The Best Wrestler of All Time

~~Leo656~~ · 07-14-2003, 08:18 PM

"Hogan = Overrated"
So's your opinion. When you get paid 5 million bucks a year to do ANYthing, then you can call people overrated.

Does anyone know how Hogan came onto the scene?! (Cracks knuckles) Ah, gather 'round my son, and I shall tell you a tale, one that began in sunny Florida back in the mid-1970s...

Terry Bollea was a lifelong wrestling fan. He was, through all of high school and for some time after, bass player in several rock and roll bands. His bands played at several clubs in the Tampa area, many of which were frequented by some of the local wrestlers. So he knew people. Eventually, he got it into his head that he might make some money as a wrestler. He was recommended to pro wrestler and trainer Hiro Matsuda, known as one of the toughest trainers around at that point. Hogan's first day was basically as follows: The trainers had him run drills until he was ready to throw up, then Matsuda dragged him into the ring and snapped his ankle.

Back then, not just anybody could come off the street and be a wrestler. There was no garbage like "Tough Enough". You had to be respected by the other wrestlers if you even wanted to have a shot, and to earn their respect you had to be tough. Matsuda wanted to see how dedicated Terry was. Terry came back once his ankle healed, earning him the respect of his trainers, but things didn't get much easier. For the next six months, Hogan was barely allowed one offensive move as the trainers put him in submission hold after submission hold. The way they taught back then was "If a guy leaves his arm open, break it. If you get a guy in a headlock, put the bone of your wrist into his temple and squeeze..." In short, they taught people how to hurt people *for real*. For a year, all Hogan learned was how to break bones and gouge eyes. Then, when they thought he was "ready", they let him in that wrestling was staged. The point of their training him the way they did was two-fold. First off, they wanted him to be able to handle himself in any situation in the ring, and secondly, they wanted him to be so unstoppable physically that nobody could pin him unless he wanted them to.

Once his training was finished, Hogan bounced around several territories and ended up in Memphis as Terry Boulder. Back then, "The Incredible Hulk" tv show with Lou Ferrigno was popular, and someone who saw Hogan commented that he "looked bigger than The Hulk". So he became Terry "The Hulk" Boulder. After a while in Memphis and a few trips to Japan, he eventually ended up in the WWF, then owned by Vince McMahon Sr., who gave him the name Hulk Hogan. He hung around for about a year in 1980 as a heel (bad guy) and had a couple big feuds with Andre the Giant and Bob Backlund. He left the WWF when he got a call to be in Rocky 3. McMahon didn't want Hogan to take the role, but Hogan was insistent, so McMahon fired him. Hogan played Thunderlips in Rocky 3 and became pretty much a celebrity right there.

As with any big movie, Rocky 3 created quite a buzz, and a lot of that Buzz was on Hogan. His name reached the ear of Verne Gagne in Minnesota, owner of the AWA. He brought Hogan in as a face (good guy) and had him feud with Nick Bockwinkle over the AWA Title. The AWA was where "Hulkamania" and all its catchphrases and t-shirts started, they just didn't have a logo yet as Hogan made the shirts himself. Hogan became more and more popular, especially after Rocky 3 came out, but he never ended up with the Title. Politics in wrestling were a big deal back then, and Gagne wanted his son Greg (who was not very talented) to win the Title. Hogan got fed up with it, and when he got an offer from Vince McMahon Jr. to return to the WWF in 1983, he took it. In his final AWA match, he appeared to beat Bockwinkle for the belt, only to have the desicion reversed on a bogus technicality. The fans in the arena rioted.

Hogan took another trip to Japan in 1983 before he went back to the WWF and took part in the first ever International Wrestling Grand Prix Tournament. Hogan was already much-loved in Japan and had recorded an album there. The IWGP Title is basically Japan's version of the World Title, and in fact is more respected throughout the world than the WWF/WWE World Title. Hogan himself has said on many occasions (most notably in 1993, when his words got him in trouble with Vince) that the IWGP Title is the "Real World's Title" and that the WWF Title is "a toy." Hogan beat the legendary Antonio Inoki in the finals, knocking him out of the ring and unconscious with the Axe Bomber to become the first ever IWGP Champion.

After that, he went back to the WWF and beat The Iron Sheik on January 24, 1984 at Madison Square Garden to become the WWF Champion, and the rest is pretty much history.

Anything else you'd like to know?

