Breaking The Walls Down - Retro Isn't Always The Answer Submitted by Chris Dailey on Tuesday, August 31, 2004 at 6:40 PM EST
Breaking The Walls Down
Hello and welcome back to another edition of Breaking The Walls Down. HUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHH! Welcome back Hugh Douglas to The Philadelphia Eagles. In a rotational DE situation, I am sure he will be great. The news hasn’t been particularly stimulating, so I’ll skip on Bits and Pieces this week and head straight to the column.
Retro Isn’t Always The Answer
Hulk Hogan has been quoted as saying that he’s been thinking about starting up a wrestling promotion. This has been said in the past and it has been disregarded, but I’m not so sure that’s the case anymore. Hogan is looking around and he is hearing what the fans are saying, they are saying they want Hogan. Yes, today’s culture really enjoys yesteryear, and Hogan has his finger on the pulse of that.
But, retro isn’t always the answer. Hogan believes that he will attract the masses through such names as himself, Kevin Nash, Steve Austin, Bill Goldberg, and Sting. Excluding the first few weeks or months of fans curiosity being satisfied, the then foreseeable future will be shrouded in doubt. Attendance will fall and money from the gates will drop. Why, because many of these guys are the reason the state of wrestling is the way it is. Fans (including myself) enjoy the occasional Hogan appearance, but every week, week in and week out, will get old, real quick.
But, interestingly enough, I don’t think Hogan is doing this solely for himself. I think Hogan is really thinking of doing this on behalf of his daughter, Brooke. Brooke is starting to make her mark in the singing world and I believe (and I have no “inside” sources) Hogan thinks that if he has this promotion, he can help propel his daughter into the spotlight. I’m sure he has plans to include her somehow someway.
But, as I stated earlier, retro isn’t always the answer. The reality is professional wrestling is undergoing another developmental phase. This is a phase that I don’t know what kind of an answer there really is. The solution really evades me. I can’t sit here in my rocking chair and fabricate an answer. As a matter of fact, it’s apparent that the answer eludes Vince McMahon, too.
While I can’t sit here and fabricate an answer, I also can’t say that Vince McMahon hasn’t done anything to try and turn the trend around. Unfortunately, he hasn’t been very successful. But, what stifles me is, what make Hogan think he will be so successful? The retroness of it all? The fascination with trusted allies? Yes, I think these two reasons are what makes Hogan believe that he can single-handedly turn wrestling fans back onto wrestling. Sadly, I don’t think he could be more wrong.
I won’t disagree that the current trend is to enjoy anything retro. But, it’s going to get to a point where people begin to realize that (as a society) in order to grow, one must move forward and leave the past in the past. I’m not saying forget the past, but leave the past in the past (and take the knowledge learned from the past and keep it going into the future). This being said, it’s Hogan who has to learn this lesson.
Hogan’s best lesson is to realize that his best chance for notoriety is to work something out with the WWE. To keep his star alive, he must stay on the national stage in the WWE organization. This, in turn, will also begin to brighten his daughter’s star, as well. Then, once her career really takes off (if that is possible, I really don’t know how well she sings, but I know Hogan – as the proud father – knows she can sing) she can distance herself from the WWE a bit more. And, don’t think for a minute McMahon wouldn’t like to have her under recording contract. I’m sure he’s licking his lips in anticipation of that.
Regardless, the WWE is the place for Hogan. He believes that going retro is the answer and it is my belief that he will find out that that belief is not necessarily the case. However, by then it will be too late. Hogan will have lost millions and he will be looking at his bank account in a dejected manner wondering why he didn’t go back to the WWE. No matter what the case, it’s always best to go back to what made you successful. In that regard, I’m not being a hypocrite. Hogan could go back to the WWE and make special appearances and wrestle special matches. That is possible and eventually that might get old. But, by the time that gets old, I’m sure Hogan will want to permanently retire from active competition anyway.
