Recap of Hogan on Unscripted, WWF TV previews, Hardyz, and more Submitted by William Martinez on Thursday, December 20, 2001 at 5:41 PM EST
Reportedly, Jamie Knoble's injury was actually an elaborate work on the part of the HWA. However, the company was saying that he suffered a "minor stinger" despite the reports stating otherwise. Even the WWF believed that he was legitametly hurt until they learned the truth late yesterday.
As Calvin reported earlier, the Hardy Boyz are possibly in the WWF doghouse for a number of reasons such as the style of their Vengeance match and the fact that Jeff has been showing up late at several WWF events lately. Apparently, Jeff is pretty rundown from the schedule the Hardyz have kept over the past few years and could use a break to "recharge his batteries". Matt is attempting to deflect some of the heat towards his brother but it is realized that Jeff is the one with most of the problems. The upcoming break for all WWF wrestlers could be just what Jeff needed.
Despite not being used on television this week, Trish Stratus was at both Raw and Smackdown this week. However, there is no heat between her and WWF management.
Hulk Hogan was on ESPN's Unscripted today, here is my recap: The show opens up with Hogan stepping out of a limo. Chris Connelly is the host, they show a video package of Hulk from his WCW days, Chris introduces the Hulkster who's dressed in all black. Hogan said he's doing great and being the greatest father in the world to his 11 year old son and 13 year old daughter. His son wants to be a wrestler when he grows up. Chris talks to him about Hulk as a little league baseball player, he says he was a fat kid. Hogan talks about the XWF and him wrestling there recently for fun. Hogan says it's about time some of the big guns come back and show the kids how it's done.
Hogan says wrestling is in his blood. Chris asks about the WCW sale, Hulk says he hasn't wrestled there in a year and a half. Chris talks about Hulk turning heel and how weird it was, Hulk talks about the nWo bringing the ratings up. Chris says the WWF's ratings have been low recently and asked if they need the Hulkster. Hogan was watching when Flair came back and was excited at thge reaction he got. Hogan's son wants him to go back to the WWF. They show a clip of Hulk in one of the '3 Ninjas' movies and go to commercial.
Back from commercial. They show all the names Hulk has used in his carrer. Hogan says 'Thunderlips' was his favorite name, he talks about being in one of the Rocky movies and how huge it was. Chris asks Hulk whats wrong with wrestling today, Hulk says they need him back. He says Triple H is so solid and one of his favorites in the sport today, he also talkes about The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin being his favorites. He talks about being on the road 300 days a year and when you get injured you just keep going, he uses Triple H's recent injury as an example. Chris says Hogan was critial to younger WCW wrestlers not working threw injurys and hurting the buisness. He puts Triple H over more for working threw them.
Chris asks about Karl Malone (Utah Jazz) being a wrestler, Hogan says he's incredibly strong. He says Dennis Rodman was also strong even though he never trained to wrestle. Chris asks about Bill Goldberg, Hogan says on a personal level he's a good freind, he talks about Bill getting injured a lot and his Time Warner contract is the reason he's not wrestling. They go to commercial.
Back from commercial. They show a clip from 'Mr. Nanny' when they return. Hulk said he's got a lot of film scripts offered to him, he's bodyslammed wrestling, but never bodyslammed Hollywood they way he wanted. He said after September 11th he's gotten a lot of good guy action movie scripts. Chris asks him why he left the WWF and the steriod scandle, Hogan said it was more than wrestling and the whole sports world was using and he's glad that black cloud is gone. Chris asks if he's mad at Vince, Hogan says no and kisses Vince's ass. He said wether it's Stone Cold, The Rock, Hulk Hogan, if it wasn't for Vince they wouldn't be where they are today. Chris asks if he had creative control, Hulk said he would suggest things, but Vince had the final say, he did have creative control in WCW though. They take another commercial break.
Back from commercial. They take a few emailed questions from ESPN.com.
"What would guarrentee a return of Hulk Hogan in the WWF?" A shot at Vince McMahon one on one in the ring.
"What was the greatest match you've ever wrestled?" WrestleMania III with Andre the Giant.
"Which current pro athlete would you pick as a tag team partner?" He picked Bill Goldberg.
Chris asks if he'd run for office like Jesse Ventura, Hogan goes in to charachter about beating Jesse. That's the end of the show.
Thanks also to Kevin Lowery for sending in a recap.
From BodybyJoanie.com: The holidays are upon us! I want to take this opportunity to wish each and every one of you a wonderful holiday season. This is a time of year for people of all faiths to join together in cherishing family and friends, and I hope that you will do the same. After a difficult year marked by tragedy in New York, Pennsylvania, and Washington, the holidays are a welcome arrival and diversion from the ongoing war overseas. At the same, I want to personally thank every serviceman and woman in the U.S. Armed Forces for risking their lives every day to defend our country and our freedom. My thoughts are with you this holiday season. As I give thanks for my good fortune, I also give thanks for you and the job you are doing protecting me and my loved ones - and all free people the world over. THANK YOU!
