How Good Was 'Hollywood' Hulk Hogan Actually?

4. Moments

The notable exception to Hogan's testicles getting in the way of the correct booking decision came at the Georgia Dome on 6 July 1998. The undefeated and white-hot Goldberg beating Hollywood for his first reign with the WCW World Title was one of the biggest moments in WCW history. The stadium erupted, Hogan's star didn't diminish at all, and WCW established a new top name for the company's main event talent to work with.

Hulk just doing the job clean showed what was possible when his ego didn't get in the way. 

Obviously, the moment is Hogan turning heel come Bash At The Beach 1996, joining Hall and Nash as the unnamed "third man", turning heel, and beginning the nWo. It's comfortably the best heel turn in wrestling history, as it had maximum shock impact in the moment and unbeatable long-term consequences. Trash raining down on the ring as Hogan declared he and his new brothers "the New World Order of professional wrestling (brother)", the chromatic promos, spray painting the WCW gold. Hollywood's first year was littered with classic moments. 

Hulk was excellent on the run-up to WrestleMania X8 with The Rock too. We've already discussed the promo that set the match up, but he was also great in destroying Rock's ambulance with a truck, reading an apology letter to 'The Great One' with maximum sarcasm and insincerity, and in various mic battles with Rocky and Austin. 

It's a shame that Hogan couldn't have been involved in more great moments, but that's where that creative control clause comes in again. When new stars couldn't be made unless Hogan approved, he robbed himself of potential monumental moments with the likes of Chris Jericho, Eddie Guerrero, Booker T and Chris Benoit. It's a failing on his part and a massive dent in what could've been an even more illustrious run.

We can't leave this segment without discussing the 'Finger Poke Of Doom' either. A big money feud between Hulk's black and white nWo and Kevin Nash's Wolfpac was scuppered in one of the most ill-advised creative decisions ever. Not only did it make a mockery of the prestige of being WCW Champ, and therefore the prize that every star in the company was supposed to covet, it killed a money-spinning feud between Hollywood and 'Big Sexy's' warring factions.

A cynical person might suggest that this was because Nash was more over at the time, and therefore it would have made Hogan's popularity look lesser, but who are we to suggest such a thing?

8/10