The Career of Hulk Hogan (Pre-WWF Days, Japan, AWA, Hulkamania is Born, WWF Days) - Part 1b
The WWF had a great run in 1985 during The Rock N' Wrestling era, but 1986 was a whole different story. During early 1986, Bobby Heenan began his feud with Hogan in the WWF. You will read a lot about Heenan's attempt to take the title away from Hogan. Heenan acquired the services of King Kong Bundy and Big John Studd to end Hogan's title reign. At first, Heenan teamed with Studd and Bundy to take on three masked men known as The Machines. They were Super Machine, Hulk Machine, and Giant Machine . Super Machine was actually Bill Eadie (who played Demolition Ax a few years later). Hogan played Hulk Machine and Andre played Giant Machine. Andre played the gimmick to explain his comeback after the WWF suspended him for not working his scheduled matches. There were some other "Machines" in the WWF, but those three were the ones who faced The Heenan Family. After Hulk Machine unmasked, he briefly feuded with Studd. Heenan saved his biggest monster for last as Bundy was scheduled to face Hogan at WrestleMania 2. Before the match, Bundy and Studd attacked Hogan on Saturday Night's Main Event and injured his ribs. Hogan worked with injured ribs and defeated Bundy in a steel cage match to retain the WWF Title. The highlight of the match was when Hogan bodyslammed Bundy and escaped the cage. WrestleMania 2 was not a great pay-per-view and the idea of having the event in three different cities in one night was never used. The WWF didn't have a great business that year and they needed a big boost in 1987. After a long relationship between both men, Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant decided to feud against each other. Jesse Ventura , who was known at one time for being jealous at Hogan because of his success in Hollywood, promised to bring Andre the Giant during a Piper's Pit. Andre challenged Hogan to a WWF Title match. Hogan said he would never wrestle his best friend. Andre ripped Hogan's shirt to signify his heel turn. Later, Hogan accepted to wrestle Andre for the WWF Title at WrestleMania III. Heenan decided to manage Andre because he has been feuding with him ever since their early days in the AWA. The WWF never acknowledged their past matches in the early 80s (including that Showdown at Shea event) when Andre cleanly pinned Hogan. According to storylines, this was going to be their first meeting ever. Also, Andre was putting his 17-year undefeated record on the line. At WrestleMania III, Hogan defeated Andre when he bodyslammed him and did the leg drop for the finish. Here is a brief review from WWF WrestleMania III PPV Report (03-29-87) -Hogan vs. Andre, Steamboat vs. Savage
At 11:09, Hogan catches Andre with a big clothesline and knocks The Giant down. Heenan attempts to get him up, while Hogan begins "hulking up." Hogan then bodyslams Andre and hits the leg drop to get the pin. The arena goes basically quiet for a second, like in awe while Hogan initially picks the Giant up and when he drops, the place goes crazy. Heenan and Andre leave in distress. While Hogan posed for the crowd. Ventura calls this match "professional wrestling's biggest match of all time." That statement is arguable, but I believe it still holds true, but everyone has their own opinion. This match wasn't a technical masterpiece.
WrestleMania III basically saved the WWF from a disaster. After last year's disappointment, the WWF bounced back by drawing 93,173 fans at the Pontiac Silverdome. Hulk Hogan vs. Andre the Giant match was the best main event in the short history of Mania and it proved that night. Hogan and Andre continued their feud in 1987. Andre left the WWF to rest his body for eight months and Hulkamania continued to run wild. Andre returned in time for the 1987 Survivor Series. This was the first ever Survivor Series pay-per-view and it was special. Not only because of the debut, but because this was the first and only time that the WWF aired a PPV the same night as NWA Starrcade. Andre teamed with One Man Gang, Butch Reed, Rick Rude and King Kong Bundy to face Hogan, Don Muraco, Ken Patera, Bam Bam Bigelow and Paul Orndoff. Andre was the sole survivor for his match because Hogan was counted out. Hogan and Andre continued their feud in 1988.