Happy Holidays to all! I hope to see you soon during one of my appearances. Check my appearance schedule for dates and locations!
Love, Joanie
From Yahoo! TV:
Excess TNN Dec 22 10:00pm Series/Sports, 60 Mins. Special guest star Tazz.
Excess Late Night TNN Dec 22 11:00pm Series/Sports, 60 Mins. Y2J survives as WWF Champion.
Jakked Dec 23 Series/Sports, 60 Mins. Episode #260. Who will join the WWF Royal Rumble?
Sunday Night Heat MTV Dec 23 07:00pm Series/Sports, 60 Mins. Tough Enough's Al Snow; from WWF NY.
RAW TNN Dec 24 09:00pm Series/Sports, 125 Mins. Live event action from Miami; the Rock and Stone Cold.
Thanks to Craig Edelman for sending this report in!
On Thursday, December 20th, Hulk Hogan appeared on ESPN's Unscripted with Chris Connelly. After discussing Hogan's family for a minute, Connelly went right in with the questioning about Hogan's wrestling career. He mentioned how this past weekend he wrestled off air for about 30 minutes with the XWF. Hogan then went into the deal with WCW, and how he didn't like the company at the end because of the new staff, and how they made wrestling like "the Jerry Springer Show." Connelly then brought up the idea of Hulk Hogan wrestling again for the WWF. Hogan mentioned how he saw Flair appear, and said that the response from the crowd made him think, and that he might let a money war occur if both companies want him. Hogan then stated that Vince McMahon basically made his career, and has to thank him for giving him the chance and letting him run with i! t. The show went to commercial, and then came back with the list of names that Hogan wrestled under. Connelly then asked Hogan who his favorite wrestler was now, and he mentioned Triple H first, and how he worked through his torn quad injury vs. Jericho, and how amazing that was. He then also mentioned The Rock and Stone Cold. Hogan than continued to mention past wrestlers, such as Andre the Giant, and how they used to love the business and work through all sorts of injuries no matter what. They then mentioned Karl Malone, and Hogan admitted that Malone was a good wrestler, and could be a wrestler if he wanted to be, and that Dennis Rodman was basically junk to work with in the ring. Connelly then brought up Goldberg, and what was going on with him. Hogan said that on a personal level he is good friends with Goldberg, and that he was at the top of the game, and just injuries, such as the window-breaking with the limo window, were jus! t things that hampered him, and the legal problems are keeping him out of the ring now. The show then went to commercial again. They came back with a clip from one of Hogan's bad movies (they showed clips from the Mountain one earlier in the show). Connelly asked Hogan about more movies for him. Hogan has been getting more scripts about hero roles after September 11th. Hogan was then asked by Connelly if he left the WWF because of the steroid controversy. Hogan admits he was pointed at, and is happy that its now behind him. He is then asked if was mad at Vince McMahon about everything what happened. Hogan said no, and that he admires McMahon for how he handled the situation and staying strong. Connelly asks Hogan if McMahon was fair with Hogan considering how much money Hogan made for him, and Hogan responded with a yes, as that "it takes two to tango." He continued that a few years ago, he didn't know, but now he d! oes, and that he's not sucking up, but this is the truth. Connelly then mentions how Hulk Hogan had full creative control over his character in the WWF, and he says yes, and how it worked well with him and McMahon. They go to break again, as Hogan will be questioned by the public when they get back. They ask, "What would guarantee your return to the WWF." He responds, to wrestle Vince McMahon in the ring. He got the Pontiac Silverdome to fill its capacity to 94,000 to slam Andre the Giant, and that he would overflow it, if him and Vince got to settle their score. The next question is, "What was the greatest match of your career?" He says Wrestlemania III, with 94,000 vs. Andre the Giant to get him up. The last question is, "Which current pro athlete would you pick as your tag team partner?" Hogan responds with Bill Goldberg, as that he trusts Goldberg, and knows Goldberg would have his back. They bring up Jesse Vent! ura in politics, and if Hogan will follow in his footsteps. Hogan mocks Ventura, and says that he could beat Ventura at anything and does his "What you gonna do Ventura when Hulk Hogan beat you!" And that's how the show ends.
Finally, as an interesting side note, they only showed clips of Hogan's wrestling career from the WCW (including when he was in yellow with Jimmy Heart, during some of his earlier appearances, when he was in black with the giant wrestling Lex Luger, and with him strutting around as Hollywood Hulk Hogan).
