|
Post by polarbearpete on Oct 19, 2020 15:35:36 GMT -5
Thing is, Warrior was the no 1 draw in the company before and after his time as WWF Champion. In fiscal year 1989, the houseshows Warrior headlined pulled in larger audiences and merchandise than Hogan. This has been stated by Bruce and Warrior himself in the key decision for Vince to make WM6 happen. Afterwards, his programme with Taker was drawing bigger houses than Hogan's programme with Slaughter in 1991 on the A and B houseshow circuits. Warrior could do exceptional business when he's not the top champion and not around Hulk Hogan. Moreover WWF failed whenever they tried to make the next Hogan - in Warrior, in Luger and in extent in Diesel. If they let Warrior be Warrior and lined up intriguing feuds like in 1989 and 1991 in 1990, he would have had a much better run. I don’t think that is accurate from what I’ve seen. The Hogan houseshows almost always outdrew the non-Hogan houseshows. This was sometimes a result of the bigger buildings Hogan’s shows ran but even a direct comparison by building usually showed Hogan outdrawing other shows. See this article- indeedwrestling.blogspot.com/2013/09/hulk-hogans-drawing-power-1984-1990-by.html?m=1
|
|
|
Post by evilone on Oct 19, 2020 17:27:38 GMT -5
I'm looking for "Prichard on how to have the brownest brown nose in wrestling backstage"
|
|
|
Post by sungod2020 on Dec 10, 2020 22:53:59 GMT -5
Warrior definitely toned it down during this reign as they tried to humanise him a bit. Check out this promo ahead of his defence against DiBiase: www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5W1YoLvK3MProof that Warrior can cut a good promo when used right.
|
|
|
Post by EvenBaldobombHasAJob on Dec 11, 2020 8:12:32 GMT -5
The Hogan character was always vulnerable and would always be beat up and left for dead by heels. Earthquake sent him to the hospital, which added intrigue to the match. I don't remember one time where the Warrior seemed remotely vulnerable. Beyond that, Warrior's esoteric ramblings were never going to appeal to folks like Hulkamania and flag-waving patriotism did. I think that's the main issue right there. Under his cartoon superhero exterior, Hogan still felt like a normal human being. With Warrior, though, there was none of that. Under his cartoon superhero exterior was a cartoon superhero interior. He just wasn't capable of being relatable the way Hogan (or indeed Bret Hart) could be.
|
|
Squirrel Master
Hank Scorpio
"Then the Squirrel Master came out of left field and told me I'm his bitch!"
Posts: 6,641
|
Post by Squirrel Master on Dec 11, 2020 17:49:19 GMT -5
I think it’s pretty straightforward that while Warrior was massively over in-arena, he was still not at Hogan’s level as a draw and so Hogan’s house shows would have outdrawn Warrior’s even if it was Warrior-Earthquake headlining one and Hogan-Rude on the other. Something I was wondering about US house shows back then, I take it the main event and wrestlers attending was advertised so people knew what they were getting? So people wouldn't just go to the show because it was WWF but because of the card. During intermissions Howard Finkel would make the announcements of what next month’s card was going to be, this in and of itself was a big deal.
|
|
|
Post by Triangle Lancer on Dec 11, 2020 18:42:09 GMT -5
Something I was wondering about US house shows back then, I take it the main event and wrestlers attending was advertised so people knew what they were getting? So people wouldn't just go to the show because it was WWF but because of the card. During intermissions Howard Finkel would make the announcements of what next month’s card was going to be, this in and of itself was a big deal. This. I only attended WCW shows around this time, but when Gary Michael Cappetta would announce the main event and a handful of other matches for the next show, people would go nuts-sometimes the anticipation of the next event carried over to the garbage we still had to suffer through. So we would be excited watching PN News vs. Tex Slazenger (or whatever seemingly random match we were about to see).
|
|
Cranjis McBasketball
Crow T. Robot
Knew what the hell that thing was supposed to be
Peace Love and Nothing But
Posts: 41,902
|
Post by Cranjis McBasketball on Dec 11, 2020 19:02:34 GMT -5
Something I was wondering about US house shows back then, I take it the main event and wrestlers attending was advertised so people knew what they were getting? So people wouldn't just go to the show because it was WWF but because of the card. During intermissions Howard Finkel would make the announcements of what next month’s card was going to be, this in and of itself was a big deal. For all our shows we never got what was advertised. Whether something on TV caused a wrestler to miss, like Sunny. 14 year old me was super pissed when Sunny dropped the Smoking Guns the weekend before the show or they just decided to send a larger star to do media in a bigger town. If I have you the list of the names that came through town, it’s a wrestling dream but nothing stands out at all. Either they hadn’t broke yet (Stone Cold, Triple H) or they were passed their prime, Andre.
