If Kerry Von Erich Had Gotten Hulk Hogan's Spot?

[KAMALARAMBO: BOOMSHAKALAKA!!!]

This is something I just was reminded of in a thread about THE guy in WWE current. I've heard this before that Kerry Von Erich was among those considered to be pushed in the Hulk Hogan role if WWF could not get Hogan from the AWA. So how would this have went? Could it have destroyed wrestling as we know it? The reason I'm thinking this last point is because of all the damage the steroid scandal of the early 1990s caused. Since Von Erich had a much worse problem with substance abuse than Hogan I'm wondering if that would just magnify the problems. Also, since Kerry eventually killed himself I'm wondering if the pressures of being a Hulk Hogan may have driven him to it sooner. Likewise, WCCW wasn't even a national promotion really, but got a ton of press with the Von Erichs deaths as it was. I'm thinking with Kerry in that role that press would be even greater.

[Deleted]

Kerry was a very charismatic guy with a great look, but he brought too much baggage with him. Had he been pushed in the Hogan role, I think that push would have ended much sooner. First, because of the baggage. Second, because he didn't have enough of the X factor to make it work like Hogan did. Other than MAYBE Austin and the Rock in their prime, no one had it like Hogan did between about '82 and '87. He burned so brightly during those years that it allowed him to coast on the fumes for several years after that before he really started losing momentum. Kerry never had that.

[Crappler El 0 M]

He might have had some success, but it would not have worked as well as with Hogan. Kerry had a natural charisma about him, but it wasn't the same as Hogan's. Hogan was leaps and bounds better at giving promos. Perhaps Kerry getting a big push in WWF around 1984 would have caused a butterfly effect that means Kerry never lost his foot, might not have taken as many drugs, and perhaps doesn't kill himself.

You have to consider this too: If Kerry Von Erich is not clicking after a few months, Vince could still have brought in Hulk Hogan. There's nothing stopping Vince from quickly trying a 'course correction.' Hogan was blowing up in AWA following his supporting role in Rocky III which was a huge hit. Vince still would have wanted him. Kerry getting the spot could have just delayed Hogan getting the spot by a few months or a year. Maybe Kerry stays in WWF and is positioned on the card around the level of Steamboat, Roberts, Orndorff, Savage.

[Mozenrath]

Hogan was just a better talent, and a lot of the "maybe pile" guys out there like Kerry, Snuka, Tom Magee, and others that have been suggested as possible guys that Vince could have gone with or would have considered just weren't the whole package like he was, either having the look and less skill, or having the skill and less of a bankable look. Beyond that, Hogan was probably by far the most charismatic out of that group.

[Deleted]

Hasn't it been said that Orndorff's popularity was taking off at the same time that Hogan's? Mr. #1derful had at least as much talent and charisma as Kerry, but he was completely eclipsed by Hulkamania.

[jmule]

Also, Hogan was first brought in and made a star by feuding with Andre...how would a von erich/andre fued play out?

[OVO 40 hunched over like he 80]

Everyone has claimed that they were supposed to be Vince's hand picked guy, from Dusty (lol yeah right) to Dr D, and so forth.
Yeah Kerry was charismatic enough, but he didn't had Hulk's work ethic, he claimed to have worked for "500 days" in a year, which ok was another one of Hulk's exaggerations, but he wasn't that far off, he had to wrestle every day on several cities, tv tapings and house shows, all the travel, the appearances to promote the WWF, his make a wish commitments, going to the gym, never having an scandal, negotiating his contract.
With all due respect, Kerry couldn't do all of that because he was impaired most of the time, he barely managed it by working in a regional territory, because his dad enabled and cater to him, but in the WWF when he went there for a cup of cofee, he cracked. There's a famous story that Mean Gene told, he was with Kerry in an italian restaurant talking to executives from a toy company, Kerry went to take the pasta with his fork, and he went to take it into his mouth, it never went there spilling on his white suit, and that Kerry looked drowsy, Gene implied that Kerry was f***ed up.

Also consider this, we make fun of Jeff Hardy for performing on a WORLD TITLE MATCH while being f***ed up, Kerry also did it according to Flair, ok Flair lies, but this time a newspaper claimed that Kerry wrestled while having a flu, I don't buy that, his brother once passed out on the ring too.

