This is a very interesting topic this week, trying to ascertain who is the bigger star, the Immortal Hulk Hogan, or the Rattlesnake, Stone Cold Steve Austin.
I don't think there's much doubt that these two guys are the head of the class regarding professional wrestlers; they are clearly number one and number two. Unfortunately for my opponent, even though he chose first, he simply chose the wrong guy. Who is the bigger star when comparing these two mega-stars? It's clearly this guy:
In order to really determine who is the bigger star of the two, there are many parameters which need to be addressed. We can look crowd response. We can compare their resumes and their respective accolades. Let's look at the companies in which they competed, and their relative importance and value to that organization, relative to the time they spent there. One can look at their relative individual competition. What is their star power beyond the ring? What is their impact on the business beyond the above? And where would they be today if they were still competing?
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Crowd Response [/size]
With all due respect to both of these legends, when they were entering the ring, people knew it. People knew something special was about to go down. In case you've forgotten:
When that glass shattered, it didn't matter who was in the ring, where the arena was located, or what the circumstances were. Shit was about to get real, and the walls were coming down. No one could elicit consistent enormous pops like Stone Cold: not the Rock, not HBK, not even Hulk Hogan. Pro wrestling has had so many bonafide superstars in different organizations all over the world, and all have had their impact upon the crowd. But the Rattlesnake could draw a pop like none before him:
It didn't matter if he was heel or face, or whether it was a huge return or a regular weekly appearance on Monday Night RAW. No one could out pop SCSA, not even Hogan, and this speaks volumes (no pun intended) as to who had the greater star power in the WWF/WWE.
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Accolades [/size]
Both of these superstars are highly decorated wrestlers who have won numerous titles and belts over their illustrious careers. In doing a little research, though, it became clear to be that Austin, in terms of championship reigns, simply fared a little bit better. If we are going to assess star power, let's restrict our comparison to the organizations with a truly national and even global audience. All due respect to some of the other organizations, but unless you are a pro wrestling diehard, you probably are not familiar with all of the various niche organizations with local appeal only, and these don't really contribute much to the assess of star power, which is the question at hand. Forget about New Japan, AWA, or even NWA or TNA; if we are assessing star power, this means impacting upon the greatest number of pro wrestling fans on the biggest stage. So let's look at accomplishments in WWF/WWE and WCW, the two most significant organizations on a national and international stage:
Hulk Hogan
WCW Heavyweight Champion: 6 times
WWF/WWE Champion: 6 times
WWF/WWE Tag Team Championship: 1 time
Royal Rumble: 2 times
Halal of Fame Inductee: Class of 2005
Steve Austin
WCW Heavyweight Champion: 2 times
WCW Tag Team Champion: 1 time
WCW World Television Champion: 2 times
WWF/WWE Champion: 6 times
WWF/WWE Intercontinental Champion: 2 times
WWF/WWE Tag Team Champion: 4 times
King of the Ring: 1 time (and Austin 3:16 is born)
Royal Rumble Winner: 3 times
Triple Crown Winner
Hall of Fame Inductee: Class of 2009
If we are talking star power, and we compare the relative accomplishments of the two of them in the largest global organizations, on the grandest stages, it seems apparent to me that Stone Cold Steve Austin holds a decided edge in terms of accolades. This is yet further evidence that he is the bigger star of the two legends.
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Relative Importance To their Organization [/size]
Both of these superstars have held value to their respective organizations which is second to none. But in the grand scheme of things, I feel that Stone Cold Steve Austin carried more significance to the WWF/WWE than Hulk Hogan did.
Hulk Hogan was the top dog in the WWF for many years. With all due respect to him, though, a significant amount of that time, the WWF was pretty much uncontested on a national stage. They were the biggest organization in the world, and none of the local companies with their tiny geographical niches could compete. We have all heard of the expression: "big fish in a little pond". With all due respect to Hogan, but throughout these years, he was the biggest fish in the only pond. From the late 1970's to 1993, Hogan spent time in the WWF, and time away from it, but either way, in terms of star power, it was the WWF or nothing during this period.
Hogan left in 1993 and went to Japan and eventually onto WCW, culminating in the infamous Monday Night Wars, during which time, WCW overtook WWF on a consistent basis for approximately two years. We all know how the ratings looked back then.
