8 Sharpest Hustlers In Wrestling
5. Hulk Hogan
If the Honky Tonk Man is an excellent representation of the conniving backstage manipulator stereotype in wrestling, then Terry 'Hulk Hogan' Bollea is something else entirely. The consummate wrestling politician and string-puller, Bollea is an expert at making others look bad in order to get himself over. Like Farris, he's a genius at exploiting his connection with the crowd, however, the majority of his career has seen him do so as a top level babyface, rather than a mid-card heel.
The Ultimate Warrior, Sting, the Rock the list of wrestlers that Hogan has stepped on to remain on top reads like a whos who of top guys. He stole the spotlight from Warrior after losing the WWF Championship to him at WrestleMania VI. The finish to his huge match with Sting at Starrcade 1997 was mysteriously botched, and the challenger made to look like a fool despite winning the WCW Championship. No title was on the line when he faced The Rock but, despite being the heel, Hogan played babyface in the match itself, and actual babyface The Rock was heavily booed as a result.
At his best (or worst, depending on your point of view), Hogan could bury someone while appearing to praise them. It's a gift, and Hogan's instinct for protecting himself and his character, together with his almost unparalleled ability to connect with his audience, ensured that he stayed on top during two boom periods for North American wrestling. Form WWF Tag Team Champion The Dynamite Kid, of all people, summed it up best:
A great man always laughed, grinned, shook your hand. But he was only in it for himself. He'd have a laugh and share a coffee with you, but when that building sold out, he didn't give a sh*te if you were paid 50 pence, so long as he got $50,000. Dont get me wrong: I like Hulk Hogan very much. But he was only in it for himself."
Too true, brother.