Literary Squared Circle #8 – HOLLYWOOD HULK HOGAN
Imagine watching a John Wayne western and at the end of the movie The Duke takes off his cowboy hat, replaces it with a headdress, smears war paint under his eyes, and sides with the Indians. Unbelievable, right? Well, that was the gut punch felt by wrestling fans 25 years ago tomorrow.
For over 12 years, Hulk Hogan proudly wore the red and yellow and preached his demandments of Hulkamania, which included: “train”, “say your prayers”, “eat your vitamins”, “believe in yourself”, and (after the 1994 Steroid Trail) “believe in Hulk Hogan”. The Hulkster was a hero to millions of Hulkamaniacs around the world. Then, on July 7, 1996, everything changed.
WCW’s Bash at the Beach pay-per-view featured what would go down as the biggest heel turn of all-time. That night fans witnessed the death of Hulkamania and the birth of the nWo. Hulk Hogan shockingly turned his back on WCW and his legion of fans. Being pelted with debris in the ring after it was revealed that HE was “mystery partner” of The Outsiders’ (Scott Hall & Kevin Nash) in the six-man tag team main event match, Hogan had these words for his fans, “As far as I’m concerned, all this crap in the ring represents these fans out there … You fans can stick it, brother!”
Exit, the “Real American” babyface, the immortal Hulk Hogan. Enter, the despised, egotistical heel, Hollywood Hulk Hogan. On the eve of the 25th Anniversary of the ultimate betrayal, the Literary Squared Circle blog reviews the book, Hollywood Hulk Hogan by Hollywood Hulk Hogan himself with Michael Jan Friedman (World Wrestling Entertainment, 2003).
Hollywood Hulk Hogan covers Hogan’s life and career from his childhood in Florida to his 2002 return to the World Wrestling Federation. Being that it was published by World Wrestling Entertainment, the book is very similar in style to other autobiographies of The Rock and Kurt Angle. Hogan’s story reads as if it is being told by Hulk Hogan, the character, not as Terry Bollea, the man behind the character.
The book does cover Hogan’s career in detail, though his recollections of events tend to be tinged though red and yellow glasses, meaning the book includes many of Hogan’s legendary exaggerations. His personal life is somewhat glossed over, but is covered more in depth in his follow-up book, My Life Outside the Ring, published in 2009.
Hollywood Hulk Hogan is not a bad book. It is also not a great book. For younger fans interested in Hulk Hogan’s career, this is a good place to start. It’s 400 plus pages of Hulk Hogan telling his story in his words. Don’t expect any great revelations, but just about every important event over the course of his career is covered. For older fans, like myself, who have followed The Hulkster’s career in real time, Hollywood Hulk Hogan is a fun look back at memorable moments from his illustrious career.
So, what does The Hulkster have to say about his heel turn at Bash at the Beach in 1996? Hogan claims that it was his idea to turn heel and join the New World Order. Not only that, he claims that he came up with the idea while still working for the WWF, but Vince McMahon told him that it would never work. Despite the fact that the “Hollywood” gimmick rejuvenated his career and put WCW on top of the ratings war, Hogan claims he was uncomfortable with being a heel, due to effect it had on his young fans and his family.
Hogan’s account doesn’t quite gel with the story most are used to hearing. Eric Bischoff is generally credited with coming up with the idea for the nWo. He based it upon a similar invasion angle that had been done earlier that year in New Japan Pro Wrestling. I’ve also often heard that Sting was Bischoff’s original plan to be The Outsiders’ “mystery partner”, but the idea was nixed at the last minute and Hogan was given the nod. In hindsight, the idea of WCW’s poster boy Sting turning his back on the company would have been shocking, but I think it would have paled in comparison to what actually ended up happening.
Hulk Hogan’s heel turn 25 years ago at Bash at the Beach is one of those moments that those who witnessed it will never forget. I still remember where I was and how I felt. The angle elicited genuine emotion, something which today’s professional wrestling seems incapable of producing. These days wrestlers are turned heel or turned face on a weekly basis (i.e. The Big Show), often without any solid reasoning behind the turn. The lack of storytelling has created a disconnect between the wrestlers and the audience. This was not the case in 1996. The nWo storyline and Hulk Hogan’s heel turn are still being talked about 25 years later, and will probably still be talked about in another quarter century. Is there anything taking place in modern professional wrestling that you can say that about?
