Pick Your Poison: Hulk Hogan or Ric Flair

[Slyfox696]

I have failed to mention Vince had all ready had the WWF ready to go as far as he could take it before Hogan came on board. What attracted Hogan to Vince was his size.Vince loves big men.( No Homo) Vince gave Hogan the tools and he was smart enough to run with it. Hogan forgets that today. Flair was a big name without the millions of advertisements and movies. Flair is a well rounded performer in ring, Hogan is a well rounded image. Hogan's look made him larger than life. His image is copied in video games & cartoons. People favor his image because it's strong and heroic. But like his matches his true ability is weak. I'm not sure if anyone notices that Hercule from Dragon ball Z is sort of based on Hulk Hogan.

This is a little ignorant in my opinion.

Because Hulk Hogan wasn't just big in the WWF. He was also a top guy in the AWA, so much so that he was already a draw when he left for the WWF. He was also mega over in Japan, and had been locking it up with the likes of Antonio Inoki, one of Japan's biggest wrestling names ever. It's not like Hogan was just in the right place at the right time. The guy was MEGA over no matter where he went

Hogan deserved no less in that match. HBK is famous for his overselling, and sure it was a bit more in that match, but Hogan fuckin' deserved it. He came in and did his usual politicking, asking for millions to do a single match, while every single person at home, at the event, and everywhere on earth wanted and was expecting Hogan to put over HBK. (Okay thats an exagerration but trust me almost everyone wanted and thought that HBK would win)

I bought that DVD blindly when I started watching wrestling again after a long hiatus because the match up sounded golden, Hogan vs. Michaels? Where could you go wrong? Then I watched it and Hogan did his usual thing, knocking out the greatest wrestler of all time with the old boot and leg drop.

HBK didn't ruin that match. Hogan did. For every action, there is a reaction.

I disagree (what else is new? )

First of all, HBK is a notorious politicker in the WWF. He's also notorious for doing the job, particularly when it comes to his title reigns. HBK was simply outpoliticked.

But, that doesn't excuse what HBK did, because it doesn't hurt Hulk Hogan any, it cheats the fans. Fans paid good money to watch that match, and HBK acted like an ass, simply because he didn't get his way.

And, what does that do? It ruins the whole match, because instead of having two guys go out there and work together to put on the best possible match they good, you got two guys who are pissed at each other and unwilling to work properly. Hogan could care less...he's getting the big payday either way. HBK could care less because he thinks he's making a point. But, who loses? The fans. HBK could have handled it with class, gone out and gave the fans their money's worth, and then come back to Vince and said, "Hey, let's not do that again".

I will say this though. Hogan got the last laugh. He does his Hulk up routine, and hits HBK with the big boot, and HBK does his ridiculous selling of it. Hogan realizes what just happened, so he takes his time to play to the crowd, get them to make noise, pose a bit and then finally go hit the leg drop. And the entire time HBK just has to lay there to pretend he's been knocked out by one kick. I STILL want to know what Hogan said to Shawn right after he pinned him and was getting off of him.

I'm not saying what Hogan did was right, but what HBK did cheated the fans. At least what Hogan did was all backstage.

 

[X]

Hogan didn't cheat the fans by holding down younger talent? By virtually jobbing to almost no one? By staying the spotlight for ten years well after he should've retired and for putting on horrible, horrible matches for the last fifteen years? I can think of only one match of his that was good in the last fifteen years and that was against the Rock, and we all know the real good thing about that match was the story behind it.

Honestly, I could care less, because HBK's overselling did nothing to the quality of the match. The moves were still the same, the spots the same, everything was the same as it would've been. Besides, the overselling in that match is not any more so then your average Hulk Hogan match in the 80s. HBK is renowned for overselling, so when you go in there against the guy that you're SUPPOSED to oversell to, to make him look invincible, it's going to end up looking worse then it could have.

The fans were cheated the second Hogan was added to the show---if they paid the money to see Hogan, they should expect nothing less then what they saw. If anything they were treated for having atleast a decent match, instead of the usual crapola Hogan has done for the past decade and a half.

 

[Slyfox696]

Are you sure you're not letting your anti-Hogan bias influence your judgement just a bit?

I mean, yeah, HBK oversells quite a bit, but what he did against Hogan was blatant, and not for entertainment. It was to mock Hogan. I mean, he got kicked in the face, popped up, ran around like an idiot, and then finally fell back down.

