Hulk Hogan Wins the Belt ... Again!

[80s4life]

We can all probably agree that Hulk Hogan's first W.W.F. Title run was an unqualified success, at least from a business standpoint. What do you guys think, knowing what we know now about stale main eventers never moving over for the new talent (see handbook on W.C.W.: 1994 - going out of business), on the idea that making Hogan champion again a few times after he'd lost the belt was ultimately bad for business? While we were fortunate enough to get Hogan vs. Warrior at WrestleMania VI, would not have the W.W.F. been better suited in building up other talent to carry the torch? Obviously, the Warrior wasn't well-suited. Should they have sought talent from other organizations, like Vince did the first time around in 1984? Would wrestling have been in better shape the first half of the '90s (pre-N.W.O.) if Hogan didn't win the belt again and again?

[Iceman]

Hmm...Well when Hogan stopped getting the belt later (pre-NWO) and wasn't around anymore in the WWF is when it went downhill in my opinion.

I thought when the title did change in Randy Savage and Ultimate Warrior's (worth a try, was good at first) hands it was still enjoyable and pretty good. But maybe Hogan could of lost it a little more and a couple of others could of held it or longer like: The Million Dollar Man, Andre the Giant, Jake Roberts, and simply earlier the Iron Sheik getting the belt back once or twice?

[80s4life]

And let's not forget Ted DiBiase, who Iceman mentioned, probably would have gotten a run with the World Title had not the Honky Tonk Man agreed to lose the Intercontinental Belt to Savage. This led to Savage being booked to win the belt at WrestleMania IV. I'm not sure Warrior as Champion was ever that great, except the match where he won the belt. His feud with Rick Rude was pure desperation on the W.W.F.'s part. I remember thinking, the guy lost to Warrior when he was I-C Champ, so how much of a threat to the World Title could he be? By that time, Mr. Perfect had begun to perfectly lose, so the Warrior-Perfect matches were one-sided. Savage was saved until a bit later (I think Savage would have been a better challenger for Warrior than Rude, but he was too busy feuding with Dusty Rhodes and Sapphire; ugh!).

Iceman argues Hogan's departure was when the W.W.F. really started to go downhill. It could also be argued that him sticking around on top so long helped foster the conditions that precipitated the slide. I can't remember one match worth noting of interest after WrestleMania VI that Hogan was involved in. The bouts with Earthquake, Sgt. Slaughter, and other men like Warlord and Dino Bravo just did not cut the mustard. It wasn't till he lost the belt to Undertaker that I found him to be relevant and interesting again.

[80s4life]

Correction: that should read had Honky not refused to lose the I-C belt to Savage.

[Iceman]

Mr. Perfect was another guy that didn't get the push I think he deserved as a Champion.

Ultimate Warrior's matches weren't the best I agree, he did have excitement and energy, but I thought once he got the belt he would take his matches to the next level, instead they remained the same. And he should of never beat Andre in 12 seconds either for that matter.

"Savage feud with Dusty Rhodes and Sapphire" lol, waste there. Yeah, Savage could of helped Warrior have some better matches, so could of Steamboat for that matter.

Yeah, Hogan's feuds later weren't as good with: Earthquake, Dino Bravo, Slaughter, Big Boss Man, etc., but that's Vince's fault for thinking those guys were Main Eventers, not Hogan.

**Remember 80s4Life, you can always "modify" your post after it's there if you want by clicking the "modify" button on top of your post.

[Scott Joyce]

Mr Perfect certainly was one who was not giving the push as you stated Iceman and IMO he deserved much more than was given to him. As for Savage the Steamboat match has to rank in my top 3 favorites its one of the best matches Ive ever seen. And I always loved Jesse Venturas commentating and believe it or not I liked Hogan when he was the draw in the 80s and I actually started liking him when he became Hollywood. The WWF in the 80s was certainly great but dont forget the NWA had some really good talent to even though its sucess wasnt as great as the WWF.

[80s4life]

The N.W.A.'s talent was fantastic. The summer of 1989 was their most successful period business wise with, I think, Eddie Gilbert and Kevin Sullivan booking. But wow, from The Varsity Club to the Road Warriors to the Skysccensorrs (well, sorry, but Sid has that intangible quality that makes him interesting to watch) to the Midnight Express and Dick Murdoch to Ivan Koloff, the late '80s in the N.W.A. were just awesome. Doubly so for me because here in Montreal, it was hard to see their stuff. There was a French version, but it was just Worldwide with French wraparounds. it wasn't like the W.W.F., where you could get Superstars and Saturday Night's Main Events and Challenge in French, etc.

[Scott Joyce]

The late 80s certainly was a great time in wrestling especially for the NWA. When you have the talent of Flair, Midnight Express, Koloffs, Road Warriors, Rhodes, Blanchard, and many other then thats alot of talent that was used properly and the NWA although smaller than WWF still strived and faired well. The matches were very good with Flair and Rhodes, Blanchard and Ronnie Garvin, Midnight Express and Rock n Roll Express were all great feuds.

[80s4life]

And then the W.W.F., in 1989, BECAME the N.W.A. Garvin, Terry Taylor, The Brain Busters, Big Bubba Rogers, Barry Windham, Dusty Rhodes. Eerie, indeed.

[Iceman]

Yeah, true, the NWA and AWA was great with Abdullah the Butcher, Ric Flair, the 4 Horseman, the Road Warriors, etc. Also Mid-South and ICW with Angelo Poffo seemed pretty good which I have only seen a little bit of.