Hulk Hogan's 20 Greatest Interviews, Promos and Angles

Hulk Hogan is the foundation that all pro wrestling is built on.  It wasn't his world-beater wrestling skills that endeared him to fans, but rather, for the most part, a supercharged charisma. 

You can see his influence every time you turn on WWE television.  Without the Hulkamaniacs, there'd be no Jericholics or the Chain Gang or Christian’s Peeps. 

His catchphrases, his look and his energy made for great entertainment for years. 

During some of the greatest stories in wrestling, Hogan was right there, saying his prayers and running wild. 

20. Survivor Series ‘91

"I fear no man, no beast or evil, brother."

Yes, this one has all the things you'd expect from a Hogan promo, the obligatory vitamins reference and "what you gonna do?"  But it's also one of the more measured and controlled performances he's had.

Going all-out every time can get tiresome.  Here, perhaps tempted to match the Undertaker's gloomy energy, Hogan goes for a creepier, quieter promo.

He certainly seems confident, but not as much as he usually does, which perfect sense since he's facing off against an intimidator like The Undertaker. 

19. It’s Not Hot

One of wrestling's best unintentionally funny moments was created when Hogan first came to WCW. 

Kevin Sullivan, Curtis Iaukea and a very young Big Show await the Hulkster in the Dungeon of Doom, where there are apparently no Hulkamaniacs and where the water is not hot. 

It appears that everyone involved is acting the best they can and the setting is supposed to be creepy and mysterious, but more than anything, it has a Power Rangers vibe.

Was it the best idea to have Hogan's first rivalry with an intentional knockoff of Andre the Giant?  Was this bizarre scene the best way to start Hogan's WCW tenure? 

Certainly not, but few wrestling scenes have been as hilarious and entertaining as this one. 

18. Hollywood Hogan in Florida

"I'm the man that made wrestling famous."

Chains draped around his neck, playing air guitar, Hogan strutted into the ring to deliver a forceful promo.

As much as he rambled and made little sense, Hogan was a convincing bad boy.  Whether talking about pushing over trucks, crowbars or geography, he had the fans' attention. 

He has the Florida crowd in complete control. 

Hogan sells Dennis Rodman's toughness so well that after hearing this promo, you might even be convinced that Rodman will actually do well in the ring. 

17. Bash at the Beach ‘94

"That's the main event I want to see, dude."

With a long-anticipated battle with Ric Flair around the corner, Hogan put on a promo that had him claim that WCW was the No. 1 wrestling company. 

Whether it truly was or not, his deep voice and trademark charisma had us believing that this match would be the biggest one in wrestling history. 

As exciting as this matchup was, it didn't have the impact it might have had it been put on a few years back when Flair was with WWE.  Even at its peak, WCW always seemed to be one step behind and was too reliant on the past.  

What does bringing in Mr. T as Hogan's partner do but stir up nostalgia?  It has people thinking of a past WrestleMania instead of Bash at the Beach. 

Skip to 5:05 in the video when Flair goes off and you'll see two guys in the background that WCW never pushed, one is wearing green trunks, the other is holding a title belt. 

16. Saturday Night’s Main Event 1987

"The steel cage is the most brutal arena of human competition."

This is the most crazed Hogan has looked.  His bandana awry, his eyes wide, he channels his inner madman for a promo before his cage match with Paul Orndorff.

You won't get any of the "say your prayers and eat your vitamins" typical Hulkster stuff, but instead some wild mic work that will leave fans both puzzled and entertained. 

Few things are more compelling than insanity. 

15. TNA

TNA was hoping that Hulk Hogan's arrival would do for that company what his arrival in 1994 did for WCW.  To create buzz over a feud between him and Jeff Jarrett, a guitar-assisted beatdown interrupted an IWGP press conference in 2003.

Nothing came of it because Hogan didn't end up coming to TNA until 2009. 

It's a testament to Hogan's star power that this truncated storyline had the impact it did.  People were talking about a company they didn't often talk about and TNA even includes this on their Fifty Greatest Moments DVD.

14. 1989 London

"The thousands of Hulkamaniacs on the outside pushing the walls down, barnstorming the doors…"

In one of the more fun Hogan promos, he sounds genuinely thrilled throughout.  Even when he's talking about Randy Savage and Sherri Martel casting a spell and taking down the plane, Hogan still seems like he's going to burst out laughing at any second. 

Two things hamper the quality of this interview.  For one, Hogan trips on a few of his lines.  He charges along and does well regardless, though.

Inexplicably, there's an announcement on the PA during the interview. 

13. WrestleMania VI

"It has been written, it has been said and it shall be done at WrestleMania VI."

The Ultimate Warrior brought something special out in Hogan. 

The Hulkster's promos leading up to their historic night at WrestleMania VI had an extra intensity to them and certainly a touch more insanity as well.

He talks about conversing with a magic mirror, wiping off Warrior's face paint and compares his biceps to redwoods. 

While Warrior's promos were certainly crazier, the combo of his and Hogan's mic work helped swell the hype to their match until it was engorged and ready to explode. 

12. Starrcade ‘96

"I already called the hacienda, man."

In a showcase of his skills as a bad boy, Hogan talks smack about Roddy Piper before their main event match at Starrcade '96. 

He manages to weave some of the more charismatic elements of his old Hulkster persona with a newer, more brash, more playful version of himself.

Great lines like saying Roddy’s kids will be "crying in their cold Campbell's soup" fit in between his usual rambling. 

Miss Elizabeth, unfortunately, doesn't fit with the NWO concept, or Hogan's Hollywood gimmick, and ends up standing stiffly in the back, unsure of what to do. 

11. WrestleMania V

"There was no way I was going to let her get in the danger zone."

