1 00:00:08,176 --> 00:00:09,677 - Oh, no. - Hollywood Hogan 2 00:00:09,719 --> 00:00:13,473 made me act vicious, he was arrogant. 3 00:00:13,514 --> 00:00:15,516 I was the most evil grease ball 4 00:00:15,558 --> 00:00:19,479 that ever showed up in the wrestling business. 5 00:00:19,520 --> 00:00:21,022 The character Hulk Hogan 6 00:00:21,064 --> 00:00:24,400 used to be the ultimate tan, all-American hero. 7 00:00:24,442 --> 00:00:26,527 Totally two different animals. 8 00:00:26,569 --> 00:00:30,281 So it was just that complete 180 transition 9 00:00:30,323 --> 00:00:32,700 to being the most evil villain. 10 00:00:32,742 --> 00:00:36,329 Yes, you can say the ultimate bad guy. 11 00:00:37,455 --> 00:00:40,625 [dramatic music] 12 00:00:40,666 --> 00:00:44,670 * * 13 00:00:44,712 --> 00:00:46,672 [crowd booing] 14 00:01:01,187 --> 00:01:03,815 - The dirtiest player in the game, 15 00:01:03,856 --> 00:01:05,900 Hollywood Hulk Hogan, 16 00:01:05,942 --> 00:01:10,696 will prove you gotta take what you want. 17 00:01:10,738 --> 00:01:13,366 - Hollywood Hulk Hogan was the most diabolical villain 18 00:01:13,408 --> 00:01:15,827 in sports entertainment history. 19 00:01:15,868 --> 00:01:17,829 But Hogan's inglorious brand of evil 20 00:01:17,870 --> 00:01:20,415 derived from rather innocent beginnings. 21 00:01:20,456 --> 00:01:24,669 [National Anthem playing on electric guitar] 22 00:01:24,711 --> 00:01:27,004 - It's the '80s. Simpler times. 23 00:01:27,046 --> 00:01:28,673 * * 24 00:01:28,715 --> 00:01:30,174 Hulk Hogan is the larger-than-life 25 00:01:30,216 --> 00:01:33,845 personification of everything you want in a hero. 26 00:01:33,886 --> 00:01:37,181 Be good, say your prayers, eat your vitamins, 27 00:01:37,223 --> 00:01:41,018 and you too could be like Hulk Hogan someday. 28 00:01:41,060 --> 00:01:42,520 [bell ringing] 29 00:01:42,562 --> 00:01:45,940 - This is the main event! 30 00:01:45,982 --> 00:01:48,359 - Hulk Hogan was larger than life. 31 00:01:48,401 --> 00:01:50,862 Big, 300 and some odd pounds, 32 00:01:50,903 --> 00:01:52,697 built like a brick [bleep]house. 33 00:01:52,739 --> 00:01:56,826 and had an ungodly amount of charisma. 34 00:01:56,868 --> 00:02:00,455 - Hulk Hogan! [crowd cheering] 35 00:02:00,496 --> 00:02:02,832 [bell ringing] 36 00:02:02,874 --> 00:02:05,376 - The 1980s were a wonderful era 37 00:02:05,418 --> 00:02:07,670 for real-life superheroes. 38 00:02:07,712 --> 00:02:09,338 - Hulk now has the Sheik's robe, 39 00:02:09,380 --> 00:02:11,507 and he clotheslined him with it! 40 00:02:11,549 --> 00:02:12,884 - We were looking for heroes 41 00:02:12,925 --> 00:02:16,512 that were really idealized versions of ourselves. 42 00:02:16,554 --> 00:02:18,347 And Hulk Hogan was one of those. 43 00:02:18,389 --> 00:02:21,392 - One, two! He's got Iron Sheik! 44 00:02:21,434 --> 00:02:24,062 Hulkamania is here. 45 00:02:24,103 --> 00:02:26,898 - In early '80s, I started Hulkamania. 46 00:02:26,939 --> 00:02:29,776 I had a lot to do with it, but so did the promotion. 47 00:02:31,486 --> 00:02:33,404 I'm in training and I'm saying my prayers 48 00:02:33,446 --> 00:02:34,614 and eating my vitamins. 49 00:02:34,655 --> 00:02:36,074 And everywhere where I go, man, 50 00:02:36,115 --> 00:02:38,159 the people are training in the parking lots, 51 00:02:38,201 --> 00:02:39,702 closing in the gym. 52 00:02:39,744 --> 00:02:42,538 Hulkamania is running wild all over the world. 