Hulk Hogan hot independant would-be bookee? Feh!
Wednesday, May 30th, 2007
By Mr. Mal Occhio
Wrestlers Ramblings.com wrestling news
Never has a man so over-the-hill apparently been so in-demand. Word has it that former WWF/WWE Superstar and long-time WWF World Champion Hulk Hogan is attracting a lot of attention from outfits outside of World Wrestling Entertainment these days - including Total Non-Stop Wrestling (TNA); Antonio Inoki’s IGF promotion in Japan and AAA in Mexico, where Hogan reportedly turned down an appearance at the upcoming TripleMania 15 show. Mr. Mal’s biggest question is this, however: would Hulk Hogan actually make you, as a fan, buy a PPV at this point in his career? Further, would a longer-term run with a promotion (such as TNA) do anything for ratings?
My answers are basically no, and nothing. But then again, I’ve seen Hogan do his thing on a number of occasions (see pic at right) both in his prime and in this swansong run. Further, him not being able to come to terms with the WWE for an appearance at at this year’s Wrestlemania 23 (the 20th anniversary of his famous Wrestlemania III match with the late, great Andre the Giant) was unforgivable, really. For someone to reportedly think they should still be paid as THE top guy is not only ridiculous – but arrogance in the highest degree. Yes, his nostalgia act goes over for a match or two. But let’s face facts – we’ve already seen that, many, many times. And for him to think he should be parachuted in for some fly-by-night tussle with a WWE roster-regular who inevitably he would want to put him over (all the while getting more money than anyone else on the card) is flat-out wrong.
Then again, hearing that AAA meeting Hogan’s asking price of six-figures and him STILL not taking the booking makes Mr. Mal think that Hogan, really, is simply stroking his ego with all these reports and – in the end – won’t end up working for anyone. After all, him getting a reported $75,00 for an autograph signing seems a far-easier way to make a buck than actually having to work for a little bit, you know, by body-slamming someone a few times, taking a few punches to the head and dropping a big leg for the win. Far be it from “The Hulkster” to derail some good free publicity (and thereby create a fictional demand for his services) all the while staying in the news in order to promote his daughter Brooke Hogan’s singing career.
Other rumors also have Hogan behind an alleged “Legends of Wrestlingâ€? tour that would travel around the world, primarily using other fading talent for one last cash grab. This actually has some intrigue to it, in Mr. Mal’s eyes, as fans always dig the former stars. At least I do. Again, as a specialty item – yes. But a regular league of this sort? No. Hogan should realize that even icons have the sun set on their careers eventually. He should embrace his legacy and actually do business with someone for a time, and use that time to elevate a younger star. Not that this will ever happen. Heck, he didn’t even want to put Shawn Michaels over a while back — even with the promise of him getting over in a rematch. You think he’d actually come in an let a guy like Edge get the duke? Keep dreaming. My guess is that you will never again see Hogan in a WWE ring. And that’s a shame, really. Whattcha gonna do, brother, when no fans under the age of 30 really care about “The Hulkster” anymore?
C’est la vie.
NOTES: Incidentally, word has it that AAA will look at Paul Wight (the former “Big Show� in the WWE and “Giant� in WCW) to take the booking. The group is looking to do something special this year, given the 15th anniversary of the show . . . Inoki’s IGF is also reportedly talking to Wight, Kurt Angle and Brock Lesner.
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Hogan/Fuji photos copyright WrestlersRamblings.com and Mr. Mal Occhio.
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Hogan (bloody photo) used with permission of NuclearJackalope.com