Explain Hogan's Popularity

[Guest OnlyMe]

I don't understand how Hulk Hogan made it to the levels that he did, back in the mid to late 80s. Everyone knows the levels of love that he got, that's not in dispute, but I don't see what he did that everyone loved.

 

1) Wrestling ability. Bland, generic stuff. Almost never did anything impressive, and finished every match in the same, intelligence insulting manner.

 

2) Interview skillz. "WELL LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING MEAN GENE..." He talked rubbish, incoherent rubbish, which I'm sure went over the head of most people.

 

3) Storylines. Nothing major. "I hate you Hulk Hogan" "I hate you too" *Hogan wins*. Sure, there were a few BIG angles - vs. Andre, vs. Warrior etc.

 

So yeah, what was it about the Hulkster that drew people in to such extreme levels?

[Guest Dynamite Kido]

Honestly, Hogan is the best babyface in pro wrestling history......so there is your reason why he was as popular as he was. He had a role to play, he played it to a Tee.

[DCMaximo 0]

1) Hogan appealed to the fans by making them feel part of his team. References to the Hulksters, spending time posing for the fans all made the fans feel like Hogan was wrestling for them

 

2) Undeniable charisma. True, his interviews were quite samey, but this was the 80's. He said everything a face should- he preached about prayers and vitamins, he appreciated loyalty from his friends and he swore vengeance against those who had done wrong. Back then, you didn't have to be funny, just able to talk clearly and have something sensible to say.

 

3) Physical presence. Hogan looked like a star. The fans he had brought in weren't your typical workrate friendly fans, but those who wanted to see a powerful looking face taking over on the despicable heels, and Hogan had that appeal.

 

4) Timing in the ring. Hogan may not have been a ring technician, but he knew when to make his comebacks to get the best possible response. Take a beating for a while, then, when you hulk up and make your comeback, BOOM, the fans know that the heel is going to get his. By keeping it basic, Hogan could appeal to a greater audience.

[Guest Astro]

1< Charisma

2< Proper Push

3< Larger Than Life

4> Bold, Brash and Colorful

5< We were MARKS!

 

 

/Hogan Fan til Death

[JoeDirt 0]

I wasn't a fan in the Hogan era, so I'm just wondering...

 

How many of the fans back then actually thought it was real, and loved him because he won so many matches and therefore was the best?

 

I think Hogan also was helped because he wasn't overexposed on television like he would be today, and therefore his act didn't get sickening to the people until later in his career.

[Betty Houle 0]

1) Hogan appealed to the fans by making them feel part of his team. References to the Hulksters, spending time posing for the fans all made the fans feel like Hogan was wrestling for them

 

2) Undeniable charisma. True, his interviews were quite samey, but this was the 80's. He said everything a face should- he preached about prayers and vitamins, he appreciated loyalty from his friends and he swore vengeance against those who had done wrong. Back then, you didn't have to be funny, just able to talk clearly and have something sensible to say.

 

3) Physical presence. Hogan looked like a star. The fans he had brought in weren't your typical workrate friendly fans, but those who wanted to see a powerful looking face taking over on the despicable heels, and Hogan had that appeal.

 

4) Timing in the ring. Hogan may not have been a ring technician, but he knew when to make his comebacks to get the best possible response. Take a beating for a while, then, when you hulk up and make your comeback, BOOM, the fans know that the heel is going to get his. By keeping it basic, Hogan could appeal to a greater audience.

Couldn't of said it much better.

 

(2) and (4) in particular are reasons he was such a good worker.

[Guest Man Of 1,004 Modes]

You don't have to know how tp perform thousands of moves to be a good wrestler. Hogan's charisma was off-the charts, had great pressence in the ring, like a Mythical God, and like others said, just made the fans feel appreciated.

[nl5xsk1 0]

I wasn't a fan in the Hogan era, so I'm just wondering...

 

How many of the fans back then actually thought it was real, and loved him because he won so many matches and therefore was the best?

 

I think Hogan also was helped because he wasn't overexposed on television like he would be today, and therefore his act didn't get sickening to the people until later in his career.

I was 10 when Hogan first won the belt, and thus had my "prime" wrestling years when the Hulkamania boom was exploding (10-12 yo, '84-'86). And I hated Hulk Hogan with every fiber of my being. From day one I rooted for the heels (the first wrestlers that I marked out for were the Road Warriors in the AWA, the Freebirds in WCCW, and Flair in the NWA.) I always hated the faces, especially Hogan. It wasn't until the Warriors went face that I actually found myelf rooting for a face. But I digress ...

