Without Hulk Hogan, WCW would not have had enough ammunition to start a Monday Night War with Vince McMahon and WWE. The is an indisputable fact. Hogan was the biggest star in professional wrestling. He brought more eyes to the product than any other star on the roster. He was Eric Bischoff's WMD when it came to putting WWE and Vince McMahon out of business. Ric Flair, Sting, Arn Anderson and the rest of the top stars in WCW prior to the Hulkster's arrival had all been involved in some outstanding matches and moments but none were able to provide adequate competition to the McMahon-owned wrestling company. It was Hogan who understood marketing, understood what it took to make a star and was in a position to make the next big star when the time came and Bischoff understood that. His heel turn in 1996 single-handedly led WCW to heights it had never imagined possible. Fans wanted to see what the new Hogan was like, what would unfold when he and the nWo invaded Nitro every Monday night and who would finally step up to the plate to shut up the egotistical star. But no matter how many times he was beaten or battered, Hogan always came back and was always in the championship mix. As integral and vital to the success of Nitro as he was, Hogan was also a major part of the downfall of the company. His ego and selfishness, his unwillingness to step aside and let the next generation of stars run wild stunted the growth of the promotion and put them behind in the war with WWE. While McMahon enjoyed tremendous success with young stars like Steve Austin, The Rock, Mankind and Kane, WCW limped along with repetitive matches between guys whose best days were far behind them. Hogan, as much as anyone, deserved credit for the rise of the company and blame for its rapid descent.
Erik Beaston is a freelance pro wrestling writer who likes long walks in the park, dandelions and has not quite figured out that this introduction is not for Match.com. He resides in Parts Unknown, where he hosts weekly cookouts with Kane, The Ultimate Warrior, Papa Shango and The Boogeyman. Be jealous.