53 00:02:42,580 --> 00:02:47,001 - Hulkamania was a phenomenon that grabbed hold of 54 00:02:47,043 --> 00:02:50,505 not just the wrestling world, but the entire world. 55 00:02:50,546 --> 00:02:52,298 - It just blew him up huge. 56 00:02:52,340 --> 00:02:56,886 I mean, this guy couldn't go anywhere and not be recognized. 57 00:02:56,928 --> 00:02:58,596 - All of a sudden you started seeing Hulk more and more 58 00:02:58,638 --> 00:02:59,889 on different shows. 59 00:02:59,931 --> 00:03:01,516 Johnny Carson. 60 00:03:01,557 --> 00:03:03,601 - Professional wrestling kinda turns me 61 00:03:03,643 --> 00:03:05,436 into a stark raving maniac. 62 00:03:05,478 --> 00:03:06,854 - Jay Leno. 63 00:03:06,896 --> 00:03:08,439 - We came to "Saturday Night Live" 64 00:03:08,481 --> 00:03:09,982 for one reason, brother. 65 00:03:10,024 --> 00:03:12,777 'Cause this is the best darn show in the whole wild world. 66 00:03:12,819 --> 00:03:14,445 - "Hulk," I said, "Hulk, you can't go wrong 67 00:03:14,487 --> 00:03:15,780 with the red and yellow." He goes, "Why?" 68 00:03:15,822 --> 00:03:17,740 "McDonald's! McDonald's is red and yellow 69 00:03:17,782 --> 00:03:19,992 and they're all over America." 70 00:03:20,034 --> 00:03:23,037 - They were putting me on the cover of "Sports Illustrated," 71 00:03:23,079 --> 00:03:24,497 all the major magazines, 72 00:03:24,539 --> 00:03:26,791 you know, I was doing commercials for Right Guard. 73 00:03:26,833 --> 00:03:29,001 And there was this crazy momentum. 74 00:03:33,005 --> 00:03:35,425 - There he is, the greatest professional athlete 75 00:03:35,466 --> 00:03:37,802 in the world today, Hulk Hogan. 76 00:03:37,844 --> 00:03:39,554 - Hulk Hogan came into my life 77 00:03:39,595 --> 00:03:43,182 when I was very impressionable in my formative years. 78 00:03:43,224 --> 00:03:44,559 I loved everything about him. 79 00:03:44,600 --> 00:03:47,061 He was big. He was tall. He was tan. 80 00:03:47,103 --> 00:03:48,980 He had 24-inch pythons. 81 00:03:49,021 --> 00:03:52,567 The way he talked. The way he ripped his shirt. 82 00:03:52,608 --> 00:03:56,279 When he was Thunderlips in "Rocky III." 83 00:03:56,320 --> 00:03:58,823 We gotta remember we were in the middle of a Cold War. 84 00:03:58,865 --> 00:04:01,075 There was a lot of propaganda as far as, you know, 85 00:04:01,117 --> 00:04:03,244 the Russians or whatever the case may be. 86 00:04:03,286 --> 00:04:05,371 - We got Nikolai Volkoff 87 00:04:05,413 --> 00:04:07,915 singing the Soviet National Anthem. 88 00:04:07,957 --> 00:04:12,003 It was not necessarily a time for nuanced storytelling. 89 00:04:12,045 --> 00:04:15,882 - I can't stand to see our enemy's flag in the ring. 90 00:04:15,923 --> 00:04:19,510 - Mr. All-American versus the rest of the world. 91 00:04:19,552 --> 00:04:22,096 Throw in the American flag? You got a hero. 92 00:04:22,138 --> 00:04:27,060 - Hulk Hogan with Old Glory flying high above. 93 00:04:28,352 --> 00:04:30,646 - Coming out of the '80s, 94 00:04:30,688 --> 00:04:33,983 the '90s is defined by grunge... 