And, Hogan vs. Giant at Hog Wild was a good match. Hogan vs. Sting at Starrcade 97 was a good match. Hell, even Hogan vs. Goldberg on Nitro was solid.

When was the last good Ric Flair match?

And, this myth that Hogan didn't job is ridiculous. He's jobbed to many many people. In fact, he pretty much spent 2002 jobbing after losing the title. He tapped out to Kurt Angle. He got all but squashed by Brock Lesnar. Hogan has put more than his fair share of workers over.

 

[X]

HOLY FUCKING CHRIST GOD ALL MIGHTY.

PLEASE tell me you did not just call the Giant vs. Hogan at Hog Wild a good match...that match is easily one of the worst ever...like, EVER. Simply crap, same goes with Hogan vs. Sting, great buildup, one of the most anti-climatic and horrible matches I've ever seen.

Are you sure your not letting your inner Hogan fan make you biased? I'm a bit biased yes, that's true.

Last good Flair match? Flair vs. Carlito at Judgment Day was pretty solid, Flair's series of matches with Foley last year was solid as well. Hogan hasn't had a good match since the eighties.

 

[Slyfox696]

HOLY FUCKING CHRIST GOD ALL MIGHTY.

Actually, I think Christ was a virgin...although I bet he could probably have gotten quite a bit of pussy in his day. I mean, he was the son of God...if he couldn't have gotten a woman off, then the rest of us would be just screwed.

PLEASE tell me you did not just call the Giant vs. Hogan at Hog Wild a good match...that match is easily one of the worst ever...like, EVER. Simply crap, same goes with Hogan vs. Sting, great buildup, one of the most anti-climatic and horrible matches I've ever seen.

The only bad part about the Sting match was the finish. It was completely botched, because of Hogan and Bischoff giving in to Hogan. And, Hogan vs. Giant was a very good match, with Hogan winning the belt for the NWO.

Are you sure your not letting your inner Hogan fan make you biased? I'm a bit biased yes, that's true.

Maybe I am, a little, but I think the bigger issue is just the difference in styles that we appreciate.

Last good Flair match? Flair vs. Carlito at Judgment Day was pretty solid, Flair's series of matches with Foley last year was solid as well. Hogan hasn't had a good match since the eighties.

I was thoroughly underwhelmed with Flair and Foley series, with the exception of the last few minutes of the Summerslam "I Quit" match.

And, I haven't seen Judgement Day yet, but I somehow doubt that Carlito/Flair even begins to approach Rock/Hogan.

 

[X]

Are you serious dude? Hog Wild is one of the worst matches, EVER. A rushed match with two slow guys in the ring botching power moves for a couple minutes and then NWO shows up and interferes and the match is over. How the hell is that a good match? You're not going to find a single person here who agrees with you on that one.

Next you're gonna tell me that Warrior vs. Hogan at Halloween Havoc 98 was a good match. Come on man, with your high standards of critique I don't understand how you could rate that match as anything other then utter shit.

 

[Slyfox696]

Are you serious dude? Hog Wild is one of the worst matches, EVER. A rushed match with two slow guys in the ring botching power moves for a couple minutes and then NWO shows up and interferes and the match is over. How the hell is that a good match? You're not going to find a single person here who agrees with you on that one.

Next you're gonna tell me that Warrior vs. Hogan at Halloween Havoc 98 was a good match. Come on man, with your high standards of critique I don't understand how you could rate that match as anything other then utter shit.

Once again, we're arguing more over style than we are match quality.

And, Hogan vs. Warrior at HH 98, I have never seen, but read that it was pretty piss poor.

But, we're drifting off track from the topic.

Personally, I just don't see how anybody can say that ANY person impacted the professional wrestling world more than Hulk Hogan. The man was at the head of the two biggest boom periods in wrestling history. I think that speaks for itself.

 

[Kasey]

In xfearbefore's defense, the matches between Wight and Hogan sucked. This is coming from a guy who marked out like all hell at Hogan when I was a youngster. I figured out that the Hog Wild main event blew goats almost a year before when they stunk up Cobo Hall in Detroit at Havoc doing the same crap. The supposed main event of Hog Wild that night was a lemon that should've been the first match on the card. It was nothing more than a plot coupon to further the NWO. Hell, there was a solid undercard featuring good matches from a good number of the performers...all of whom deserved to go later in the batting order than Wight or Hogan. I still stand by the same sentiment I always have: Hogan should've retired after Wrestlemania 6. That was his last good match. The rest were asswipes. His encounters with The Big Slow were no exception are proof of that.

