As a huge Hogan mark, and someone who defends him against Steve Austin as being the best superstar ever, I'm going to take a different look at the history of wrestling during the Hulkamania era.
As wrestling fans today, with all the books, shoot interviews, and internet, we find out the behind the scenes info and bs that goes on in pro wrestling, going back years. Now lets forget all that, lets put it out of our minds for a second. Lets go back to when we were kids, and loved, I mean LOVED wrestling. With a passion. Back when Hulkamania was running wild, back when he was the greatest thing since sliced bread.
We often hear of how superstars were held back because of Hogan, and never got a shot. We hear how he wouldn't put guys over because of his ego. But that is what made wrestling as big as it was and still is.
As a kid, we did not want Hogan to lose. Ever. When he lost to Andre, we were crushed. When he lost to Warrior, it was 50/50, but we were still crushed. Lets say Hogan had put over Piper or Savage. Do we think the company would still be as big? Would either of those guys have successfully carried the company? Savage did it for a year, but was it a success? there were rumors that Perfect was gonna win the 1990 Royal Rumble. Would we as huge Maniacs bought that? Hell no. WWF needed someone who had star all over them. Someone who had the charisma and look to carry the torch after Hogan. There was one man who fit that mold, and Hogan put him over. He was the Ultimate Warrior.
Warrior was the 1 guy that had the look to succeed, and guess what? Hogan put him over. Warrior had a decent reign, but he failed. He couldn't take it, demanded more money and left. So the best chance for someone to carry the company after Hogan failed. You wonder why he didn't give guys the rub, what was the point, if they were gonna be a bust? Don't lie and say you were not pumped every time he won the belt back, because you knew it didn't seem right on anyone else.
I guess my point is, is that we can bitch about how he didn't put guys over, but was he not right? I don't believe the company could have gone huge with a guy like Piper, or Perfect, or even Savage, because they didn't have that superstar look. They had the ability, but thats not everything. everyone agrees that the worse years in the WWF were 93-95, and that was post Hogan era. You had great performers, but no "Hogan". I guess I feel he gets way too much criticiszm for not giving the rub, but you know what? As a kid, as someone who loved wrestling, loved Hulkamania, I doubt wrestling would have been great without him.
Thoughts? Lets keep the bashing down. i'm hoping looking as this from the prospective of young wrestling fans, we can see that it was maybe the right thing to do?
As wrestling fans today, with all the books, shoot interviews, and internet, we find out the behind the scenes info and bs that goes on in pro wrestling, going back years. Now lets forget all that, lets put it out of our minds for a second. Lets go back to when we were kids, and loved, I mean LOVED wrestling. With a passion. Back when Hulkamania was running wild, back when he was the greatest thing since sliced bread.
We often hear of how superstars were held back because of Hogan, and never got a shot. We hear how he wouldn't put guys over because of his ego. But that is what made wrestling as big as it was and still is.
As a kid, we did not want Hogan to lose. Ever. When he lost to Andre, we were crushed. When he lost to Warrior, it was 50/50, but we were still crushed. Lets say Hogan had put over Piper or Savage. Do we think the company would still be as big? Would either of those guys have successfully carried the company? Savage did it for a year, but was it a success? there were rumors that Perfect was gonna win the 1990 Royal Rumble. Would we as huge Maniacs bought that? Hell no. WWF needed someone who had star all over them. Someone who had the charisma and look to carry the torch after Hogan. There was one man who fit that mold, and Hogan put him over. He was the Ultimate Warrior.
Warrior was the 1 guy that had the look to succeed, and guess what? Hogan put him over. Warrior had a decent reign, but he failed. He couldn't take it, demanded more money and left. So the best chance for someone to carry the company after Hogan failed. You wonder why he didn't give guys the rub, what was the point, if they were gonna be a bust? Don't lie and say you were not pumped every time he won the belt back, because you knew it didn't seem right on anyone else.
I guess my point is, is that we can bitch about how he didn't put guys over, but was he not right? I don't believe the company could have gone huge with a guy like Piper, or Perfect, or even Savage, because they didn't have that superstar look. They had the ability, but thats not everything. everyone agrees that the worse years in the WWF were 93-95, and that was post Hogan era. You had great performers, but no "Hogan". I guess I feel he gets way too much criticiszm for not giving the rub, but you know what? As a kid, as someone who loved wrestling, loved Hulkamania, I doubt wrestling would have been great without him.
Thoughts? Lets keep the bashing down. i'm hoping looking as this from the prospective of young wrestling fans, we can see that it was maybe the right thing to do?