1 00:00:08,133 --> 00:00:09,633 - Oh, no. - Hollywood Hogan 2 00:00:09,676 --> 00:00:13,426 made me act vicious, he was arrogant. 3 00:00:13,471 --> 00:00:15,471 I was the most evil grease ball 4 00:00:15,515 --> 00:00:19,435 that ever showed up in the wrestling business. 5 00:00:19,477 --> 00:00:20,977 The character Hulk Hogan 6 00:00:21,021 --> 00:00:24,361 used to be the ultimate tan, all-American hero. 7 00:00:24,399 --> 00:00:26,479 Totally two different animals. 8 00:00:26,526 --> 00:00:30,236 So it was just that complete 180 transition 9 00:00:30,280 --> 00:00:32,660 to being the most evil villain. 10 00:00:32,699 --> 00:00:36,289 Yes, you can say the ultimate bad guy. 11 00:00:37,412 --> 00:00:40,582 [dramatic music] 12 00:00:40,623 --> 00:00:44,633 * * 13 00:00:44,669 --> 00:00:46,629 [crowd booing] 14 00:01:01,144 --> 00:01:03,774 - The dirtiest player in the game, 15 00:01:03,813 --> 00:01:05,863 Hollywood Hulk Hogan, 16 00:01:05,899 --> 00:01:10,649 will prove you gotta take what you want. 17 00:01:10,695 --> 00:01:13,315 - Hollywood Hulk Hogan was the most diabolical villain 18 00:01:13,365 --> 00:01:15,775 in sports entertainment history. 19 00:01:15,825 --> 00:01:17,785 But Hogan's inglorious brand of evil 20 00:01:17,827 --> 00:01:20,367 derived from rather innocent beginnings. 21 00:01:20,413 --> 00:01:24,633 [National Anthem playing on electric guitar] 22 00:01:24,668 --> 00:01:26,958 - It's the '80s. Simpler times. 23 00:01:27,003 --> 00:01:28,633 * * 24 00:01:28,672 --> 00:01:30,132 Hulk Hogan is the larger-than-life 25 00:01:30,173 --> 00:01:33,803 personification of everything you want in a hero. 26 00:01:33,843 --> 00:01:37,143 Be good, say your prayers, eat your vitamins, 27 00:01:37,180 --> 00:01:40,980 and you too could be like Hulk Hogan someday. 28 00:01:41,017 --> 00:01:42,477 [bell ringing] 29 00:01:42,519 --> 00:01:45,899 - This is the main event! 30 00:01:45,939 --> 00:01:48,319 - Hulk Hogan was larger than life. 31 00:01:48,358 --> 00:01:50,818 Big, 300 and some odd pounds, 32 00:01:50,860 --> 00:01:52,650 built like a brick [bleep]house. 33 00:01:52,696 --> 00:01:56,776 and had an ungodly amount of charisma. 34 00:01:56,825 --> 00:02:00,405 - Hulk Hogan! [crowd cheering] 35 00:02:00,453 --> 00:02:02,793 [bell ringing] 36 00:02:02,831 --> 00:02:05,331 - The 1980s were a wonderful era 37 00:02:05,375 --> 00:02:07,625 for real-life superheroes. 38 00:02:07,669 --> 00:02:09,299 - Hulk now has the Sheik's robe, 39 00:02:09,337 --> 00:02:11,457 and he clotheslined him with it! 40 00:02:11,506 --> 00:02:12,836 - We were looking for heroes 41 00:02:12,882 --> 00:02:16,472 that were really idealized versions of ourselves. 42 00:02:16,511 --> 00:02:18,301 And Hulk Hogan was one of those. 43 00:02:18,346 --> 00:02:21,346 - One, two! He's got Iron Sheik! 44 00:02:21,391 --> 00:02:24,021 Hulkamania is here. 45 00:02:24,060 --> 00:02:26,860 - In early '80s, I started Hulkamania. 46 00:02:26,896 --> 00:02:29,726 I had a lot to do with it, but so did the promotion. 47 00:02:31,443 --> 00:02:33,363 I'm in training and I'm saying my prayers 48 00:02:33,403 --> 00:02:34,573 and eating my vitamins. 49 00:02:34,612 --> 00:02:36,032 And everywhere where I go, man, 50 00:02:36,072 --> 00:02:38,122 the people are training in the parking lots, 51 00:02:38,158 --> 00:02:39,658 closing in the gym. 52 00:02:39,701 --> 00:02:42,501 Hulkamania is running wild all over the world. 53 00:02:42,537 --> 00:02:46,957 - Hulkamania was a phenomenon that grabbed hold of 54 00:02:47,000 --> 00:02:50,460 not just the wrestling world, but the entire world. 55 00:02:50,503 --> 00:02:52,263 - It just blew him up huge. 56 00:02:52,297 --> 00:02:56,837 I mean, this guy couldn't go anywhere and not be recognized. 57 00:02:56,885 --> 00:02:58,545 - All of a sudden you started seeing Hulk more and more 58 00:02:58,595 --> 00:02:59,845 on different shows. 59 00:02:59,888 --> 00:03:01,468 Johnny Carson. 60 00:03:01,514 --> 00:03:03,564 - Professional wrestling kinda turns me 61 00:03:03,600 --> 00:03:05,390 into a stark raving maniac. 62 00:03:05,435 --> 00:03:06,805 - Jay Leno. 63 00:03:06,853 --> 00:03:08,403 - We came to "Saturday Night Live" 64 00:03:08,438 --> 00:03:09,938 for one reason, brother. 65 00:03:09,981 --> 00:03:12,731 'Cause this is the best darn show in the whole wild world. 66 00:03:12,776 --> 00:03:14,396 - "Hulk," I said, "Hulk, you can't go wrong 67 00:03:14,444 --> 00:03:15,744 with the red and yellow." He goes, "Why?" 68 00:03:15,779 --> 00:03:17,699 "McDonald's! McDonald's is red and yellow 69 00:03:17,739 --> 00:03:19,949 and they're all over America." 70 00:03:19,991 --> 00:03:22,991 - They were putting me on the cover of "Sports Illustrated," 71 00:03:23,036 --> 00:03:24,446 all the major magazines, 72 00:03:24,496 --> 00:03:26,746 you know, I was doing commercials for Right Guard. 73 00:03:26,790 --> 00:03:28,960 And there was this crazy momentum. 74 00:03:32,962 --> 00:03:35,382 - There he is, the greatest professional athlete 75 00:03:35,423 --> 00:03:37,763 in the world today, Hulk Hogan. 76 00:03:37,801 --> 00:03:39,511 - Hulk Hogan came into my life 77 00:03:39,552 --> 00:03:43,142 when I was very impressionable in my formative years. 78 00:03:43,181 --> 00:03:44,521 I loved everything about him. 79 00:03:44,557 --> 00:03:47,017 He was big. He was tall. He was tan. 80 00:03:47,060 --> 00:03:48,940 He had 24-inch pythons. 81 00:03:48,978 --> 00:03:52,518 The way he talked. The way he ripped his shirt. 82 00:03:52,565 --> 00:03:56,235 When he was Thunderlips in "Rocky III." 83 00:03:56,277 --> 00:03:58,777 We gotta remember we were in the middle of a Cold War. 84 00:03:58,822 --> 00:04:01,032 There was a lot of propaganda as far as, you know, 85 00:04:01,074 --> 00:04:03,204 the Russians or whatever the case may be. 86 00:04:03,243 --> 00:04:05,333 - We got Nikolai Volkoff 87 00:04:05,370 --> 00:04:07,870 singing the Soviet National Anthem. 88 00:04:07,914 --> 00:04:11,964 It was not necessarily a time for nuanced storytelling. 89 00:04:12,002 --> 00:04:15,842 - I can't stand to see our enemy's flag in the ring. 90 00:04:15,880 --> 00:04:19,470 - Mr. All-American versus the rest of the world. 91 00:04:19,509 --> 00:04:22,049 Throw in the American flag? You got a hero. 92 00:04:22,095 --> 00:04:27,015 - Hulk Hogan with Old Glory flying high above. 93 00:04:28,309 --> 00:04:30,599 - Coming out of the '80s, 94 00:04:30,645 --> 00:04:33,935 the '90s is defined by grunge... 95 00:04:35,692 --> 00:04:37,612 and gangster rap. 96 00:04:37,652 --> 00:04:40,032 Counterculture was everything in the '90s. 97 00:04:41,865 --> 00:04:44,575 - When the '90s came along, everything changed, you know. 98 00:04:44,617 --> 00:04:46,697 It was about being more the bad guy, 99 00:04:46,745 --> 00:04:49,865 the more in your face, the more, "Yeah. Who said so? 100 00:04:49,914 --> 00:04:51,884 "Well, try to knock this chip off my shoulder 101 00:04:51,916 --> 00:04:54,706 and I'll show you what's gonna happen, buddy." 102 00:04:54,753 --> 00:04:57,763 - It was the same red and yellow for a long time. 103 00:04:57,797 --> 00:05:00,627 Very successful long time I might add, 104 00:05:00,675 --> 00:05:02,085 but there was a point 105 00:05:02,135 --> 00:05:05,135 where the audience started looking at Hulk 106 00:05:05,180 --> 00:05:07,680 and going, "Okay, what's new?" 107 00:05:08,975 --> 00:05:11,935 - All of a sudden, I felt things changing. 108 00:05:11,978 --> 00:05:15,358 But I could feel the momentum. It wasn't as powerful. 109 00:05:15,398 --> 00:05:16,608 I'd come out and my music would hit, 110 00:05:16,649 --> 00:05:18,399 it wasn't the same. 111 00:05:18,443 --> 00:05:20,243 I'd drop the leg, do the posedown. 112 00:05:20,278 --> 00:05:22,198 It wasn't the same. 113 00:05:22,238 --> 00:05:23,818 - We could notice each night, 114 00:05:23,865 --> 00:05:25,865 we were getting a few more boos. 115 00:05:25,909 --> 00:05:28,499 Each night, I'd go and check the sales 116 00:05:28,536 --> 00:05:30,036 on our merchandise, you know. 117 00:05:30,080 --> 00:05:32,580 And I could see where it was starting to dip a little bit. 118 00:05:32,624 --> 00:05:34,674 - This Hulk Hogan thing got so big 119 00:05:34,709 --> 00:05:36,839 and it was so powerful. 120 00:05:36,878 --> 00:05:38,048 But there were certain times 121 00:05:38,088 --> 00:05:39,958 where, you know, when I kind of felt 122 00:05:40,006 --> 00:05:43,256 Hulkamania might not be going in the right direction. 