Hulk Hogan announces his retirement.

[Risen Star]

And I realize you're just a casual wrestling fan that was a Hogan fanboy.

Anyone that follows this "sport" closely knows Hogan was a class A d-bag behind the scenes. Refused to put anyone over. From Bret hart, to shawn michaels, to undertaker, to Goldberg. Even the Warrior. That hug and handshake at the end of Summerslam was not planned. Hogan just wanted to look like a good guy.

Read Bret Hart's auto and get a clue.

Oh wait. I was too young to know what I'm talking about

I'm not a fan of any wrestler. I mean I was when I was kid, but then I matured.

I'm also not concerned with who Hogan put over or not. I'm only stating facts about when pro wrestling exploded in this country and who was responsible for it.

That would be Hulk Hogan. The Babe Ruth of the wrestling. He gave well paying careers to countless wrestlers.

As an aside, I wouldn't blame Hogan if he did refuse to put over other wrestlers. He was Hulk Hogan. They weren't. He's got a ton to lose. They don't.

But now I see why you think this way. You apparently don't like the guy. Whereas I don't care. It's a soap opera not a sport. These guys are actors.

 

[Draegerman]

Oh wait. I was too young to know what I'm talking about

Heh...you finally admitted it!


BTW, are you guys actually having an argument about professional 'rasslin' and who was the best?


Put me down for Sly Stallone then.

 

[DallasGirl50]

You know the guys who put over others are the guys that garner respect...guys like Ric, Taker Etc. It!s just the way that business is. How it works. They got help & it is the right thing to do for guys coming up. Hogan has said Andre put him over...when Flair left WWE he got that huge sendoff with tons of legendary wrestlers there because they owed him....I don't remember what Hogan got...balloons falling from the rafters?

 

[Hostile]

No. It really isn't. Hogan wasn't the guy lucky to be in the right position. He was the guy Vince selected as the one with the charisma to do it. So he brought him back.

I've heard Vince talk about it many times. Somebody needs to break the news to him that Terry was just along for the ride. He'd love to hear that.

Uh, you might want to listen to this.

:laugh2:

 

[crazytown41]

I'm not a fan of any wrestler. I mean I was when I was kid, but then I matured.

I'm also not concerned with who Hogan put over or not. I'm only stating facts about when pro wrestling exploded in this country and who was responsible for it.

That would be Hulk Hogan. The Babe Ruth of the wrestling. He gave well paying careers to countless wrestlers.

As an aside, I wouldn't blame Hogan if he did refuse to put over other wrestlers. He was Hulk Hogan. They weren't. He's got a ton to lose. They don't.

But now I see why you think this way. You apparently don't like the guy. Whereas I don't care. It's a soap opera not a sport. These guys are actors.

Then don't claim he gave careers to everyone that followed him when it's obvious he never did such thing.

Comparing him to Ruth is laughable. How can you be the greatest when even your own PEERS don't think so.

And if you don't blame Hogan for refusing to put others over then you don't really have a clue how the business works.

Just quit replying. It's apparent you're not a real wrestling fan. Just a casual one. Which is fine. Just don't pretend like you know the "sport"

To put it into a Cowboys perspective, this would be like someone proclaiming Barry Sanders is the greatest running back to ever play the game. When we all know Emmitt is

 

[Yeagermeister]

Wrestling was a regional thing before Hogan. Mildly popular in spots on the east coast and Canada.

Then Vince Jr. took over, Hogan beat the Iron Sheik and pro wrestling exploded on a national stage.

If you didn't already know this, you don't know the history of pro wrestling.

I beg to differ. I have been watching local wrestling for a long time. When I was a kid wrestling was extremely popular in my area (Memphis), in Texas, and Atlanta (old WCW) just off the top of my head.

Vince may have helped take wrestling main stream but it was popular long before Hogan vs Sheik.

 

[DallasGirl50]

Then don't claim he gave careers to everyone that followed him when it's obvious he never did such thing.

Comparing him to Ruth is laughable. How can you be the greatest when even your own PEERS don't think so.

And if you don't blame Hogan for refusing to put others over then you don't really have a clue how the business works.

Just quit replying. It's apparent you're not a real wrestling fan. Just a casual one. Which is fine. Just don't pretend like you know the "sport"

To put it into a Cowboys perspective, this would be like someone proclaiming Barry Sanders is the greatest running back to ever play the game. When we all know Emmitt is

one thing about the wrestling threads is there will be a topic started...discussed at length...& then somebody will post about it's fake, can't believe people watch it, how dumb can you be..blah,,blah..blah. Of course that same person will also know wrestlers names & what is going on. It happens on almost every single wrestling thread. It's a free board..they can do whatever they want...but why bother with something you don't like? I don't get that but it happens on thread after thread.

 

[Hostile]

I beg to differ. I have been watching local wrestling for a long time. When I was a kid wrestling was extremely popular in my area (Memphis), in Texas, and Atlanta (old WCW) just off the top of my head.

Vince may have helped take wrestling main stream but it was popular long before Hogan vs Sheik.

Exactly right. It was Vince who wanted to take Wrestling national and even global. Against his father's wishes in fact. Hogan worked for the WWWF during Vince Sr's. days and did the Rocky movie. Sr. did not want a Hollywood champion. Vince didn't care.

But it was absolutely 100% the brainchild of Vince Jr. to make wrestling go beyond regional boundaries. Many hated it. Many still do. Most thought it was not work.

