kaufman316 Posted August 8, 2020 Report Share Posted August 8, 2020 15 hours ago, sek69 said: No one is arguing Hogan was a worldwide phenomenon because of Rocky II and New Japan. I'm saying the WWE Narrative that Vince built Hulkamania is patently false since it existed prior to him arriving in the WWF. Vince gave him a national platform and was smart enough to get out of the way and let Hulk be Hulk. If he went to Crockett in 1983 instead it could have been a Road Warriors type situation where he would be one of the NWA's top stars while doing Japan tours (I know politics at the time would have got in the way since All Japan was the NWA affiliate at the time, but I'm fantasy booking here). If fantasy booking and we swap either Hulk's Japan connections or AJPW/NJPW's stateside affiliations, does that make a difference? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NintendoLogic Posted August 8, 2020 Report Share Posted August 8, 2020 The impact of Rocky III on Hogan's popularity has been greatly overstated. Here he is on Johnny Carson's show in 1982. When he does his pro wrestling spiel (he even says "Hulkamania is running wild"), the audience reacts like he's a minor league attraction with delusions of grandeur. He would have been a huge star in wrestling regardless, but he wouldn't have become a crossover star if he hadn't gone to New York. In fact, geography was probably Vince's biggest advantage. Being based in New York gave him cachet with the media that he wouldn't have had if he were based in Charlotte or Minneapolis. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El-P Posted August 8, 2020 Report Share Posted August 8, 2020 That's all valid but that's from the outsider's perspective while we're taking about from the inside of the business perspective. The point that is being talked about stands : Vince did not create Hulk Hogan. He gave him the platform and polished his act, but he did not came up with the worker nor the gimmick. Hogan is not a Vince creation, which is also funny to think when referred to the old "Vince only push what he creates himself". Well, he sure did not create Hulk Hogan at all. He absolutely picked the right guy for his plan, but did not create it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kadaveri Posted August 8, 2020 Report Share Posted August 8, 2020 Being based in New York isn't a result of Vince's creative genius though. A lot of this success specific to WWF was still luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert S Posted August 8, 2020 Report Share Posted August 8, 2020 32 minutes ago, Kadaveri said: Being based in New York isn't a result of Vince's creative genius though. A lot of this success specific to WWF was still luck. Including rival promoters not taking him serious enough / believing him went he said he had no interest in taking over territories. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ricky Jackson Posted August 8, 2020 Report Share Posted August 8, 2020 Vince Sr did come up with the "Hulk Hogan" name in 1979 when Hogan had a (quite successful relative to other heels) run in WWF. I wasn't a fan then, but a wrestler appearing in a memorable role in a box office hit was unheard of back then, and still is today. Also a wrestler appearing on Carson was very significant. Hogan was a huge wrestling star well before January 1984. But going to NYC and being part of the Vince hype machine made him the biggest star ever Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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