123 00:05:43,301 --> 00:05:45,511 I thought there might be a time for a change. 124 00:05:45,553 --> 00:05:48,063 - [yells] - Going up? 125 00:05:50,517 --> 00:05:51,887 - For the next few years, 126 00:05:51,935 --> 00:05:55,685 Hulk focused on his Hollywood ambitions. 127 00:05:55,730 --> 00:05:58,690 - So is he a Box Office champ? 128 00:05:58,733 --> 00:06:01,073 Well, not yet. 129 00:06:01,111 --> 00:06:02,741 - I'm getting better. 130 00:06:02,779 --> 00:06:05,739 The transition is a tough one. 131 00:06:05,782 --> 00:06:09,412 - By 1994, it became clear. 132 00:06:09,452 --> 00:06:13,082 Hulkamania was not running wild in Hollywood. 133 00:06:13,123 --> 00:06:17,423 - I kinda, like, was really on shaky ground for a while. 134 00:06:17,460 --> 00:06:19,300 I wasn't making any money. 135 00:06:19,337 --> 00:06:22,337 And when I left the WWE, 136 00:06:22,382 --> 00:06:24,262 Vince thought my run was over. 137 00:06:24,300 --> 00:06:28,470 You know, so I was just kinda like, stumbling along 138 00:06:28,513 --> 00:06:30,103 on a hope and a prayer. 139 00:06:32,517 --> 00:06:36,437 I was so lucky that WCW 140 00:06:36,479 --> 00:06:39,319 had a sound stage right next to "Thunder in Paradise." 141 00:06:39,357 --> 00:06:45,107 And Eric Bischoff approached me with Ric Flair and said, 142 00:06:45,155 --> 00:06:47,865 "Hey, we'd like you to put lightning in a bottle again." 143 00:06:47,907 --> 00:06:49,197 I said, "Brother, I'm in." 144 00:06:51,661 --> 00:06:53,831 - Eric Bischoff was a chief executive 145 00:06:53,872 --> 00:06:56,922 tasked with leading WCW, a wrestling promotion 146 00:06:56,958 --> 00:06:59,378 with the objective to overtake WWE 147 00:06:59,419 --> 00:07:01,709 as the industry standard. 148 00:07:01,755 --> 00:07:03,295 Bischoff's first plan of action 149 00:07:03,340 --> 00:07:06,720 was to entice former WWE superstars into the fold 150 00:07:06,760 --> 00:07:08,600 to jumpstart the company. 151 00:07:08,636 --> 00:07:12,136 [intense music] 152 00:07:12,182 --> 00:07:14,642 And there was still no bigger name out there... 153 00:07:14,684 --> 00:07:16,144 [cheers and applause] 154 00:07:16,186 --> 00:07:18,226 Than Hulk Hogan. 155 00:07:19,689 --> 00:07:22,189 - WCW was at a point in time 156 00:07:22,233 --> 00:07:25,243 where we were positioning for growth. 157 00:07:25,278 --> 00:07:27,818 Hulk Hogan was still a bankable star 158 00:07:27,864 --> 00:07:29,284 in the eyes of advertisers. 159 00:07:29,324 --> 00:07:32,874 Knowing that Hulk was no longer with WWE, 160 00:07:32,911 --> 00:07:36,291 it became apparent to me that being able to sign Hulk 161 00:07:36,331 --> 00:07:41,841 and get him to come to WCW would create an awareness 162 00:07:41,878 --> 00:07:44,338 that no amount of advertising or marketing 163 00:07:44,381 --> 00:07:46,051 probably could have achieved. 164 00:07:47,425 --> 00:07:49,135 - I never, ever in my life 165 00:07:49,177 --> 00:07:52,307 thought that I would run against Vince McMahon. 166 00:07:52,347 --> 00:07:55,677 But you know, I talked to Eric Bischoff. 167 00:07:55,725 --> 00:07:59,095 And he said, "What's it gonna take to light this company up?" 168 00:07:59,145 --> 00:08:02,395 I said, "Well, I need to come back as Hulk Hogan for a while 169 00:08:02,440 --> 00:08:03,690 "and get the feel of things, 170 00:08:03,733 --> 00:08:06,283 and then we can figure it out really quick." 171 00:08:06,319 --> 00:08:08,359 - Hulk Hogan, five times-- 172 00:08:08,405 --> 00:08:10,865 - The initial reaction when Hulk left WWE 173 00:08:10,907 --> 00:08:13,327 and went to WCW was 174 00:08:13,368 --> 00:08:16,998 going to a smaller organization at the time 175 00:08:17,038 --> 00:08:19,748 would help that organization, definitely, 176 00:08:19,791 --> 00:08:21,081 but wasn't anything that said, 177 00:08:21,126 --> 00:08:23,086 "Oh, well this is gonna make a difference. 178 00:08:23,128 --> 00:08:25,548 Not with the same thing that he had been doing here." 179 00:08:25,588 --> 00:08:27,048 - We're gonna find out 180 00:08:27,090 --> 00:08:29,510 who the most powerful man in the WCW is because-- 181 00:08:29,551 --> 00:08:30,891 - You know, when we first brought Hulk Hogan in, 182 00:08:30,927 --> 00:08:32,427 it was a big damn deal. 183 00:08:32,470 --> 00:08:33,850 It made a lot of news. 184 00:08:33,888 --> 00:08:35,768 It served its purpose. 185 00:08:35,807 --> 00:08:38,807 But after about a year and a half, 186 00:08:38,852 --> 00:08:42,402 the audience viewed Hulk Hogan differently. 187 00:08:42,439 --> 00:08:46,399 I knew that, going head-to-head with the WWE, 188 00:08:46,443 --> 00:08:50,703 we had to be different and had to be a lot edgier. 189 00:08:50,739 --> 00:08:55,539 So it was Hulk Hogan joining the dark side. 190 00:08:55,577 --> 00:08:59,457 - Oh, what is this? Come on! 191 00:08:59,497 --> 00:09:04,127 * * 192 00:09:04,169 --> 00:09:07,169 - So I flew myself down to Clearwater 193 00:09:07,213 --> 00:09:10,093 and had a conversation with Hulk. 194 00:09:10,133 --> 00:09:13,603 "What do you think about turning heel? 195 00:09:13,636 --> 00:09:18,926 Going from good to the bad guy?" 196 00:09:18,975 --> 00:09:21,385 - Eric came up with this idea and, you know, 197 00:09:21,436 --> 00:09:24,146 I knew I needed to do something, but I wasn't sold. 198 00:09:25,732 --> 00:09:29,402 - I think Hulk knew that the red and yellow Hulk Hogan 199 00:09:29,444 --> 00:09:33,534 was still generating a lot of revenue 200 00:09:33,573 --> 00:09:37,793 and would be turning his back on the fans. 201 00:09:37,827 --> 00:09:39,997 And I just don't think he was interested 202 00:09:40,038 --> 00:09:45,498 in taking the risk associated with turning heel. 203 00:09:45,543 --> 00:09:47,303 Because Hulk had made it clear to me 204 00:09:47,337 --> 00:09:50,337 he had no interest in turning heel at all, 205 00:09:50,382 --> 00:09:52,382 so I had to have a plan B. 206 00:09:52,425 --> 00:09:54,295 * * 207 00:09:54,344 --> 00:09:57,474 - WCW president Eric Bischoff hatched a real life plot 208 00:09:57,514 --> 00:10:00,144 to put WWE out of business. 209 00:10:00,183 --> 00:10:03,403 - Scott and I had taken on the perception 210 00:10:03,436 --> 00:10:06,686 of two of the WWE's top guys 211 00:10:06,731 --> 00:10:08,781 doing basically, a hostile takeover 212 00:10:08,817 --> 00:10:10,567 of another corporation, 213 00:10:10,610 --> 00:10:13,450 so we were always perceived as the WWE. 214 00:10:13,488 --> 00:10:16,658 - Get security out here and get them outta here. 215 00:10:16,700 --> 00:10:19,290 - The perception was implied 216 00:10:19,327 --> 00:10:23,617 that they were being sent from us at the WWE 217 00:10:23,665 --> 00:10:28,245 and it was an invasion of WWE talent going to WCW. 218 00:10:28,294 --> 00:10:30,514 [tires squealing] - See you, buddy! 219 00:10:30,547 --> 00:10:31,837 Whoo! 220 00:10:31,881 --> 00:10:34,511 - Scott Hall and Kevin Nash, 221 00:10:34,551 --> 00:10:38,141 they killed everyone. 222 00:10:38,179 --> 00:10:40,309 - Stop take, get security. 223 00:10:41,266 --> 00:10:43,386 - They didn't have anything to lose 224 00:10:43,435 --> 00:10:46,055 and they were willing to take risks. 225 00:10:46,104 --> 00:10:48,234 - Oh, my God. - Hey, get him outta here. 226 00:10:48,273 --> 00:10:50,823 - We picked up a lot of momentum right off the bat. 227 00:10:50,859 --> 00:10:53,149 Certainly got people's attention, 228 00:10:53,194 --> 00:10:55,704 but I needed to make as big a splash as I could, 229 00:10:55,739 --> 00:11:00,119 so we built an entire storyline around a third man. 230 00:11:00,160 --> 00:11:02,290 What made it tricky for me is 231 00:11:02,328 --> 00:11:07,208 I had to find a third man in that story. 232 00:11:07,250 --> 00:11:10,170 - Bischoff wanted the promise of a mysterious third man, 233 00:11:10,211 --> 00:11:12,881 the baddest of the bad guys, 234 00:11:12,922 --> 00:11:15,592 a true heel of a human being. 235 00:11:15,633 --> 00:11:18,763 But who could possibly fill those boots? 236 00:11:18,803 --> 00:11:20,563 - Everyone wanted that spot. 237 00:11:20,597 --> 00:11:22,557 These two guys had lit up the world. 238 00:11:22,599 --> 00:11:26,939 I'm talking about number one spot on cable television. 239 00:11:26,978 --> 00:11:30,398 - We wanna know who your three guys are. 240 00:11:30,440 --> 00:11:34,820 - And then he cut that promo about "Bring your best three, 241 00:11:34,861 --> 00:11:36,911 we're bringing our best three." 