We all continue to learn how to celebrate Hulk Hogan and his legacy, whether through the man Terry Bolea or simply the character Hulk Hogan. I choose to focus on the character, and in trying to separate the man from the entertainment that filled contributed greatly to pro wrestling.
I shared my sentiments earlier this week.
This list is entirely mine. No need to celebrate or even remember it if you don't want to. If you're in that mode, here are my favorite Hulk Hogan moments:
Ahhhhhh yes, the match that eventually came to be. I'm a huge Bret Hart guy, and I enjoyed hating Hogan (within pro wrestling). For me, this match happened way too late, but even more so, it occurred on a Monday Nitro with absolutely no build or meaning. And yeah, the ending was awful.
I remember this simply because I wanted it to happen so bad, and it was one of those moments where I shook my head on the creative of WCW (And possibly, Hogan pulling his creative control card).
There was one more match, this time with Hogan in the red and yellow, and yes, that wouldve been even sweeter for this Hitman fan. But again, all of this was well past it's time, and overall, wasn't done right.
What could have been?!
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10. Hulkamania Returns on August 1999 Nitro - Six-Man Tag
Another random Nitro where big things are just...happening. The nWo had run its course, and we had all sorts of storylines, faction breakouts within the nWo wearing various colors, and overall, what was once cool had faded really fast. On this Nitro, we saw a young Nick Hogan pack his dad's back with the old red and yellow garb, teasing the return, for Hogan to eventually emerge for the main event in the Red and Yellow again.
Sidebar: It was a nice counter to Chris Jericho's debut on RAW, you know...all that Monday Night Wars stuff that feels like forever ago.
This random six-man tag match on a Nitro was hot and provided, yet again, another nostalgic act for Hogan.
9. TNA Bound for Glory 2011 vs. Sting
It's actually Hogan's last televised match, and it happened in TNA. Crazy world. The story of this one was actually good, and like WrestleMania X8 (on a much lighter scale), this ended up being fun! Definitely nothing special in the ring, but the faceturn was well...typical Hogan nostalgia stuff.
8. Monday Nitro vs. Goldberg
More random Nitros...what were they doing?!
Regardless, we all know the lore on this one. Goldberg's build to the promised land of superstardom. Goldberg vs. Hogan was electric! I remember watching this match and the atmosphere that was the Georgia Dome going crazy! More specifically, I remember being utterly shocked that Hogan put over Goldberg. Considering the huge fumble that was the ending to the Sting vs. nWo storyline at Starrcade 1998., this was genuinely memorable for various reasons.
7. Bash at the Beach 1994 vs. Ric Flair
Hogan returns to wrestling after a three-year hiatus to do movies, and he's in the WCW! At the time, this was all sorts of odd, seeing a slimmer Hogan in a WCW ring. But, we immediately got Hogan vs. Flair after the WWE (then WWF), dropped the ball by not having them main event Wrestlemania VII.
This was a fun match that I recently re-watched, and includes all the Hogan hits.
6. Wrestlemania V vs. Randy "Macho Man" Savage
Ahh, the culmination of the megapowers imploding. For me, the actual split was more memorable than this match (again, just my opinion...and more on that soon). However, it still was a good one. I was a big Macho Man guy - this crushed me.
5. Wrestlemania VI vs. Ultimate Warrior
Come on, this was HUGE! Hogan and Warrior colliding was as big as it got, and in many ways, still very much feels like two massive stars colliding. I still remember seeing them square off in the Royal Rumble...goosebumps!
This had aura, feel, and hype. Not a great match, but this is the stuff that lives forever. And it does.
4. Slamming Andre at Wrestlemania III
I know, I know...
I admit this is very likely the greatest moment in pro wrestling history. However, I honestly didn't see it live. I wasn't even two years old yet!
But it's awesome and I recognize that. Rewatching it, you feel it. Like Hogan and Warrior, this will live forever.
3. The Main Event - Mega Powers Explode
I recently re-watched this as well. The match, the story, and the ensuing melee backstage to end The Mega Powers was awesome! That fight in the "first aid room" (how far we've come with WWE terminology) still gives me the feels.
2. Wrestlemania 18 vs. The Rock
I'm not sure I can articulate this match into words. I often refer to it as "magic". Some matches just have that pure...magic...and this was one of them. At the very elite level.
Love.
1. Bash at the Beach 1996
The birth of the nWo. He was the third man! And it's still the greatest heel turn in the history of pro wrestling. It changed the wrestling industry in so many ways, and was a night I stared at the screen in disbelief.
I can imagine Hogan fans who felt betrayed. But for me, I despised Hulkamania. He just turned...heel? What was I supposed to do? Like him?
Great stuff - easily my most memorable moment from Hogan.