I ask this question because of the many different facets of Hogan's career. Hogan's the most well-known wrestler that's ever lived due to his exposure to pop culture during his hey day. He had his own cartoon, his own brand, and was the face of the WWF/E for almost a decade.
Well stated, very true. I think it's hard to argue that point. Therefore I won't restate the obvious.
He then goes on to WCW and puts them on the map with Hulkamania still running wild, then transforming to Hollywood Hogan as a member of the NWO.
I don't entirely disagree with your points, and I think your heart is in the right place. But Hogan didn't put WCW as the map so much as he just helped revitalize the promotion. The promotion was in danger of going under from what I've heard, again a lot of this could be embellishment and whatnot, but as we all know the company formerly known as Jim Crockett Promotions did sell its entity to Ted Turner, and the company was rebranded and changed around. This is very akin to when Capital Wrestling Corporation was bought by Vince McMahon from his father and the WWF's new parent company was Titan Sports as opposed to CWC.
Not to take anything away from Hogan's arrival in the promotion, but WCW had a long and storied history already and a great talent roster even after their partnership with the NWA ended. As a result Hogan joined a roster with the likes of Sting, Ric Flair, Rick Rude, Steve Austin, Brian Pillman, Cactus Jack, Johnny B. Badd, Arn Anderson amongst a host of others. Hogan did indeed bring more attention but more importantly he just helped a long established promotion get its groove back after having been under new ownership for several years.
So therefore, while a major Hogan mark like me would to many's expectations want to undermine and overlook the foundation that WCW had before his arrival. I simply cannot. Especially when you consider how Ric Flair was the foundation of JCP/WCW's base for so long. Anyway, it is still something that can be added to Hogan's resume and can't be overlooked. Especially since it was a catalyst to the nWo angle. But the fanbase was supporting this brand even through its worst years well before Hogan got there.
It's a shame that Turner's buyout of the promotion only turned out to be a short term fix, and that the company would succumb years later to what's been cited as overspending, bad booking decisions and constant changes in hierarchy.
After another brief run in the WWE, he's now in TNA and is still a prominent figure in the IMPACT Wrestling program.
Indeed he is, and despite his stating that he's going to be TNA World Champion soon, I'll believe it when I see it. I think people by now should realize Hogan's a massive troll, and he does it so well that most of us here in the IWC fall for it hook, line and sinker.
Remember since arriving to TNA/Impact! everyone assumed he'd be World Champion before the end of his first year in the company, and if I even remember right some schmucks even worried that the Nasty Boys were going to become tag champs. Amusingly enough, I remember the Nastys being fired almost immediately into their debut with the promotion. Obviously, Hogan's clout doesn't work as often as his haters want us to think.
While I would like to see Hogan with WWE as opposed to TNA, I will say that it's still good to see him doing something in wrestling, although I don't watch with the same passion anymore. But just the same, wrestling owes a great debt to his role in things, therefore he's earned his right to still do something involving wrestling.
He's also had his own reality show 'Hogan Knows Best', and a lot of personal information about Hogan's been made public and has influenced his role in pro wrestling as more of a figure head than a legendary wrestler.
I wish I could forget that Hogan Knows Best ever existed, I might lose some of my legitimacy as a Hogan mark here, but I curse the day that show ever made the airwaves. Hulk Hogan as a reality star is depressing, and his antics on there make his performances in his movies look like a Sir Laurence Olivier performance.
Many remember Hogan as the iconic figure who said his prayers, took his vitamins, and ran wild over anyone and everyone. Some know him as an older hack that can't seem to let go of his legacy and refuses to believe he's ever wrong. Some even say his 'creative control' had a vast influence on the downfall of WCW, as well as the current staleness of TNA.
It's hard to forget the demandments of Hulkamania, those are staples. Anyway, I've said it in other statements, a lot of Hogan's foolish and crash statements, save for that horrendous jail call phone call with his son. Which he was all too oblivious to things and therefore embarrassed himself was ridiculous and dumb to say the least. But at the same time, I am not a moralist, and I greatly scoff at and shake my head when people take the moralist approach to what they hear people say. Especially celebrities, I don't justify in any way Hogan's state of mind and greedy sentiments that day in his son's jail cell. But you know what, I've said less than pleasing things about others and would be mortified if recorded footage and audio files of such things ever were revealed. And the same goes for practically every person. None of us are perfect.
