match develops, and how it's always about showing Warrior as Hogan's equal. When you watch it for the story that is being told right before your eyes, the match is literally over before you even realize it. Powerful stuff.

 

[Fallen Angel 21.3]

No there hasn't. No one match has encompassed the very theme of Wrestlemania like the main-event of Wrestlemania 6 has. In the Hogan vs. Warrior match alone, you being to see the trend of Wrestlemania becoming THE premier show of the year, the pageantry and drama coming into play, you see the babyface vs. babyface for the World title, and you see a passing of the torch. All four of those elements have become almost a tradition of Wrestlemania as we've come to know them over the years, and they were all contained in this one match.

Wrestlemania 3? Yeah, it was was huge, and, in theory, it was a passing of the torch, but it really wasn't. Hogan had already been champion for 3 years prior to the match, so it wasn't quite the passing of the torch people make it out to be.


The success of Hogan vs. Warrior, both in the ring and behind the scenes was a major turning point in the history of Wrestlemania, and to trivialize that because you saw an overrated borefest of a match between HBK and Hart at Wrestlemania 12 (which, by the way, if you want to talk about true assholes, let's start first with HBK), is absurd and makes you look like a complete idiot when it comes to wrestling, especially considering HBK vs. Hart would never have happened had it not been for Hogan vs. Warrior.



I just did. You're welcome.



Oh, I disagree vehemently with that, the match is still a classic today.

That whole match tells a most remarkable story. If you notice, everything in that match is to show how Warrior is Hogan's equal, and Warrior is a worthy champion. When you're about to take the title from the Babe Ruth of wrestling, you HAVE to make fans see how you are every bit as good as the guy you're taking it from. And that's what the Warrior vs. Hogan match was, from the beginning to the end. It was the constant back and forth, where each man took each other to new heights, and finally, they both make their Superman style comeback...but Warrior is just a LITTLE better and edges out Hogan.

The whole match is about passing the torch to someone who is now a more worthy champion than Hogan is.


How can any fan of professional wrestling consider that a bore? Go back and watch it again, and watch how that match develops, and how it's always about showing Warrior as Hogan's equal. When you watch it for the story that is being told right before your eyes, the match is literally over before you even realize it. Powerful stuff.

Okay wow Wrestle Mania 3 was indeed a passing of the torch. Andre was undefeated at the time he faced hogan and nobody was able to bodyslam him like Hogan did so yes it was the passing of the torch. You said oh Warrior got the torch after wrestle mania 6 well i think we all know what happens after Wrestle Mania Hogan gets back the torch and Warrior goes crazy. How is Shawn Michaels an asshole okay expline to me that. Shawn might have had bad backstage fights but when it came time for the show he didn't deny the fans a show like the Warrior did. Shawn went in and out night after night putting on 5 star matches. How is that an asshole, but wait let me guess your description of an asshole is "somebody who wouldn't hold vince up for a set of money and if he didn't get said set of money he wasn't going to peform for the fans". What about Bret too i don't think Bret's an asshole he did he job and i don't think he did what Warrior did. Also if Warrior/Hogan didn't happen i truly doubt that Hart/Michaels would still happen because Pat Patterson had the idea for the Iron Man Match and he even said that he if the match would happen he wanted shawn and bret.

 

[The Idiot]

Okay wow Wrestle Mania 3 was indeed a passing of the torch. Andre was undefeated at the time he faced hogan and nobody was able to bodyslam him like Hogan did so yes it was the passing of the torch. You said oh Warrior got the torch after wrestle mania 6 well i think we all know what happens after Wrestle Mania Hogan gets back the torch and Warrior goes crazy. How is Shawn Michaels an asshole okay expline to me that. Shawn might have had bad backstage fights but when it came time for the show he didn't deny the fans a show like the Warrior did. Shawn went in and out night after night putting on 5 star matches. How is that an asshole, but wait let me guess your description of an asshole is "somebody who wouldn't hold vince up for a set of money and if he didn't get said set of money he wasn't going to peform for the fans". What about Bret too i don't think Bret's an asshole he did he job and i don't think he did what Warrior did. Also if Warrior/Hogan didn't happen i truly doubt that Hart/Michaels would still happen because Pat Patterson had the idea for the Iron Man Match and he even said that he if the match would happen he wanted shawn and bret.