View Poll Results: Who is the best wrestler of all time?
Bret Hart	4	15.38%
Doink the Clown	3	11.54%
Hulk Hogan	16	61.54%
Kama	0	0%
Shawn Michaels	1	3.85%
Red Rooster	0	0%
Ric Flair	0	0%
Brooklyn Brawler	0	0%
Steve Austin	2	7.69%
Voters: 26. You may not vote on this poll

07-14-2003, 08:18 PM	#11
~~Leo656~~ Banned Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: nWo Country Posts: 27,703	"Hogan = Overrated" So's your opinion. When you get paid 5 million bucks a year to do ANYthing, then you can call people overrated. Does anyone know how Hogan came onto the scene?! (Cracks knuckles) Ah, gather 'round my son, and I shall tell you a tale, one that began in sunny Florida back in the mid-1970s... Terry Bollea was a lifelong wrestling fan. He was, through all of high school and for some time after, bass player in several rock and roll bands. His bands played at several clubs in the Tampa area, many of which were frequented by some of the local wrestlers. So he knew people. Eventually, he got it into his head that he might make some money as a wrestler. He was recommended to pro wrestler and trainer Hiro Matsuda, known as one of the toughest trainers around at that point. Hogan's first day was basically as follows: The trainers had him run drills until he was ready to throw up, then Matsuda dragged him into the ring and snapped his ankle. Back then, not just anybody could come off the street and be a wrestler. There was no garbage like "Tough Enough". You had to be respected by the other wrestlers if you even wanted to have a shot, and to earn their respect you had to be tough. Matsuda wanted to see how dedicated Terry was. Terry came back once his ankle healed, earning him the respect of his trainers, but things didn't get much easier. For the next six months, Hogan was barely allowed one offensive move as the trainers put him in submission hold after submission hold. The way they taught back then was "If a guy leaves his arm open, break it. If you get a guy in a headlock, put the bone of your wrist into his temple and squeeze..." In short, they taught people how to hurt people for real. For a year, all Hogan learned was how to break bones and gouge eyes. Then, when they thought he was "ready", they let him in that wrestling was staged. The point of their training him the way they did was two-fold. First off, they wanted him to be able to handle himself in any situation in the ring, and secondly, they wanted him to be so unstoppable physically that nobody could pin him unless he wanted them to. Once his training was finished, Hogan bounced around several territories and ended up in Memphis as Terry Boulder. Back then, "The Incredible Hulk" tv show with Lou Ferrigno was popular, and someone who saw Hogan commented that he "looked bigger than The Hulk". So he became Terry "The Hulk" Boulder. After a while in Memphis and a few trips to Japan, he eventually ended up in the WWF, then owned by Vince McMahon Sr., who gave him the name Hulk Hogan. He hung around for about a year in 1980 as a heel (bad guy) and had a couple big feuds with Andre the Giant and Bob Backlund. He left the WWF when he got a call to be in Rocky 3. McMahon didn't want Hogan to take the role, but Hogan was insistent, so McMahon fired him. Hogan played Thunderlips in Rocky 3 and became pretty much a celebrity right there. As with any big movie, Rocky 3 created quite a buzz, and a lot of that Buzz was on Hogan. His name reached the ear of Verne Gagne in Minnesota, owner of the AWA. He brought Hogan in as a face (good guy) and had him feud with Nick Bockwinkle over the AWA Title. The AWA was where "Hulkamania" and all its catchphrases and t-shirts started, they just didn't have a logo yet as Hogan made the shirts himself. Hogan became more and more popular, especially after Rocky 3 came out, but he never ended up with the Title. Politics in wrestling were a big deal back then, and Gagne wanted his son Greg (who was not very talented) to win the Title. Hogan got fed up with it, and when he got an offer from Vince McMahon Jr. to return to the WWF in 1983, he took it. In his final AWA match, he appeared to beat Bockwinkle for the belt, only to have the desicion reversed on a bogus technicality. The fans in the arena rioted. Hogan took another trip to Japan in 1983 before he went back to the WWF and took part in the first ever International Wrestling Grand Prix Tournament. Hogan was already much-loved in Japan and had recorded an album there. The IWGP Title is basically Japan's version of the World Title, and in fact is more respected throughout the world than the WWF/WWE World Title. Hogan himself has said on many occasions (most notably in 1993, when his words got him in trouble with Vince) that the IWGP Title is the "Real World's Title" and that the WWF Title is "a toy." Hogan beat the legendary Antonio Inoki in the finals, knocking him out of the ring and unconscious with the Axe Bomber to become the first ever IWGP Champion. After that, he went back to the WWF and beat The Iron Sheik on January 24, 1984 at Madison Square Garden to become the WWF Champion, and the rest is pretty much history. Anything else you'd like to know?