242 00:11:36,946 --> 00:11:41,486 - The big man and the medium size man 243 00:11:41,534 --> 00:11:43,544 and our surprise buddy-- 244 00:11:43,578 --> 00:11:46,918 - "And next week, I'm bringing the big man in." 245 00:11:46,956 --> 00:11:49,536 The really crazy part is 246 00:11:49,584 --> 00:11:52,714 no one knew 247 00:11:52,754 --> 00:11:55,134 who the third guy was 248 00:11:55,173 --> 00:11:57,883 because there wasn't one yet. 249 00:12:05,684 --> 00:12:08,604 - I remember the day that I got a call from Hulk. 250 00:12:08,645 --> 00:12:10,855 And he said, "Hey, man, I'd like to talk to you 251 00:12:10,897 --> 00:12:12,107 "about what's going on. 252 00:12:12,148 --> 00:12:15,318 Can you make it out to LA?" So I did. 253 00:12:15,360 --> 00:12:18,450 I think I got to Hulk's trailer around midnight. 254 00:12:18,488 --> 00:12:21,988 After we had a beer or two and lit up a Cuban cigar, 255 00:12:22,033 --> 00:12:23,913 Hulk said to me, "So... 256 00:12:25,036 --> 00:12:27,286 Who's gonna be the third man?" 257 00:12:27,330 --> 00:12:29,670 And I didn't wanna tell him. 258 00:12:29,708 --> 00:12:31,998 I already had Sting lined up. 259 00:12:32,043 --> 00:12:34,213 - I said, "You can't ask Sting." 260 00:12:35,714 --> 00:12:38,764 I needed major, major change, 261 00:12:38,800 --> 00:12:40,590 really, really bad. 262 00:12:42,512 --> 00:12:44,062 I was starting to get to the point 263 00:12:44,097 --> 00:12:48,057 where I was second-guessing everything about myself. 264 00:12:48,101 --> 00:12:51,481 Was the Hulkamania ride a fluke? 265 00:12:51,521 --> 00:12:55,611 Was the reason Hulkamania got so big, 266 00:12:55,650 --> 00:12:59,030 was it just Vince McMahon's promotion? 267 00:12:59,070 --> 00:13:02,320 When this whole three guys thing came along 268 00:13:02,365 --> 00:13:03,825 and I decided to jump on it, 269 00:13:03,867 --> 00:13:07,787 I needed it more than life itself, at that point. 270 00:13:07,829 --> 00:13:10,289 I didn't want Sting to get it. 271 00:13:10,331 --> 00:13:13,881 And I wanted to prove to people that I knew this business. 272 00:13:13,918 --> 00:13:17,008 And not only could I be the greatest good guy ever. 273 00:13:17,047 --> 00:13:18,207 I knew this business well enough 274 00:13:18,256 --> 00:13:20,716 that I could be the greatest bad guy ever. 275 00:13:20,759 --> 00:13:25,759 So I said, "I'm in. I'm in. Let's do it." 276 00:13:25,805 --> 00:13:29,595 - I was like, "Wow. Didn't see that one coming." 277 00:13:29,642 --> 00:13:31,642 [dramatic music] 278 00:13:34,939 --> 00:13:37,319 Boy, have I got butteries. 279 00:13:37,359 --> 00:13:41,609 Luger's here. Sting's here. Savage is here. 280 00:13:41,654 --> 00:13:43,914 I only see two of them. 281 00:13:43,948 --> 00:13:46,698 - We were told there would be three of these interlopers. 282 00:13:46,743 --> 00:13:50,293 And as you can see, there are only two. 283 00:13:50,330 --> 00:13:52,620 - There's just two of them. 284 00:13:52,665 --> 00:13:54,375 They're fighting three guys. 285 00:13:54,417 --> 00:13:56,747 Savage and Luger and Sting. 286 00:13:56,795 --> 00:13:57,915 - Where is he? 287 00:13:57,962 --> 00:14:00,052 It's your partner telling me 288 00:14:00,090 --> 00:14:02,430 that your third man is in the building? 289 00:14:02,467 --> 00:14:04,087 - Oh, he's here all right, Gene. 290 00:14:04,135 --> 00:14:06,965 - What made it tricky for me is 291 00:14:07,013 --> 00:14:08,723 I wasn't 100% convinced 292 00:14:08,765 --> 00:14:11,225 that Hulk was actually going to see it through. 293 00:14:11,267 --> 00:14:13,267 - Up until 4:00 o'clock, 294 00:14:13,311 --> 00:14:15,651 Hulk wasn't sure he was gonna do it, you know. 295 00:14:15,689 --> 00:14:17,729 It was--it was not a go. 296 00:14:17,774 --> 00:14:21,614 And the backup plan was gonna be Sting turning. 297 00:14:25,740 --> 00:14:27,330 - I think everybody under their breath 298 00:14:27,367 --> 00:14:29,617 said a little bit of prayer because we knew 299 00:14:29,661 --> 00:14:32,831 we're taking the biggest name in the history of this business 300 00:14:32,872 --> 00:14:34,672 and switching him to a bad guy. 301 00:14:34,708 --> 00:14:37,458 - We couldn't afford any mistakes. 302 00:14:37,502 --> 00:14:40,962 Keeping it a secret was my top priority. 303 00:14:41,006 --> 00:14:44,926 I pulled him over into this big janitorial closet, 304 00:14:44,968 --> 00:14:48,348 and we started going through that promo 305 00:14:48,388 --> 00:14:51,388 just beginning to middle and end. 306 00:14:52,767 --> 00:14:56,187 It was the most exciting, most stressful, 307 00:14:56,229 --> 00:15:00,649 probably two hours of my professional life. 308 00:15:00,692 --> 00:15:04,032 Once Hulk walked through that curtain, 309 00:15:04,070 --> 00:15:05,660 it was what it was going to be, 310 00:15:05,697 --> 00:15:07,197 and there was nothing I or anybody else 311 00:15:07,240 --> 00:15:09,330 could do about it. All bets were off. 312 00:15:09,367 --> 00:15:11,487 - Hulk Hogan is in the building! 313 00:15:11,536 --> 00:15:13,326 - You're damn right he is! - Go get 'em, Hulk! 314 00:15:13,371 --> 00:15:15,331 - Hulk comes out. Here he comes! 315 00:15:15,373 --> 00:15:18,673 America, red and yellow, blah, blah, blah. 316 00:15:18,710 --> 00:15:20,800 People are there. They're there. They're there. 317 00:15:20,837 --> 00:15:25,087 - Yes. Finally, the Hulkster to the rescue. 318 00:15:25,133 --> 00:15:26,893 - And I'm--I'm in on it. 319 00:15:26,926 --> 00:15:28,296 I know he's gonna turn. 320 00:15:28,345 --> 00:15:31,255 And all I'm thinking in my mind is, "Oh, man. 321 00:15:31,306 --> 00:15:32,676 "Five minutes from now, man, 322 00:15:32,724 --> 00:15:35,354 I'm going to get the photo op of a lifetime." 323 00:15:35,393 --> 00:15:37,903 Like, I'm in the ring with Hulk Hogan. 324 00:15:37,937 --> 00:15:40,107 - I go to the ring and Bobby Eaton goes, 325 00:15:40,148 --> 00:15:42,028 "But whose side is he on?" 326 00:15:42,067 --> 00:15:44,187 - But whose side is he on? 327 00:15:44,235 --> 00:15:45,855 - What are you talking about, Bobby? 328 00:15:45,904 --> 00:15:47,114 What side is he on? 329 00:15:47,155 --> 00:15:48,615 There's only one side for him to be on. 330 00:15:50,575 --> 00:15:53,535 - Literally, it was hard for me to breathe. 331 00:15:53,578 --> 00:15:54,698 I was so excited. 332 00:15:54,746 --> 00:15:56,366 - Kevin and Scott cleared out of the ring 333 00:15:56,414 --> 00:15:57,754 like they were afraid of me first. 334 00:15:57,791 --> 00:15:59,171 - Get it, Hogan! 335 00:15:59,209 --> 00:16:00,999 Go get it, baby! 336 00:16:01,044 --> 00:16:02,804 Hulk, Hulk, Hulk! 337 00:16:02,837 --> 00:16:05,047 - Oh, my God! Is he the third man? 338 00:16:05,090 --> 00:16:06,420 - He's the third man! 339 00:16:06,466 --> 00:16:08,386 - I went in and dropped the leg on Mach. 340 00:16:08,426 --> 00:16:09,926 - What has he done? 341 00:16:09,969 --> 00:16:13,139 - Hulk Hogan has betrayed WCW! 342 00:16:13,181 --> 00:16:16,231 [crowd booing] 343 00:16:16,267 --> 00:16:17,597 - They were in shock. 344 00:16:17,644 --> 00:16:20,564 - You just sold your soul to the devil. 345 00:16:20,605 --> 00:16:25,235 - I mean, you could feel the air come out of the arena. 346 00:16:25,276 --> 00:16:27,896 No one knew how to react. 347 00:16:27,946 --> 00:16:30,816 - Hogan drops the leg and stands there in the ring 348 00:16:30,865 --> 00:16:33,655 being interviewed by a disgusted Mean Gene Okerlund. 349 00:16:33,702 --> 00:16:36,582 - Mean Gene, the first thing you need to do 350 00:16:36,621 --> 00:16:39,081 is to tell these people to shut up 351 00:16:39,124 --> 00:16:41,424 if you wanna hear what I gotta say. 352 00:16:41,459 --> 00:16:44,419 Well, I told everybody I was done 353 00:16:44,462 --> 00:16:46,262 and all you fans out there, 354 00:16:46,297 --> 00:16:49,127 you're just like the trash in this ring. 355 00:16:49,175 --> 00:16:51,925 When I said that, man, they were throwing bottles, 356 00:16:51,970 --> 00:16:54,260 they were throwing anything they could get their hands on. 357 00:16:54,305 --> 00:16:55,765 - Look at the ring. 358 00:16:55,807 --> 00:16:58,887 Look at all this crap in this ring. 359 00:16:58,935 --> 00:17:01,265 - As far as I'm concerned, 360 00:17:01,312 --> 00:17:04,482 all this crap in the ring 361 00:17:04,524 --> 00:17:07,114 represents these fans out here. 362 00:17:07,152 --> 00:17:10,202 You fans can stick it, brother. 