Breaking The Walls Down: I Don't Know What To Say Submitted by Chris Dailey on Tuesday, March 19, 2002 at 3:00 PM EST
Breaking The Walls Down
Hello all and welcome back to this post-Wrestlemania column. I'm surprised, I'm shocked, and I am almost speechless, but we'll get onto that in a bit. But for now, onto Bits and Pieces.
Bits and Pieces
What is the status of Hayabusa? One of my friends brought this up during Wrestlemania, and he makes a good point. Has anyone heard anything about how he is doing?
I will say that Flair and The Undertaker put on one HECK of a match. I was so surprised to see these two go at it for so long and for such a good match. I didn't think The Undertaker had it in him, while I knew Flair did, I just didn't know if Flair kept himself in shape to do it. Excellent match.
I'm chopping at the bit to see guys like Randy Orton, Brock Lesnar, The Prototype, Rico Constantino, and The Leviathin in the WWF. I'm really hoping that this split that is supposed to occur will really let these new guys shine. (Please note I fell asleep right before the debut of Lesnar which has me TICKED OFF).
Props to RVD for his win at Wrestlemania. I'm hoping now we can see some good matches for that title. Perhaps maybe we'll see some excellent matches pitting RVD against competitors like Lance Storm, a returning Chris Benoit, Edge, etc. Hopefully these matches will bring some prestige back to the IC Title.
Does anyone care about The Hardcore Title or The European Title? I didn't think so.
And now onto the column.
I Don't Know What To Say
He's over. And, he's not just over, he's insanely over. Could it be that Canada hasn't really seen him in years? Possibly. Could it be that wrestling fans in general haven't seen him in years? Possibly. Could it be that I am totally baffled as to how he can be so over? Definitely.
Hulk Hogan made his return to Wrestlemania this past Sunday and his return to Monday Night RAW this past Monday. And, at both shows he was so over it drowned out most of the other faces' reactions. Can you imagine that? I mean this guy came in as a heel and even then he was getting cheers. I don't understand it, but I'm holding out hope for a couple of reasons.
One, it seems like Hall, Nash, and Hogan honestly want one last run in the WWF. They seem willing to do what is needed. Yes, we have heard about Hall's initial problems, and we've heard about Nash complaining about dates, but these are mild compared to what they used to do. Hogan looks to be in excellent shape considering his age and it's a wonder how he's gotten that way. I would think steroids would be the furthest thing from his mind for numerous reasons. Now throw in the fact Superstar Billy Gram's (sp?) life hangs in the balance and the fact that Hogan is almost 50. True, Hogan has had well over a year to hit the gym and rest his body, so I hope what we see on television is a representation of what rest and gym work can do for you.
Second, Hogan jobbed cleanly to The Rock. Yes, Hogan beat The Rock on RAW with the big boot/leg drop combo and yes Hogan did have many surprise attacks on The Rock, but in the past Hogan would have still won. This wasn't like the Wrestlemania VI finish where Hogan kicked out right after the ref's hand hit the mat for the three. Hogan was laid out and didn't even kick out. It was most impressive, as neither myself nor my friends expected that from him.
Third, Hogan wrestled, well as good as Hogan can wrestle. I was shocked. I mentioned during the PPV that I bet Steve Borden (a.k.a. Sting) probably wished Hogan had done that at Starcade 97 for him. Hogan worked the match well, as did The Rock. I was very surprised to see Hogan keep up with The Rock and throughout the entire match, I can only remember one semi-botched spot.
However, now the real test begins. What is Hogan going to be like if he is consistently over as he is? Will his ego grow out of proportion again? Will we be seeing the title belts around his waste? Will he try and take over the back again? About a year and a half ago I wrote a column bashing Hogan, but in it I admitted to being a Hulkamaniac when I was younger. However, after I went on-line and read what Hogan had been doing, I learned what he was really like. Now I find myself torn as to what side we are seeing from this man. Are we starting to see a new side of Hogan, one that isn't ego-driven, power-hungry, or talent de-push driven? Or, are we going to see the old Hogan return to form by burying guys that start to really get over?
I can't honestly say at this point. I would like to say that Hogan realizes his retirement is near and that he can't perform at the necessary level required of someone two thirds his age. I would like to say that we officially saw Hogan passing the torch to The Rock at Wrestlemania. That is what I would like to say. Maybe, just maybe Hogan deserves to go out as the champion or as the venerable Mick Foley did and put over the talent in his remaining matches.
Hogan can obviously still put on a match this was evident at Wrestlemania, heck even his last few matches in WCW weren't that bad. As long as McMahon doesn't ask Hogan to bring a table into the ring or apply a figure four leg-lock, Hogan may have what it takes to seriously compete for maybe another year. But, that is pushing it. Hogan's retirement is coming. Hogan can never erase what he did in WCW, but maybe, just maybe his actions in the WWF before he retires may help restore some of that luster to his career. History teaches us to never forget the past, but the present teaches us that we have right now and the future to learn from our past and change what we can. Hogan may be attempting to go out in an honorable action. For that we can't fault him, we can only support him. Let's just hope he doesn't become ego-driven again, because no matter how you look at it, ego-driven people are never, ever remembered as venerable. Perhaps Hogan can take a page out of Mick Foley's career and learn from a legend. You're never too old to learn anything.