 

[startgame1]

Touching on the whole Flair/Hogan issue. Flat out, Ric Flair was a big fish in a small pond. Comparring Flair's Legacy to Hogan's Legacy is like comparring chop meat to Filet. While Ric was "stylin' and profilein' Whhooooooo" Hogan was breaking indoor attendance records. While Ric Flair was layin' in those knife-edge chops, Hogan was leading the N.W.O. to ratings victories during the Monday Night Wars. Come on, lets get real. The only reason Flair is still around is because he is Triple H 's favorite wrestler. Flair says it himself. "You can ask anyone who Ric Flair is and not everyone knows. If you ask people who Hulk Hogan is and the whole world knows". Hogan paved the way for the Future of the business.

 

[southsidedamu]

Flair Is The Greatest Wrestler Of All Time But Hogan Made The Bigger Impact Because Hogan Became A Part Of Pop Culture All Around The World And Hogan Is The Reason Pro Wrestling Is As Big As It Has Become Around The World Hogan Along With Vince Mcmahon

 

[justinsayne]

Ok here we go another edition of Pick Your Poison, this time the choices are between Hogan or Flair, who do you think is better?

This is a tough one for me cause I am not a fan of either of these guys, but if I had to choose I would go with Flair over Hogan, I know Hogan is the biggest name in the history of the business and wrestling would not be what it is today if it weren't for him, but IMO I prefer Flair over Hogan, both a assholes, but Flair just seems a little more entertaining and actually puts the younger talent over, unlike Hogan who just buries them in a shit match (at least that's the way things have been recently), Flair has been involved in some decent matches recently and I can't even remember the last time Hogan had anything resembling a decent match, So I have to go with Flair in this, though I'm not too fond of his current storyline, and hope some major changes take place to freshen it up, and make it interesting

 

[Hyorinmaru]

Flair

He is one of the best legends in the business. Like you said he isn't afraid to put over the younger talent where as Hogan is afraid to put anyone over. From what I've seen and read Flair is more of a profesional out of the ring as well. All in all I find Flair more entertaning.

 

[Evan Snow-Wolf]

I don't know how you could even classify Flair as "poison". He did so much for wrestling. I can hardly think of anything he's done to bring the business down. Its not like he comes around once a year to squash someone's momentum for no reason other than money and ego.

 

[ch46745]

Hogan to me was at the right place at the right time because Vince and the wwe was expanding and they need a big star attraction. Flair made a big name for himself by wrestling better wrestlers than Hogan did. Flair was one the first to set a tone for westlers with big egos like triple h, the rock, stone cold, or even shawn michaels. If anybody was to ask some of the greatest wrestlers within the past 15 to 20 years what wrestler they watched growing up enfluenced them to become wrestlers themselves, 80% of them would most likely say ric flair over hulk hogan because he was a better pure wrestler and his character is more down to earth and realistic.

 

[ch46745]

Flair because he has beaten almost all of the greatest wrestlers from the late 70s, 80s, 90s, and now. Hulk Hogan has never faced Terry Funk, Ricky Steamboat, Harley Race, David Von Erich, Barry Windam, the Road Warriors, or even Dusty Rhodes. Flair has had much more classic matches and rivalries than Hogan.

 

[Slyfox696]

This isn't even debatable. To put Flair in Hogan's category is simply ridiculous. Hogan has had tremendous matches all over the world, with all sorts of different wrestlers and different styles, and did so in a way to make the most money in professional wrestling ever.

When Ric Flair came to the WWF in late 1991, he got the biggest push of just about anyone ever. And he flopped. He flopped big time. When put on a national/worldwide television show, with people from all around watching every week, Flair flopped. And Hogan was still the biggest draw in wrestling.

That alone proves Hogan is far superior to Flair.

Flair because he has beaten almost all of the greatest wrestlers from the late 70s, 80s, 90s, and now. Hulk Hogan has never faced Terry Funk, Ricky Steamboat, Harley Race, David Von Erich, Barry Windam, the Road Warriors, or even Dusty Rhodes. Flair has had much more classic matches and rivalries than Hogan.

No, Hogan has only had Piper, Orndoff, Andre, Slaughter, Randy Savage, Ultimate Warrior, Bill Goldberg, and the Rock.