|
|
|
Post by Citizen Snips Has Left on Dec 12, 2020 19:13:05 GMT -5
Something I was wondering about US house shows back then, I take it the main event and wrestlers attending was advertised so people knew what they were getting? So people wouldn't just go to the show because it was WWF but because of the card. During intermissions Howard Finkel would make the announcements of what next month’s card was going to be, this in and of itself was a big deal. They used to air the Spectrum cards on PRISM and I'd always get pumped up for this part (we got that pervert Mel Phillips, not The Fink though). There would always be this epic pause before they announced Hogan's name too. "And in the main event, the mighty Hercules will take on...........HULK! HOGAN!!!!"
|
|
|
Post by Aceorton on Dec 13, 2020 15:18:23 GMT -5
I think their big mistake was not immediately having Savage as Warrior's No. 1 challenger on TV/PPV as well as the house shows. Savage vs. Warrior at SummerSlam would have been their first PPV appearance against each other and would have had serious intrigue, with Savage being the guy Hogan beat for the belt. Instead, they kept Savage spinning his wheels with Dusty when it wasn't helping either guy.
It also would have made way more sense later in the year when Savage/Sherri were demanding another title shot and Warrior was like, F-you, you've had your chance. Not having attended a Warrior-Savage house show match, I just thought Warrior was being a dick to Savage.
|
|
|
Post by jason1980s on Dec 13, 2020 15:58:13 GMT -5
I think their big mistake was not immediately having Savage as Warrior's No. 1 challenger on TV/PPV as well as the house shows. Savage vs. Warrior at SummerSlam would have been their first PPV appearance against each other and would have had serious intrigue, with Savage being the guy Hogan beat for the belt. Instead, they kept Savage spinning his wheels with Dusty when it wasn't helping either guy. It also would have made way more sense later in the year when Savage/Sherri were demanding another title shot and Warrior was like, F-you, you've had your chance. Not having attended a Warrior-Savage house show match, I just thought Warrior was being a dick to Savage. Good one, I never thought of that. Dusty was a comedy guy just above someone like Akeem at the time. He wasn't meant for a serious feud with Macho King. Macho King and Warrior would have been way better then Rude and Warrior. And if there was a non finish on a PPV match they could extend it to Wrestlemania even if neither guy did a PPV together until then.
|
|
|
Post by Citizen Snips Has Left on Dec 13, 2020 16:31:46 GMT -5
I think their big mistake was not immediately having Savage as Warrior's No. 1 challenger on TV/PPV as well as the house shows. Savage vs. Warrior at SummerSlam would have been their first PPV appearance against each other and would have had serious intrigue, with Savage being the guy Hogan beat for the belt. Instead, they kept Savage spinning his wheels with Dusty when it wasn't helping either guy. It also would have made way more sense later in the year when Savage/Sherri were demanding another title shot and Warrior was like, F-you, you've had your chance. Not having attended a Warrior-Savage house show match, I just thought Warrior was being a dick to Savage. Good one, I never thought of that. Dusty was a comedy guy just above someone like Akeem at the time. He wasn't meant for a serious feud with Macho King. Macho King and Warrior would have been way better then Rude and Warrior. And if there was a non finish on a PPV match they could extend it to Wrestlemania even if neither guy did a PPV together until then. They could have Warrior beat Savage clean at Summerslam and still have the rest of actual history play out (Savage costs Warrior the title at the Rumble, career vs career grudge match at Mania)
|
|
|
Post by Alexander The So-so on Dec 13, 2020 17:19:07 GMT -5
The Hogan character was always vulnerable and would always be beat up and left for dead by heels. Earthquake sent him to the hospital, which added intrigue to the match. I don't remember one time where the Warrior seemed remotely vulnerable. It seems like WWF figured out how to evolve Warrior’s character a year too late: his 1991 storylines showed how he could be made vulnerable and show a few signs of defeat, while still seeming strong and retaining what made his character popular. Having a moment of doubt in the Wrestlemania VII match with Savage, wondering if maybe it was his time to step aside. Nearly dying from being locked in the casket by Undertaker, and giving an interview afterwords where he appears shaken and traumatized. Being drawn into Jake Roberts’s web of mind games. If they had figured out how to have similar storylines for him in 1990, his title run could’ve been stronger.
|
|
|
Post by jason1980s on Dec 13, 2020 17:20:39 GMT -5
They could have Warrior beat Savage clean at Summerslam and still have the rest of actual history play out (Savage costs Warrior the title at the Rumble, career vs career grudge match at Mania) Keep Warrior with Savage, Slaughter can work with Duggan and Hogan with Earthquake and everything will work out for Wrestlemania somehow.
|
|
Bo Rida
Fry's dog Seymour
Pulled one over on everyone. Got away with it, this time.