363 00:17:10,238 --> 00:17:13,618 - Trash is raining down from the crowd. 364 00:17:13,658 --> 00:17:15,238 You knew you were seeing something 365 00:17:15,285 --> 00:17:18,075 you never thought you would see. 366 00:17:18,121 --> 00:17:20,331 Hulk Hogan was evil. 367 00:17:20,373 --> 00:17:22,963 He had become the ultimate villain. 368 00:17:23,001 --> 00:17:25,211 - You can call this 369 00:17:25,253 --> 00:17:29,763 the New World Order of wrestling, brother. 370 00:17:29,799 --> 00:17:31,589 - And he ushers in 371 00:17:31,634 --> 00:17:36,354 an entirely new era of professional wrestling. 372 00:17:37,766 --> 00:17:40,136 - And that was the birth of the nWo. 373 00:17:40,185 --> 00:17:43,855 * * 374 00:17:47,192 --> 00:17:48,742 - Hulk Hogan, for you to join up 375 00:17:48,777 --> 00:17:50,607 with the likes of these two men 376 00:17:50,653 --> 00:17:53,743 absolutely makes me sick to my stomach. 377 00:17:53,782 --> 00:17:55,832 - The way it is now, brother, 378 00:17:55,867 --> 00:18:01,617 not only are we gonna take over the whole wrestling business 379 00:18:01,664 --> 00:18:05,924 with Hulk Hogan and the new blood, the monsters with me, 380 00:18:05,960 --> 00:18:11,090 we will destroy everything in our path, Mean Gene. 381 00:18:11,132 --> 00:18:13,092 It got so much heat. 382 00:18:13,134 --> 00:18:17,394 Me, Kevin, and Scott got to the back and went, "Holy [bleep]." 383 00:18:18,890 --> 00:18:20,890 - It was the craziest thing I've ever seen in my life. 384 00:18:20,934 --> 00:18:23,484 They had to call extra police in 385 00:18:23,520 --> 00:18:25,610 from the Daytona Police Department, came out there 386 00:18:25,647 --> 00:18:27,727 because there was a riot that took place. 387 00:18:27,774 --> 00:18:30,744 I mean, all the news medias picked up on it everywhere. 388 00:18:33,863 --> 00:18:35,493 - The next day, 389 00:18:35,532 --> 00:18:39,622 Turner Broadcasting was flooded 390 00:18:39,661 --> 00:18:41,581 with emails and phone calls 391 00:18:41,621 --> 00:18:45,631 of really pissed-off people, 392 00:18:45,667 --> 00:18:47,127 mainly 'cause of the kids. 393 00:18:47,168 --> 00:18:48,628 'Cause Hulk was, 394 00:18:48,670 --> 00:18:50,460 "Say your prayer, eat your vitamins." 395 00:18:50,505 --> 00:18:54,465 And now you're heel? Ooh, man. 396 00:18:54,509 --> 00:18:59,809 People were-- bleep, bleep, bleep--pissed. 397 00:18:59,848 --> 00:19:03,058 - People lost their minds, dude. 398 00:19:03,101 --> 00:19:04,981 I mean, kids were burning 399 00:19:05,020 --> 00:19:09,020 their Hulk Hogan wrestling huggers in effigy. 400 00:19:09,065 --> 00:19:11,565 I mean it was insane. 401 00:19:11,609 --> 00:19:15,409 That's how beloved that man was. 402 00:19:15,447 --> 00:19:17,657 [crowd chanting] Hogan sucks! Hogan sucks! 403 00:19:17,699 --> 00:19:19,739 Hogan sucks! Hogan sucks! 404 00:19:19,784 --> 00:19:21,164 - That was devastating. 405 00:19:21,202 --> 00:19:25,172 Little kids were crying. Grown men were pissed. 406 00:19:25,206 --> 00:19:28,376 It was genuine betrayal. 407 00:19:28,418 --> 00:19:33,048 And the hate that surely follows. 408 00:19:36,051 --> 00:19:38,011 - Hollywood Hogan embraced his dark side 409 00:19:38,053 --> 00:19:40,353 with greater ease than anyone expected. 410 00:19:40,388 --> 00:19:43,978 It was clear he was in this for the long haul. 411 00:19:44,017 --> 00:19:45,597 - Wearing black 412 00:19:45,643 --> 00:19:48,103 instead of his customary and traditional 413 00:19:48,146 --> 00:19:49,606 yellow and red, 414 00:19:49,647 --> 00:19:56,647 Mr. Hollywood Hulk Hogan! 415 00:19:56,696 --> 00:19:59,906 - The biggest on-camera change for Hulk Hogan 416 00:19:59,949 --> 00:20:02,789 going from good guy to bad guy was wardrobe. 417 00:20:02,827 --> 00:20:05,747 The red and yellow. Those were his colors. 418 00:20:05,789 --> 00:20:09,499 Then going to the black and the bandana being black. 419 00:20:09,542 --> 00:20:11,382 - He's turned his back on it all. 420 00:20:11,419 --> 00:20:12,959 - What I liked the most about it 421 00:20:13,004 --> 00:20:15,304 as opposed to just the wardrobe, it was in the beard. 422 00:20:15,340 --> 00:20:21,180 It visually made his heel turn more dramatic. 423 00:20:21,221 --> 00:20:24,971 - At the time, it wasn't gray. It was still kinda blonde. 424 00:20:25,016 --> 00:20:26,516 I grew the beard in, 425 00:20:26,559 --> 00:20:28,599 and I got Just For Men, 426 00:20:28,645 --> 00:20:31,395 and I dyed it shoe polish black, 427 00:20:31,439 --> 00:20:35,529 as evil, as Snidely Whiplash as I could get it. 428 00:20:35,568 --> 00:20:37,778 And that was the look. 429 00:20:37,821 --> 00:20:41,741 It made people so mad that they knew I dyed my beard 430 00:20:41,783 --> 00:20:43,743 or I put makeup on it or whatever they thought. 431 00:20:43,785 --> 00:20:45,075 - Listen to the fans! 432 00:20:45,120 --> 00:20:47,500 - It put that extra icing on the top 433 00:20:47,539 --> 00:20:49,669 to make people hate me even more. 434 00:20:49,708 --> 00:20:52,458 And then nobody airbrushed their boots, you know. 435 00:20:52,502 --> 00:20:54,672 So I was putting "Hollywood" 436 00:20:54,713 --> 00:20:56,593 and lightning bolts on the boots. 437 00:20:56,631 --> 00:20:57,881 And so that was like tweaking 438 00:20:57,924 --> 00:20:59,054 the character and getting it right. 439 00:20:59,092 --> 00:21:02,762 But it made me act a certain way too. 440 00:21:02,804 --> 00:21:05,274 - You know, there wasn't a bigger boogieman 441 00:21:05,306 --> 00:21:07,556 than Hollywood Hulk Hogan. 442 00:21:07,600 --> 00:21:08,940 - Hollywood Hulk Hogan, 443 00:21:08,977 --> 00:21:11,687 he'd give the cheap shots behind the referee's back, 444 00:21:11,730 --> 00:21:13,190 you know, scrape the back. 445 00:21:13,231 --> 00:21:15,481 He would get on his hands and knees and beg, 446 00:21:15,525 --> 00:21:17,435 "Oh, please, don't hit me, please," 447 00:21:17,485 --> 00:21:19,945 where the people wanted to see that happen, you know? 448 00:21:19,988 --> 00:21:21,818 And so it was just a whole different persona 449 00:21:21,865 --> 00:21:23,825 than he was from Hulk Hogan. 450 00:21:24,993 --> 00:21:28,253 - Hulk Hogan is the man that you voted for 451 00:21:28,288 --> 00:21:30,748 for The Most Hated Wrestler of the Year. 452 00:21:30,790 --> 00:21:33,130 Hulkster, wait a minute. I've known you, like, forever. 453 00:21:33,168 --> 00:21:35,338 I mean, you were the most popular guy in the world 454 00:21:35,378 --> 00:21:37,838 and now The Most Hated Wrestler of the Year? 455 00:21:37,881 --> 00:21:41,011 - Well, brother, times change and so do people, man. 456 00:21:41,051 --> 00:21:44,971 - The scourge of the wrestling world! 457 00:21:45,013 --> 00:21:50,233 - Not only was the heat so pure, but all the-- 458 00:21:50,268 --> 00:21:53,098 I don't wanna say purist wrestling fans, 459 00:21:53,146 --> 00:21:55,566 but the dicks like me, 460 00:21:55,607 --> 00:21:57,857 we all loved it. We were like, "Oh, 461 00:21:57,901 --> 00:22:00,951 if he can do that, anything's possible." 462 00:22:00,987 --> 00:22:03,657 - I just wanted to set the tone 463 00:22:03,698 --> 00:22:06,828 for what really would make the nWo take off. 464 00:22:06,868 --> 00:22:08,698 - * Let's get the-- get get get the money * 465 00:22:08,745 --> 00:22:10,285 * * 466 00:22:10,330 --> 00:22:13,790 - And man, we rode it hard and we rode it long. 467 00:22:13,833 --> 00:22:19,013 The nWo is the only way to go. 468 00:22:19,047 --> 00:22:21,167 - Asking Hogan to turn his back on the ideals 469 00:22:21,216 --> 00:22:23,716 that made him the icon of a generation 470 00:22:23,760 --> 00:22:26,010 was a big ask to say the least. 471 00:22:26,054 --> 00:22:27,764 He knew there was no turning back. 472 00:22:27,806 --> 00:22:29,716 - * Let's get the-- get get get the money * 473 00:22:29,766 --> 00:22:31,726 * * 474 00:22:36,314 --> 00:22:43,114 - The new World Heavyweight Champions, the nWo! 475 00:22:43,154 --> 00:22:48,034 - The fans picked up on the nWo Hulk Hogan. 476 00:22:48,076 --> 00:22:52,246 It was something the wrestling world had never seen before 477 00:22:52,288 --> 00:22:57,128 and what's even crazier more so than anything, 478 00:22:57,168 --> 00:23:00,458 they liked it and they ate it up. 479 00:23:00,505 --> 00:23:04,375 - I think secretly, we all love the bad guys. 480 00:23:04,426 --> 00:23:06,846 There's always a cool factor to the bad dude. 481 00:23:06,886 --> 00:23:08,966 I think there's something within all of us 482 00:23:09,014 --> 00:23:10,314 that kind of wishes 483 00:23:10,348 --> 00:23:12,308 we could do a little bit of that in real life. 484 00:23:12,350 --> 00:23:13,770 - What are you fans gonna think? 