Hogan was along for the ride, not Vince. Make no mistake about it, Hogan's popularity helped, but he was hardly the only popular wrestler in the WWF stable. Had Hogan stayed in the AWA with Vern Gagne the WWF under Vince Jr. still would have succeeded.

That is the wrestling history. It cannot really be denied. I absolutely agree, it was already popular. Hogan helped make it popular as a national company but if he had not come back there is little doubt it still would have had the run it did.

 

[Cowboy Brian]

Exactly right. It was Vince who wanted to take Wrestling national and even global. Against his father's wishes in fact. Hogan worked for the WWWF during Vince Sr's. days and did the Rocky movie. Sr. did not want a Hollywood champion. Vince didn't care.

But it was absolutely 100% the brainchild of Vince Jr. to make wrestling go beyond regional boundaries. Many hated it. Many still do. Most thought it was not work.

Hogan was along for the ride, not Vince. Make no mistake about it, Hogan's popularity helped, but he was hardly the only popular wrestler in the WWF stable. Had Hogan stayed in the AWA with Vern Gagne the WWF under Vince Jr. still would have succeeded.

That is the wrestling history. It cannot really be denied. I absolutely agree, it was already popular. Hogan helped make it popular as a national company but if he had not come back there is little doubt it still would have had the run it did.

Without Hogan why would WWF have become as popular as it did? That doesn't make any sense.

 

[Hostile]

Without Hogan why would WWF have become as popular as it did? That doesn't make any sense.

Because they still had an incredible stable of wrestlers. It was before your time, but you can look up the History. Without Hogan they might have gone after other face wrestlers too. You never know.

 

[Cowboy Brian]

Because they still had an incredible stable of wrestlers. It was before your time, but you can look up the History. Without Hogan they might have gone after other face wrestlers too. You never know.

But that Hogan piece was key, and there are very few that could've put in the shoes.. Potentially Brusier Brody?? Very few have got to that level of overness. Hogan, Austin, Rock, Flair, HBK, HHH, Cena. That's are it from that elitephere.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

He probably cannot get medically cleared because of his back...he will have to stick with wrestling somehow though. What else can he do? One of the worse wrestlers ever but he has a ton of charisma and fans love him. I don't but that is just me.

The greatest of all time. He basically gave careers to everyone who followed him.

I remember hearing a story, I think Hulk told it. It was right before a match with Andre The Giant. Andre told him, "tonight, you take over... you body slam me" in effect passing the torch. Hulk responded, "I slam you?"

It happened and Andre was soon gone and Hulkamania took over.

 

[Hostile]

But that Hogan piece was key, and there are very few that could've put in the shoes.. Potentially Brusier Brody?? Very few have got to that level of overness. Hogan, Austin, Rock, Flair, HBK, HHH, Cena. That's are it from that elitephere.

Even if I ignored the completely butchered English, no it isn't.

 

[Titus13]

Hulk hogan is the Babe ruth of pro wrestling

 

[DallasGirl50]

But that Hogan piece was key, and there are very few that could've put in the shoes.. Potentially Brusier Brody?? Very few have got to that level of overness. Hogan, Austin, Rock, Flair, HBK, HHH, Cena. That's are it from that elitephere.

You never leave out Shawn but you frequently leave out Taker...who has wrestled more years...at a high level...and has headlined WM many years. His worse matches have been better than Hogan's best.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

You never leave out Shawn but you frequently leave out Taker...who has wrestled more years...at a high level...and has headlined WM many years. His worse matches have been better than Hogan's best.

Good point.

I can see the Babe Ruth/Hulk Hogan connection– Outside the ring. Both were larger than life outside of their respective work areas. Kids loved the Babe and they loved Hogan– that part is undeniable.

The difference is what they accomplished within their respective work areas. Ruth's work on the diamond is still considered by many to be the best ever. Hogan's in the squared circle? Not so much. Very not so much. Outside of the Andre match (which was more side-show than wrestling match) his matches will never be listed in the Top 10, Top 100 or maybe even the Top 1000 all-time. Hogan was a mediocre worker at best. His matches were 15 minute affairs that consisted of few holds, little skill and more bravado than anything else.

He has no classic matches like say "Flair-Brody", "Flair-Steamboat" or many others I could list.

That's why Hogan is not, nor should he be considered, the "Babe Ruth" of wrestling.

No one ever said Ruth couldn't hit.

 

[Sarge]

RIP Macho.

 

[Cowboy Brian]

You never leave out Shawn but you frequently leave out Taker...who has wrestled more years...at a high level...and has headlined WM many years. His worse matches have been better than Hogan's best.

I shouldve included Taker, did you mean Taker has wrestled at a higher level than HBK or Hogan? Those are completely different. One is illogical and one is undebateable.

 

[big dog cowboy]

I beg to differ. I have been watching local wrestling for a long time. When I was a kid wrestling was extremely popular in my area (Memphis), in Texas, and Atlanta (old WCW) just off the top of my head.

Vince may have helped take wrestling main stream but it was popular long before Hogan vs Sheik.

Exactamundo. Growing up in the Central States region (and not far from Harley Race's hometown!!!) wrestling was very popular in this area. I loved the old NWA and WCW days.

 

[DallasGirl50]

R2A...you know I like Taker better than I do Shawn....their styles are completely different & I just prefer Mark. As far as Taker/Hogan there is no debate. I would never deny Hogan has charisma out the wazoo...but TO ME he's not a good wrestler.