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Post by Hulkster2001 on Aug 13, 2018 10:07:28 GMT -5
 For those who don’t know, Hogan’s contract with WCW was about to end and rumor has it that the WWF was trying to get the Hulkster back and have him lead DX against Stone Cold Steve Austin ultimately leading to Wrestlemania 14 where Hogan would drop the WWF title to the rattlesnake officially beginning the Austin era. So, if Hogan had came back to the WWF, how would the wrestling world be affected? Who would lead the nWo following Hogan’s departure? How would HBK take to Hogan coming back and take both DX and the WWF title from him? How would Hogan fair in the Attitude era? |
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Post by The Brain on Aug 13, 2018 13:16:28 GMT -5
By 98 WCW was starting to go downhill so Hogan jumping to WWF would've been a massive blow no doubt considering Hogan was still a big part of the company during that year.
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nibs92
Main Eventer
Joined on: May 29, 2008 5:47:21 GMT -5
Posts: 2,239
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Post by nibs92 on Aug 13, 2018 13:22:46 GMT -5
Would the hulkster have played ball and dropped the title to Austin? Even if he did, I think it would have done more harm than good to Stone Cold. Shawn and Bret were the ones who led the WWF after Hulk left in 93 ( I’m not forgetting the Undertaker, just think the Hart/Michaels feud on and off screen captured the imagination of the fans) so it was fitting that Shawn did the job to the man who ushered in the new era. Plus Austin was popular in his own right and didn’t need the victory over Hogan to propel himself to the next level.
DX wouldn’t have been a good fit for Hogan. I really don’t see him crotch chopping and acting all immature. If Hogan was to lead a faction against Austin, it should have been done when the WCW invasion storyline was around - but thatks a whole different topic.
As for leading the NWO, it was a spent and diluted faction by then so wouldn’t have really mattered who.
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Post by drifter on Aug 13, 2018 13:30:31 GMT -5
I think if Hogan came in, in 98, and led DX against Austin, it would have hurt both DX and Austin. While the nWo and DX, had similarities, and there were members who could fit in both, Hogan wasn't one of them. The nWo was more like a crime family mafia, while DX was more of the kind of juvenile delinquent gang (and I'm not saying that in negative to either, just pointing out the different style that each group had.) Hollywood Hogan fit for the nWo, he wouldn't have fit for DX. And they can say, the plan was to have him drop the title to Austin and usher in his era, but knowing Hogan, especially during that time, there's no way he would 100% cleanly loose to Austin and put him over. There's no way I would see Hogan's ego allowing him to do a clean job, especially after 'coming home.' To me, if it was Austin vs. Hogan for the title at WrestleMania, we'd be seeing a bit of a similar situation of Starrcade 97 against Sting.
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hammer
Main Eventer
Joined on: Jun 12, 2009 2:30:31 GMT -5
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Post by hammer on Aug 13, 2018 13:52:10 GMT -5
terrible for wwf, austin, shawn, hhh, rocky, every young talent that wwf was starting to close the gap with wcw, and eventually taking the lead/kicking their ass with. hogan coming back as a nostalgia act worked all those years later, because he was off tv for enough time that people genuinely missed him. he was already getting stale, or already was stale depending on your fandom of him, in late 97-early 98. would anyone have bought the old cool guy schtick he was trying/failing at, as the leader of dx? this feels like it cuts the legs off everything wwf was doing in 97.
the nwo worked because the storyline itself was amazing, and the shock of hogan was incredible... but also because hall and nash were paid so goddamn much to do so goddamn little, they didnt really care about being the guys who stayed behind hogan, and got hogan the aura of their 'coolness'. could you imagine shawn taking that same backseat? although, trying to imagine shawn and hogans egos both in dx, and vince having to manage that every day...
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Post by hbkbigdaddycool on Aug 13, 2018 15:05:39 GMT -5
If Hogan had come back in 1998 to the WWE, he would have been the heel corporate champion instead of The Rock. Hogan working with Mr. McMahon, going after that dreaded Austin.
Wrestlemania XV no doubt would have been Hogan vs. Austin for the WWE Title.
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Post by Kill Em' All on Aug 13, 2018 17:44:31 GMT -5
I would think it would make a great story to tell. The face of the 80's comes back after leaving the company high and dry. Gets his ass kissed by Mr.McMahon. He puts down all the guys who built up the company while he left. So we could see a HBK face turn? It would have to be done for WrestleMania 15. The Montreal Screwjob and WrestleMania 14 wouldn't be adequate time to get the belt off Shawn and build to Hogan and Austin. It would cause some hard booking choices to get us from November 1997 to March 1999.
