|
| Article: |
Author |
| Hulking Up |
Matt Barnes |
FSM defends the honour of the man who put wrestling where it is today...
Without a doubt, Hulk Hogan truly is the original wrestling 'icon' - that's a fact. And yet fans (and most critics, for that matter) talk of him with a comedic disdain that borders on utter disgust. How so, FSM asks, when Hogan was once such a cornerstone of our business, and made such valuable contributions to it for over twenty years? The answer, plainly, is that Hulk Hogan very famously took just as much from the sport as he gave to it, thereby - in the minds of many - nullifying his greatest contributions to the sport.
But is it really fair that a few idle, ego-driven decisions should tarnish a man who was once the childhood icon of so many? Indeed, are Hogan's knee and hip replacements and subsequent lifetime of pain after thousands of days toiling on the road not enough of a contribution, under the circumstances? Moreover, is the true point not of what Hogan took from the business, but the fact that he was the first wrestling superstar to truly put sports entertainment on the map and that his input and outlook changed wrestling forever?
In reality, it's all a question of context. To fans of WWE's Attitude Era, Hogan is little more than an afterthought. While The Rock and Steve Austin were tearing it up in WWE, The Hulkster was hobbling around WCW rings looking way past his prime and politicking his way to the top. But to fans who were there 'back in the day', he's the absolute embodiment of their cartoon childhood heroes - without Hogan, there'd be no pro wrestling as we know it in the new millennium.
Terry Bollea - the man behind the Hogan persona - may be many things, but a failure he's not. His character and his positioning incited two of the biggest revolutions in the history of the sport. His matches, though technically inept and not comparable to the sports entertainment spectaculars of today, are largely remembered as iconic feuds and few men either past, present or future could shine his shoes in terms of connecting with the masses. No Hunter, Cena or Batista could ever come close, that's for sure, and yet still Hogan can't be fondly remembered by wrestling critics. Something's not quite right with that equation, we're sure you'll agree...
For the rest of this feature, check out issue 46 of FSM - available at WH Smith and all good retailers. (For US readers we are now carried at Borders and Barnes & Noble, so check for local availability or click here to subscribe.)
Back to Articles Menu |
 |
|