What if Kerry would've wrestle with Mr T vs Piper and Orndorff in Wrestelmania while being under the influence? Kerry couldn't carry the company if Vince gave him the chance the whole company would be under and we would all be watching Crockett or something else.

[Kevin Hamilton]

Kerry Von Erich was no Hulk Hogan.

He had some charisma to him, and a great look; but Hogan outclassed him in every possible way outside of MAYBE in-ring skill, which is honestly the least important factor to getting over.

[Reflecto]

In addition to those problems, one other big, underrated issue for it (and an issue most of the alleged "chosen ones" had) was Q rating. One of the big reasons WWF could go national was having a larger than life, recognizable mainstream star- not just a big name wrestler. When WWF went national, Hulk Hogan (as "the guy from Rocky III") HAD a good Q rating- and Kerry Von Erich (and Dusty, Dr. D, etc.) never did. That could make them a good number two guy on the verge of going national, but not THE GUY for Vince to make the franchise player and face of WWF. Quite frankly, in 1983, unless he went with a heel champ in Piper (not a good move nationally), the only hope to steal from the territories Vince could have had to get that all-important Q rating would have been to steal Jerry Lawler from Memphis due to the feud with Andy Kaufman, not by getting Kerry.

[TGM]

Kerry was good but not 1/10th the wrestler Hulk Hogan was.

I say that as somebody that dislikes Hogan a lot.

[Johnny B. Decent]

Sept 15, 2014 12:49:47 GMT -5 Kevin Hamilton said:

Kerry Von Erich was no Hulk Hogan.

He had some charisma to him, and a great look; but Hogan outclassed him in every possible way outside of MAYBE in-ring skill, which is honestly the least important factor to getting over.

"Some" charisma? He may not have been quite as high as Hogan, but World Class crowds loved the shit out of him, especially the ladies.

[Kevin Hamilton]

Right. Some charisma, but not Hogan levels.

And of course WCCW loved him, Fritz booked his boys like gods there.

[Deleted]

Kerry was charismatic. There's no argument there.

Hogan was larger than life. He was a living action figure/comic book character. He popped off the screen like no one else before or after. I'm not a Hogan fan, but there's no arguing that NO ONE could have done what Hogan did except for Hogan. He was the right man in the right place at the right time to make the boom happen.

[DjZonk]

Kerry was great in World Class, no doubt. But he was no Hulk Hogan, as hard as people may try and push this idea for the sake of a debate.

[OVO 40 hunched over like he 80]

Sept 15, 2014 13:58:31 GMT -5 Kevin Hamilton said:

Right. Some charisma, but not Hogan levels.

And of course WCCW loved him, Fritz booked his boys like gods there.

Yeah, on the Honky Tonk Man shoot he did with Raven (awesome buy the way), he said that everybody that went to WCCW could expect 2 things, getting paid 500 or less a week, and losing to the claw.

The crowd believed so much in the Von Erichs that they didn't care, until Mike started wrestling...

[Deleted]

Kerry would have burned out a lot faster than he eventually did. Hogan was the absolute right choice at the absolute right time. As much as people try to take away from his legacy these days Hogan was a once in a generation talent. Dude could do it all and his charisma was off of the charts.

[KAMALARAMBO: BOOMSHAKALAKA!!!]

Sept 15, 2014 12:49:47 GMT -5 Kevin Hamilton said:

Kerry Von Erich was no Hulk Hogan.

He had some charisma to him, and a great look; but Hogan outclassed him in every possible way outside of MAYBE in-ring skill, which is honestly the least important factor to getting over.

This post made baby Bret Hart cry. 4/10.

[lildude8218]

his bald spot?

[Deleted]

Sept 15, 2014 19:05:19 GMT -5 lildude8218 said:

his bald spot?

Bald Kerry Von Erich is a hilarious prospect.

[KAMALARAMBO: BOOMSHAKALAKA!!!]

Sept 15, 2014 19:05:19 GMT -5 lildude8218 said:

his bald spot?

Not a liver spot, not my dog Spot, but Hogan's bald spot!