This could maybe a blessing in disguise to WCW (POSSIBLY). It would cost them money, and on the low odd but still a odd they end the NWO angle after Hogans departure. If HBK gets pissed enough and then some they could all leave the WWF and go to WCW. Although I picture, Hogan leaving just making WCW possibly end even quicker.
It will also cause a back up in superstars making their way to the top. It's a great fantasy scenario to book, but it should stay fantasy.
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Post by warriorlynx on Aug 13, 2018 17:50:33 GMT -5
The discussions with Hogan was probably political (make WCW spend more money), but then again Vince saw benefit in bringing him in since he was making WCW big money. It was during a time when Bret was leaving that Vince was getting desperate (he even sent out the Warrior a new contract deal AGAIN in 97!).
I do know that Hulk was to be a surprise entrant at the Royal Rumble in 98. Hulk as Vince's "secret weapon" could've worked with Mike Tyson joining with Hulk. Maybe have Hulk win the title at Rumble and dropping it to Austin. Though long-term, I do agree Hulk would've been a bad idea since a lot of guys like the Rock might not even get the big push.
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Post by theoutlaw1999 on Aug 13, 2018 17:52:52 GMT -5
I honestly think he would've been bad for business. Hogan was a huge ego and his backstage politics wouldn't hurt both Austin and DX.
Kane, Mankind and The Rock may never have became champion either so the future of the WWE could've been demolished by a 48 year old Hogan.
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Post by Nivro™ on Aug 13, 2018 18:00:45 GMT -5
If Hogan had come back in 1998 to the WWE, he would have been the heel corporate champion instead of The Rock. Hogan working with Mr. McMahon, going after that dreaded Austin. Wrestlemania XV no doubt would have been Hogan vs. Austin for the WWE Title. I could see Hogan being a "Corporate" champion a lot more then him running around making dick jokes and telling people to suck it. Corporation would be Vince, Shane, Hogan (with Bossman as his "bodyguard" ala Beefcake), Big Show (he and Hogan were buddies), Briscoe, Patterson & Slaughter and likely either 1 other "new" guy like Shamrock or Test or he would pull a favor and bring in a guy like Knobbs or Virgil again. |
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Post by The Brain on Aug 13, 2018 18:02:29 GMT -5
If Hogan had come back in 1998 to the WWE, he would have been the heel corporate champion instead of The Rock. Hogan working with Mr. McMahon, going after that dreaded Austin. Wrestlemania XV no doubt would have been Hogan vs. Austin for the WWE Title. I could see Hogan being a "Corporate" champion a lot more then him running around making dick jokes and telling people to suck it. Corporation would be Vince, Shane, Hogan (with Bossman as his "bodyguard" ala Beefcake), Big Show (he and Hogan were buddies), Briscoe, Patterson & Slaughter and likely either 1 other "new" guy like Shamrock or Test or he would pull a favor and bring in a guy like Knobbs or Virgil again.My bet would be on Knobbs. |
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Post by blissfan4life on Aug 14, 2018 6:31:58 GMT -5
he would have pulled his this doesn't work for me brother bullcrap and try to sabotage The Rock, Austin, Undertaker, etc. It was for the best that he didn't.
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Post by k5 on Aug 14, 2018 10:07:49 GMT -5
i’d of had it that when bigshow joins up with wwf, it’s as if hogan brought him over for his enforcer. bigshow could eventually face turn by getting sick of hogan and turning on him.
as others have said, it was probably best that he didn’t return in 98.
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Post by warriorlynx on Aug 15, 2018 12:01:03 GMT -5
I also wanted to add if Hulk was willing to come back to work and not be the "top" guy and actually put guys over in 98 (I know it's far-fetched), maybe he could embrace a biker gimmick and join with the Disciples of Apocalypse as their leader.
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Post by Hulkster2001 on Jan 31, 2019 12:02:29 GMT -5
DX wouldn’t have been a good fit for Hogan. I really don’t see him crotch chopping and acting all immature. (sorry PJ but I had to share this gif 😬)  |
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nibs92
Main Eventer
Joined on: May 29, 2008 5:47:21 GMT -5
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Post by nibs92 on Jan 31, 2019 13:18:28 GMT -5
DX wouldn’t have been a good fit for Hogan. I really don’t see him crotch chopping and acting all immature. (sorry PJ but I had to share this gif 😬) Ha ha touché!, |
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