Before you judge this by the headline, let me explain.
Saturday Night’s Main Event hits New York’s Madison Square Garden this weekend. As a primer, WWE Vault uploaded “WWE at MSG in 1986” to its YouTube channel. The collection features matches from “The Mecca” with Randy Savage, Roddy Piper, and, of course, Hulk Hogan.
Hogan appears four times in the video: teaming with Hillbilly Jim, joining forces with the Machines, and tagging with Piper before closing the video against Kamala. In each match, cameras
catch Hogan backstage before entering the arena. There’s a quiet stoicism about him, but once he walks through the curtain, he becomes the character fans paid to see.
Earlier this year, I reviewed Netflix’s documentary Hulk Hogan: Real American. One moment that stood out was how emotional Hogan became while discussing his brother’s death.
“You have to stop,” he told the film crew, “you’re digging way too much for me.”
It’s easy for fans to forget that professional wrestlers are real people carrying real-life struggles into the ring. Yet when it’s time to perform, the best find a way to deliver.
Hogan was especially impressive because he wasn’t just another guy on the card — he was the guy. Whether he was happy, sad, hurt, or angry, there he was, eyes bulging, finger wagging, and larger than life.
Over the years, some observers criticized Hogan for what they saw as a lack of technical mastery. That criticism missed the bigger picture.
After his match with Kamala, Hogan posed for the fans despite Kamala seemingly injuring his ribs. But instead of his usual routine, he kept one arm by his side to sell his injury and did a one-arm posedown while appearing to be in pain.
Was Hogan actually injured? Maybe, but I doubt it. Either way, that attention to detail and “I’m hurt, but this is for you” was an example of giving the fans what they wanted.
None of that excuses his personal flaws and shortcomings. Instead, what I take from Hogan’s performances is his professionalism.
Say what you want about Hogan’s technical ability. As a man, judge him as you wish. But with the weight of WWE on his shoulders, countless hands pawing at him as he made an entrance, and the stress of everyday life, Hogan was a remarkable showman who put the audience first.
