By Mr. Mal Occhio

There is something to be said about believing in one’s character so fervently that it bleeds over into real life, and vice versa: all great wrestlers are said to possess this quality. Often times, it is what separates them from lid-lifter to main-eventer.

It is another thing to continue to believe your own hype when a performer is not only over the hill, but can’t even see the top anymore - let alone lay any realistic claim to it.

Reports indicate that “The Immortal� Hulk Hogan has refused to take part in this weekend’s Wrestlemania XXII in Chicago, IL. According to internet buzz, Hogan turned down the chance to participate in a “Legend’s Match� as part of this year’s granddaddy of all cards, where he would have squared off against legend in his own right, Greg “The Hammer� Valentine.

Allegedly citing Valentine as “too smallâ€? and “not young enough,â€? Hogan confirmed on the Bubba the Love Sponge Show Wednesday that, following the Hall of Fame ceremony (where he will induct “Mean” Gene Okerlund) he will then will be flying to Long Beach, California to take part in a car race with his son, Nick. Then, he will then be flown back to Chicago for RAW on Monday evening – where he may or may not get involved in an angle proposed by Vince McMahon with “Stone Coldâ€? Steve Austin (one man Hogan has stated in the past that with whom he does, in fact, have genuine interest in working a program).

Can someone tell Hogan that, not only is Austin near-irrelevant to today’s wrestling crowd – but Hogan is drawing ever-so-close to invisibility himself? Hey Hulk – Mr. Mal would like to remind you that the year is 2006, not 1986 – you are not the king of the jungle anymore (fake hip, bald heard, steroid-depleted look and all) and any chance you had to be an in-ring performer at Mania should have been eagerly accepted.

How much longer does everyone think 52-year-old Hogan can continue to refuse to play ball? Does he truly believe his star still burns as brightly as do the spotlights when reflecting off his once blond-locked head?

Back in August – the last time he appeared in any wrestling ring, versus Shawn Michaels as part of Summerslam 2005 – Hogan reportedly refused to lay down for Michaels in the first of what was to be a series of matches between the two. Michaels jobbed cleanly, despite carrying the entire match, and rightfully laid into Hogan shoot-style the next evening on RAW. Big baby Hogan then left the WWE again as quickly as he parachuted himself in for another fat pay cheque.

Believe me, Mr. Mal is no mark for Michaels although I do highly respect his ability (I’m a Bret Hart fan, thank-you very much) and it would have made much more sense, business-wise, for Hogan to put over Michaels in order to set-up a rematch. People expect Hogan to win – and that’s exactly what happened. End of story. End of angle. Back to Tampa for Terry.

And now? Hogan once-again throws his massive ego ahead of good business, bowing out of any match with Valentine - not surprising really: Hogan reportedly always refused to work with anyone smaller than him back in his championship days, too.

Could this all be an elaborate swerve perpetrated by Hogan? Mr. Mal is no newbie – it could happen. God knows he milked the crowd at his own Hall of Fame induction. Heck – he let the fans chant “One more match!� so long on that night that it was said Mark Henry could have recorded not one, but two useable promos backstage. Now that’s a long time, folks.

Oh, to be a witness to the Hammer clamping down a figure-four on that overrated blowhard this Sunday night! Alas, it looks like this matchup will forever remain but in the land of Mal’s LJN figures, where no backstage politicking overtakes the all-might Mal Occhio – booker, promoter, and supreme controller of all matches.

I think I smell a Ted Arcidi beat-down of Hogan coming soon – inside the cage – where maybe I’ll even let Bruno exact some revenge on this “steroid freak monger.� Yes . . . and someone’s definitely getting color. Who is going to stop me? Hogan – you have no power here.

Too bad he still apparently wields some in the real world of wrestling. It’s the fans who ultimately suffer – all for the occasional gift of having the privilege of glorifying this all-time egomaniac.

sources:
http://www.lordsofpain.net/news/2006/articles/1143673102.php
http://www.lordsofpain.net/news/2006/articles/1143581301.php