Lance Storm article on booking Hogan

[Full of IT.]

I know many of us s*** on Lance, but I frequent his site and enjoy reading his take on things...

here's how he would book Hogan:

www.stormwrestling.com/121009.html

[Lenny: Smooth like Keith Stone]

Not a bad idea from Lance.

The only problem is that I'm not sure how much of Hulk's persona actually IS an act. I think it's kind of at the point where Terry Bollea IS Hulk Hogan now. In other words I can see him at home ordering a pizza, and still saying "brother" 10 times. Then again, maybe it's just the mark in me that doesn't want to believe otherwise.

[Red Impact]

It would be different, that's for sure, and I think it could work. But as far as buzz goes, them bringing in Terry Bollea probably wouldn't draw that much to the show.

[nerdinitupagain]

Dec 13, 2009 13:59:46 GMT -5 Red Impact said:

It would be different, that's for sure, and I think it could work. But as far as buzz goes, them bringing in Terry Bollea probably wouldn't draw that much to the show.

As I read this last night.. I thought the same thing. Maybe it would be worth it to bring him in as Hogan, then eventually have him settle down into a more calm role. Then once a year or so have him Hulk back up for some reason.

[Red Impact]

Dec 13, 2009 14:01:56 GMT -5 nerdinitupagain said:

Dec 13, 2009 13:59:46 GMT -5 Red Impact said:

It would be different, that's for sure, and I think it could work. But as far as buzz goes, them bringing in Terry Bollea probably wouldn't draw that much to the show.

As I read this last night.. I thought the same thing. Maybe it would be worth it to bring him in as Hogan, then eventually have him settle down into a more calm role. Then once a year or so have him Hulk back up for some reason.

So bring in Hulk Hogan, allow him to be the Hulkster for an appearance or two, then have him be the businessman for a little bit until the PPV he gets back into the ring. I think it could work.

[The Summer of Muskrat XVII]

Well, my room mate summed it up pretty well when he saw an ad for the TNA 3 Hour MNW ReDux show:

"Hulk Hogan? Are you f***ing kidding? I hope this doesn't embarrass himself any worse then Hogan Knows Best did."

And honestly, the more I thought about it the more I shared his opinion. It may give TNA a short term boost, but for some reason I don't see it giving them any credibility or long term gains.


That being said, Storm's idea could work, but I'm still not huge on it

[SHAKEMASTER TV9 is Don Knotts]

Hogan should copy Billy Graham one more time and be Karate Master Hogan.

[capnsteve]

Dec 13, 2009 13:39:13 GMT -5 Lenny: Smooth like Keith Stone said:

The only problem is that I'm not sure how much of Hulk's persona actually IS an act.

That's similar to what I was thinking when I read it. What is Hulk Hogan's gimmick? He doesn't do the "take your vitamins" role model thing anymore, does he? So I guess it's just the fact that he likes two certain colors and has an odd way of talking.

[Deleted]

I could see him doing something similar to his stint as "Terry Bollea" during the New Blood angle in the dying days of WCW. That was pretty entertaining, with him busting out power bombs and choke slams and being a lunatic.

[hajimenoippo]

Hulk Hogan should hire Lance Storm

[Big L]

I agree that's a good idea hogan should try that

[nerdinitupagain]

Dec 13, 2009 20:23:05 GMT -5 hajimenoippo said:

Hulk Hogan should hire Lance Storm

Bahahahhahaha... Hogan doing an interview all Hulk'd out.. and you just hear Lance going "ahem.. Terry, what have we talked about. We're going to present a more serious image", "But Brother I'm in the zone... we got"

Make it happen!

[donners]

Does anyone even remember the Steve Borden run? That didn't work at all.

[Lancers]

Dec 13, 2009 13:39:13 GMT -5 Lenny: Smooth like Keith Stone said:

Not a bad idea from Lance.

The only problem is that I'm not sure how much of Hulk's persona actually IS an act. I think it's kind of at the point where Terry Bollea IS Hulk Hogan now. In other words I can see him at home ordering a pizza, and still saying "brother" 10 times. Then again, maybe it's just the mark in me that doesn't want to believe otherwise.

Operator: "Domino's Pizza. This is Kate. What would you like this evening?"

Hogan: "LEMME TELL YOU SOMETHING MEAN GENE! HULKAMANIA IS STARVING BROTHER! I'VE BEEN SAYING MY PRAYERS AND TAKING MY VITAMINS ALL DAY AND NOW THE HULKSTER IS LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO DESTROY THIS APPETITE ONCE AND FOR ALL!"