Date Raw Nitro
1995-09-04 2.2 2.5
1995-09-11 2.5 2.4
1995-09-18 2.7 1.9
1995-09-25 1.9 2.7
1995-10-02 2.5 2.5
1995-10-09 2.6 2.6
1995-10-16 2.6 2.2
1995-10-23 2.2 2.6
1995-10-30 2.1 2.3
1995-11-06 2.6 2
1995-11-13 2.6 2
1995-11-20 2.3 2.5
1995-11-27 2.3 2.5
1995-12-04 2.6 2.4
1995-12-11 2.5 2.6
1995-12-18 2.3 2.7
1995-12-25 N/A 2.5
1996-01-01 2.6 2.5
1996-01-08 3 2.8
1996-01-15 2.4 3.5
1996-01-22 2.9 2.7
1996-01-29 2.4 2.8
1996-02-05 2.7 2.9
1996-02-12 N/A 3.7
1996-02-19 3.1 2.9
1996-02-26 3.1 3.2
1996-03-04 3.6 N/A
1996-03-11 2.9 3.2
1996-03-18 2.9 3.6
1996-03-25 2.8 3.1
1996-04-01 2.9 2.8
1996-04-08 4.7 N/A
1996-04-15 3.1 2.8
1996-04-22 3.3 2.7
1996-04-29 2.9 2.1
1996-05-06 4.1 1.9
1996-05-13 3.5 2.3
1996-05-20 2.3 3.1
1996-05-27 2.3 2.8
1996-06-03 2.3 3
1996-06-10 2.7 2.6
1996-06-17 2.3 3.4
1996-06-24 2.7 3.3
1996-07-01 2.6 3.3
1996-07-08 2.5 3.5
1996-07-15 2.6 3.4
1996-07-22 2.2 2.6
1996-07-29 2.1 3.1
1996-08-05 2.8 3
1996-08-12 2 3.3
1996-08-19 2.9 3.5
1996-08-26 N/A 4.2
1996-09-02 N/A 4.3
1996-09-09 2.4 3.7
1996-09-16 2.1 3.7
1996-09-23 2 3.4
1996-09-30 2.3 3.3
1996-10-07 2.1 3.5
1996-10-14 1.8 3.3
1996-10-21 2.6 3.2
1996-10-28 2 3.6
1996-11-04 2.3 3.4
1996-11-11 2.5 3.7
1996-11-18 2.4 3.2
1996-11-25 2.1 3.1
1996-12-02 2.3 3.4
1996-12-09 N/A 3.3
1996-12-16 N/A 3.2
1996-12-23 N/A 3.1
1996-12-30 N/A 3.6
1997-01-06 2.1 3
1997-01-13 2.3 3.4
1997-01-20 2.2 3.7
1997-01-27 2.2 3.6
1997-02-03 2.6 3.1
1997-02-10 2.3 3.8
1997-02-17 2.1 2.9
1997-02-24 2.5 3
1997-03-03 1.9 3.4
1997-03-10 2.3 3.5
1997-03-17 2.4 3.6
1997-03-24 2.5 3
1997-03-31 2.7 3.4
1997-04-07 2.2 3.7
1997-04-14 2.2 3.5
1997-04-21 2.8 3.4
1997-04-28 2.7 3.4
1997-05-05 2.8 3.2
1997-05-12 2.8 3.2
1997-05-19 3.1 3.6
1997-05-26 2.7 3.3
1997-06-02 2.5 3.3
1997-06-09 2.2 3.4
1997-06-16 2.4 3.3
1997-06-23 2.4 3.3
1997-06-30 2.5 3.3
1997-07-07 2.5 3.4
1997-07-14 2.6 3.5
1997-07-21 4.1 N/A
1997-07-28 2.9 3.4
1997-08-04 2.7 4.4
1997-08-11 2.9 3.8
1997-08-18 3.2 4
1997-08-25 N/A 5
1997-09-01 N/A 4.8
1997-09-08 2.2 4.3
1997-09-15 2.6 3.9
1997-09-22 2.4 3.7
1997-09-29 2.7 4
1997-10-06 3 3.9
1997-10-13 2.3 3.8
1997-10-20 2.9 4.6
1997-10-27 2.3 4.3
1997-11-03 2.6 4
1997-11-10 3.4 4.3
1997-11-17 3.1 4.1
1997-11-24 3 3.9
1997-12-01 3 3.8
1997-12-08 3 4.3
1997-12-15 2.7 4.1
1997-12-22 3.1 3.5
1997-12-29 3.6 4.6
1998-01-05 3.3 4.3
1998-01-12 3.4 4.6
1998-01-19 4 4.5
1998-01-26 3.5 4.7
1998-02-02 3.5 4.9
1998-02-09 3.2 4.6
1998-02-16 N/A 5.1
1998-02-23 3.2 4.6
1998-03-02 3.8 4.8
1998-03-09 3.6 4.9
1998-03-16 N/A 5.1
1998-03-23 3.6 4.6
1998-03-30 3.8 4.2
1998-04-06 4.7 4.6
1998-04-13 4.6 4.2
1998-04-20 4.4 5.1
1998-04-27 5.7 N/A
1998-05-04 5.5 3.5
1998-05-11 4.3 4.3
1998-05-18 5.3 N/A
1998-05-25 4.2 4.2
1998-06-01 4.4 3.7
1998-06-08 4.3 4
Date Raw Nitro
1998-06-15 4.3 4
1998-06-22 4.3 4.1
1998-06-29 5.4 4.1
1998-07-06 4 4.8
1998-07-13 4.7 4.5
1998-07-20 5 4.7
1998-07-27 4.9 4.7
1998-08-03 4.9 4.2
1998-08-10 4.5 4.6
1998-08-17 4.2 4.9
1998-08-24 4.7 5.2
1998-08-31 N/A 6
1998-09-07 N/A 5.5
1998-09-14 4 4.5
1998-09-21 4 3.9
1998-09-28 4 4.6
1998-10-05 4.55 4.5
1998-10-12 4.8 4.6
1998-10-19 5 4.4
1998-10-26 4.5 5.1
1998-11-02 4.8 4.1
1998-11-09 5 4.1
1998-11-16 5.5 4.3
1998-11-23 4.9 4.5
1998-11-30 5 4.2
1998-12-07 5.15 4.2
1998-12-14 5.2 4.2
