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Post by Milkman Norm on Jun 4, 2023 10:47:16 GMT -5
Those of you who think Hulkamania died in 1993 must not have been watching WCW in 1995 to experience the DARK SIDE OF HULKAMANIA brother! Jokey but makes the point indirectly I've been thinking about. The Attitude Era is said to end at WM X7 because of all the changes coming to the business that came in 2001-2002. But the stars of 1998-2001 remained, at least part time until 2003-2005. Same with Hogan. He remained a featured star for a decade and a half after some of the dates listed here. But the Hulkamania period was clearly was finished in WWF.
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tirtefaa
Unicron
If you wanna know the truth, you gotta dig up Johnny Booth.
Posts: 2,971
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Post by tirtefaa on Jun 4, 2023 10:57:22 GMT -5
I really liked the Jean Pierre Lafitte matches and had no problem with how those turned out. Dumb gimmick aside Pierre was a really talented guy and I think someone they had hopes for. It's just he pissed of the Kliq and left shortly after. So those matches came off more like a main event guy having a real competitive match with an up and coming heel with potential and elevating him in the process more then "why is Bret having such a hard time with this guy". Guys like IRS and Repo Man I would agree that he maybe should've beaten more decisively. However IRS was pushed pretty well. I don't think he should've been pushed as well as he should've been and I think a lot of fans would agree but regardless he was still pushed and always had a good spot so Bret squashing him wouldn't make sense. Repo Man I have no idea since he was a joke character and he wasn't pushed either. Also the thing with Bret was he wasn't this unstoppable superhero guy like Hogan or Warrior. He was a "small" guy comparatively with the rest of the roste who relied on technique and resourcefulness to win. So him just steamrolling guys regardless if he was the champion or The Guy wouldn't make sense either. Honestly as much as I like Bret I think he was ill suited to be the top guy. He's someone that was best served as a #2 or #3 face on the roster. With him it was just a case of being in the right place at the right time as with the roster becoming depleted with all the big names leaving or getting phased out, the steroid stuff, and all the turmoil surrounding the company at the time they just wanted a "safe" option. A dependable and reliable guy who was a really good wrestler and who wasn't a roid guy and who wasn't going to cause embarrassment to the company. He at least kept things on an even kiel but while probably the best option he still wasn't a great option. I agree that Jean Pierre LeFitte was a great talent, but that gimmick was going nowhere, and didn't help anyone. As talented as someone is, if they have a bad gimmick, then it's unfortunately going to reflect upon both the talent and the person who wrestles them. But a guy who literally carries around pirate gold is not something I am ever going to take seriously. And the fact that Vince would question if he could see through his eye patch...as if that is some kind of benefit...you know, the kind of benefit that every other person had. Really dumb. And I do think Bret was a great top guy, and he proved it with guys I mentioned before. I loved the feud with Lawler, especially when Bret would just get in the ring with him, no tie up...just start beating on Lawler before he even removed his jacket. Bret didn't take anyone's nonsense, which is why I never wanted to see him in the ring going move for move with a talent that was below his status, at least when you had stupid low card heels involved. Bret being resourceful with guys like Jarrett or Bigelow, I understood. Bret taking like 12 minutes to beat Kwang? That just didn't sit well with me.
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Ben Wyatt
Crow T. Robot
Are You Gonna Go My Way?
I don't get it. At all. It's kind of a small horse, I mean what am I missing? Am I crazy?
Posts: 41,563
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Post by Ben Wyatt on Jun 5, 2023 9:24:16 GMT -5
Ya kno something that bugs the shit out of me? The revisionist history that Hogan winning the belt at WM9 was this terrible thing. Watch the show. The fans go ape shit when Hulk wins. He was still the most over dude in the company. As for the answer to the question, KOTR. The Followup was stupid. Hogan winning at WM 9 was fine in and of itself.
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thecrusherwi
El Dandy
the Financially Responsible Man
Brawl For All
Posts: 7,668
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Post by thecrusherwi on Jun 5, 2023 10:21:45 GMT -5
There are good arguments to be made for many of these, but spring 1992 feels like the right answer to me. At Wrestlemania VIII, Hogan gets changed from challenging for the title to fighting a grudge match. He's openly talking about retirement. WrestleMania VIII itself feels like a swan song. When Hogan returns in 1993, it's not like "Hulk Hogan is back!!". He returned to avenge his buddy and then falls ass backwards into the WWF Title. Then he was gone from TV for weeks leading up to the Yokozuna match. It felt like Michael Jordan with the Wizards. He was there but it wasn't the same.
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Post by Bob Schlapowitz on Jun 5, 2023 11:13:19 GMT -5
There are good arguments to be made for many of these, but spring 1992 feels like the right answer to me. At Wrestlemania VIII, Hogan gets changed from challenging for the title to fighting a grudge match. He's openly talking about retirement. WrestleMania VIII itself feels like a swan song. When Hogan returns in 1993, it's not like "Hulk Hogan is back!!". He returned to avenge his buddy and then falls ass backwards into the WWF Title. Then he was gone from TV for weeks leading up to the Yokozuna match. It felt like Michael Jordan with the Wizards. He was there but it wasn't the same. Agreed. Hulk Hogan seemed really out of place in 1993 WWF.
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Post by "Playboy" Don Douglas on Jun 5, 2023 11:33:59 GMT -5
As a die hard Hulkamaniac at the time, for me it was the end of the ‘92 Rumble and it was like flipping a switch.
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Post by 'Foretold' Joker on Jun 5, 2023 11:37:49 GMT -5
Hulkamania era came to an end when they pulled the bath plug out at WM8. His subsequent returns, title win and even initial move over into WCW was the nostalgia water running down the drain before the refresh with the NWO era.
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fw91
Patti Mayonnaise
FAN Idol All-Star: FAN Idol Season X and *Gavel* 2x Judges' Throwdown winner
Tribe has spoken for 2024 Mets
Posts: 39,189
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Post by fw91 on Jun 5, 2023 14:35:40 GMT -5
Actually I think it’s when Bret beat Flair for the title. Even after Wrestlemania 8, you had Savage and Flair who were Hulkamania era guys at the top. Once Bret one the title it felt like a new era. Wrestlemania 9 felt like an epilogue of and era that already ended. Despite remaining super over, Hulk looked out of place in 93 especially in his few appearances on RAW.
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Post by Clash, Never a Meter Maid on Jun 5, 2023 15:14:38 GMT -5
It was King Of The Ring 93 for me because I was just getting into the product around the time he was taking heat publicly for the Arsenio Hall interview. And it wasn’t that big a factor with me because even as a small kid most of the roster looked “pumped” in my eyes, Bret included.
The Hulk/Sid match felt significant in a way, but I wasn’t convinced he was going to stay away forever.
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