Operator: "Who's Gene?"

[nerdinitupagain]

Just thinking though, when Hogan is even just caught on like a camera not being Hulk.. he says brother a lot. I think it's just something that's ingrained into Terry Bollea now after some near 30 years doing it.

[Lionheart]

You know, it's possible that it's actually a Terry Bollea mannerism that he just incorporated into the character.

[Bram wants to 'urt you]

Here's my two cents.

Hogan arrives at TNA, "to run the company", in a smart suit and tie, carrying a briefcase, possibly even with a "lawyer/analyst" in tow.

All the way down the line, he presents himself in a professional, businesslike capacity, with little indication of him being the Hulkster character that everyone knows and is expecting.

All backstage segments involving him revolve around him being focussed on the "product" and having little or no inclination to behave the way that people expect him to. He always has an open door, allowing other, active, wrestlers the chance to interact with him.

Use the Guns, simply because Shelley would be able to play the role of restless Hogan fan from his youth, getting more and more po'd that the old, respectable businessman in the office isn't the giant cartoon character that he ought to be.

Keep hinting at a Hogan rebirth over a period of months, without actually having it happen.

Then one day have Hogan run down to the ring (in full business attire), to make the save. DON'T immediately follow this up with Hogan's re-emergence at the next PPV. Simply put things back on a slow boil and repeat this a couple of times over the next few months.

Build it up until it reaches the point that Hogan getting back in the ring proper is a really big deal.

Then put him in the ring with a younger guy (Shelley or Sabin springs to mind again). Let them do a rework of the Hogan/Michaels match, except whereas Shawn's flippity flopping was simply a way at having a poke at Hogan, a younger wrestler could play more off the "Jeez, how do I make this guy GO DOWN??" angle.

Whether Hogan wins or loses is largely immaterial (although him losing would be a nice "passing the torch" moment), what matters is that you've taken Hogan and used him to get people wanting to see him wrestle again and wanting to see him go up against TNA's younger stars.


That's how I'd do it anyway

[dsriggs]

Dec 14, 2009 7:11:53 GMT -5 Bram wants to 'urt you said:

Then put him in the ring with a younger guy (Shelley or Sabin springs to mind again). Let them do a rework of the Hogan/Michaels match, except whereas Shawn's flippity flopping was simply a way at having a poke at Hogan, a younger wrestler could play more off the "Jeez, how do I make this guy GO DOWN??" angle.

Whether Hogan wins or loses is largely immaterial

Could we not have Hogan burying the MCMG please??

["Nature Boy" Ric Moranis]

IMO, Lance Storm couldn't be more wrong about this. If Hogan shows up and is anything less than the yellow/red wearing, "brother, brother, brother, watcha gonna do..." raving Hulkster, he's gonna look like he's not excited to be in TNA, and make TNA come off second rate.

Never been a huge Hogan fan, but I'd be disappointed if he showed up as Terry Bollea. And so would a lot of people. And TNA would've wasted alot of money on advertising a product (The Hulkster, brother) that it didn't deliver.

The only way for TNA to get a rub from Hogan is if the Babe Ruth of Wrestling shows up and puts over the company as the youngest, high-flying, action packed wrestling product on TV. The legend endorsing that company as "the future". Dressed in yellow and red, saying corny stuff like "Our champion AJ Styles is phenomenal, brother. The Hulkster's never seen anything like him, and I know Vince hasn't, dude!"

It's funny that Boring Lance Storm wants to see a Boring Hogan.

[Mr. Backlund]

The problem with Hogan is that the brand image is severely damaged to a mainstream audience. Obviously there's a built-in fanbase, but I question how big that even is anymore.

The "real life" Hulk is best known currently for having a son who permanently injured a soldier in a car accident, who he went on to declare got what was coming to him and then made another "big splash" in the mainstream media when he revealed his contemplations over committing suicide. Ontop of that, there was the whole reality show bit which went over like a led balloon and painted him and the family in a bad light.

The "character" Hulk was last seen getting modest pops in the WWE and struggling in the ring. He can still talk, no doubt about that, but what new does he have to say? Even the "One More Time!" angle doesn't work, as he just had a tour where he was wrestling and hasn't been out of the spotlight for that long.

I just don't get where you really go with Hogan in TNA. Name recognition is fine and dandy, but they've been down this road with guys who have a recognizable name AND who can actually work, which should mean a lot to the audiences that they should be trying to appeal to.

If people tune in the first night and watch him cheerlead the current talent and regurgitate the same spiel, what makes them tune in next week?