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Hulk Hogan Speaks On nWo, Rock Feud, Beating Up Vince McMahon, & More
The following are interview highlights with Hulk Hogan:
On WWF Return..
» Hulk Hogan is overwhelmed to be back in the WWF. WCW did not know his value, did not know how to book him, and didn't treat him with the respect any wrestler deserves. He worked an XWF taping with Curt Hennig where his knee seemed to be fine. Then he spoke to Vince McMahon on the phone, and it was a great conversation. McMahon told him he could still be the box office hit he was in the 80s and early 90s. The WWF wrestlers in the back whom Hogan thought would not like him, have treated him very well, and constantly gave him credit on being in incredible shape.
On Undertaker, Vince, Rock, & Stone Cold..
» Hulk Hogan enjoys being back in a company where booking isn't week-to-week. He credits Vince McMahon for being able to make chicken salad out of chicken. During the 80s they were a dangerous team because they worked together. He says while he's going 100 miles per hour, you've got guys like The Rock and Steve Austin clocking in at 150 miles per hour. Undertaker demands respect backstage and knows everything about this business. Hogan enjoys being around people that make you stay on your toes to keep up with. He likes having a challenge.
On Last Year's WrestleMania..
» Hogan had talked with Vince McMahon about returning to last year's WrestleMania. Negotiations fell flat because Hogan and Vince hadn't talked enough, and weren't completely in sync. Physically, Hogan's knee was only 60 percent. He didn't have the desire to get back at that point, but after a few more surgeries and conversations with Vince McMahon, we can all see how the story ended.
On Professionalism Of WWF..
» Again, he loves being back with the WWF. The professionalism rate in the WWF isn't even comparable to WCW. In WWF, what he calls "Titan-Training" Vince demands perfect performances from his talent. He tells them to look at the hard camera, turn this way at this point, do this, do that. The finished product is amazing. In WCW he was never excited once about working. There would be guys with their backs to the camera's not knowing it and not knowing where the aisle was where the wrestlers entered at. It's great for Hogan to be back where everything is professional.
On Friendship With Big Show..
» Hogan mentioned that during their WCW days, he saw Big Show and immediately thought of Andre the Giant. Hogan was closer to Andre than anyone with the exception only of Vince McMahon. He told Big Show immediately in WCW after working with him in the ring, that he should go to the WWF and get some "Titan Training" and learn how to handle himself in the ring. He pushed really hard to get Big Show out of there, even before Hogan and Vince began talking again. He knew it was the right place for Big Show.
On Getting Drunk In L.A..
» When Hogan arrived to L.A. with Kevin Nash, the two sat at the bar and had double-digit beers. Something like 10-12 beers. They knew they were only there to do a digital scan for wrestling action figures, games, and merchandise. The next day he was hung-over and wasn't happy with himself. He knew he didn't have to wrestle or perform. He knew he was running 100 miles an hour, in great shape, and then The Rock came around the corner and stared him in the eye. Hogan said Rock was running 150 miles per hour. He swore that from now on he's going to do whatever possible to be one step above and ahead of the rest.
On Why He Left WWF In '93..
» Hogan blames himself for leaving. He had a bad attitude from working so hard. He had a swelled head from living the high-life, and took for granted the WWF. He says you never realize how important something is to you until it's taken away from you. There was steriod controversy, pressure on him to entertain on a higher level than everyone else, and he didn't have the long list of valuable talent to work with like in today's WWF. He feels it all boils down to himself, and there's no one to blame but him for leaving. Now that he's back, he vows not to make the same mistake twice.
On WWF Mocking Him When He Left..
» He realized in competition you have to do whatever possible to survive. It was hard for him to sit and watch Vince and the WWF mocking him about his age and character, but understood it wasn't anything personal - just business. It ended up biting the WWF in the ass as it made people tune into the WCW to see who the WWF was mocking.
On Who He Wants To Work With..
» Hulk Hogan says he can't wait until storylines start playing out and he can begin feuding with the unending list of impressive talent. He named Rock, Steve Austin, Undertaker, RVD, Chris Jericho, and Vince McMahon. He said he can't wait until he gets Vince in the ring and pounds on him. The storylines are unending here, and he loves it.
party Up 2002™
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Hulk Hogan Speaks On nWo
(Man-in-Black™)