Who had the better return at age 49?

[RareTradU]

When Hulk Hogan returned to WWE in 2002 he was 49 years old. He went on to have some great matches and a pretty decent run including the WWE undisputed championship. Fast forward to now, Edge is in his presumably final run at at 49 after a lengthy absence. He is in excellent shape and too has had some great matches since returning.

Who did it better?

[Malibu Albino]

Hogan sucks in real life, but he wins this easily. Nothing Edge has done in this return compares to Hogan vs Rock at Mania.

[KAMALARAMBO: BOOMSHAKALAKA!!!]

Yeah Hogan easily. I was in high school when he came back and he got non-fans talking. Now you’d probably find a lot of lapsed fans who didn’t even know Edge returned.

[Lizuka #BLM]

Never at all cared for Hogan vs. Rock, but I'll throw it to Hogan anyway for Hogan vs. Vince being miles better than it had any right to be.

[Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-]]

Hogan wins this, very easily, Hogan's really f***ed his legacy up but back in 2002 Hogan returning like this was a huge deal, and he had a hell of a run

The first time he came out with Voodoo Child and the Yellow Boas again against HHH that pop could probably be heard in the next state.

Found a vid of it, good lord what a pop: www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLsOg5-8YtI&ab_channel=WrestlingFan21

[Jindrak Mark]

Hogan in 02 is probably the greatest return ever for how iconic the Rock match alone is. His stuff with Brock/HHH/Angle was fun too.  There was that dud with Undertaker at Judgment Day though.

For a longer term return/second run I think it's hard to top HBK 2002-2010.

[tirtefaa]

It's not even close.

Hogan's return and subsequent run was really good, all things considered. Not many guys can have a fresh run at that stage.

[CMWaters]

I know it was the time, how WWF/WWE had promoted talent at the times, and a case of "Not the Age, It's The Milage"...

...but it's so odd to think Hogan was only 49 during that 02 run when just a few years prior the announcers were calling WCW main events featuring Hogan, Savage, Piper and others "senior citizen tours" and such like that, where now we got guys like Edge, Lesnar, Lashley and Styles that are in that age bracket. Than again no offense to those older legends, but the four later ones I mentioned can go better than those WCW main events. Even Lesnar when he's motivated enough (or paid enough).

[Gerard Gerard]

Edge had a feelgood, almost impossible comeback but Hogan straight up changed the business for a third time in 2002. I mean, just compare how WWE treated nostalgia acts pre-X8 versus post and you can draw a direct line to how WWE spent much of the two decades since booking part-timers who made their name in other eras.

[The Heartbreak TWERK]

"I am Hulk Hogan man, nothing happened in 2015, we should all move on!"

But yeah, Hogan's return was bigger than Edge's.

[tirtefaa]

Feb 21, 2023 0:09:07 GMT -5 CMWaters said:

but it's so odd to think Hogan was only 49 during that 02 run when just a few years prior the announcers were calling WCW main events featuring Hogan, Savage, Piper and others "senior citizen tours" and such like that, where now we got guys like Edge, Lesnar, Lashley and Styles that are in that age bracket.

I mean, even at the time Hogan was only 4 years older than Bret. Heck, he was closer in age to Bret than Bret was to Shawn.

[JCBaggee]

Is there even anyone on the roster who could have that Rock/Hogan level match? Like Edge is good, sure, but Rock/Hogan was once-in-a-lifetime lightning in a bottle.

[CMWaters]

Feb 21, 2023 0:41:56 GMT -5 tirtefaa said:

Feb 21, 2023 0:09:07 GMT -5 CMWaters said:

but it's so odd to think Hogan was only 49 during that 02 run when just a few years prior the announcers were calling WCW main events featuring Hogan, Savage, Piper and others "senior citizen tours" and such like that, where now we got guys like Edge, Lesnar, Lashley and Styles that are in that age bracket.

I mean, even at the time Hogan was only 4 years older than Bret. Heck, he was closer in age to Bret than Bret was to Shawn.

Yeah, that is one of those things that you kinda have to chuckle about when they were talking about building the New Generation: even if it was as tag guys, Bret and Shawn were around during the height of Hulkamania and that run (more Bret than Shawn, but even using Mania debuts Bret was Mania 2 while Shawn was Mania 5).

[CMWaters]

Feb 21, 2023 0:42:27 GMT -5 JCBaggee said:

Is there even anyone on the roster who could have that Rock/Hogan level match? Like Edge is good, sure, but Rock/Hogan was once-in-a-lifetime lightning in a bottle.

I mean, given what we saw of him at last year's Mania against Owens, Austin vs. Cena could have been KIND OF close I would think. Though unlike with Hogan of the time, I don't see the build to the event having Austin play the heel.

[mcstoklasa]

Hogan's 2002/2003 run was magical.

[Jedi-El of Tomorrow]

Yeah, it's easily Hogan. The Mania match against Rock (IMO a top 3 at worst Mania match), his match against Angle, the nice few weeks run as tag champ with Edge, and the Vince match just off the top of my head were all fantastic. The Mania match against Rock alone would be enough, but he had a good 2002-2003 run. Also the Mr America stuff gave us some really funny segments.

[Mozenrath]

Hogan, handily.

Doesn't mean Edge is chopped liver, he's definitely had his moments, but it's still no contest.

[Jonathan Michaels]

Feb 21, 2023 0:09:07 GMT -5 CMWaters said:

I know it was the time, how WWF/WWE had promoted talent at the times, and a case of "Not the Age, It's The Milage"...

...but it's so odd to think Hogan was only 49 during that 02 run when just a few years prior the announcers were calling WCW main events featuring Hogan, Savage, Piper and others "senior citizen tours" and such like that, where now we got guys like Edge, Lesnar, Lashley and Styles that are in that age bracket. Than again no offense to those older legends, but the four later ones I mentioned can go better than those WCW main events. Even Lesnar when he's motivated enough (or paid enough).

When the NWO formed, Hogan was roughly Miz’s age.

[chronocross]

I like Edge a lot and glad that he was able to return for one last run but I got to go with Hogan's 2002-03 run.

[kingoftheindies]

Feb 21, 2023 3:23:12 GMT -5 mcstoklasa said:

Hogan's 2002/2003 run was magical.

Was going to say Hogan from the nWo to the Mr America angle had a great run.

Edge? Aside from his Royal Rumble return in 2020, I dunno if I'd personally consider anything about the run that memorable?