If you’re looking for wrestling-related summer reading material, and you want to reminisce about how pro wrestling was in the 1980s and 1990s, pick up a copy of Hollywood Hulk Hogan, brother!
3 Stars out of 5
For over 12 years, Hulk Hogan proudly wore the red and yellow and preached his demandments of Hulkamania, which included: “train”, “say your prayers”, “eat your vitamins”, “believe in yourself”, and (after the 1994 Steroid Trail) “believe in Hulk Hogan”. The Hulkster was a hero to millions of Hulkamaniacs around the world. Then, on July 7, 1996, everything changed.
WCW’s Bash at the Beach pay-per-view featured what would go down as the biggest heel turn of all-time. That night fans witnessed the death of Hulkamania and the birth of the nWo. Hulk Hogan shockingly turned his back on WCW and his legion of fans. Being pelted with debris in the ring after it was revealed that HE was “mystery partner” of The Outsiders’ (Scott Hall & Kevin Nash) in the six-man tag team main event match, Hogan had these words for his fans, “As far as I’m concerned, all this crap in the ring represents these fans out there … You fans can stick it, brother!”
Exit, the “Real American” babyface, the immortal Hulk Hogan. Enter, the despised, egotistical heel, Hollywood Hulk Hogan. On the eve of the 25th Anniversary of the ultimate betrayal, the Literary Squared Circle blog reviews the book, Hollywood Hulk Hogan by Hollywood Hulk Hogan himself with Michael Jan Friedman (World Wrestling Entertainment, 2003).
Hollywood Hulk Hogan covers Hogan’s life and career from his childhood in Florida to his 2002 return to the World Wrestling Federation. Being that it was published by World Wrestling Entertainment, the book is very similar in style to other autobiographies of The Rock and Kurt Angle. Hogan’s story reads as if it is being told by Hulk Hogan, the character, not as Terry Bollea, the man behind the character.
The book does cover Hogan’s career in detail, though his recollections of events tend to be tinged though red and yellow glasses, meaning the book includes many of Hogan’s legendary exaggerations. His personal life is somewhat glossed over, but is covered more in depth in his follow-up book, My Life Outside the Ring, published in 2009.
Hollywood Hulk Hogan is not a bad book. It is also not a great book. For younger fans interested in Hulk Hogan’s career, this is a good place to start. It’s 400 plus pages of Hulk Hogan telling his story in his words. Don’t expect any great revelations, but just about every important event over the course of his career is covered. For older fans, like myself, who have followed The Hulkster’s career in real time, Hollywood Hulk Hogan is a fun look back at memorable moments from his illustrious career.
So, what does The Hulkster have to say about his heel turn at Bash at the Beach in 1996? Hogan claims that it was his idea to turn heel and join the New World Order. Not only that, he claims that he came up with the idea while still working for the WWF, but Vince McMahon told him that it would never work. Despite the fact that the “Hollywood” gimmick rejuvenated his career and put WCW on top of the ratings war, Hogan claims he was uncomfortable with being a heel, due to effect it had on his young fans and his family.
Hogan’s account doesn’t quite gel with the story most are used to hearing. Eric Bischoff is generally credited with coming up with the idea for the nWo. He based it upon a similar invasion angle that had been done earlier that year in New Japan Pro Wrestling. I’ve also often heard that Sting was Bischoff’s original plan to be The Outsiders’ “mystery partner”, but the idea was nixed at the last minute and Hogan was given the nod. In hindsight, the idea of WCW’s poster boy Sting turning his back on the company would have been shocking, but I think it would have paled in comparison to what actually ended up happening.
Hulk Hogan’s heel turn 25 years ago at Bash at the Beach is one of those moments that those who witnessed it will never forget. I still remember where I was and how I felt. The angle elicited genuine emotion, something which today’s professional wrestling seems incapable of producing. These days wrestlers are turned heel or turned face on a weekly basis (i.e. The Big Show), often without any solid reasoning behind the turn. The lack of storytelling has created a disconnect between the wrestlers and the audience. This was not the case in 1996. The nWo storyline and Hulk Hogan’s heel turn are still being talked about 25 years later, and will probably still be talked about in another quarter century. Is there anything taking place in modern professional wrestling that you can say that about?
If you’re looking for wrestling-related summer reading material, and you want to reminisce about how pro wrestling was in the 1980s and 1990s, pick up a copy of Hollywood Hulk Hogan, brother!
3 Stars out of 5
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