485 00:23:13,810 --> 00:23:15,980 - Hey, what you gonna do? I'm a bad guy. 486 00:23:16,021 --> 00:23:18,401 - Oh, oh, G-Gonzo! Gonzo, help! 487 00:23:18,440 --> 00:23:20,480 - Thistle! 488 00:23:20,525 --> 00:23:22,565 - I think there's a certain authenticity 489 00:23:22,610 --> 00:23:24,860 that rings with people 490 00:23:24,904 --> 00:23:29,534 when they find out that this pure hero is flawed. 491 00:23:29,576 --> 00:23:31,906 And then when they see that they go, "Wow, 492 00:23:31,953 --> 00:23:33,373 I don't have to be perfect." 493 00:23:33,413 --> 00:23:38,423 You can identify with that person that has the flaws. 494 00:23:38,460 --> 00:23:40,210 - They were cool bad guys. 495 00:23:40,253 --> 00:23:42,053 And I think that's what makes the fans go, 496 00:23:42,088 --> 00:23:43,878 "You know, I wish I could dress like him. 497 00:23:43,923 --> 00:23:45,513 "I wish I could go and tell my boss off 498 00:23:45,550 --> 00:23:46,680 like this guy here." 499 00:23:46,718 --> 00:23:48,008 It's being everything 500 00:23:48,053 --> 00:23:51,683 that you wish you could be, but you're not. 501 00:23:51,723 --> 00:23:53,393 - It's a new world order. 502 00:23:53,433 --> 00:23:55,853 There's nothing you can do about it. 503 00:23:55,894 --> 00:23:58,524 You know, the more we would beat people up 504 00:23:58,563 --> 00:24:02,193 and spray paint Ted Turner's equipment outside, 505 00:24:02,233 --> 00:24:04,533 the more evil stuff we did, 506 00:24:04,569 --> 00:24:07,359 the more the fans cheered. 507 00:24:07,405 --> 00:24:11,115 - I think the audience's appetite was changing. 508 00:24:11,159 --> 00:24:13,949 The audience was beginning to dig the anti-hero 509 00:24:13,995 --> 00:24:15,575 a lot more than the hero. 510 00:24:15,622 --> 00:24:19,082 So the whole idea was to be edgier, 511 00:24:19,125 --> 00:24:21,205 more adult-themed, 512 00:24:21,252 --> 00:24:26,382 and to have much more of a reality sensibility. 513 00:24:26,424 --> 00:24:28,134 And it worked. 514 00:24:31,805 --> 00:24:34,675 - It was fascinating because they were showing us things 515 00:24:34,724 --> 00:24:36,314 that we had never seen before. 516 00:24:36,351 --> 00:24:38,901 They were taking us back behind the scenes, 517 00:24:38,937 --> 00:24:41,057 and they were just disrupting. 518 00:24:41,106 --> 00:24:43,226 From a fan's point of view, it was almost like 519 00:24:43,274 --> 00:24:46,494 now there was a virus in wrestling 520 00:24:46,528 --> 00:24:49,198 and you were either cool like Hogan, 521 00:24:49,239 --> 00:24:53,119 or you were, you know, company people. 522 00:24:53,159 --> 00:24:56,789 - Getting the world to get behind it 523 00:24:56,830 --> 00:24:58,710 and want to be a part of it, 524 00:24:58,748 --> 00:25:00,878 it was genius. It really was. 525 00:25:00,917 --> 00:25:04,957 Everybody in the arena had the shirt. 526 00:25:05,005 --> 00:25:06,375 - Wanna make a fashion statement? 527 00:25:06,423 --> 00:25:07,843 - Buy the shirt! 528 00:25:07,882 --> 00:25:10,762 - My grandmother wouldn't allow me to wear 529 00:25:10,802 --> 00:25:13,852 the nWo shirt in my house. 530 00:25:13,888 --> 00:25:16,518 She even ripped down my Hulk Hogan poster. 531 00:25:16,558 --> 00:25:18,888 So when Hulk Hogan was transforming 532 00:25:18,935 --> 00:25:20,435 and the nWo was forming, 533 00:25:20,478 --> 00:25:22,438 I was also turning into a younger adult too. 534 00:25:22,480 --> 00:25:24,440 So I was kind of changing the way I was moving 535 00:25:24,482 --> 00:25:25,572 and the things I liked. 536 00:25:25,608 --> 00:25:27,438 So that whole transition was perfect 537 00:25:27,485 --> 00:25:30,105 from, you know, loving this guy in the yellow and red 538 00:25:30,155 --> 00:25:32,985 to, "Grandma, I need my nWo shirt. 539 00:25:33,033 --> 00:25:35,163 Where's my black and white shirt?" 540 00:25:35,201 --> 00:25:37,451 - Ironically, the villainous Hollywood Hogan 541 00:25:37,495 --> 00:25:39,575 was now attracting the sort of celebrity attention 542 00:25:39,622 --> 00:25:43,082 that Hulk Hogan could only dream about back in '94. 543 00:25:44,794 --> 00:25:47,304 - The nWo thing was so cool 544 00:25:47,339 --> 00:25:49,299 that there were really no boundaries. 545 00:25:49,341 --> 00:25:51,761 - Hang on, you guys. Now, listen-- 546 00:25:51,801 --> 00:25:53,761 - I mean, it was insane. 547 00:25:53,803 --> 00:25:54,853 We had a blast. 548 00:25:54,888 --> 00:25:57,308 [moody rock music] 549 00:25:57,349 --> 00:26:01,349 - All of a sudden, our ratings went from like 2.4s 550 00:26:01,394 --> 00:26:05,774 to sixes, sevens, and eights. 551 00:26:05,815 --> 00:26:07,935 I mean, those are NFL numbers. 552 00:26:07,984 --> 00:26:10,244 - We had our own NASCAR nWo car. 553 00:26:10,278 --> 00:26:11,908 - Oh. - Oh! 554 00:26:11,946 --> 00:26:13,906 - Everybody wanted to be a bad guy. 555 00:26:13,948 --> 00:26:17,448 - You proved you are the icon 556 00:26:17,494 --> 00:26:21,124 that everybody in this building has always known you are. 557 00:26:21,164 --> 00:26:24,004 Give it up for the Hulkster. Come on, give it up. 558 00:26:27,379 --> 00:26:33,049 - It totally changed the landscape of the business. 559 00:26:33,093 --> 00:26:37,643 All of a sudden, bad guys became everything. 560 00:26:39,224 --> 00:26:42,774 - Hulk Hogan becoming evil and becoming bad 561 00:26:42,811 --> 00:26:46,401 was the game-changer that allowed WCW 562 00:26:46,439 --> 00:26:50,609 to move ahead in the ratings above us for 83 weeks. 563 00:26:50,652 --> 00:26:55,532 And that was the catalyst that really set WCW into motion, 564 00:26:55,573 --> 00:26:58,583 becoming a very successful promotion. 565 00:26:58,618 --> 00:27:01,908 - Let's destroy the broadcast booth... 566 00:27:01,955 --> 00:27:02,995 - No! No! 567 00:27:03,039 --> 00:27:07,539 - Just like we destroyed the WCW. 568 00:27:07,585 --> 00:27:09,745 - At that time, the world celebrated 569 00:27:09,796 --> 00:27:11,126 power hungry villains 570 00:27:11,172 --> 00:27:13,882 who might just burn the whole world down. 571 00:27:13,925 --> 00:27:16,465 But in a bizarre twist of fate, 572 00:27:16,511 --> 00:27:20,641 the very monster WCW created in order to destroy WWE 573 00:27:20,682 --> 00:27:23,272 turned into an evil they could not forbear. 574 00:27:28,565 --> 00:27:31,275 - In 1996, thanks to Hollywood Hogan, 575 00:27:31,317 --> 00:27:34,777 WCW was dominating WWE in the TV ratings. 576 00:27:34,821 --> 00:27:37,241 But as it's often been said, 577 00:27:37,282 --> 00:27:39,532 the devil's in the details, 578 00:27:39,576 --> 00:27:40,946 or in this case, 579 00:27:40,994 --> 00:27:42,454 the fine print. 580 00:27:42,495 --> 00:27:45,955 - Going back to some of the first-- 581 00:27:45,999 --> 00:27:50,379 the initial meetings I had with Hulk about coming to WCW, 582 00:27:50,420 --> 00:27:52,960 he looked me right in the eyes and said, "Brother, 583 00:27:53,006 --> 00:27:54,216 "I don't trust anybody here. 584 00:27:54,257 --> 00:27:56,047 "I don't know you, Eric. 585 00:27:56,092 --> 00:27:58,892 "And I know everybody that works here in this company, 586 00:27:58,928 --> 00:28:00,718 "and I really don't trust them. 587 00:28:00,764 --> 00:28:03,184 "So here's how this is gonna have to work. 588 00:28:03,224 --> 00:28:04,894 Creative control." 589 00:28:04,934 --> 00:28:08,484 [dramatic rock music] 590 00:28:08,521 --> 00:28:10,481 - It means a lot to have creative control 591 00:28:10,523 --> 00:28:13,153 because if somebody else comes in and says, 592 00:28:13,193 --> 00:28:15,703 "I think we need to do this or do that," 593 00:28:15,737 --> 00:28:17,197 and you can't perform, 594 00:28:17,238 --> 00:28:18,778 it really hurts the money you're making. 595 00:28:18,823 --> 00:28:21,333 So we knew if you do have creative control, 596 00:28:21,368 --> 00:28:22,988 it's like you can do no wrong. 597 00:28:23,036 --> 00:28:25,456 - When Hulk came over to WCW, 598 00:28:25,497 --> 00:28:27,867 for Hulk, creative control meant 599 00:28:27,916 --> 00:28:31,126 that you could call the match that you wanted, 600 00:28:31,169 --> 00:28:33,379 when you wanted it. 601 00:28:33,421 --> 00:28:37,431 It was something that opened a can of worms. 