Was Hulk Hogan the biggest star in professional wrestling?

[Bacco]

Yes

Guess you can say at this point The Rock is equally popular, but that's him being more recent and specially due addition of his acting career

Like would say The Rock popularity is 50 pro-wrestling/50 hollywood, maybe even more the latter

But Hogan had it 99% on his pro-wrestling career

He's been for LONG time the sterotype/icon of the american pro wrestler

Anybody disagree with this likely is just too young to have lived that era

 

[NoSmilez]

I think The Rock should be the bigger overall star because he was able to cross over successfully and made some returns back to wrestling. He isn't really a human being anymore. He is more like the face of a brand name. I watched some of his interviews and he doesn't seem like a real person even when he isn't in character. The Rock was probably on the same level as Austin when they were wrestling. They were big and sold PPVs but came and went.

Hogan didn't quite cross over successfully even though everyone knew him. Hulk was on fire during a time without social media and during the peak of wrestling which was in the 80s-90s. Wrestling was still culturally relevant at that time. Hulk wasn't really an exceptional athlete but he knew how to get the crowd hyped with hulking out, ripping his shirt, wagging his finger and finishing the match. Even his finisher wasn't something crazy. It's just a leg drop but it got everyone hyped. He didn't have to do crazy stuff like the Rock.

 

[Prime LeVan]

There's only one Superstar.

People are not ready still to acknowledge him and Gorgeous George like that. Superstar influenced Hogan, Ventura, Steiner, etc. Gorgeous George influenced Dusty, Flair, and the most famous of all...Muhammed Ali. Talk about crossover appeal, GG was the reason Ali promoted the way he did. As a kid, he idolozed GG.

 

[PRIDEWASBETTER]

True, but Vince could have had Benoit win the rematch at the next PPV, but he was looking to promote young blood . probably the best business decision.

Only for Orton to drop the belt to HHH at Unforgiven 30 days later after a BAD babyface run.

 

[gspieler]

Surprised the lack of votes for Bruno. He was the OG icon of WWF.

Also, Superstar Billy Graham and Jesse Ventura, should be on the list as well.

 

[Takes Two To Tango]

Surprised the lack of votes for Bruno. He was the OG icon of WWF.

Also, Superstar Billy Graham and Jesse Ventura, should be on the list as well.

Yes Jesse Ventura should be there. I just only had limited options to be filled out.

 

[Takes Two To Tango]

 

[Thai Domi]

Not even the best murderer in wrestling. Snuka was better

If we're going to be douchbags and make douchy ass comments like this, then let's get it right. Benoit killed a woman and some kids. Snuka allegedly killed a woman.

Jose Gonzalez killed Bruiser f'ing Brody.

 

[BFoe]

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.

You wouldn’t put Hogan in top 10 for promos? I dunno about that man, dude could definitely cut a promo and get you hyped for a match. I’d certainly put guys like Flair, Austin, Piper, Savage, and Rock ahead of him but I think Hogan was great on the mic. A little formulaic maybe but that could be said about most promos.

 

[Thai Domi]

As a GenXer who was obsessed with rasslin as a teenager and was glued to every product I could find on TV, I can tell you without a doubt the biggest star the sport ever produced is Hulk Hogan. And that's coming from an avowed Crockett/NWA/Flair loyalist. Hogan was the vehicle that took rasslin mainstream, without question.

That said - and this is the rasslin hill I will absolutely die on - there wouldn't be a Hogan, Flair, Rhodes, Idol, Ventura, Bagwell, Steiner or a whole host of others, at least not as we know them now, if not for Superstar Billy Graham.

SBG is my "Other" selection in the poll. Vince Sr. had no idea how to market him.

 

[GearSolidMetal]

You wouldn’t put Hogan in top 10 for promos? I dunno about that man, dude could definitely cut a promo and get you hyped for a match. I’d certainly put guys like Flair, Austin, Piper, Savage, and Rock ahead of him but I think Hogan was great on the mic. A little formulaic maybe but that could be said about most promos.

Hmmm ... I do believe honorary rankings should be considered for the greats of prior eras that inspired the next generations.

Got to keep in mind his baby face & heel runs, and I do consider his heel promos to be superior.

And I've always considered the 'Who's on your Pro-Wrestling Mount Rushmore?' question to be extremely... simplifying. It really should be a Top10 or Top25.
And it easily could be expanded to Top25 for Ring-work, Mic-skills, and Overall Character.

That way guys like Mick Foley, Kane, Scott Hall, and numerous others can get their due respect in.

 

[Pittie Petey]

SBG is my "Other" selection in the poll. Vince Sr. had no idea how to market him.

He put the WWWF title on him and made him a huge star, how is that not marketing him well

I know people say he shouldve had a longer run with the belt before losing to Howdy Doody but thats a different argument, Vince Sr marketed him to the top and the fact that Superstar was never ever able to come close to those heights ever again in his career is a pretty good case positive for ole Vince the elder knowing what he was doing

 

[King Joffery]

If we're going to be douchbags and make douchy ass comments like this, then let's get it right. Benoit killed a woman and some kids. Snuka allegedly killed a woman.

Jose Gonzalez killed Bruiser f'ing Brody.

Lol at allegedly, maybe she beat herself to death. Snuka was blatantly guilty and was about to be convicted before he died.

Anyways I wasn't comparing crimes, I was saying of the wrestlers who qualify as murderers I'd rank Jimmy the best.