95 00:04:35,735 --> 00:04:37,653 and gangster rap. 96 00:04:37,695 --> 00:04:40,073 Counterculture was everything in the '90s. 97 00:04:41,908 --> 00:04:44,619 - When the '90s came along, everything changed, you know. 98 00:04:44,660 --> 00:04:46,746 It was about being more the bad guy, 99 00:04:46,788 --> 00:04:49,916 the more in your face, the more, "Yeah. Who said so? 100 00:04:49,957 --> 00:04:51,918 "Well, try to knock this chip off my shoulder 101 00:04:51,959 --> 00:04:54,754 and I'll show you what's gonna happen, buddy." 102 00:04:54,796 --> 00:04:57,799 - It was the same red and yellow for a long time. 103 00:04:57,840 --> 00:05:00,676 Very successful long time I might add, 104 00:05:00,718 --> 00:05:02,136 but there was a point 105 00:05:02,178 --> 00:05:05,181 where the audience started looking at Hulk 106 00:05:05,223 --> 00:05:07,725 and going, "Okay, what's new?" 107 00:05:09,018 --> 00:05:11,979 - All of a sudden, I felt things changing. 108 00:05:12,021 --> 00:05:15,400 But I could feel the momentum. It wasn't as powerful. 109 00:05:15,441 --> 00:05:16,651 I'd come out and my music would hit, 110 00:05:16,692 --> 00:05:18,444 it wasn't the same. 111 00:05:18,486 --> 00:05:20,279 I'd drop the leg, do the posedown. 112 00:05:20,321 --> 00:05:22,240 It wasn't the same. 113 00:05:22,281 --> 00:05:23,866 - We could notice each night, 114 00:05:23,908 --> 00:05:25,910 we were getting a few more boos. 115 00:05:25,952 --> 00:05:28,538 Each night, I'd go and check the sales 116 00:05:28,579 --> 00:05:30,081 on our merchandise, you know. 117 00:05:30,123 --> 00:05:32,625 And I could see where it was starting to dip a little bit. 118 00:05:32,667 --> 00:05:34,711 - This Hulk Hogan thing got so big 119 00:05:34,752 --> 00:05:36,879 and it was so powerful. 120 00:05:36,921 --> 00:05:38,089 But there were certain times 121 00:05:38,131 --> 00:05:40,007 where, you know, when I kind of felt 122 00:05:40,049 --> 00:05:43,302 Hulkamania might not be going in the right direction. 123 00:05:43,344 --> 00:05:45,555 I thought there might be a time for a change. 124 00:05:45,596 --> 00:05:48,099 - [yells] - Going up? 125 00:05:50,560 --> 00:05:51,936 - For the next few years, 126 00:05:51,978 --> 00:05:55,732 Hulk focused on his Hollywood ambitions. 127 00:05:55,773 --> 00:05:58,735 - So is he a Box Office champ? 128 00:05:58,776 --> 00:06:01,112 Well, not yet. 129 00:06:01,154 --> 00:06:02,780 - I'm getting better. 130 00:06:02,822 --> 00:06:05,783 The transition is a tough one. 131 00:06:05,825 --> 00:06:09,454 - By 1994, it became clear. 132 00:06:09,495 --> 00:06:13,124 Hulkamania was not running wild in Hollywood. 133 00:06:13,166 --> 00:06:17,462 - I kinda, like, was really on shaky ground for a while. 134 00:06:17,503 --> 00:06:19,338 I wasn't making any money. 135 00:06:19,380 --> 00:06:22,383 And when I left the WWE, 136 00:06:22,425 --> 00:06:24,302 Vince thought my run was over. 137 00:06:24,343 --> 00:06:28,514 You know, so I was just kinda like, stumbling along 138 00:06:28,556 --> 00:06:30,141 on a hope and a prayer. 139 00:06:32,560 --> 00:06:36,481 I was so lucky that WCW 140 00:06:36,522 --> 00:06:39,358 had a sound stage right next to "Thunder in Paradise." 141 00:06:39,400 --> 00:06:45,156 And Eric Bischoff approached me with Ric Flair and said, 142 00:06:45,198 --> 00:06:47,909 "Hey, we'd like you to put lightning in a bottle again." 