But, I'm sure all those Flair matches drew as much as Hogan vs. Piper, or Hogan vs. Andre, or Hogan vs. Warrior, or Hogan vs. Goldberg....right? And I'm sure Flair vs. Sting was as important as Hogan vs. Sting was, correct?

And, it should be obvious who I enjoy more.

 

[curlerdude61]

Slyfox you do know Flair competed in front of the largest crowd over in Korea with over 195,000 people attending.

That aside even in old age flair can still move around the ring Hogan looks like he doesn't know what he is doing in all his matches of late he looks like he is being carried flair actually looks like he is in competition. Flair is a better pure wrestler and better on the mic I'll take Flair at 60 over Hogan in his prime any day.

 

[DMan23]

It amazes me the responses I see in here in regards to the question "Who had the bigger impact on wrestling Flair or Hogan?" First of all, as far as pure wrestling ability Bret Hart is leagues ahead of Ric Flair, but that's another topic.

The answer hands down is Hulk Hogan. It's not even close. There's no doubt Flair was a major star, multiple time champion, and helped carry the NWA. However he did not bring wrestling to mainstream. Hulk Hogan was selling out MSG while Flair was selling out 7,000-8,000 arenas in the south. Somebody posted in here that Hogan never had any big matches with guys like Harley Race. Did you see Saturday night's main event in the 80s?

Don't get me wrong Flair has had a tremendous impact on current wrestlers, mentoring, training, and putting them over. He's had numerous great feuds, classic matches, etc. But as far as draw, revenue, popularity and bringing wrestling to mainstream and making it "ok" to watch wrestling, the nod goes to Hulk.

Other posts on here have pointed out matches Hogan had. His match with Randy Savage at WM5 is an all-time classic. He made the Warrior into a mega star and Warrior couldn't handle it. He passed the torch to the Rock. Look at the WWE's Hall of Fame section and count how many of them Hogan feuded with. Hogan was about showmanship but he did have great matches and could wrestle, especially when he worked in Japan.

Another poster said beating Flair doesn't mean anything anymore because of all the jobs he's done, especially in recent years. I agree. Flair looked like Triple H's stooge in 2005, which is why they had the storyline of Triple H turning on Ric saying he was a shell of who he use to be. There's no doubt Hogan should've put some guys over, i.e. Bret Hart in '93, but I think Hogan really wanted to see if a guy deserved it and if he felt they didn't he wasn't going to do it, right or wrong.

All you have to do is look at it this way: Wrestlemania is THE biggest wrestling event each year. Wrestlemania made guys like Shawn Michaels, Undertaker, Austin, Rock, etc.; Hulk Hogan made Wrestlemania.

 

[Slyfox696]

Slyfox you do know Flair competed in front of the largest crowd over in Korea with over 195,000 people attending.

Competing in front of, and drawing, are two separate things. Are you really going to try and tell me that in an event co-sponsored by the Japan and Korean goverments, which saw Antonio Inoki in the main-event, in a program put together to try and find peace, that Ric Flair was the reason 190,000 people came to the show?

Because that's going to be a hard sell to me.

That aside even in old age flair can still move around the ring Hogan looks like he doesn't know what he is doing in all his matches of late he looks like he is being carried flair actually looks like he is in competition. Flair is a better pure wrestler and better on the mic I'll take Flair at 60 over Hogan in his prime any day.

Flair is better on the mic. No doubt. But, Hogan doesn't know what he's doing? You're kidding right? Hogan, after being out of wrestling for years, and nearly 60 years old can still work a match better than 95% of the professional wrestlers in the world.

 

[Agrex]

I don't like Hogan, but you have to respect him. He has single handidly changed the landscape of profesional wrestling. When you think of wrestling, you thing Hogan. Ric Flair may be a legend in the ring, but like Sly said he is not even in Hogans catagory. I do give Flair tremendous respect, he has been in this business for over 35 years. He has been a tremendous influence on many wrestlers. He is great on the mic. And had his share of amazing matches. But when it comes right down to it, Hulk Hogan is the greatest wrestler ever.

 

[Skillz]

I find it completely laughable that some people think Ric Flair is better than Hulk Hogan. Flair isn't even in Hogan's league. Hogan is the biggest draw of all-time, Flair doesn't even come close.

Ric Flair is one of the most overrated wrestlers, ever. He was as illogical in the ring as you can get. Hogan was a masterful storyteller, who was able to work the crowd any way he desired.

