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Post by warriorlynx on Mar 7, 2019 11:57:57 GMT -5
WGN Network was going to bring AWA on TV in 1991 and they offered a $6 million contract to Hulk Hogan who was "up for it". Hogan was going to meet them up at New York, but it didn't go through because of WGN's newspaper strike (ie. Chicago Tribune).
If the strike didn't happen, could we have seen Hulk move back to the AWA? Personally I would think so because of Hulk's earnings in 1991 were in a decline. Compare $750,000 for WMIII (at the gate) versus $75,000 for SS'91. However who would he face? Late 1990 you had guys like Larry Zbyszko and Harley Race around. Nikita Koloff if he stuck around would've been interesting with Hulk.
Your thoughts? (video below)
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Post by Hulkster2001 on Mar 7, 2019 13:19:51 GMT -5
Vince would’ve fought tooth and nail to keep Hogan, so no.
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Post by warriorlynx on Mar 7, 2019 14:03:13 GMT -5
Vince would’ve fought tooth and nail to keep Hogan, so no. But a $6 million guarantee? Would Vince match that? Downside guarantees weren't really around in WWF at the time (which it was in WCW), and it's hard to say especially with the business in decline beginning in 1990. I've understood Hogan used to make $5-10 million a year if I recall in the 80s (depending on who you ask), but that was total earnings that included merch (which he probably made more vs. house shows). Maybe Vince would've been crazy enough to counter that deal in 1991, but knowing how Hogan was in the 90s, he might have taken that offer if he knew he could be making that much for a few years. |
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Post by Hulkster2001 on Mar 7, 2019 14:32:57 GMT -5
Vince would’ve fought tooth and nail to keep Hogan, so no. But a $6 million guarantee? Would Vince match that? Downside guarantees weren't really around in WWF at the time (which it was in WCW), and it's hard to say especially with the business in decline beginning in 1990. I've understood Hogan used to make $5-10 million a year if I recall in the 80s (depending on who you ask), but that was total earnings that included merch (which he probably made more vs. house shows). Maybe Vince would've been crazy enough to counter that deal in 1991, but knowing how Hogan was in the 90s, he might have taken that offer if he knew he could be making that much for a few years. Hogan was Vince’s pride and joy, he would never let Hulk go. Vince would’ve been crazy enough, Warrior’s run with the belt was working so well and Hulk was Vince’s cash cow. I mean after Hulk left in 93 he tried to get him back in 97. So yeah I think Vince would’ve done anything to keep Hulk plus why would Hulk go back to a company that didn’t know how to use him? Vince did, Verne didn’t. |
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nibs92
Main Eventer
Joined on: May 29, 2008 5:47:21 GMT -5
Posts: 2,357
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Post by nibs92 on Mar 7, 2019 14:54:51 GMT -5
Sounds like nonsense to me. They were happy to fork out $6 million on one act but didn’t think they could survive a strike? Doesn’t add up.
Hulk being the top act would have been remunerated accordingly. If his payoffs were down it would be more a reflection on business in general being down. If that was the state of play then I doubt a fledgling company like the AWA would make much of a splash, Hogan or not
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Post by rowdy1971 on Mar 7, 2019 15:02:13 GMT -5
With the amount of main event "talent" the AWA had in 1991??? HA! That's a good one Greg.
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Post by hbkbigdaddycool on Mar 7, 2019 15:26:55 GMT -5
If the WWF wouldn't match the AWA's offer, I believe it. Because Hulk went to WCW in 1994.
I also believe if Hulk went back to the AWA in 1991, that other WWF stars would follow (much like what happened with WCW in 1994).
But I also believe that Hogan was working the AWA to get more money from Vince to stay.
I also believe that the AWA wasn't in any shape or form to be offering Hogan that kind of money either. But I also don't think Greg Gagne has any real reason to lie about that?
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Post by The Brain on Mar 7, 2019 17:00:33 GMT -5
AWA was on it's deathbed that year but I can see them trying to get Hogan back to try and save the company but AWA was well past the saving point so even if Hogan joined it would've been to little to late. It does sound like he was just working em to get more money from Vince like hbkbigdaddycool said. |
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Post by Grumpyoldman on Mar 7, 2019 17:31:04 GMT -5
I'm beginning to think that a lot of these older wrestlers (Honky Tonk Man, B Brian Blair, Greg Gagne, Ron Garvin, etc) must have gotten together & agreed to tell stories just for sh*its & giggles & to get a shoot interview paycheck.
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jason1980s
Main Eventer
Joined on: Sept 30, 2009 14:58:56 GMT -5
Posts: 2,335
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Post by jason1980s on Mar 7, 2019 17:58:00 GMT -5
Greg is pretty well known for some outlandish suggestions he's made in shoots. He suggests he was the one to help WCW sign Hulk in 1994. Mike Graham says it was he, Mike, who made it happen. I'm pretty sure it was Eric Bischoff's idea.
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Post by JokerFC on Mar 7, 2019 19:32:07 GMT -5
The AWA? That was 5 minutes from dying.....I call BS on this one.
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Post by warriorlynx on Mar 7, 2019 20:09:55 GMT -5
I also believe that the AWA wasn't in any shape or form to be offering Hogan that kind of money either. From what I gather it would've been WGN that would be giving Hogan a contract to work for the AWA so they could get ratings for WPIX and their other networks. |
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phantomdreamer
Mid-Carder
Joined on: Sept 12, 2018 20:24:32 GMT -5
Posts: 54
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Post by phantomdreamer on Mar 7, 2019 22:00:43 GMT -5
Let me know when someone other than Greg Gagne states this.
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Post by K5 on Mar 9, 2019 17:14:01 GMT -5
Greg is pretty well known for some outlandish suggestions he's made in shoots. He suggests he was the one to help WCW sign Hulk in 1994. Mike Graham says it was he, Mike, who made it happen. I'm pretty sure it was Eric Bischoff's idea. yeah, it’s hilarious how many people take credit for hogan, hogan’s direction, the NWO, Goldberg. and they’re the same people who point their fingers at the others for it’s failures. too many pirates, not enough captains. |
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drnickriviera995
Main Eventer
Joined on: Jul 25, 2010 23:58:50 GMT -5
Posts: 2,247
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Post by drnickriviera995 on Mar 13, 2019 8:34:12 GMT -5
The AWA? That was 5 minutes from dying.....I call BS on this one. I remember Jack and JP talking about this on TLF AWA Journey. I agree it was probably BS, if anything just Hogan trying to get a better deal out of Vince. No way he was going to a dying promotion in 91. |
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