602 00:28:37,467 --> 00:28:40,137 I think it rubbed a lot of the guys the wrong way. 603 00:28:40,178 --> 00:28:42,258 - A lot of the wrestlers were upset. 604 00:28:42,305 --> 00:28:44,385 Their egos just got out of control. 605 00:28:44,432 --> 00:28:46,812 They were just really upset. 606 00:28:46,851 --> 00:28:48,521 - We were pissed. 607 00:28:48,561 --> 00:28:50,901 We were all just fighting for your spot. 608 00:28:50,939 --> 00:28:54,069 The nWo has had some good times. 609 00:28:54,109 --> 00:28:57,199 Quite frankly, lately, some bad times. 610 00:28:57,237 --> 00:28:58,567 - For Scott and I, 611 00:28:58,613 --> 00:29:00,663 his creative control was very hard 612 00:29:00,699 --> 00:29:04,199 because the golden one would walk in at 5:15, 613 00:29:04,244 --> 00:29:07,044 on an 8:00 o'clock start and go, 614 00:29:07,080 --> 00:29:10,130 "Brother, that doesn't work for me." 615 00:29:10,166 --> 00:29:14,086 Well, [bleep] you. 616 00:29:14,129 --> 00:29:15,709 You know, like, "Wow, really, man? 617 00:29:15,755 --> 00:29:18,795 "Okay. What does? Do you have an idea? 618 00:29:18,842 --> 00:29:20,342 "You don't even have an idea. 619 00:29:20,385 --> 00:29:22,675 "That just doesn't work for you? 620 00:29:22,721 --> 00:29:25,181 So we'll just-- we'll work around it." 621 00:29:27,934 --> 00:29:29,314 - It got to a point 622 00:29:29,352 --> 00:29:31,402 when the lunatics started running the asylum 623 00:29:31,438 --> 00:29:34,068 and the ship started falling apart. 624 00:29:34,107 --> 00:29:37,607 [cackling] 625 00:29:37,652 --> 00:29:41,242 The numbers started slipping just a little bit. 626 00:29:41,281 --> 00:29:43,741 Instead of Eric taking over control, 627 00:29:43,783 --> 00:29:46,293 you had everybody in the Turner offices 628 00:29:46,327 --> 00:29:48,157 that knew nothing about wrestling, 629 00:29:48,204 --> 00:29:49,834 trying to put their two cents worth in. 630 00:29:49,873 --> 00:29:51,333 - We need to talk. 631 00:29:51,374 --> 00:29:53,424 - Uh--what do we need to talk about? 632 00:29:53,460 --> 00:29:55,250 - Wait a minute, this is the president 633 00:29:55,295 --> 00:29:57,085 of Turner Sports. He's your boss. 634 00:29:57,130 --> 00:30:00,010 - I know. - This is Dr. Harvey Schiller. 635 00:30:00,050 --> 00:30:02,760 This cannot bode well for you. 636 00:30:02,802 --> 00:30:06,512 - Turner basically took WCW away from him. 637 00:30:06,556 --> 00:30:08,516 Eric Bischoff lost control. 638 00:30:08,558 --> 00:30:13,268 So it was like being sabotaged at the highest level. 639 00:30:13,313 --> 00:30:15,193 It just--it just fell apart. 640 00:30:17,400 --> 00:30:22,240 - So, yeah, I mean, in September of '99, 641 00:30:22,280 --> 00:30:26,870 I was relieved of my duties in WCW. 642 00:30:26,910 --> 00:30:30,250 In their infinite wisdom, 643 00:30:30,288 --> 00:30:32,288 WCW brought in Vince Russo-- 644 00:30:32,332 --> 00:30:34,792 - Guys, this show really sucks. 645 00:30:34,834 --> 00:30:37,554 - Because Vince Russo was able to convince 646 00:30:37,587 --> 00:30:40,877 certain people in WCW and Turner Broadcasting 647 00:30:40,924 --> 00:30:43,934 that Vince Russo was actually the architect 648 00:30:43,968 --> 00:30:45,468 behind the Attitude Era 649 00:30:45,512 --> 00:30:48,812 and all the success that WWE had. 650 00:30:48,848 --> 00:30:51,098 - Oh, my God, that's Vince Russo. 651 00:30:51,142 --> 00:30:54,402 - Bro, as sure as I'm sitting here, 652 00:30:54,437 --> 00:31:00,317 I walked into a WCW locker room. 653 00:31:00,360 --> 00:31:02,990 And the minute I walked in, 654 00:31:03,029 --> 00:31:06,369 there was a giant target, 655 00:31:06,408 --> 00:31:09,328 bullseye on my back. 656 00:31:09,369 --> 00:31:11,619 - Vince Russo came in 657 00:31:11,663 --> 00:31:14,083 and he said, "I'm gonna fire everybody 658 00:31:14,124 --> 00:31:17,384 that's one day over 40." 659 00:31:17,419 --> 00:31:20,589 And I went, "Okay, how's this gonna work?" 660 00:31:20,630 --> 00:31:23,430 - One of the ways he was able to galvanize himself 661 00:31:23,466 --> 00:31:27,136 with some of this lower card, younger talent 662 00:31:27,178 --> 00:31:30,638 was to badmouth guys like Hulk Hogan. 663 00:31:30,682 --> 00:31:33,352 - Hulk Hogan and Ric Flair can't go on wrestling forever. 664 00:31:33,393 --> 00:31:35,603 You've got to build the undercard. 665 00:31:35,645 --> 00:31:37,895 - And I'm just going, "Oh, my God. 666 00:31:37,939 --> 00:31:40,279 "If you guys buy this, I got a lot of swamp land 667 00:31:40,316 --> 00:31:41,646 here in Florida to sell you." 668 00:31:41,693 --> 00:31:44,283 - Russo's goal is to get rid of Hulk Hogan. 669 00:31:44,320 --> 00:31:46,530 That was going to be his claim to fame. 670 00:31:46,573 --> 00:31:50,493 He was gonna put the nail in Hulk Hogan's career. 671 00:31:50,535 --> 00:31:52,825 - A wrestler's paranoia, 672 00:31:52,871 --> 00:31:55,541 you can't-- you can't change that. 673 00:31:55,582 --> 00:31:59,042 They're gonna believe what they wanna believe. 674 00:31:59,085 --> 00:32:00,375 And they believe 675 00:32:00,420 --> 00:32:02,710 that I was trying to run them outta Dodge, 676 00:32:02,756 --> 00:32:05,256 which was the last thing I was trying to do. 677 00:32:05,300 --> 00:32:07,720 - Vince Russo never butt heads with anybody to their face. 678 00:32:07,761 --> 00:32:11,561 It was always behind your back. 679 00:32:11,598 --> 00:32:15,098 Don't edit that out. I dare you. 680 00:32:15,143 --> 00:32:21,023 - Let's get ready to rumble! 681 00:32:21,066 --> 00:32:24,276 - So when we talk about "Bash at the Beach," 682 00:32:24,319 --> 00:32:25,899 I had written the show 683 00:32:25,945 --> 00:32:30,405 and Hulk had to give the script approval, okay? 684 00:32:30,450 --> 00:32:34,000 Sent the first one over, Hulk didn't like it. 685 00:32:34,037 --> 00:32:37,457 Sent the second one over, Hulk didn't like it. 686 00:32:37,499 --> 00:32:39,039 - Basically, they want to get the belt off you 687 00:32:39,084 --> 00:32:40,384 and put it on Jarrett. 688 00:32:40,418 --> 00:32:41,628 And I said, "Well, here's the deal, bro. 689 00:32:41,670 --> 00:32:44,010 "I don't get along with this Vince Russo guy. 690 00:32:44,047 --> 00:32:45,967 "Anyway, he's been trying to sabotage me 691 00:32:46,007 --> 00:32:48,507 since the day he walked in here." 692 00:32:48,551 --> 00:32:51,391 - So I write the third script, and basically, 693 00:32:51,429 --> 00:32:55,429 I have Hulk killing everyone in the building, 694 00:32:55,475 --> 00:32:58,595 but not walking out with the title. 695 00:32:58,645 --> 00:33:00,145 - He's here! - It is. 696 00:33:00,188 --> 00:33:02,068 - Vince wanted Hulk to drop the belt to Jeff. 697 00:33:02,107 --> 00:33:04,437 And he said, "Look, let me win the belt tonight 698 00:33:04,484 --> 00:33:07,204 "on the pay-per-view--" which is the money. 699 00:33:07,237 --> 00:33:09,107 "And then Monday night," he said, 700 00:33:09,155 --> 00:33:10,945 "I'll drop it, you know, at Nitro." 701 00:33:10,990 --> 00:33:13,120 Well, he didn't want to do that. 702 00:33:13,159 --> 00:33:18,119 - I then go to Jeff Jarrett and say to Jeff, 703 00:33:18,164 --> 00:33:20,754 "Jeff, F Hogan, 704 00:33:20,792 --> 00:33:22,962 "Lay down in the middle of the ring. 705 00:33:23,003 --> 00:33:24,553 "Let him cover you. 706 00:33:24,587 --> 00:33:27,547 And let him leave with his belt. F him." 707 00:33:33,263 --> 00:33:35,223 - What's Jeff doing? - Hang on a minute. 708 00:33:35,265 --> 00:33:36,725 - What's Jeff doing? 709 00:33:36,766 --> 00:33:38,306 Russo, I think, told Jarrett to lie down. 710 00:33:38,351 --> 00:33:39,481 What's going on? 711 00:33:39,519 --> 00:33:41,149 - Jarrett lays down. 712 00:33:41,187 --> 00:33:43,267 I looked down, and said, "Brother, don't do this." 713 00:33:43,314 --> 00:33:46,364 I said, "Don't screw this business up like this." 714 00:33:46,401 --> 00:33:48,491 You know? And he just laid there. 715 00:33:48,528 --> 00:33:53,118 Is this your deal, Russo? - Wow. 716 00:33:53,158 --> 00:33:55,578 - That's why this company's is the damn shape it's in, 717 00:33:55,618 --> 00:33:58,078 because of bull[bleep] like this. 718 00:34:01,875 --> 00:34:04,035 [match bell rings] - This is wild. 719 00:34:04,085 --> 00:34:05,995 Hulk Hogan is the world champion. 