 

[beetle717]

Actually ROHDude, Sgt. Slaughter was the first with a ring entrance, back in the WWWF. But as to this Question of who has made the bigger impact. It is Flair, as xfear said Hogan made a positive impact on Modern Pro Wrestling with Hulkamania and nWo, but look at what he has done to harm it in return, Steroid gate, effectively killed WCW by refusing to put people over in the traditional way. Look at his book, I only skimmed through it but talks as if Hogan beating Triple H, made Triple H a star.
Whereas on the other hand Ric Flair, was a major component of the creation of the faction in the Four Horsemen, without which the nWo would never have existed. Ric, as people have said built WCW, he got Sting to the place where he became an Icon. Flair has won a World title belt 20 something times (WWE excludes his NWA ones for some reason) But look at the matches flair puts on these days, they maybe a fraction of what he could dobut he still goes out there night after night. He will put his body on the line in TLC matches if needs be.
Hogan just does his Hulk Hogan original Superman thing.
The biggest reason that Flair has more influence on Modern Pro Wrestling is because whenever anyone does a chop there is a Whooo. It was at one stage a taunt by Shane Douglas but it has evolved into a tribute to Flair, does Hulk Hogan have anything like that, No. Flair is considered a huge Influence on some of the Greats of the Wrestling Industry, Triple H and Shawn Michaels are two names that spring to mind.

Shadowmancer this is not personal, so please don't take it as such. Hogan didn't kill WCW, not even a little. WCW was killed by executives at AOL/Time Warner that didn't want wrestling on the networks they owned, end of story. Blaming Hogan for that is like blaming some random guy off the assembly line when a company goes belly up. Hogan had Creative control, he used it. If we're blaming that aspect of his contract, shouldn't we blame whoever wrote that clause in? Hogan didn't job because that's not what people wanted, Hogan was the hero the larger than life good guy for most of his career then went bad ass on us. And people loved it.

 

[Shadowmancer]

I won't take it as personal as that was from a while ago a few months or so, and since the done more reading on the subject including Glenn Gilbertis account on the death of WCW. I still stand by the fact that Hogan helped to kill WCW even though it was other factors but the start of the slide was the Fingerpoke of Doom. Look at the ratings from then on they slowly start to slide. But I still stand by picking Ric Flair as my choice based on the criteria I place on Entertaining for a large amount of time, Promos, and Ring Work. Hogan was great but I prefer Flair.

 

[twisterwrw929]

There is no question that Hogan is a bigger name in wrestling. People across the world know Hogan, whether they watch wrestling or not. But, to say that he is a great wrestler, to say that he is better than ric flair is a joke. Flair is better in the ring, better on the mic and better for the business. I have absolutely no idea how anyone out there can say Hogan is anywhere near Flair's league. Flair is about the business, Hogan is about his ego and his money. Flair is still somewhat decent, and he has no problem putting younger guys over and that can be a big win for some of the younger guys, Hogan would never do that.

 

[Skillz]

But, to say that he is a great wrestler, to say that he is better than ric flair is a joke.

No, it's not. It's a joke to say Flair is anywhere near Hogan's level.

Flair is better in the ring,

Wrong.

Flair was at times, clueless in the ring. An illogical spot wrestler who did the same stupid routine in every match he ever had. His idea of ring psychology was absolutely piss poor, especially when comparing to Hogan. Not one Ric Flair match comes close to Hogan/Warrior at WM6. Hogan is a way better worker and storyteller than Flair could ever dream to be.

better on the mic

True. But Hogan was still great on the mic.

and better for the business.

Are you out of you mind? Hogan MADE this business! He made professional wrestling what it is today. He popularized it, to a degree that no other wrestler has ever managed to reach. Without him there would be no WrestleMania, no Raw, no Austin, no Rock, no Undertaker, no HHH, no HBK...

I have absolutely no idea how anyone out there can say Hogan is anywhere near Flair's league. Flair is about the business, Hogan is about his ego and his money.

This shows complete ignorance. Every top wrestler has an ego, everyone has a desire to make a lot of money. Hogan is passionate for professional wrestling, and his fans.

Flair is still somewhat decent,

No, he isn't.

and he has no problem putting younger guys over and that can be a big win for some of the younger guys, Hogan would never do that.

Actually, Hogan did do that. He did it for Warrior. He did it for Goldberg. And The Rock. And HHH. And Angle. A win over Hogan means something. Flair's been so worthless these past several years, that a win over him means absolutely nothing.