1998-12-21 4.7 4
1998-12-28 4.9 4.6
1999-01-04 5.7 5
1999-01-11 5.5 5
1999-01-18 5.6 4.4
1999-01-25 5.5 5
1999-02-01 5.9 4.7
1999-02-08 N/A 5.7
1999-02-15 5.9 3.9
1999-02-22 5.5 4.8
1999-03-01 6.3 4.3
1999-03-08 6.4 4.4
1999-03-15 5.8 4.3
1999-03-22 6.4 4
1999-03-29 6.5 3.5
1999-04-05 5.8 4.3
1999-04-12 6.3 4.4
1999-04-19 6.1 4.1
1999-04-26 6 3.9
1999-05-03 6.4 3.4
1999-05-10 8.1 3.3
1999-05-17 6.4 3.8
1999-05-24 7.2 3.1
1999-06-07 6.7 3.2
1999-06-14 6.7 3.3
1999-06-21 6 3.1
1999-06-28 6.8 3.6
1999-07-05 6.2 3.3
1999-07-12 5.97 3.45
1999-07-19 6.3 3.3
1999-07-26 7.1 3.4
1999-08-02 5.9 3.1
1999-08-09 6.4 3.1
1999-08-16 6.6 3.3
1999-08-23 5.9 2.9
1999-08-30 4.2 4
1999-09-06 4.4 4.1
1999-09-13 6 3.3
1999-09-20 6.1 3.1
1999-09-27 6.8 3
1999-10-04 5.9 2.9
1999-10-11 6.1 2.6
1999-10-18 5.4 3.3
1999-10-25 5.6 3.5
1999-11-01 5.9 3.2
1999-11-08 5.4 3.4
1999-11-15 6.3 3.1
1999-11-22 5.5 3.4
1999-11-29 6.5 3.1
1999-12-06 6 3
1999-12-13 6.1 2.8
1999-12-20 5.8 3.2
1999-12-27 5.8 2.9
2000-01-03 6.4 3.3
2000-01-10 6.8 3.5
2000-01-17 6 3
2000-01-24 6.7 3.1
2000-01-31 6.6 2.8
2000-02-07 6.5 2.7
2000-02-14 4.4 3.6
2000-02-21 5.9 2.8
2000-02-28 6.5 2.1
2000-03-06 6.4 2.8
2000-03-13 6.3 2.6
2000-03-20 6.2 2.5
2000-03-27 6.6 2.6
2000-04-03 6.4 1.8
2000-04-10 6.2 3.1
2000-04-17 6.7 2.5
2000-04-24 7.1 3.1
2000-05-01 7.4 2.5
2000-05-08 6.2 2.8
2000-05-15 6.1 3.1
2000-05-22 7.1 3.03
2000-05-29 6.4 3
2000-06-05 5.9 2.8
2000-06-12 6.8 3
2000-06-19 5.8 2.7
2000-06-26 6.4 2.8
2000-07-03 5.3 2.3
2000-07-10 6 2.6
2000-07-17 6.2 2.4
2000-07-24 6.2 2.8
2000-07-31 6.4 2.7
2000-08-07 6.3 2.5
2000-08-14 5.9 2.4
2000-08-21 6.2 2.6
2000-08-28 4.9 3.5
2000-09-04 4.2 3.6
2000-09-11 5.8 3.2
2000-09-18 5.7 2.75
2000-09-25 5.4 2.9
2000-10-02 5.4 2.6
2000-10-09 5.4 2.5
2000-10-16 4.8 2.3
2000-10-23 5.5 2.2
2000-10-30 4.9 2.5
2000-11-06 5.1 2.5
2000-11-13 5 2.6
2000-11-20 5 2.3
2000-11-27 5 2.4
2000-12-04 5 2.45
2000-12-11 5.75 1.8
2000-12-18 4.8 2.3
2000-12-25 3.8 N/A
2001-01-01 4.55 N/A
2001-01-08 4.8 2.1
2001-01-15 5.2 2.6
2001-01-22 5.6 2.1
2001-01-29 5.4 2.6
2001-02-05 5 2.3
2001-02-12 4.8 2.1
2001-02-19 4.8 2.2
2001-02-26 5.1 2.3
2001-03-05 4.5 2.1
2001-03-12 4.9 2.1
2001-03-19 4.6 2.1
2001-03-26 4.7 3
What strikes me about the numbers is that WCW overtook WWF in the ratings, largely buoyed by the infamous Hollywood Hulk Hogan heel turn and his affiliation with the nWo. While this was a successful period and has to be largely attributed to Hogan, there were many other factors at work causing this to occur, not the least of which is the other defections from the WWF and the financial backing of Turner. However, the uprising was short lived and could not be sustained, again for several reasons. Why? Here's one big reason:
The birth of the entire Mr. McMahon versus Stone Cold Steve Austin was a pivotal factor in the turning of the tides in the Monday Night Wars, allowing WWF to return to the top and spelling the beginning of the end of WCW. Austin took this feud and carried it throughout the Attitude Era, and basically allowed the dominance of WWF to return. He carried the company for years in the fashion, and his impact is still felt in the company to this day, albeit to a lesser extent.