How does Warrior being an asshole diminish the great event of Wrestlemania 6? Being a 9 year old kid back then without internet...there was no possible way of knowing how he was in real life, and why would I care anyways? Wrestlemania 6 was a legendary event that will never be forgotten. Next year I'll post the 20 year anniversary of Wrestlemania 7 and you can complain about that too.

 

[Slyfox696]

Okay wow Wrestle Mania 3 was indeed a passing of the torch. Andre was undefeated at the time he faced hogan

No he wasn't, not even close. He was just billed that way.

and nobody was able to bodyslam him like Hogan did

Again, you're wrong, Andre had been bodyslammed on a few different occasions.

so yes it was the passing of the torch.

You weren't even watching Wrestlemania 6, and now you're going to tell me about Wrestlemania 3?

You said oh Warrior got the torch after wrestle mania 6 well i think we all know what happens after Wrestle Mania Hogan gets back the torch and Warrior goes crazy.

Which has absolutely nothing to do with Wrestlemania 6. And Warrior didn't go crazy, he had a very solid run with the title, and had one of the greatest Wrestlemania matches ever at Wrestlemania 7 with Randy Savage.

How is Shawn Michaels an asshole okay expline to me that.

Didn't HBK just do that last Monday?

[YOUTUBE]X9ayzJoD4FA[/YOUTUBE]

It starts about two minutes into the video. But, aside from that, he was a prima donna, constantly refused to put guys who weren't his friends over, threatened to not work the WM 14 match against Steve Austin, whined and cried when things didn't go his way...and I do believe HBK has admitted all of this.

So, again, if we're going to talk assholes, let's start with HBK.

Shawn might have had bad backstage fights but when it came time for the show he didn't deny the fans a show like the Warrior did.

Warrior didn't either. He went out and worked Summerslam 1991.

Shawn, on the other hand, DIDN'T work Wrestlemania 13, and the rematch he was supposed to have with Bret. He lost his smile, remember? And then, just like you're criticizing Warrior for, HBK threatened to not work Wrestlemania 14 against Steve Austin, and it took the Undertaker to remind him he needed to do what's right for the business.

How is it different?

Shawn went in and out night after night putting on 5 star matches. How is that an asshole, but wait let me guess your description of an asshole is "somebody who wouldn't hold vince up for a set of money and if he didn't get said set of money he wasn't going to peform for the fans".

Well, that and crying for not getting all the praise in the world when Austin was clearly the big ticket, playing backstage politics so he'd never have to drop a title clean to any of his friends, faking an injury so he didn't have to return the win against Bret Hart.

You should quit arguing about things you know nothing about.

Also if Warrior/Hogan didn't happen i truly doubt that Hart/Michaels would still happen because Pat Patterson had the idea for the Iron Man Match and he even said that he if the match would happen he wanted shawn and bret.

It wouldn't have mattered, had Warrior and Hogan not been so damn successful. Without those two leading the way for Wrestlemania mega-babyface vs. mega-babyface, do you really think McMahon would have tried to put two guys who were never great draws against each other?

It's one thing to try something new when you're putting two mega-draws together, it's something else entirely when you're putting together the two guys who led the company during some of its most abysmal years ever. Hell, are you trying to tell me HBK and Hart were bigger than Savage and Hogan? Because the WWF felt like they had to turn Savage heel at WM 5, because they didn't trust face vs. face.

And I can guarantee you Savage and Hogan were much bigger names than HBK and Hart.



Your criticism of the Warrior vs. Hogan match is illogical and ignorant. You can not like the match, but to dismiss its importance is absurd.