25 Things You Learn Binge Watching Every WWE Ruthless Aggression PPV
9. Hogan/Rock Should’ve Been A One Off
Yes, ‘Once In A Lifetime’.
The Rock vs. Hollywood Hogan is often held up as one of the finest WWE spectacles ever. Technically, it was basic, but screw that - not every match needs to have countless highspots or one million examples of no selling DDTs and Destroyers to be great. Together, Rock and Hogan proved that the sports entertainment magic is powerful.
Their rematch at No Way Out 2003 wasn’t a patch on the ‘Mania X8 original, right enough. Heel Rock could be fun, but something was missing from the presentation and build up for this sequel. It felt a little phoned in, and like Rocky wasn’t really all in on WWE at the time. Plus, the funky heel ref stuff with Sylvain Grenier fell a tad flat as well.
Many point to Hulk's match with Shawn Michaels at SummerSlam 2005 and wonder what could've been had they worked the 3 bout series they were supposed to before egos got in the way, but it might be a good thing they didn't. By having just one solitary match, their clash feels special. Things would've been the same for Hogan and Rock.
WWE obviously fancied cashing in on some sweet, sweet dollars, and they needed something big time to make NWO 2003 necessary, but it didn't come close to 2002's classic. If you're showing a newbie fan one match from Rock's latter day run, then make it WrestleMania X8. If they ask if Rocky and Hogan tussled again, then lie and say no.