I watched the Spectacular Legacy of AWA and it was a sentimental journey back to an era wrestling will never see again. Of course, the big question over the years is who would have got Hulk Hogan's spot if he stayed with the AWA. But I have a more interesting question: What would have happened with the AWA if Hogan stayed put?
How far would Verne Gagne let Hogan take his company? Would Gagne let Hogan bring Mr T in? I'm thinking no. But I think for at least the year 1984, the AWA would have been the #1 wrestling company in North America with the WWF, still developing national presence, a fast rising #2. The NWA would be left in the dust as their rosters would be depleted.
What's your opinion? I'd like to know.
Hogan might have been the secret ingredient needed to launch the WWF into the stratosphere, but Verne had WAY more problems than Hogan leaving. He was only drawing in specific areas even with Hogan, and you knew Hulk wasn't going to be hanging around Minnesota for much longer with Hollywood calling. Plus Verne had no concept of what wrestling needed to become and in fact he was already behind the times in 84 as it is. So probably what would have happened is that Hogan's career would have been dragged down with Verne's and he would have left for Japan or Crockett sooner rather than later.
Hogan working for Crockett in the 80's is pretty interesting. Do you think they make him a heel or a face? An 80's version of Hollywood Hogan as a member of the Horsemen seems like a natural fit.
ReplyDeletehow can you say a company that gave us "Wrestlerock Rumble" was behind the times?
ReplyDeleteHe probablly would have continued to win DQ matches against NIck Bockwinkle via Dusty finish.
ReplyDeleteYou could have any talent in the world, if you don't know how to market them, it usualy won't matter.
ReplyDeleteThe more important question is, would Vince had taken over the national landscape so quickly without Hogan. We might've hung on to a more territory based system for a longer period of time which isn't a bad thing.
Think about it, no Hogan = no Mr. T vs. Piper/Orndorff, no Hogan vs. Andre. All of that mainstream attention from Rocky 3 which Vince parlayed into big Hollywood attention, gone.
But seriously who would Vince have went with if he couldn't get Hogan?
ReplyDeleteIn a parallel dimension, Hulk Hogan is the Sid of the Horsemen. Making Sid the... wait, my brain hurts.
ReplyDeleteJimmy Snuka was widely considered to be the backup "face of the company" plan. I don't think it would have ever happened because of his drug issues and alleged murder issues, but they certainly had other options, I suppose.
ReplyDeleteWasn't Kerry Von Erich considered another possible choice? THAT would have been interesting but a disaster in the long term due to his massive, massive drug issues plus limited speaking ability.
ReplyDeleteCould Vince have gone with Steamboat as his "face of the company" in a Hoganless world? Clean-cut guy, great worker, basic good guy charisma if not a great promo man.
ReplyDeleteI just can't think of any significant face that had what Hogan had (hollywood exposure, size, promo ability, etc) to be able to pull off an equivalent expansion.
ReplyDeleteWhat about Sgt. Slaughter? Wasn't he the number 2 face behind Hogan in 1984 before he left? I'm sure whatever caused him to leave would have been smoothed over if Vince was relying on him to carry the torch so to speak. And he had mainstream exposure from GI Joe.
ReplyDeleteJYD was another name I'd heard.
ReplyDeleteThey already had someone of that nature in Backlund. I dunno if that sort of babyface has the cache to carry any semblance of the national expansion.
ReplyDeleteThey had some incredible heels though so in that sense, any solid face wouldn't sink the company or anything,
no matter who Vince would have gone with, I am 100% sure that it wouldn't have been the same success (just like you couldn't just take out Austin out of the "Attitude Era" boom and replace him with someone else).
ReplyDeleteAlleged murder issues? What's that all about?
ReplyDeleteBack in 1983 his girlfriend named Nancy Argentino died under very suspicious circumstances and he was the only suspect although charges were never filed against him.
ReplyDeleteAh, OK. Now that you mention it I have vague memories of hearing about that.
ReplyDeleteNot only very suspicious circumstances, but Snuka was apparently found there covered in her blood and unable to remember what had happened. To this day I have no idea how he got out of that one without having his career ruined forever.
ReplyDeleteI've heard that rumor too, and that just doesn't make sense.
ReplyDeleteI just don't see how Vince would have been able to Kerry to leave WCCW. Kerry was a huge star in WCCW, they were making a ton of money, and he was working for his dad! No way somebody just leaves the family business, unless in real life he actually had a horrible relationship with Fritz. Even then, you're leaving the rest of your family behind.
Just to add insult to injury the family sued Snuka in 1985 and won $500,000 but he never paid up citing "financial inability". Remember this was back in the mid-80s and Jimmy sure as hell wasn't poor then. Maybe he had already blown the money he earned, who knows.
ReplyDeleteyour half a brain hurts.
ReplyDeleteHogan was popular, but he also fit that "Rock n' Wrestling Connection" that Vince was running with at the time. I don't believe that anyone could have filled that role. MAYBE Savage could have, and the Ultmate Warrior or Sting were a few years off. But I see no one else.
ReplyDeleteI've also heard he had a daughter. Was that ever confirmed?
ReplyDeleteSo Hogan gets the Luger arc in that scenario?
ReplyDeleteUm, his daughter works for WWE right now under the name Tamina.
ReplyDeleteIf Vince wanted Kerry he would of just bought out Fritz.
ReplyDeleteYou missed the joke.
ReplyDeleteThe thing is, I don't think you get someone like Lauper, who was really big at them time, without the Hollywood star power Hogan had from Rocky 3. So, without Hogan, the "Rock nWrestling Connection" doesn't come to fruition.
ReplyDeletehard to say. She got involved through Dave Wolff who was a big wrestling fan and her manger and who got Lou Albano to be in her video. One myth (which you obviously know better about) is that WWF "made" Lauper, when in fact she was already a huge star and even slightly trending downward by the end of the angle. Maybe WM doesn't happen, but I think she still gets involved through Wolfe and Albano.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the head's up. How's my other half a brain doing, Doctor?
ReplyDeletewell that and his promos were incomprehensible
ReplyDeleteLauper was running with Wendy Richter, so I guess Vince threw enough money at her that it was worth her while.
ReplyDeleteAnd wasn't Snuka illiterate? Doesn't seem like the guy I'd want as the face of my company.
ReplyDeleteI've also heard a rumor about using Tito Santana. "Titomania" is a funny thought, but I don't think the country was ready to latch onto a Hispanic hero.
ReplyDeleteHulk Hogan is actually 1/4 Panamanian.
ReplyDelete