One of the most controversial endings to a WWF Title match occurred at The Main Event on February 5, 1988. Andre and Hogan faced each other in a rematch from WrestleMania III. Andre fell on top of Hogan and pinned him for a three count. During the second count, Hogan got his arm up, but referee Earl Hebner kept counting. Earl's twin brother Dave joined the finish and it was considered a controversial finish. Hogan attacked both referees. Andre won the title, but was stripped of the belt because he immediately sold the title to Ted DiBiase . WWF President Jack Tunney declared the WWF Title vacant and decided to have a 14-man tournament at WrestleMania IV. Since Hogan and Andre had to settle their score, they were going to face each other in the second round with both men getting a bye in the first round. Hogan and Andre were disqualified during their match, so a new champion was going to be crowned later in the night. Since Andre and DiBiase were friends at the time, the finish of this event made sense. Ted DiBiase and Randy Savage were the finalists of the tournament. Andre came out to help DiBiase. Savage was outnumbered and Miss Elizabeth ran to the back to get Hogan. Hogan ended up helping Savage and we had a new WWF Champion. The original finish was for DiBiase to win the tournament, but plans changed. The Mega Powers united at WrestleMania IV as they were going to continue the feud with DiBiase and Andre. At the first ever SummerSlam, The Mega Powers took on The Mega Bucks. Miss Elizabeth had a big surprise for the heels when she stood in the apron and started taking off her dress. The Hogan-Andre feud ended here. Hogan continued to team with Savage on several occasions. At the 1988 Survivor Series, Hogan and Savage were team captains of their team (along with Hillbilly Jim, Koko B. Ware, and Hercules ) and they took on The Twin Towers ( Big Boss Man, Akeem, Red Rooster, Haku, and Ted DiBiase). Hogan and Savage survived the match, but wasn't that easy. Hogan was handcuffed to the ropes during most of the match and Savage had to defend himself. By the end of 1988, Hogan and Savage started their problems. It looked like Savage was jealous because Hogan was not paying attention during his matches, but was overprotective of Miss Elizabeth. At one point, Savage was thrown out of the ring and accidentally hit Elizabeth. Hogan picked up Elizabeth and took her to the back. Savage got mad and attacked Hogan in the medical room. The Mega Powers separated and they were going to wrestle at WrestleMania V with the WWF Title on the line. Savage turned heel and dumped Miss Elizabeth and hired the services of Sensational Sherri. This officially started a long feud between Savage and Hogan that is still talked about today. Hogan and Savage were not only enemies in the ring, but behind the scenes as well. At WrestleMania V, Hogan defeated Savage to win the WWF Title for the second time in his career. Here is a brief review from their first ever match on PPV:
Savage then hangs Hogan throat first across the top rope. Savage slams Hogan and drops a knee on him for a two count. Savage then pulls off some of his wrist tape while the ref tends to Hogan and starts to choke the Hulkster with it. Savage gets rid of it before the ref sees and then beings to choke Hogan with his hands until he takes Hogan down to the mat. Savage goes up top and hits his top rope flying elbow drop and covers but Hogan powers out at 2 and starts to Hulk Up. Savage's punches being to have no effect on the challenger for the WWF title. Hogan blocks a Savage punch and hits the Macho Man with a big right. Hogan throws him into the ropes and hits the big boot followed by the leg drop for the 1-2-3 and Hulk Hogan is your new WWF Champion! Hogan celebrates as the Atlantic City fans go nuts. Gorilla calls Hogan the greatest professional athlete in the world today. RATING: 7.5/10 - A pretty good main event. Good story behind it and a pretty decent match to back it up. Hogan actually wrestled a little bit in this one and sold pretty well also. Both men gave a great effort and put on a WrestleMania main event that will always be remembered. - [Thanks to Tyler Foster for contributing]
Hulk Hogan continued his feud with Savage, but he went to explore other options too. Hogan starred in his first movie, No Holds Barred with Tiny Lister, also known as Zeus . The movie was not a huge hit, but introduced some new fans to wrestling. In order to promote the movie, Hogan teamed with longtime friend Brutus Beefcake and faced Randy Savage and Zeus at SummerSlam '89. Hogan and Beefcake won their match, but the feud continued with Zeus at the 1989 Survivor Series. Hogan teamed with Jake Roberts and Demolition and faced Zeus, Ted DiBiase and Powers of Pain . Hogan was the only survivor of his team after struggling against the power of Zeus.
-- Are you guys like Pedro's cousins with all the sweet hook-ups?
