Was Hulk Hogan the biggest star in professional wrestling?

[AleYeah]

If the criteria are transcending wrasslin' and having mainstream appeal, then maybe (alphabetically):
Andre
Austin
Hogan
Rock

Different list entirely depending on the criteria.

 

[Substance Abuse]

Hogan. He isn't the best, by a mile, but he's the most seminal. He ushered wrestling out of the territory era. He's basically the Michael Jordan of professional wrestling. MJ took basketball international. Hogan took wrestling national, and mainstream.

Hogan was synonymous with pro wrestling, just like people used to reference copies as Xerox.

 

[My Spot]

Even Dave Meltzer said it's Hogan.

 

[Prime LeVan]

OP didn't say wrestler so you have to have Vince McMahon in the conversation

 

[Wrath of Foamy]

I have Austin, Rock, Hogan and Andre.

I'm curious about Sammartino, but he was way before my time.

 

[chardog]

He was the biggest star, watched him as a kid, later when I was an adult, I accidentally went to one of the shows on the beach that had him. You couldn’t help but cheer, he did it for so long, and the leg drop was iconic, glad to have seen him irl.

 

[Prime LeVan]

I have Austin, Rock, Hogan and Andre.

I'm curious about Sammartino, but he was way before my time.

Legend in NY, nowhere near the national appeal.

 

[Chillez]

Hulk Hogan followed by Austin and the Rock

 

[GearSolidMetal]

If not who is?

If the definition of 'big' is referring to who was the biggest attraction to pro-wrestling and brought in the most money in the industry...

...Ticket Sales, Merchandise, PPV Buys, and TV Ratings...

...it's not an opinion it's Hulk Hogan, it's an undebatable fact.

Other debates about who's the best wrestler or who does the best promos are all fair, and I would say Hogan wasn't in the Top10 of either.

Off-topic : Fuck Los Angeles for booing Hogan in his final WWE appearance.

 

[Ibm]

YES. Hulk Hogan was THE most iconic wrestler of all time. Ask your relatives who have never seen a wrestling event. Maybe Andre comes close but everyone and their grandma knows who Hulk Hogan was.

 

[BroRogan]

Hulkster #1 no discussion

 

[Thrawn33]

Hogan no question.

 

[Kowboy On Sherdog]

Hollywood Hogan and NWO changed the game forever..

RIP GOAT

 

[GearSolidMetal]

I was going to put him on, wasn't sure if he was popular as the guys I mentioned in the poll.

Here's the thing about Benoit -
He was an amazing in-ring wrestler.
In an industry where shorter men are side-attractions he earned absolutely everyone's respect irrespective of physical size.

If there's a young kid of only average size who's aspiring to become a WWE star, Benoit is in the Top5 wrestlers he should watch and emulate his style and work ethic.

That said - His mic skills were 'meh' at best.
And let's not mention the series of events he is now infamous for and led to a horrible era in pro-wrestling.

 

[Hellowhosthat]

Here's the thing about Benoit -
He was an amazing in-ring wrestler.
In an industry where shorter men are side-attractions he earned absolutely everyone's respect irrespective of physical size.

If there's a young kid of only average size who's aspiring to become a WWE star, Benoit is in the Top5 wrestlers he should watch and emulate his style and work ethic.

That said - His mic skills were 'meh' at best.
And let's not mention the series of events he is now infamous for and led to a horrible era in pro-wrestling.

Benoit wasn't a star at all really. Arguably the best North American in ring worker of all time, but not a draw.

 

[GearSolidMetal]

Benoit wasn't a star at all really. Arguably the best North American in ring worker of all time, but not a draw.

I never said he was.
That's why his WWE title reign lasted from WrestleMania to SummerSlam in 2004. Surprisingly short.
Vince took the belt off of him because he wasn't drawing money.

His lack of mainstream appeal wasn't due to his lack of wrestling skills, but because his mic-skills were... Meh.

Mic-skills are unquestionably the #1 factor in connecting with an audience, not actual wrestling skills.

CM Punk's mic-skills are perfect. The connection he's made to the audience is second-to-none, and that what eclipses the fact he's only a 'great' wrestler. At no point of his career has he ever been the 'best in the world.'

If Benoit had CM Punk's mic-skills and a more marketable gimmick, he'd be Top5 draws with the history of pro-wrestling.

 

[Hellowhosthat]

I never said he was.
That's why his WWE title reign lasted from WrestleMania to SummerSlam in 2004. Surprisingly short.
Vince took the belt off of him because he wasn't drawing money.

His lack of mainstream appeal wasn't due to his lack of wrestling skills, but because his mic-skills were... Meh.

Mic-skills are unquestionably the #1 factor in connecting with an audience, not actual wrestling skills.

CM Punk's mic-skills are perfect. The connection he's made to the audience is second-to-none, and that what eclipses the fact he's only a 'great' wrestler. At no point of his career has he ever been the 'best in the world.'

If Benoit had CM Punk's mic-skills and a more marketable gimmick, he'd be Top5 draws with the history of pro-wrestling.

I wasn't disagreeing with you or anything, just quoted it because you mentioned it. I always thought Benoit was terrible on the mic. Exactly the kind of guy who should have a manager.

 

[GearSolidMetal]

I wasn't disagreeing with you or anything, just quoted it because you mentioned it. I always thought Benoit was terrible on the mic. Exactly the kind of guy who should have a manager.

Gotchya.

 

[GearSolidMetal]

 

[Flower2dPeople]

I was going to put him on, wasn't sure if he was popular as the guys I mentioned in the poll.

The "Benoit urself" days were amazing.