How Good Was Hulk Hogan Actually?

The Hulkster had superb rivalries during all 3 of his stints in WWE. If Hogan could be relied on for anything, it’s that he’s in the business of making himself the star of the show. His politicking may have plagued many rivalries over the years, but when he and McMahon were on the same page, they created feuds that printed money for them both.

Andre The Giant is perhaps the most high-profile opponent that Hulk faced in the 1980s, but it’s with Randy Savage that he told the decade’s best story. The Mega Powers team of Hogan and 'Macho Man' dominated the WWE landscape after Savage captured the title at WrestleMania IV, but things would eventually turn sour due to Savage’s jealousy over his so-called friend's actions towards Miss. Elizabeth. It made for a timeless story of love and betrayal that ended in their match at 'Mania V.

The Ultimate Warrior was the only superstar to compete with Hogan’s level of popularity during his most successful years, and their promos against one another on the road to Mania VI were electric. The match may not be an in-ring classic, but the 'Showcase Of The Immortals' has rarely had a main event that felt as significant as 'The Ultimate Challenge'.

His over-the-top patriotism against Sgt. Slaughter leading into 'Mania VII struggled to sell tickets and PPVs, and his final hurrah with Yokozuna was a flat farewell, but Hogan’s rivalries with Roddy Piper, Ted Dibiase and an underrated run with Earthquake all helped ensure that Hulkamania ran wild throughout the 80s and early 90s.

However, the streets will never forgive Vince for not moving the heavens to book Hogan and Ric Flair at the peak of their powers for WrestleMania VIII. Flair and Hogan feuded in WCW, but the moment had passed for this rivalry. The red and yellow era for Ted Turner had little in the way of significant rivalries, due to the Hulkster constantly crushing his rivals, and it took turning him to the dark side for Hogan to rule again.

Hogan’s second run as a lead babyface in the WWE across 2002 and 2003 is too often overlooked. Hollywood Hogan and The Rock’s magic on the road to WrestleMania X8 (and at the event itself) are well documented, but when they switched roles for No Way Out 2003, they had another great build and match; Rock was on the run of a lifetime as a heel, playing up his movie star lifestyle. He spat in babyface Hulk's face in the build to this bout, and mocked him mercilessly to great effect.

Even with Hogan’s limited ring skills deteriorating, his ability to get people behind him was impenetrable during his 'Mania XIX feud with McMahon. Drawing on their history, Vince would chastise Hulk for his part in the steroid trials of the early 90s, for signing with WCW, and he claimed that Hulkamania would never have happened if it weren’t for him. Hogan insisted the people built his legacy, and their street fight (including a wonderful cameo from Roddy Piper) is far, far better than it had any right to be.

The best feud for Hogan’s many haters came in his final WWE run, when Shawn Michaels produced some of the best heel work of his whole career to tear the Hulkster to shreds in 2005. The two WWE legends would team together for a week or two, with Shawn joining Hogan for hugs, celebrations, and his traditional series of post-match flexing. When HBK hit Hogan with a superkick during his routine after a tag team victory over Kurt Angle and Carlito on Raw, nobody saw it coming.

Michaels was part of the generation that was treated as Hogan’s supporting cast when he was making his name in The Rockers and as a solo act, and the animosity and disdain that he showed for Hulk in the weeks running up to SummerSlam felt real. This boiled over into their match, which saw Shawn over-sell all of Hogan’s offence to make an absolute mockery of the Hulkster’s power. It is a matter of taste as to whether you loved HBK's antics or loathed them, but the pair’s month-long feud is as good as anything during Hogan’s glory period.

8/10