10 Promos That Totally Changed Your Opinion Of A Wrestler

8. Hulk Hogan Forms The New World Order

I Don T Sleep
WWE.com

Before the promo:

Hulk Hogan was the ultimate babyface. He was synonymous with the role to his detriment. Core WCW fans hated the man who pulled in the numbers - Goldberg's current run is the modern analogue - but his drawing clout, public image, Hollywood career and endorsements made a turn feel untenable. His fans could never let go of his mythology as a real hero, whereas those who despised him did so with such vehemence because, as the ultimate babyface, he was never going to change. The grim, stale inevitability of the Hogan act strengthened their resolve. It wasn't just the same old sh*t; it was "Fed" sh*t they didn't like in the first place, sh*t they hadn't even tired of, and sh*t that wouldn't flush.

After the promo:

In a stunning, unforgettable, seminal promo, Hulk Hogan turned on WCW at Bash At The Beach 1996. The best - the most fantastically inspired line in a promo full of them - was "I'm bored, brother". What a marvellous subversion of his perception this was. It pinpointed and sliced through both sets of fans; his own, for not caring, a betrayal of his über-earnest Hulkamania schtick, and his enemies.

This one line tempered any in-the-know relief behind the narrative development: how f*cking dare he admit that he'd been phoning it in.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!