7 Times Wrestling Should Have Called An Audible
5. Hulk Hogan - WWF WrestleMania X8
It seems ridiculous to include this seminal improvisational performance on this list, but wrestling fans are nothing if not greedy.
Steve Austin exercised his prescience by refusing to work with Hogan at WrestleMania X8. He knew that he could not hide from the storm of nostalgia that was Hogan's return to the Show of Shows - nor Hogan's peerless politicking. It was an astute decision; Rock was booed out of the building when Hogan, in the opening exchanges, threw him across the ring and flexed his muscles. He wasn't wearing the red and yellow, but he might as well have been; in under a minute, he was the Real American of old. As he soaked up the cheers, he turned to the hard camera in delight. He had won them over. The camera panned back to Rock. As composed as any performer that came before him, an involuntary reflex highlighted his disdain. His right eye twitched. He had been rattled.
Hogan then mimicked Rock's just bring it appeal. The Rock called an audible and did just that, with a knowing nod, effortlessly gauging the shifting landscape and playing pseudo heel for the rest of the match. It was a masterclass of body language, improvisation and unadulterated natural talent.
At the close of the match, Kevin Nash and Scott Hall bum rushed the ring to turn on a repenting Hogan - another audible - before Rock helped him clear house. Hogan capped off his face turn by cupping his hand to his ear and working the crowd. As Hogan and Rock left the ring, Rock's "If you smell" theme played over the PA - but how much better would the moment have been, had "Real American" blared over the speakers?