 

[jeff7b9]

Not a wrestling fan so I am speaking on their impact on pop culture.

Hulk #1 and it isn't even close. He was the face of wrestling in the 1980s. He did Rocky 3 in 1982 and he is still a household name over 40 years later.


Andre the Giant is larger than life. He is forever immortalized on screen in the Princess Bride which means millions of people will continue to know of him and his wrestling amd beer drinking are also the stuff of legends. The world's loveable giant.


Brock Lesnar - 2 separate careers in Wrestling and MMA.
Was literally the baddest man on the planet in fist fighting for a while.

I had a hard time for #4. The Rock is the most famous and probably one of the most famous and most recognizable people in the world period, but John Cena is a better actor imo. Cena is a legitimate comedic actor, he was so good in Ricky Stanicky.
Usually when famous people get acting work they suck at acting and either coast on their looks, charisma or body type, but Cena is in my opinion one of the best actors of any famous person turned actor.

 

[GearSolidMetal]

And I've always considered the 'Who's on your Pro-Wrestling Mount Rushmore?' question to be extremely... simplifying. It really should be a Top10 or Top25.

Pretty ironic I mentioned this earlier, and this clip of Hogan being asked 'Who's on your Pro-Wrestling Mount Rushmore' pops up in my feed.

 

[GearSolidMetal]

That said - and this is the rasslin hill I will absolutely die on - there wouldn't be a Hogan, Flair, Rhodes, Idol, Ventura, Bagwell, Steiner or a whole host of others, at least not as we know them now, if not for Superstar Billy Graham.

SBG is my "Other" selection in the poll. Vince Sr. had no idea how to market him.

Ok, I'm not trying to be insulting or inflammatory with this question, just trying to make a point...

If President Lincoln didn't free the slaves, would America still have slaves today?

Most would say 'of course they would eventually be freed, one way or the other over the next 160+ years.

Now if Billy Graham never wrestled would Pro-wrestling not exist today? Or would it have been completely different? Or would there have been another bodybuilding wrestler have developed the gimmick shortly after? Would Hogan have been almost as successful without stealing the gimmick?

Who knows, but I estimate that there would have been a temporary alternate history before it would have evened out by the late 80s.

Not discounting Billy Graham's influence, but I'm also not overvaluing it by saying numerous other wrestlers wouldn't have ever wrestled without being inspired by him.

 

[Takes Two To Tango]

Not a wrestling fan so I am speaking on their impact on pop culture.

Hulk #1 and it isn't even close. He was the face of wrestling in the 1980s. He did Rocky 3 in 1982 and he is still a household name over 40 years later.


Andre the Giant is larger than life. He is forever immortalized on screen in the Princess Bride which means millions of people will continue to know of him and his wrestling amd beer drinking are also the stuff of legends. The world's loveable giant.


Brock Lesnar - 2 separate careers in Wrestling and MMA.
Was literally the baddest man on the planet in fist fighting for a while.

I had a hard time for #4. The Rock is the most famous and probably one of the most famous and most recognizable people in the world period, but John Cena is a better actor imo. Cena is a legitimate comedic actor, he was so good in Ricky Stanicky.
Usually when famous people get acting work they suck at acting and either coast on their looks, charisma or body type, but Cena is in my opinion one of the best actors of any famous person turned actor.

Very well said my friend.

 

[TheMaster]

Hogan transcended the industry like none before or since and became a cultural icon.
I don't think people realize in the late 80's he was the biggest celebrity in the world, more than anyone in Hollywood even. Yes, he was that big a star and wrestling was huge.

Andre also made it as a physical phenom.

Dwyane Johnson has transitioned to a successful acting career, but thats different from transcending the sport as a wrestler which he did for a brief time. Austin did also, but has long since faded into near obscurity in the cultural landscape.

So Hogan is in a class of his own here.

 

[Corona]

The rock was the best in terms of being the total package. He was a great performer and the GOAT on the mic. Hogan prob wins based on being the main character that helped bring pro wrestling into the spotlight. I always thought his finishing move of just sticking his foot up was lame as hell. At least the people’s elbow had a set up and some charisma.

Kurt angle isn’t the goat but dude was probably the second best behind the rock in terms of promo/in ring ability

 

[Corona]

Not a wrestling fan so I am speaking on their impact on pop culture.

Hulk #1 and it isn't even close. He was the face of wrestling in the 1980s. He did Rocky 3 in 1982 and he is still a household name over 40 years later.


Andre the Giant is larger than life. He is forever immortalized on screen in the Princess Bride which means millions of people will continue to know of him and his wrestling amd beer drinking are also the stuff of legends. The world's loveable giant.


Brock Lesnar - 2 separate careers in Wrestling and MMA.
Was literally the baddest man on the planet in fist fighting for a while.

I had a hard time for #4. The Rock is the most famous and probably one of the most famous and most recognizable people in the world period, but John Cena is a better actor imo. Cena is a legitimate comedic actor, he was so good in Ricky Stanicky.
Usually when famous people get acting work they suck at acting and either coast on their looks, charisma or body type, but Cena is in my opinion one of the best actors of any famous person turned actor.

The rock at 4 is blasphemy. The dude was literally the face of the attitude era which is widely considered to be the peak age of professional wrestling. He even created “smack down.” Putting the gicant or bork ahead of him is like putting Larry bird and Steph curry ahead of LeBron.