Bret Hart Is Right, Hulk Hogan is a Bum

I’ve never been a Hogan fan.  Not when he bodyslammed Andre in Detroit.  Not when he was telling kids to take their vitamins and say their prayers.  Not even when he was revealed to be the third man in the N.W.O. did I ever really give a crap about this guy.  Granted, when I was a child and Hulkamania was running wild, I didn’t know what politics were.  I had no idea that the wrestlers I saw on TV were “entertainers”.  I thought The Hulkster I saw every Saturday morning was who he was.  Yet, something never did sit right with me about him. 

As time went on, and I got older, I began to understand about what goes on behind the scenes.  Not just in pro wrestling, but almost every profession.  Some guys have pull, some guys don’t.  Hogan had pull.  No doubt about it.  Vince McMahon owed his livelihood to Hogan and vice versa.  But then you begin to read and hear about how Hogan thought he was above the industry.  How he made wrestling what it was and ultimately became. 

I never understood that.  The guy could rip off his shirt and chew on his bandana.  He waved an American flag when the story called for it.  He cupped his hand to his ear to ignite a crowd.  He flexed his steroid induced muscles.  Okay, so he could work a crowd.  He has never seemed to realize that it takes two to tango.  There is no Hulk Hogan without Vince McMahon.  Those two, yes both of them, put pro wrestling on the mainstream map in the 80’s and early 90’s.  But when Hogan’s big run was over, he vanished.  He wasn’t the movie star he thought he would become.  The WWE survived without him, probably much to his dismay. 

If you have ever read Bret Hart’s autobiography, it’s pretty clear that Hogan ended up seeing The Hitman as a threat.  Why?  Hogan has the biggest ego in the history of pro wrestling.  Someone who was younger and obviously more talented was taking over his spot.  This is a guy who will never, ever admit that he was one of the luckiest men to ever live.  I honestly think if Terry Bollea wasn’t around, Vince would have found—and made—another Hulk Hogan.  Probably one with a moveset that included more than a punch, bodyslam and horrible looking legdrop. 

Ask yourself a question.  How many of Hulk Hogan’s matches do you honestly consider great?  Wrestlemania III?  Folks, that was an attraction.  But, it isn’t going down in the annals of history as a great match.  It just isn’t.  Hogan vs. Warrior at Wrestlemania VI?  That match was better than it should have been.  Everyone says that.  And, it’s a polite way of saying it really wasn’t too good, but somehow those two didn’t put Toronto to sleep.  What about Hogan vs. Shawn Michaels at SummerSlam?  I refuse to watch it, just because I think HBK is the greatest of all time, and I will never want to see Hogan’s ego put that blemish on Michaels’ career.  But, from what I’ve heard, HBK carried it and oversold just to show what a clown Hogan is. 

Now, the actual point of this article is touching on what Bret Hart said about working for TNA.  He won’t work there as long as Hogan and Bischoff are running the ship.  I personally think Bischoff has always had a bit of a bad rap, but that’s for a different piece.  Hogan is exactly what Bret Hart says he is.  Hulk Hogan is full of himself.  Hulk Hogan thinks he can still put bottoms in the seats.  Hulk Hogan thinks he’s still a huge star and a company needs to revolve around him. 

Give me a break.  Please.  The Hulkster, among others, ruined WCW.  When he got some control and booking power there, the place sunk.  That’s a fact.  Hogan forgot to look at the fact that wrestling in the mid to late 90’s became a showcase for some actual athletes.  People wanted to see Jericho, The Rock, HHH, Eddie Guerrero, Benoit, Austin, Bret Hart, etc. work their butts off in the ring.  Yet, none of that mattered to Hogan.  His mantra became “I made wrestling what it is today, brother.  These people came out here to see me, dude.”  He has been wrong before and since. 

Look at TNA today.  This was actually an enjoyable, exciting and entertaining brand of wrestling before Hogan got there.  Samoa Joe was a beast.  AJ Styles really was phenomenal.  The X-Division actually existed.  What has it turned into since he took over?  The 80’s reunion tour.  WCW 2.0.  He actually reinvented the N.W.O. in TNA.  Nobody cares.  Will Hogan pull the plug on it?  Nope.  His ego is too big. 

Have you ever listened to Hogan on 'Bubba the Lovesponge'?  He is a clueless, dense human being.  Did you see him on the David Hasselhoff roast that aired on Comedy Central?  The man is just like the Hoff.  A walking joke.  A has-been.  A guy who is holding on to the thread of the past.  It's embarassing.  It's sad.

I’ll give Hulk Hogan his credit.  He is the Babe Ruth of pro wrestling.  He did have an impact.  He was idolized by millions of children.  He is still a very, very recognizable figure in pop culture.  The only problem?  It’s not 1987 anymore.  The man doesn’t know what he’s doing.  He never did.  He had McMahon to guide him and lay down the law.  Hogan wasn’t a booker in WWE.  That’s why WWE is still around. 

It’s too bad Dixie Carter doesn’t have the mindset that Bret Hart has.  The Hitman may have been no angel.  He’s got a pretty big ego, too.  I think it would be a safe bet that if Bret Hart were running TNA, things would be a lot different.  And better.  When Hogan realizes the wrestling world doesn’t revolve around him, maybe he’ll finally leave for good.  And that would make the business better.