720 00:34:06,046 --> 00:34:09,626 And this sport has never seen anything like this. 721 00:34:09,674 --> 00:34:12,144 - Maybe Russo can explain to the world 722 00:34:12,177 --> 00:34:16,007 what we have seen. 723 00:34:16,056 --> 00:34:17,636 - Look at his face. - Yeah. 724 00:34:17,682 --> 00:34:19,562 We know that face, don't we? 725 00:34:19,601 --> 00:34:22,061 - I've done nothing, 726 00:34:22,103 --> 00:34:26,943 nothing but deal with the bull[bleep] 727 00:34:26,983 --> 00:34:32,323 of the politics behind that curtain. 728 00:34:33,239 --> 00:34:36,449 I came back to the guys behind that curtain 729 00:34:36,493 --> 00:34:41,003 that give a [bleep] about this company. 730 00:34:41,039 --> 00:34:43,289 And let me tell you who doesn't give a [bleep] 731 00:34:43,333 --> 00:34:45,093 about this company. 732 00:34:45,126 --> 00:34:49,546 That goddamn politician Hulk Hogan. 733 00:34:49,589 --> 00:34:52,629 Because Hulk Hogan tonight 734 00:34:52,676 --> 00:34:58,596 wants to play his creative control card. 735 00:34:58,640 --> 00:35:01,140 You will never see that piece of [bleep] again. 736 00:35:01,184 --> 00:35:03,484 [cheering] 737 00:35:03,520 --> 00:35:05,900 - Amen. 738 00:35:06,773 --> 00:35:10,653 - So now you gotta understand with Hulk's ego, 739 00:35:10,694 --> 00:35:11,904 I go back to the office 740 00:35:11,945 --> 00:35:14,065 and I gotta meet with Brad Siegel, 741 00:35:14,114 --> 00:35:16,164 who was the head of TNT. 742 00:35:16,199 --> 00:35:18,659 And Brad says, "Vince, what happened?" 743 00:35:18,702 --> 00:35:21,002 And I laid out the entire scenario 744 00:35:21,037 --> 00:35:22,577 and Brad says to me, 745 00:35:22,622 --> 00:35:26,002 "How did you leave it with Hulk?" 746 00:35:26,042 --> 00:35:28,672 - That was the Vince Russo show. 747 00:35:28,712 --> 00:35:30,842 The whole thing was just so-- 748 00:35:30,880 --> 00:35:34,510 just out of the realm of what this business is about. 749 00:35:34,551 --> 00:35:36,801 It was just--it was a disaster. 750 00:35:36,845 --> 00:35:39,505 - Where does Hollywood Hogan's career go from here? 751 00:35:39,556 --> 00:35:42,266 - Where does WCW go from here? 752 00:35:42,308 --> 00:35:45,728 - With the WCW's value at an all-time low, 753 00:35:45,770 --> 00:35:47,810 the powers cut their losses 754 00:35:47,856 --> 00:35:51,066 and sold out to the man they sought to destroy: 755 00:35:51,109 --> 00:35:52,529 Vince McMahon. 756 00:35:52,569 --> 00:35:58,579 - The fate of WCW is in my hands. 757 00:36:04,748 --> 00:36:06,288 - When Hollywood Hulk Hogan 758 00:36:06,332 --> 00:36:10,752 and his band of cutthroats destroy you, 759 00:36:10,795 --> 00:36:16,255 the WCW will be on a silver platter, brother. 760 00:36:16,301 --> 00:36:21,431 And just like the big, bad wolf said... 761 00:36:21,473 --> 00:36:23,853 Better to eat you with. 762 00:36:25,268 --> 00:36:27,768 Uh, wow. [chuckles] 763 00:36:27,812 --> 00:36:29,982 The downfall of WCW. 764 00:36:32,067 --> 00:36:34,687 - I didn't feel any, you know, 765 00:36:34,736 --> 00:36:37,026 ego boost of, "Way to go, Vince..." 766 00:36:37,072 --> 00:36:38,992 You know, "You crushed them. 767 00:36:39,032 --> 00:36:41,082 And now you own them," and all that. 768 00:36:41,117 --> 00:36:44,247 I look at it as business as usual. 769 00:36:44,287 --> 00:36:47,367 You have to grab your competition by the throat, 770 00:36:47,415 --> 00:36:49,245 and you've gotta squeeze the life 771 00:36:49,292 --> 00:36:50,962 out of your competition, 772 00:36:51,002 --> 00:36:53,882 just like I did to WCW. 773 00:36:53,922 --> 00:36:56,762 - On March 26th, 2001, 774 00:36:56,800 --> 00:37:00,140 WWE officially purchased WCW. 775 00:37:00,178 --> 00:37:02,428 Vince McMahon would dismantle the roster 776 00:37:02,472 --> 00:37:05,062 and yank WCW off the air. 777 00:37:10,063 --> 00:37:13,023 A year later, Vince McMahon was looking to squeeze 778 00:37:13,066 --> 00:37:16,106 whatever evil juice was left out of Hogan. 779 00:37:16,152 --> 00:37:18,862 While Hollywood's star was on the wing, 780 00:37:18,905 --> 00:37:22,405 The Rock was on his way into the stratosphere. 781 00:37:22,450 --> 00:37:25,910 It was to be a symbolic passing of the torch 782 00:37:25,954 --> 00:37:28,124 from an icon of an era gone by 783 00:37:28,164 --> 00:37:31,004 to the great one of the Attitude Era. 784 00:37:31,042 --> 00:37:32,922 - Hey, it's The Rock. Come on, guys. 785 00:37:32,961 --> 00:37:35,211 - Hey, wow. It's our people's champ. 786 00:37:35,255 --> 00:37:36,295 - I'm a baller. 787 00:37:36,339 --> 00:37:38,219 - This is my son's favorite wrestler. 788 00:37:38,258 --> 00:37:41,008 - Vince wanted me to wrestle The Rock, you know. 789 00:37:41,052 --> 00:37:42,392 - Hogan, you take that camera. 790 00:37:42,429 --> 00:37:44,219 It's already shined up, turn sideways, 791 00:37:44,264 --> 00:37:45,474 eat your vitamin, say your prayers, 792 00:37:45,515 --> 00:37:49,435 and stick it straight up all your candy asses. 793 00:37:51,438 --> 00:37:53,518 - It's kind of funny because, 794 00:37:53,565 --> 00:37:54,815 you know, I remember him saying, 795 00:37:54,858 --> 00:37:56,278 "Well, Terry, you know, things have changed. 796 00:37:56,317 --> 00:37:58,647 "And, you know, if you're gonna wrestle The Rock, 797 00:37:58,695 --> 00:38:00,405 you better really bring it." 798 00:38:00,447 --> 00:38:02,447 In my mind, I'm thinking, "Brother, if I bring it, 799 00:38:02,490 --> 00:38:04,780 you're gonna be begging me to take it back." 800 00:38:04,826 --> 00:38:10,366 - Hollywood Hulk Hogan! 801 00:38:11,875 --> 00:38:13,125 - The Rock against Hulk Hogan. 802 00:38:13,168 --> 00:38:15,168 Here's the aging Hulk Hogan. 803 00:38:15,211 --> 00:38:17,511 Here's the newcomer, The Rock. 804 00:38:17,547 --> 00:38:21,177 What was gonna happen? 805 00:38:21,217 --> 00:38:23,177 - I mean, I took my daughter to hear the Backstreet Boys 806 00:38:23,219 --> 00:38:25,889 and NSYNC and girls scream so loud it hurt my ears. 807 00:38:25,930 --> 00:38:28,140 It was just that loud. 808 00:38:28,183 --> 00:38:30,813 - There's a lot of fans here in SkyDome 809 00:38:30,852 --> 00:38:33,862 that love this legendary figure, 810 00:38:33,897 --> 00:38:36,607 Hollywood Hulk Hogan. 811 00:38:37,233 --> 00:38:39,743 - Oh, the power of Hogan. 812 00:38:45,033 --> 00:38:48,043 - When Hulk came back, they don't want the nWo Hulk. 813 00:38:48,078 --> 00:38:49,868 They didn't want Hollywood Hulk. 814 00:38:49,913 --> 00:38:51,373 They wanted Hulk. 815 00:38:51,414 --> 00:38:53,834 I think our audience looked at it as 816 00:38:53,875 --> 00:38:55,245 it had been long enough. 817 00:38:55,293 --> 00:38:56,383 He had been black and white 818 00:38:56,419 --> 00:38:58,459 for ten years or whatever it was, 819 00:38:58,505 --> 00:39:00,625 and people were ready now, 820 00:39:00,674 --> 00:39:03,434 what's old is new again. 821 00:39:03,468 --> 00:39:05,638 - I mean, God, how long 822 00:39:05,679 --> 00:39:08,219 did the beginning of that match go on? 823 00:39:08,264 --> 00:39:11,104 Where they were just listening to the crowd 824 00:39:11,142 --> 00:39:15,192 and listening to the deafening Hogan chants. 825 00:39:15,230 --> 00:39:17,610 - Many in the crowd chanting for Hogan. 826 00:39:17,649 --> 00:39:19,149 - Holy cow, man. 827 00:39:19,192 --> 00:39:23,112 It was a worldwide audience telling you that, 828 00:39:23,154 --> 00:39:26,574 "Man, we love him for everything he was. 829 00:39:26,616 --> 00:39:30,366 "We loved him for leaving. We loved him for coming back. 830 00:39:30,412 --> 00:39:31,962 "We love Hulk. 831 00:39:31,996 --> 00:39:34,866 And maybe you're shoving Rock down our throat." 832 00:39:34,916 --> 00:39:39,956 [crowd cheering loudly] 833 00:39:40,005 --> 00:39:43,255 - Heard 'em cheering and I went, "Oh, crap." 834 00:39:43,299 --> 00:39:44,259 You know, and they were cheering 835 00:39:44,300 --> 00:39:45,550 and cheering and cheering. 836 00:39:45,593 --> 00:39:47,053 And The Rock started taking over on me. 837 00:39:47,095 --> 00:39:48,845 Every time he'd punch me, they'd boo him. 838 00:39:48,888 --> 00:39:50,388 [crowd booing] 839 00:39:50,432 --> 00:39:51,932 - I don't think The Rock expected a mixed reaction. 840 00:39:51,975 --> 00:39:53,805 - The Rock was getting booed. 841 00:39:53,852 --> 00:39:55,192 He's had the push of a lifetime, 842 00:39:55,228 --> 00:39:57,058 and here, I come back, 843 00:39:57,105 --> 00:39:59,265 trying to put the WWE out of business 844 00:39:59,315 --> 00:40:02,145 for ten years, trying to destroy the company. 