For The Record 8.16.09: Hulk Hogan As a Worker

Despite his success, Hulk Hogan will always have a booing section. Millions of fans believe the Hulkster held down other wrestlers. I don’t know whether that’s true or not. I will say one thing though. Vince McMahon had the most at stake when Hulkamania was running wild. If Hogan made money, McMahon made money. For all we know, McMahon protected Hogan more than Hogan protected Hogan.

The Hulkster was WWE’s biggest draw in the 1980s. Sure it would have been nice to push Rowdy Roddy Piper, Jake Roberts, or Mr. Perfect a little more. But we have to admit one thing. They weren’t proven draws. Money talks, and it’s the only language that matters to McMahon.

But Hogan’s ego and alleged backstage stroke was not the only reason “smart” fans criticized him. They also feel his workrate was subpar. Hogan was no Bret Hart or Kurt Angle in the ring. He hardly ever climbed the top ropes like the Rockers. He also wasn’t one to take harsh bumps like Mick Foley. However, the crowd still ate out of the palm of his hands. And in the world of pro wrestling, that’s all that matters.

Hogan was both blessed and lucky. First of all, he had the look. Hogan was a big, strong wrestler with passable mike skills. Second, he was a semi-celebrity before he even entered WWE. It’s not like wrestling fans were totally unfamiliar with him when he defeated the Iron Sheik in 1984. Third, Hogan was given very distinctive ring attire which was cool to younger fans. Sometimes the right attire can evolve a dull wrestler into a superstar (just ask Bret Hart). Fourth, Hogan benefitted from WWE’s cartoonish stage. Hogan was a Herculian figure who slayed giants, beat up evil kings, and smacked down a million dollar tycoon. In the wrestling era of good and evil, Herculian heroes were invaluable.

Hogan and McMahon were smart. They let the other wrestlers be just that… wrestlers. They made Hulk Hogan the mythological super hero. And Hogan pulled it off perfectly.

Hogan was great at looking desperate during beatdowns. He looked depleted, like he was fighting a giant piece of kryptonite. But he was also great at engaging the crowd. The fans knew that they were the driving forces to Hogan victories. Their rally cries invigorated the Hulkster. And when he had taken enough punishment, he shook his head. He didn’t quite get mad like The Incredible Hulk, but he hulked up nonetheless. He became the invincible, irresistible force. Hogan made fans believe that it wasn’t just him who slammed Andre The Giant. It was also the energy of his Hulkamaniacs.

That’s engagement. The fans became participants. They weren’t passive observers. Hulk Hogan invited the audience to become a part of the show. He wasn’t trying to get the fans to say “look what he did.” He was getting the fans to say “look what we did.”

Does that make Hulk Hogan a good worker? Was he a workrate machine? Well that depends on what you mean by “worker.” If worker means great technician, then no, Hogan wasn’t much of a worker. He punched, kicked, bodyslammed, legdropped, and sold low impact wrestling moves. Great technicians were guys like Bret Hart, Kurt Angle, Dean Malenko, Mr. Perfect, Ricky Steamboat, and Ric Flair. But if we take “worker” to mean working the fans, it’s hard to argue that Hogan was a bad worker. Few wrestlers have ever worked the fans like Hulk Hogan.

Therefore, what might be needed is a clarification of language. I’m not going to try and define exactly what worker or workrate means. To quote our President, “That’s above my paygrade.” However, it seems that the word “worker” should be re-examined by the IWC. Should “good worker” be synonymous with high quality technical wrestling? Or should good workers be those who can engage and excite a crowd? I don’t know; you decide.

Closing Time

Funny Hogan Commercials