Hulk Hogan is Now.. What SuperStar Billy Graham was in the 80's... Ur Thoughts?

[mr.davidson]

KK Follow me on this

So Superstar Billy Graham was a Great Champion Back in 1975-1978 in the WWWF and stayed until 1983.. He left and joined the NWA until 86... Upon his WWF return in 1986 - 1988 Vince planned on using him and his popualrity from the past and help the WWF and the younger generation get way over then they already were. However he developed major Health issues and as a result began to manage and with the increase to his health issues had 2 retire. Due to this he became bitter and couldnt let the Industry forget about him and caused all kinds of problems with the media to make whatever money he could.

Now we have Hulk Hogan big star in the 80's and 90's. Now brought into TNA again to increase there ratings and help the younger stars get over, but due to all his on going health issues is having to take a lesser and lesser role in Wrestling industry. This will probably lead to his retirement in the very near future. Also Hoagn has taken any chance he can get to cause media attention on himself in his old age, just as SuperStar Billy Graham did in order to make a buck.

So I find this kind of ironic that a guy who made lots of money using Billy Grahams image is now almost suffereing his same fate.

( By the way I am a big Hulk Hogan Fan.)

So I am curious... What Are your Thoughts???

 

[legendkiller1979]

I think Superstar was brought back in the 80's as more of a favor. The WWF certainly didn't need him to gain fans. They had Hulk Hogan. Can anybody remember anything significant that Graham did during his last night. All he did was manage Don Muraco and did commentary (which was awful by the way.) If he had never come back the history of the WWF would not be changed at all.

On the other hand, TNA desperately needed something to get people to watch. Who better than the greatest of all time. As far as the injuries go, You will not find many wrestlers who are not suffering from the same injuries. Everybody took steroids back in the day and the ones who are not dead are paying for it now.

There really is no comparison.

 

[TheHitMark-SirJoseOle]

KK Follow me on this

So Superstar Billy Graham was a Great Champion Back in 1975-1978 in the WWWF and stayed until 1983.. He left and joined the NWA until 86... Upon his WWF return in 1986 - 1988 Vince planned on using him and his popualrity from the past and help the WWF and the younger generation get way over then they already were. However he developed major Health issues and as a result began to manage and with the increase to his health issues had 2 retire. Due to this he became bitter and couldnt let the Industry forget about him and caused all kinds of problems with the media to make whatever money he could.

There are some parallels here with Hulk Hogan and Billy Graham to only a small extent though, during this time frame when Billy Graham was suffering all those injuries he was the same age Hogan was when The Hulkster turned heel at Bash At The Beach 96, so the affects of substance abuse and what not caught up with Billy Graham a LOT quicker. Therefore his plan to comeback as a fulltime competitor fell drastically short of the WWF's expectations.

Now we have Hulk Hogan big star in the 80's and 90's. Now brought into TNA again to increase there ratings and help the younger stars get over, but due to all his on going health issues is having to take a lesser and lesser role in Wrestling industry. This will probably lead to his retirement in the very near future. Also Hoagn has taken any chance he can get to cause media attention on himself in his old age, just as SuperStar Billy Graham did in order to make a buck.

This is where I will slightly disagree, Hulk Hogan hasn't spoken out against the wrestling industry in any way, shape or form close to how Billy Graham has. Sure, Hogan has aired his differences with the WWE and even has taken a few pot shots here and there, but in all honesty it's no different than what the WWF was doing with the Billionaire Ted skits in the 90s. Also Hogan's nearing 60 years old now while Billy Graham's ill fated WWF comeback had occurred whe

Also, Hogan's TNA deal to the best of my knowledge never involved him being a full time wrestler, to date he only wrestled one match with the company and there might have been some slight teases that he would be back in the ring, however none of that has come to fruition yet. If there was an agenda to have Hogan be a full time wrestler in TNA from the get go, I think we'd have seen that happen back when he signed in October of 2009.

So I find this kind of ironic that a guy who made lots of money using Billy Grahams image is now almost suffereing his same fate.

( By the way I am a big Hulk Hogan Fan.)

There are indeed some parallels, but nothing near the obvious discontent that Billy Graham has had with Vince McMahon, putting it this way, no matter what Hogan has said or done in the media in regards to WWF/E, Vince has always welcomed him back at one time or another. Considering Billy Graham's current standing with Vince, that's not as likely. And again Hogan's overhaul of injuries happened at a much later age than Hogan.