845 00:40:02,193 --> 00:40:05,573 I come back and the people are cheering me and booing him? 846 00:40:05,613 --> 00:40:08,073 - The crowd is solidly behind Hulk. 847 00:40:08,116 --> 00:40:10,446 I don't know if The Rock knows what to think. 848 00:40:10,493 --> 00:40:12,373 - People went crazy over the Hulkster. 849 00:40:12,412 --> 00:40:13,662 Oh, my God. It was unbelie-- 850 00:40:13,705 --> 00:40:15,115 and then people loved The Rock too. 851 00:40:15,165 --> 00:40:16,415 But they got the match turned around 852 00:40:16,458 --> 00:40:18,338 where people cheered The Rock, cheered Hulk. 853 00:40:18,376 --> 00:40:20,586 You know, "Let's go, Hulkster. Let's go, Rock." 854 00:40:20,628 --> 00:40:22,758 "Let's go, Hulkster. Let's go, Rock." 855 00:40:22,797 --> 00:40:25,177 - Hulk, Rock. 856 00:40:25,216 --> 00:40:27,886 Two of the greatest of all time. 857 00:40:27,927 --> 00:40:31,217 And they were able to listen, 858 00:40:31,264 --> 00:40:32,564 react, 859 00:40:32,599 --> 00:40:34,019 and make it work. 860 00:40:38,688 --> 00:40:40,398 - People just couldn't take it anymore. 861 00:40:40,440 --> 00:40:42,730 Couldn't wait for Hulk to hulk up 862 00:40:42,776 --> 00:40:44,146 and make that big comeback. 863 00:40:44,194 --> 00:40:46,494 Comeback, comeback. 864 00:40:46,529 --> 00:40:49,319 - Oh, my God. - What you gonna do, Rock? 865 00:40:49,366 --> 00:40:52,906 - Hulk heard an audience, a worldwide audience 866 00:40:52,952 --> 00:40:54,912 telling you that, 867 00:40:54,954 --> 00:40:58,044 "Man, we want our traditional Hulk back. 868 00:40:58,083 --> 00:40:59,923 And we love him." 869 00:40:59,959 --> 00:41:02,129 It was a beautiful moment 870 00:41:02,170 --> 00:41:05,220 because that was an evolution for Hulk. 871 00:41:10,178 --> 00:41:11,468 [match bell ringing] 872 00:41:11,513 --> 00:41:16,523 - You smell what The Rock is cooking. 873 00:41:16,559 --> 00:41:19,189 - It was interesting because it was almost like 874 00:41:19,229 --> 00:41:21,519 it was the first time that Hogan realized 875 00:41:21,564 --> 00:41:27,114 that there could be some ambiguity to his character. 876 00:41:27,153 --> 00:41:29,783 I think it wasn't until that night 877 00:41:29,823 --> 00:41:32,663 'cause he was so over with the audience, 878 00:41:32,701 --> 00:41:36,121 he realized he could have elements of Hollywood 879 00:41:36,162 --> 00:41:38,922 and not be completely bad. 880 00:41:42,460 --> 00:41:45,880 [crowd cheering] 881 00:41:45,922 --> 00:41:47,382 - At the end, 882 00:41:47,424 --> 00:41:49,054 the people really got what they wanted to see: 883 00:41:49,092 --> 00:41:51,302 two of the biggest icons in the world. 884 00:41:51,344 --> 00:41:54,014 And so, you know, it was kinda like a passing of the torch. 885 00:41:54,055 --> 00:41:56,975 [triumphant music] 886 00:41:57,017 --> 00:42:04,147 * * 887 00:42:07,610 --> 00:42:09,360 - It was so intense... 888 00:42:11,573 --> 00:42:13,493 That Vince McMahon goes, 889 00:42:13,533 --> 00:42:16,753 "Where is your red and yellow gear?" 890 00:42:16,786 --> 00:42:20,036 Vince goes, "You need to go get your red and yellow stuff." 891 00:42:23,335 --> 00:42:25,245 My whole character 892 00:42:25,295 --> 00:42:27,955 of Hollywood Hogan was nothing but fun 893 00:42:28,006 --> 00:42:30,836 and being nasty as I want to be 894 00:42:30,884 --> 00:42:32,184 and having a blast doing it. 895 00:42:32,218 --> 00:42:35,138 [sentimental music] 896 00:42:35,180 --> 00:42:38,060 * * 897 00:42:38,099 --> 00:42:41,599 The Hulk Hogan character actually was up here 898 00:42:41,644 --> 00:42:44,114 and it brought me up and made me a better person 899 00:42:44,147 --> 00:42:45,897 all these years. 900 00:42:45,940 --> 00:42:47,400 And I finally understand 901 00:42:47,442 --> 00:42:49,532 what it meant to so many people. 902 00:42:49,569 --> 00:42:50,859 * * 903 00:42:50,904 --> 00:42:53,074 [National Anthem playing on electric guitar] 904 00:42:53,114 --> 00:42:54,874 - Wait just a minute! 905 00:42:54,908 --> 00:42:57,618 Looks like Hulk Hogan's got the red and yellow! 906 00:42:57,660 --> 00:43:01,080 The true colors of the Hulkster! 907 00:43:01,122 --> 00:43:03,962 The bright red, the bright yellow. 908 00:43:04,000 --> 00:43:06,630 Hulk Hogan is back! 909 00:43:06,670 --> 00:43:09,710 That is so cool to see the Hulkster 910 00:43:09,756 --> 00:43:12,296 in the red and yellow. 911 00:43:12,342 --> 00:43:14,262 - Psychoanalyst Carl Jung once said 912 00:43:14,302 --> 00:43:17,222 the inside of every person is a shadow self. 913 00:43:17,263 --> 00:43:19,973 It's where we keep the things we don't like about ourselves. 914 00:43:20,016 --> 00:43:22,846 Pride, ruthless ambition, 915 00:43:22,894 --> 00:43:24,734 tendency to violence. 916 00:43:24,771 --> 00:43:26,821 That's Hollywood Hogan. 917 00:43:26,856 --> 00:43:30,646 As much as we all want to be the hero that was Hulk Hogan, 918 00:43:30,694 --> 00:43:34,244 we all have a little bit of Hollywood Hogan inside of us. 919 00:43:37,617 --> 00:43:40,157 - I think if one were to go back 920 00:43:40,203 --> 00:43:44,333 and try to do a postmortem 921 00:43:44,374 --> 00:43:46,004 on the "evil" Hulk Hogan, 922 00:43:46,042 --> 00:43:48,672 at its core 923 00:43:48,712 --> 00:43:52,512 was the fact that Hulk turned his back 924 00:43:52,549 --> 00:43:55,589 on people who loved him and supported him 925 00:43:55,635 --> 00:43:56,795 as a character. 926 00:43:56,845 --> 00:43:59,635 And in creating a mystery, 927 00:43:59,681 --> 00:44:01,851 getting the audience to ask questions, 928 00:44:01,891 --> 00:44:03,351 blurring the line, 929 00:44:03,393 --> 00:44:06,353 which I will admit now that the, you know, 930 00:44:06,396 --> 00:44:08,896 litigation is far behind us. 931 00:44:08,940 --> 00:44:11,690 You know, creating that feeling 932 00:44:11,735 --> 00:44:14,025 of not being sure what we're seeing 933 00:44:14,070 --> 00:44:16,030 is real or make-believe. 934 00:44:16,072 --> 00:44:19,412 - For Hollywood, every night's a main event. 935 00:44:19,451 --> 00:44:21,411 Every night's a payoff. 936 00:44:21,453 --> 00:44:23,963 And every night's another trip to the bank. 937 00:44:23,997 --> 00:44:26,617 - It was genuine betrayal 938 00:44:26,666 --> 00:44:31,046 and the hate that surely follows. 939 00:44:31,087 --> 00:44:34,217 It was a thing of beauty, 940 00:44:34,257 --> 00:44:37,467 if I do say so myself. 941 00:44:38,261 --> 00:44:41,601 - It's the most cunning that will survive. 942 00:44:41,639 --> 00:44:43,979 - What are we to think of the duplicitous Hulk Hogan? 943 00:44:44,017 --> 00:44:46,977 Is he the icon who inspired a generation of Hulkamaniacs 944 00:44:47,020 --> 00:44:49,110 to say their prayers and eat their vitamins? 945 00:44:49,147 --> 00:44:52,277 A superhero who made it cool to be the good guy? 946 00:44:52,317 --> 00:44:54,737 Or is he the nefarious Hollywood Hogan 947 00:44:54,778 --> 00:44:57,738 who became intoxicated with his own power and fame 948 00:44:57,781 --> 00:45:00,781 to the extent he brought down an entire company? 949 00:45:00,825 --> 00:45:02,155 Either way, 950 00:45:02,202 --> 00:45:04,792 for the most beloved superstar of a generation 951 00:45:04,829 --> 00:45:07,789 to become the most prolific villain of the next 952 00:45:07,832 --> 00:45:09,632 is an amazing feat. 953 00:45:09,668 --> 00:45:13,758 If you really wanna know what evil lurks around you, 954 00:45:13,797 --> 00:45:17,757 take a closer look inside the heart of your heroes. 955 00:45:17,801 --> 00:45:19,341 - I am the master 956 00:45:19,386 --> 00:45:21,756 of the mental game of wrestling. 957 00:45:21,805 --> 00:45:23,885 To maneuver people like puppets, 958 00:45:23,932 --> 00:45:26,432 to financially take what I want, 959 00:45:26,476 --> 00:45:27,806 there's nobody better. 960 00:45:27,852 --> 00:45:28,982 Batter up! 961 00:45:29,020 --> 00:45:31,020 And each and every time I hit an arena, 962 00:45:31,064 --> 00:45:33,534 I made sure I left my mark. 963 00:45:33,566 --> 00:45:35,396 Because I gave wrestling something 964 00:45:35,443 --> 00:45:36,863 that nobody else could've given it. 965 00:45:36,903 --> 00:45:38,613 I gave it life, 966 00:45:38,655 --> 00:45:41,525 and wrestling will live forever because of me. 967 00:45:41,574 --> 00:45:43,874 - The preceding announcement has been paid for 968 00:45:43,910 --> 00:45:45,830 by the New World Order.