Hulk Hogan hot independant would-be bookee? Feh!
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.
Use without prior permission is prohibited.
Hogan (bloody photo) used with permission of NuclearJackalope.com
May 30th, 2007 at 8:33 pm
But…… He is a real American who will fight for the rights of every man! You gotta give him that….. Okay,bye!
May 31st, 2007 at 9:25 am
Okay, we’ll give’em that. Of course, he’ll only do so if he’s paid as THE top guy on the card. But yes, he’ll do it.
June 1st, 2007 at 12:09 am
Hi Mal,
Like the site a lot. I have to say that Hogan does still hold a name value with me because I travelled all the way from Oklahoma to Memphis to see his on the 5th of last month. Between tickets, hotels, and gas I probably spent about $800 on the weekend, and it was a total blast. I would do all over again if I had the chance.
People can complain about Hogan being a jerk or having a stale act, but the bottom line is that seeing Hogan perform is kind of like going back in time to when you were younger and wrestling was more fun. I was able to get about 3 feet from the guy with a $40 ticket and watch him slam the Big Show from about 30 feet away. Very cool
We can’t turn on our tv’s and see Joe Montana throw one to Rice, or Jordan plays against Bird, or Nolan Ryan throw a strike (clemens comeback notwithstanding)…but in wrestling you can see people from your childhood still perform and entertain very much like they did before. This is something not seen in the real sporting world for obvious reasons.
As far as being paid the most, it’s clear Hogan is a smart business man first, and jerk/primadonna/whatever people think after. Let me ash this though, would ANYONE out there work for a person with an estimated net worth of $800 million dollars on the cheap because they really wanted you too and just didn’t want to pay you the $100,000 or whatever it is they balked on?
I think the problems between Vince and Hulk are petty and stem from the Summerslam incident where Shawn Micheals oversold to try and embarrass Hogan’s limited mobility (especially after the surgery). Shawn made a choice to do that, but the fact that he wasn’t reprimanded shows to me someone within WWE either motivated it or at the very least condoned it.
It’s a shame Wrestlemania didn’t have Hogan there. But it seems like the WWE doesn’t always hit the easy ones out (Invasion anyone?)
June 1st, 2007 at 10:00 am
WOW! Great comments, Judgeinjury - and thanks for the kind words about the site. I agree with ya for the most part. You make a lot of sense. I just hated to see something as cool as Wrestlemania being in Detroit again (God knows if - and when - they’ll get another one) and Hogan-McMahon unable to get a deal done. Mr. Mal fixes an evil eye on both of them for their stubborness.
And, for the record, I would have really liked to have seen that Memphis card myself. Were there cameras shooting it? I’ve heard conflicting reports on that.
Welcome to the family! Thanks again for saying hi. Don’t let it be the last time! We like the company!
- Mr. Mal
June 1st, 2007 at 7:39 pm
It was taped by VH1, so parts of it should air on “Hogan knows best” sometime this season. Below is a link that gives you a glimpse of what the show was like. Becuase of the Lawler situation I think attendance was lighter, maybe 4,000-5,000-ish (some were freebies supoosedly) but the promoter (Corey Macklin sp?) didn’t do a very good jpb prmoting the event in my opinion.
They had some merchandise for sale, I got a shirt that is an okay knockoff Hulkamania shirt, but the 4 page “programs” that Macklin had made were MSpaint bad. Very embarrasing that they even offered them for sale, let alone for $10, they were that bad.
I think with a much better packaging and production and some added old timers (Piper would have been a good addition) a Legends show could tour and make money in the current market.
Overview of matches
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYt6Hth-cDY&mode=related&search=
Main event matach with commentary
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L88hQwA7Pks&mode=related&search=
June 4th, 2007 at 6:06 pm
Great stuff. Keep it coming. Listen - anytime you wanna write a guest column, or, even a regular column here, you are more than welcome. Let me know. Drop me a note and we can set something up.
It’s too bad the card wasn’t available on PPV, really. Further, the lead time wasn’t all that great. The promoter really dropped the ball on this one, me thinks.
Take care - Mr. Mal