Unlike Hogan, who carried the WWF during it's basically uncontested years, and then mounted a challenge to WWF for two years during his WCW days, Stone Cold Steve Austin carried the company from the brink of disaster, against the stiffest competition WWF ever faced, and he brought the company back to a position of dominance. From where I'm sitting, that's star power. Austin proved over these years that without a doubt, he was a bigger star and a more integral component of his company than Hogan was.
[size=+2]
Individual Competition [/size]
One determining factor in star power is the considering factor in terms of individual opponents as well. As Hulkamania was running wild back in the day, I would respectfully suggest that he was not facing the stiff type of competition that Austin was facing during his heyday with WWF. Case in point:
He faced a couple of other guys you may have heard of as well:
All due respect to the different athletes from different eras, while Hogan was doing his thing against guys like Piper, Warrior, and Andre, Stone Cold Austin was doing it against these guys, during a period of time that physicality was at its utmost. Again, the star power produced in matches against guys like I've depicted, not to mention Mick Foley, Undertaker, and many more, this star power far and away exceeds what Hogan was ever even in a position to produce.
Both of these guys personas transcend their in ring times. I would suggest to you that Stone Cold Steve Austin carries greater star power outside the confines of the ring. Both guys are highly recognizable. But while Hulk Hogan was being Mr. Nanny, Santa With Muscles, or appearing in Muppets in Space or even making a brief cameo in Rocky III, Steve Austin was appearing in movies such as The Expendables, The Longest Yard, and The Condemned. Better movies aimed more at their target demographic. Austin has appeared in action TV shows as well, while Hogan was parading his personal life around in garbage shows such as Hogan Knows Best.
If injuries had not taken their toll on the Rattlesnake, he'd still likely be a dominant figure in the WWE today. As opposed to a figurehead only in the distant second place organization. Rumors continue to swirl about a future match involving Austin, such as a rumored program with CM Punk. The fact that rumors of this nature still generate as much interest as they do today is proof positive of the star power of Stone Cold.
In conclusion, no one could debate the star power of either of these guys. For me to come on her and suggest that Hulk Hogan does not carry immense star would be asinine. However, there can only be one top guy, one guys whose star power outshines absolutely everyone else. And that guy is clearly the Rattlesnake, the one and only Stone Cold Steve Austin. In terms of crowd response, individual accolades, importance to their respective company at the relative time of their heyday, level of individual competition faced, not to mention impact in the main stream beyond the confines of the squared circle, I would suggest to you that with all due respect to the Immortal One, Stone Cold Steve Austin is the bigger star of the two.
Now judges, take my words to heart, and if you agree with my opinion, give me a HELL YEAH!!!!