 

I knew wrestling was scripted, and I think that's why I hated Hogan. Seeing one person win every time, in a fake competition, was tiresome.

[Guest Man Of 1,004 Modes]

I wasn't a fan in the Hogan era, so I'm just wondering...

 

How many of the fans back then actually thought it was real, and loved him because he won so many matches and therefore was the best?

 

I think Hogan also was helped because he wasn't overexposed on television like he would be today, and therefore his act didn't get sickening to the people until later in his career.

I was 10 when Hogan first won the belt, and thus had my "prime" wrestling years when the Hulkamania boom was exploding (10-12 yo, '84-'86). And I hated Hulk Hogan with every fiber of my being. From day one I rooted for the heels (the first wrestlers that I marked out for were the Road Warriors in the AWA, the Freebirds in WCCW, and Flair in the NWA.) I always hated the faces, especially Hogan. It wasn't until the Warriors went face that I actually found myelf rooting for a face. But I digress ...

 

I knew wrestling was scripted, and I think that's why I hated Hogan. Seeing one person win every time, in a fake competition, was tiresome.

So Flair holding the belt a year and a half, drop it for 2 months, then hold it again for another year never got old?

 

Everyone's entitled to their own opinion, hell even I liked Flair, but WWF's Hogan was NWA's Flair, except the lord praising babyface instead of the arrogant heel.

[Guest JumpinJackFlash]

I think it's just that he stared in Rocky 3. At that time, there weren't too many wrestlers in films. When he came back to the WWF, he was the only celebrity that appeared there. Ya get it? Hogan didn't become popular because of being a wrestler. No, it was(sadly)because he was a movie star.

 

The truth has been told! This is not HHHollywood! This is the WWE, damnit!

 

Ahhhhh!

 

[WrestlingDeacon 0]

Hogan was still in the AWA when he appeared in Rocky III and it made him a mainstream name, but in no way affected the way he could related to live crowds and other elements that DC expertly pointed out.

[Guest MikeSC]

You don't have to know how tp perform thousands of moves to be a good wrestler. Hogan's charisma was off-the charts, had great pressence in the ring, like a Mythical God, and like others said, just made the fans feel appreciated.

As Cornette said, the secret to making money as a heel is to know when to kick ass and when to sell like a chickenshit. Figure that out and you'll make huge money.

 

I wonder if Lawler taught Hogan much of that in his brief stint in Memphis. Jerry really was good at that.

-=Mike

[nl5xsk1 0]

So Flair holding the belt a year and a half, drop it for 2 months, then hold it again for another year never got old?

 

Everyone's entitled to their own opinion, hell even I liked Flair, but WWF's Hogan was NWA's Flair, except the lord praising babyface instead of the arrogant heel.

Flair also cheated to win as often as not, or had what is now known as a "Dusty Finish". It wasn't like he was treated as a superhuman capable of overcoming any obstacle to win, he was someone that needed help almost every time. Hogan was scripted to be larger than life, Flair was scripted to need assistance to stay on top.

[JoeDirt 0]

I'm not puzzled by Hogan's popularity - I just wonder why anyone would want to cheer Hacksaw Jim Duggan!

[Guest Choken One]

Simple...

 

He was the "Everyman"...the one that loved his country and didn't work out but busted his ass to make a livng...treated you with respect and fought against the evil doers and was The Popular One's Trusted Friend that ALWAYS had his back...NEVER teased a turn like other Hogan's friends...Tugboat often argued with Hogan, Bossman was once a EVIL prison guard and the fans still remember when he and Hogan had their battles...but Duggan...Always supported His best friend and risked himself to Earthquake and Yokozuna to support his best friend...

[DCMaximo 0]

I never understood why Duggan got cheered in other countries. WMVI he gets cheered in Canada against Canadian Dino Barvo, and his schtick always got applause in the UK as well, which sickens me.

[Guest Choken One]

I never understood why Duggan got cheered in other countries. WMVI he gets cheered in Canada against Canadian Dino Barvo, and his schtick always got applause in the UK as well, which sickens me.

he was Hogan's Buddy. Simple as That.

[Guest wildpegasus]

Some things that haven't been commented on:

 

"Real American" had a lot to do with Hogan's popularity too. One of the best, if not the best song ever to fit a wrestler.

 

Also, the aura of Hogan's invinciability played a role. He was completely undefeatable and people wanted to see who'd be the first to take him down.

 

Built like anything. People look up to strong, built physiques.

 

Wrestling was popular and people always like to cheer for the most popular thing in anything. Just like in sports a lot of people will root for the most popular team, in wrestling they'll cheer for the most popular wrestler.