Often, Hogan rambles all over the place and still manages to keep our attention.  In this promo before his match against Randy Savage at WrestleMania V, he tells one hell of a story. 

A man turning on his partner is nothing new, but Hogan invigorates the old tale with images of cancer and demons and one of his best performances.  It has an eerie and biblical feel. 

Pitting Savage against Hogan, two of the mesmerizing men on the mic, was brilliant.  The red, fingerless gloves was not as good of an idea. 

More on the Hogan/Savage feud a few slides later.

10. Survivor Series ’91 (Again)

"Don't put on the coffee, we're not staying long."

Another promo that was part of the buildup to Hogan's match with the Undertaker saw Hogan step out of his yelling and bicep-flexing comfort zone and into a creepier place. 

Hogan did a great job contrasting his heroic persona with Undertaker's shadowy self, playing up light vs. dark long before Shawn Michaels did at WrestleMania 25. 

9. Sgt. Slaughter 1991

"I promised each and every Hulkamaniac when I went to that great battlefield in the sky I would bring the WWF title with me."

In one of the most controversial angles in wrestling history, Sgt. Slaughter became an Iraqi sympathizer, setting things up for a "real American" to save the day.

One could argue that the angle was insensitive and went too far.  It could also be seen as a means for fans to experience catharsis, funneling their negative feelings about the Gulf War and Saddam through their sports entertainment. 

Either way, the Hulkster was right in the middle of it and there was no one better to play the role of hero here. 

God, America, Hulkamania; brilliant or despicable, this angle and these two superstars had fans unwilling to look away.

8. Confrontation with the Rock

The collision of the two biggest stars of their generation had so much electricity in concept alone that no one really had to do much to hype it up. 

Seeing the Rock spit Hogan's own catchphrases at him was surreal.  Hogan's shoot-like promo to open things up intrigued as well. 

But the most compelling part of the confrontation between the Rock and Hogan was their staredown. 

The two icons in the ring together, face to face, the crowd chanting both their names, it created a lasting image and a historic moment. 

7. Hogan Wins Championship

"Have you ever seen anything as beautiful as this, Mean Gene?"

A title change that would change the wrestling landscape forever saw Hogan get doused in champagne by Andre the Giant and a host of other allies. 

The interview after his first world title win was emotional and celebratory.  Hogan had trouble getting some of the "brothers" and "you know something, Mean Genes" out.

He even shoots a glob of stray spit at Gene Okerlund. 

Once this party was over, it was Hulkamania full speed ahead.  

6. NWO PSA

"Gotta change with the times, man."

Hogan broke the mold of the traditional guy yelling into a microphone backstage promo with a black and white scene complete with theme music and jump cuts. 

Hogan's newest persona was playful and sinister, and his words had a ring of truth to them. 

Things did need to evolve.  The NWO was so successful because they bucked the system and changed the game. 

Fans flocked to the NWO because of its freshness and Hogan's powerful charisma.

5. WrestleMania IV

"As Andre the Giant falls into the ocean…"

Before his big rematch with Andre, Hogan begins what seems like a typical Hulkster promo with all the bravado and gusto that goes with that. 

About halfway through, he hits a second gear, upping the intensity and creating lasting, bizarre images.  

He talks about pinning his opponents at the bottom of the ocean, Donald Trump hanging from the Trump Plaza and then dog paddling to safety. 

Watch Mean Gene struggle to keep a straight face throughout.  One of his finest, most out-there performances on the mic is summed up by Okerlund at the end.

"Wow!"

4. Hogan and Andre Contract Signing

"As far as I'm concerned, it's not signed in ink, it's signed in blood."

Before WWE contract signings became a self-referential joke, Hogan and Andre faced off in the most memorable one. 

There is an overwhelming suspense before the two men even speak.  Hogan manages to look both terrified and intimidating. 

The perfect feud for both Andre and Hogan was aided tremendously by this moment, adding to an already hyped match. 

3. Mega Powers Explode

"Savage struck Hogan!"

WWE drew us in. 

In an example of one of the more well-developed storylines, Hogan and Savage went from best of friends to facing each other in a heated battle at WrestleMania V.

While Hogan's feud with Andre provided big moments and big spectacle, Savage's skills on the mic and in the ring made his rivalry with Hogan unmissable. 

Savage bursting into where Elizabeth is recovering and then beating Hogan with the championship belt is one of the most dramatic moments in wrestling history. 

2. DiBiase Tries to Buy the WWE Championship

"Hell no!"

Feuding with the Hulkster help put Ted DiBiase over as one of the best heels of all time.  It also made Hogan look even more heroic. 

DiBiase's attempt to buy the championship caused controversy and created drama.  The storyline tapped into the middle and lower class' distrust and dislike of the ultra rich. 

The story gave us one of the most unforgettable moments, seeing referee Earl Hebner's twin brother cheating Hogan out of the title. 

1. Hogan Joins NWO

"We will destroy everything in our path, Mean Gene."

The most shocking heel turn of all time had babyface extraordinaire, Hulk Hogan, shock the world by joining the Outsiders. 

As much as fans today want Cena to turn heel, it wouldn't have nearly had the same impact as this did.  Hogan was the most beloved wrestler on the planet, a heroic patriot.  Nobody saw this coming.

Soon after he revealed that he was the third man by dropping his patented leg drop on Randy Savage, the crowd pelted him with trash.  Few moments have gotten such a rise from the fans.

WCW built their Monday night empire on the momentum of this night. 

Bonus Japanese Promo

Hogan's made a name for himself over the years over in Japan.  He's been known to break out a more varied move set and up his game in the ring.

Just a bunch of shirt tearing and hulking up isn't going to impress the crowds over there.

In this micro-promo, Hogan refers to the finishing move he used in Japan, a crooked arm lariat called the Axe Bomba.