His antics in WCW, yes there were some questionable moments in his stint. But if Hogan's creative control was as all encompassing and far reaching as stated. How the hell did Vince Russo and David Arquette win the World Title? Yes, I know Hogan's days on TV were numbered, but if I remember right he was under contract into 2001. Therefore, I'm sure that if creative outcomes were vital to him especially those concerning the World Title, he'd have vetoed that in a heartbeat.
1) Despite all the nutty things that's happened to the Hulkster, is his legacy as a pro wrestler still intact?
Absolutely, after all should Steve Austin's a Hall of Famer too and he's gone to court more than once in domestic assault cases that involved more than one woman. So many people who adamantly despise Hogan, will never bat an eye at someone like Austin's antics. Let us not forget, he's a man who actually got convicted for his actions towards his then wife Debra. And a couple of years later, I remember a live-in girlfriend of his bringing him to court over the same thing.
Click here to read about Steve Austin's domestic assault in 2004, two years removed from his incident with Debra.
In all fairness, this might have been another exaggerated story, but again, so many people are prime to fall victim to speculation based on Hogan, but if faced with something a little more concrete like Austin's domestic issues, you'll find difficulty actually getting a straight answer. Again, I've dealt with idiots that actually feel Chris Benoit is a better man than Hogan, even "though he killed his family and all". It's a sad world we live in when people actually can't separate an entertainer/athlete from their off camera persona. It's all bullshit at the end of the day, people are behind these personas, and for better or worse people are just plain complicated and do things that disappoint us all.
Until Hogan actually murders a spouse or a child of his, then I see no reason to vehemently loathe him like some people on these parts do. And yes I do know Linda Bollea made accusations towards Hogan but she rescinded her claim about Brutus Beefcake and him being gay lovers. So if she was capable of lying about that, who knows what other bullshit she made up to sell a book.
2) Does his backstage issues make his legacy any better or worse?
Irrelevant. Steve Austin also pulled creative control clauses, and his antics if what the net says are true cost WWF/E to do some good business with other competitors. No offense to Austin but by the time 2002 rolled around, he lost major momentum from his neck injury. Doing a job to Brock Lesnar on TV wouldn't have been the end of the world. And on top of it, I know that PPV matches are epic and all, but I'm of the mindset that paying the money that WWE wants for their events is ridiculous. In 2002, Hogan was in a nostalgic revival and was headlining PPVs and TV shows. He did the job to Lesnar, and it worked. It was a great stepping stone to Lesnar's World Title win over The Rock.
Considering Austin's place in wrestling was changing, a loss to Brock Lesnar would not have been the worst thing ever. There's also been times where guys like Shawn Michaels rarely have gotten pinned for titles they've lost. I remember HBK alone losing one half of the tag straps, two IC Titles and a WWF World Title without having a match. I don't buy that story of the nine Marines beating down Michaels, I'm calling work. But I could be wrong, who knows? However, even with that said, I'm sure there's a good possibility Michaels was good at maneuvering a good degree of clout at that time in the WWF.
With that said, this stuff shouldn't affect the legacies of any of these wrestlers. Is it disappointing to hear that people that we admire pull shenanigans like this? Of course! But I do feel that any of us, if we were that fortunate to be in the business could find ourselves prone to looking out for our best interests too.
Last I remembered, entertainment whether it be in the form of wrestling, actual sports and what not, is not a sainthood. So let's all blow the moralist mindset out of our asses and focus on the onscreen product. Because it matters very little what goes on behind the curtain, for that doesn't concern us.
[3) Should Hogan have ANY role in professional wrestling on any level?
Hell yes. As I said before, I'd prefer seeing him back in WWE. But, Hogan can go where he wishes. It was because of TNA, I actually got to meet him and have a real good conversation. Something I know WWE would not let me do. Therefore, Hogan should do what he wants. I think in the longrun TNA could be a better choice because with their risk they're taking in touring, it could lead to better things. WWE would be a nice short term fix for getting a few extra bucks and some more spotlight, but I'd like to see him continue to help build an alternative much in the way, he helped WCW get its legging back as a competitor to the WWF.
Either way, Hogan is a legend, possibly the greatest of them all in wrestling. Anyone who wants to counter that is going to need a really strong argument.