And that is true how Hogan was a very Superstar Graham like character, it does remind me of the Buddy Rogers/Ric Flair comparisons.

So I am curious... What Are your Thoughts???

Overall, Hogan definitely shares some similarities with Billy Graham, but I think he's far from being in as bad a shape as him as far as his standing with the media, Vince McMahon and the wrestling world in general. TNA is still a work in progress and while it needs refinement like any other product does, if you look back at 2002 and then you look at now, there's been a progression. Remember, there were years that the WWWF (and later WWF now WWE) were a smaller entity within the NWA and they had to get their start somewhere like TNA is doing now. Obviously Hogan's inability to wrestle a full time schedule like he did in WWF and WCW affect the strategy in how they use him in the company. Time will only tell really as far as how well Hogan will work with TNA in the long run, granted it's been almost two years since he signed, however I still maintain that something like this was and will continue to take a while.

I hope those were pretty good points I brought up. I do like the post itself, because no one that's ever watched wrestling and studied its history can deny the obvious influence of Superstar Graham on guys like Hulk Hogan, Jesse Ventura and even Scott Steiner.

Look forward to more posts from ya man, I hope to read more!

 

[whoopin' ass]

sure Hogan has spoken out about the wresling industry. anytime he didn`t get his way in WCW, he bashed the company and the talent. sure it is fun to listen to but while you work for a company, you don`t air your dirty laundry in public.

I think both Hogan and Ventura are clones of Graham to an extent - they saw things with him that they could use and added them to their characters however they are not exact copies. with Hogan, i don`t know if it is a case of him not wanting to be forgotten as much as what else can he do? his whole life is about being Hulk Hogan so what else can he do but be involved in wrestling. the real sad part is that as successful as he was, there is actually very little that he can teach new guys since a large part of his success was from politics in the back. in terms of skills and talent, that is he going to teach an aj styles or a bobby roode? while successful, his lack of skill is not a secret - you can not teach what you do not have so his options are pretty limited.

 

[TheHitMark-SirJoseOle]

sure Hogan has spoken out about the wresling industry. anytime he didn`t get his way in WCW, he bashed the company and the talent. sure it is fun to listen to but while you work for a company, you don`t air your dirty laundry in public.

I think both Hogan and Ventura are clones of Graham to an extent - they saw things with him that they could use and added them to their characters however they are not exact copies. with Hogan, i don`t know if it is a case of him not wanting to be forgotten as much as what else can he do? his whole life is about being Hulk Hogan so what else can he do but be involved in wrestling. the real sad part is that as successful as he was, there is actually very little that he can teach new guys since a large part of his success was from politics in the back. in terms of skills and talent, that is he going to teach an aj styles or a bobby roode? while successful, his lack of skill is not a secret - you can not teach what you do not have so his options are pretty limited.

And I need to say this without coming off like a total mark or a tool, but the bottom line is, unless you were actually around for the backstage shenanigans of any of these wrestling companies, you really don't know what's going on. Yes, I think it's safe to say that stars like Hogan have clout and I am sure have definitely used that to their advantage, however you or I can't truly speak with authority on what he can or can't teach other talent. After all the guy's track record speaks for itself, politician or not, Hogan's lasting power speaks for itself.

Therefore, I find it a little presumptuous that you're saying that a guy who learned to become a wrestler in the hotbed territory of Florida can't give anything back? Sir, I have to disagree, Hogan learned from some of the best in the business being in Eddie Graham and Hiro Matsuda. Granted, he might not have always applied such skills in the majority of his WWF tenure but what he learned from the Florida territory is what got his foot in the door.

Therefore, I would beg to differ in your opinion that Hogan only made it because of politics and that he has nil to offer young talent. And again yes we've heard Hogan speak about the industry sometimes not in the best light, but nowhere near what Billy Graham has ever said or done, let's be honest on that one.

 

[whoopin' ass]

And I need to say this without coming off like a total mark or a tool, but the bottom line is, unless you were actually around for the backstage shenanigans of any of these wrestling companies, you really don't know what's going on. Yes, I think it's safe to say that stars like Hogan have clout and I am sure have definitely used that to their advantage, however you or I can't truly speak with authority on what he can or can't teach other talent. After all the guy's track record speaks for itself, politician or not, Hogan's lasting power speaks for itself.