Posts: 23,517
Member is Online
|
Post by Bo Rida on Dec 13, 2020 17:55:57 GMT -5
Well he's not wrong, why wasn't Warrior as big a draw as Hogan? Because basically only Austin has been in the 35 years since and even that's not a direct comparison.
That said it makes me think of the current Orton paradox, some guys just don't draw as you'd expect as champion.
|
|
|
Post by carp (SPC, Itoh Respect Army) on Dec 13, 2020 20:20:52 GMT -5
I mean, because Hogan was lightning in a bottle who came along at precisely the right time under precisely the right conditions to catch on with MTV and kids, and it's ludicrous to even start with the supposition that anyone else could replicate that?
|
|
Dub H
Crow T. Robot
Captain Pixel: the Game Master
I ❤ Aniki
Posts: 47,838
Member is Online
|
Post by Dub H on Dec 14, 2020 4:36:10 GMT -5
I mean, because Hogan was lightning in a bottle who came along at precisely the right time under precisely the right conditions to catch on with MTV and kids, and it's ludicrous to even start with the supposition that anyone else could replicate that? Yeh honestly isnt any sort of once in a lifetime talent. But he had the perfect type of charisma and body for the era he was in.
|
|
Futureraven: Beelzebruv
Bill S. Preston, Esq.
The Ultimate Arbiter of Right And Wrong
Spent half my life here, God help me
Posts: 15,032
|
Post by Futureraven: Beelzebruv on Dec 14, 2020 5:47:36 GMT -5
Beyond that, Warrior's esoteric ramblings were never going to appeal to folks like Hulkamania and flag-waving patriotism did. I think that's the main issue right there. Under his cartoon superhero exterior, Hogan still felt like a normal human being. With Warrior, though, there was none of that. Under his cartoon superhero exterior was a cartoon superhero interior. He just wasn't capable of being relatable the way Hogan (or indeed Bret Hart) could be. Hogan's selling has always been a bit underrated because of the Hulk up, no sell routine. The reason that worked, was because the guy could see like death, make you believe all hope was gone, this was the one time it was up... but drawing on the power of the crowd he gained his second wind to finally win! He was so good at making fans feel like they were a part of his success, they were part of the show. Even Survivor Series 89, nothing on the line, the story is that Hogan is outmatched the whole time, Zeus completely destroys him, the Powers of Pain beat him up, he spends most of the match laying on the mat in the corner. And not in a "take a break from the Royal Rumble" way that got a "Roman's sleeping" chant, you can see him trying to get up, trying to breathe even, he looks like hell and lets everyone know it. Puts the other team over for getting him in that state, put Jake Roberts over for basically taking on the other team single handed for a large part of the match, then Hogan gets the win so the fans are happy. Is it "Hogan must win, Hogan must pose" yes, but it does a lot for pretty much everyone else too.
|
|
Mozenrath
FANatic
Foppery and Whim
Speedy Speed Boy
Posts: 121,047
Member is Online
|
Post by Mozenrath on Dec 14, 2020 5:56:57 GMT -5
Honestly?
I feel like WWE would have stuck with Warrior longer if he wasn't also a huge pain in the ass.
|
|
Ryushinku
King Koopa
Posts: 12,096
Member is Online
|
Post by Ryushinku on Dec 14, 2020 6:20:25 GMT -5
It has been said a lot over the years, but simply because it's very true - Earthquake putting out Hogan with an injury and then feuding with Warrior instead would've been a big boost to Warrior's championship run, rather than Hogan coming back for it. Warrior definitely toned it down during this reign as they tried to humanise him a bit. Check out this promo ahead of his defence against DiBiase: www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5W1YoLvK3MGlad you mentioned that, because I've always felt that was one of Warrior's best (and most direct) promos. And the defense against DiBiase is also a good match and a very good dramatic scene afterwards.
|
|
|
Post by jason1980s on Dec 14, 2020 10:32:09 GMT -5
It has been said a lot over the years, but simply because it's very true - Earthquake putting out Hogan with an injury and then feuding with Warrior instead would've been a big boost to Warrior's championship run, rather than Hogan coming back for it. It would be the first PPV Hogan ever missed but maybe he should have stayed off the Summerslam card or maybe just an in ring appearance with no match. But would Warrior be able to carry the show on his own? I think Warrior and Earthquake for Survivor Series, then a Rumble match where Quake wins the title/Slaughter is eliminated last by Hogan, then Hogan beats Quake for the title at Mania.
|
|