Therefore, I find it a little presumptuous that you're saying that a guy who learned to become a wrestler in the hotbed territory of Florida can't give anything back? Sir, I have to disagree, Hogan learned from some of the best in the business being in Eddie Graham and Hiro Matsuda. Granted, he might not have always applied such skills in the majority of his WWF tenure but what he learned from the Florida territory is what got his foot in the door.

Therefore, I would beg to differ in your opinion that Hogan only made it because of politics and that he has nil to offer young talent. And again yes we've heard Hogan speak about the industry sometimes not in the best light, but nowhere near what Billy Graham has ever said or done, let's be honest on that one.

i never said he was only successful because of politics but it was a large part of it. with the exception of Hogan/Andre, why is his name usually not mentioned when they talk about classic matches from the 80's? his skill was average at best, he just had the WWF machine pushing him. Hogan may have learned from some of the best but that was 30+ years ago and times have changed. Should Spanky be top in the company just because he was trained by HBK? look at all the people Hogan held down over his time. why did he not face Bret for the title when they were both in the WWF? why did he and HBK only have 1 match in his most recent wwe run? in both cases, Hogan didn't want to be second best. Hogan always came out on top no matter what. only guy i can think of that he lost to and was surprised was when he lost to them was the Rock and even that, Hogan won - he turned face again. I am not saying there isn't stuff that the boys could learn from him but there isn't anything he can teach them that Angle, Jarrett, or Sting couldn't teach.

 

[Hulkamaniac]

i never said he was only successful because of politics but it was a large part of it.

Large means what here? 10%? 50%? 75%?

with the exception of Hogan/Andre, why is his name usually not mentioned when they talk about classic matches from the 80's?

Because you're wrong? His matches against Savage and Warrior are both thought of a classics of the era.

his skill was average at best,

Says you.

he just had the WWF machine pushing him.

And how did he get so popular in the AWA? The Gagne Machine? And how was he a huge draw in NJPW? The Inoki Machine? HOw about WCW? Is that the Bischoff Machine or the Turner Machine? Man, Hogan sure is lucky that all these machines formed right where he was. I'm sure he had nothing to do with it!

Hogan may have learned from some of the best but that was 30+ years ago and times have changed. Should Spanky be top in the company just because he was trained by HBK?

Huh?

look at all the people Hogan held down over his time.

Ahhh, this old chestnut, as usual thrown out with no evidence.

why did he not face Bret for the title when they were both in the WWF?

Well, that's Bret's side of the story. Hulk and Vince have told a different version. One that makes more sense when you consider that there was one major face vs face title change in WWF history at that point. Instead Hogan dropped his title to a heel.

why did he and HBK only have 1 match in his most recent wwe run?

Because he was injured? And why should he give HBK another match after he spent the entire match mocking him?

in both cases, Hogan didn't want to be second best.

What about when he lost to: Warrior, Sting, Goldberg, Giant (now the Big Show), Lex Luger, Billy Kidman, the Rock, Kurt Angle, Brock Lesnar...that's just the big time losses off the top of my head.

Hogan always came out on top no matter what.

Except for those times that he didn't.

only guy i can think of that he lost to and was surprised was when he lost to them was the Rock

You weren't shocked when Lesnar squashed Hogan? Or when Hogan tapped out to Kurt Angle? Or is it possible that you are 7 years old?

and even that, Hogan won - he turned face again.

Oh, this is too funny. So because the fans cheered him (while he was playing the heel), it's his fault.

I am not saying there isn't stuff that the boys could learn from him but there isn't anything he can teach them that Angle, Jarrett, or Sting couldn't teach.

Well, he's a bigger star then all of those guys combined, so yeah, he probably can.

EDIT: And he didn't "use Billy Graham's image to make money". Billy Graham was a dastardly heel. The Hulkamania Hulk Hogan character was the exact opposite. Like, the exact opposite. So I don't really feel there's much of a parallel.

 

[TUFFY54]

Well Billy Graham was a big HEEL star for a few years. Hulk Hogan is the biggest FACE star in the history of the wrestling industry, and was only the face of pro wrestling for abut 20 years.

They had a similar gimmick. Thats the end of the comparison. Graham is a bitter old has been who sucks up to Vince when he needs money, and calls him the devil when he doesn't. Hogan is still in the wrestling business with TNA now.

There really is no comparison.