143 00:06:47,950 --> 00:06:49,243 I said, "Brother, I'm in." 144 00:06:51,704 --> 00:06:53,873 - Eric Bischoff was a chief executive 145 00:06:53,915 --> 00:06:56,959 tasked with leading WCW, a wrestling promotion 146 00:06:57,001 --> 00:06:59,420 with the objective to overtake WWE 147 00:06:59,462 --> 00:07:01,756 as the industry standard. 148 00:07:01,798 --> 00:07:03,341 Bischoff's first plan of action 149 00:07:03,383 --> 00:07:06,761 was to entice former WWE superstars into the fold 150 00:07:06,803 --> 00:07:08,638 to jumpstart the company. 151 00:07:08,679 --> 00:07:12,183 [intense music] 152 00:07:12,225 --> 00:07:14,685 And there was still no bigger name out there... 153 00:07:14,727 --> 00:07:16,187 [cheers and applause] 154 00:07:16,229 --> 00:07:18,272 Than Hulk Hogan. 155 00:07:19,732 --> 00:07:22,235 - WCW was at a point in time 156 00:07:22,276 --> 00:07:25,279 where we were positioning for growth. 157 00:07:25,321 --> 00:07:27,865 Hulk Hogan was still a bankable star 158 00:07:27,907 --> 00:07:29,325 in the eyes of advertisers. 159 00:07:29,367 --> 00:07:32,912 Knowing that Hulk was no longer with WWE, 160 00:07:32,954 --> 00:07:36,332 it became apparent to me that being able to sign Hulk 161 00:07:36,374 --> 00:07:41,879 and get him to come to WCW would create an awareness 162 00:07:41,921 --> 00:07:44,382 that no amount of advertising or marketing 163 00:07:44,424 --> 00:07:46,092 probably could have achieved. 164 00:07:47,468 --> 00:07:49,178 - I never, ever in my life 165 00:07:49,220 --> 00:07:52,348 thought that I would run against Vince McMahon. 166 00:07:52,390 --> 00:07:55,727 But you know, I talked to Eric Bischoff. 167 00:07:55,768 --> 00:07:59,147 And he said, "What's it gonna take to light this company up?" 168 00:07:59,188 --> 00:08:02,442 I said, "Well, I need to come back as Hulk Hogan for a while 169 00:08:02,483 --> 00:08:03,735 "and get the feel of things, 170 00:08:03,776 --> 00:08:06,320 and then we can figure it out really quick." 171 00:08:06,362 --> 00:08:08,406 - Hulk Hogan, five times-- 172 00:08:08,448 --> 00:08:10,908 - The initial reaction when Hulk left WWE 173 00:08:10,950 --> 00:08:13,369 and went to WCW was 174 00:08:13,411 --> 00:08:17,039 going to a smaller organization at the time 175 00:08:17,081 --> 00:08:19,792 would help that organization, definitely, 176 00:08:19,834 --> 00:08:21,127 but wasn't anything that said, 177 00:08:21,169 --> 00:08:23,129 "Oh, well this is gonna make a difference. 178 00:08:23,171 --> 00:08:25,590 Not with the same thing that he had been doing here." 179 00:08:25,631 --> 00:08:27,091 - We're gonna find out 180 00:08:27,133 --> 00:08:29,552 who the most powerful man in the WCW is because-- 181 00:08:29,594 --> 00:08:30,928 - You know, when we first brought Hulk Hogan in, 182 00:08:30,970 --> 00:08:32,472 it was a big damn deal. 183 00:08:32,513 --> 00:08:33,890 It made a lot of news. 184 00:08:33,931 --> 00:08:35,808 It served its purpose. 185 00:08:35,850 --> 00:08:38,853 But after about a year and a half, 186 00:08:38,895 --> 00:08:42,440 the audience viewed Hulk Hogan differently. 187 00:08:42,482 --> 00:08:46,444 I knew that, going head-to-head with the WWE, 188 00:08:46,486 --> 00:08:50,740 we had to be different and had to be a lot edgier. 189 00:08:50,782 --> 00:08:55,578 So it was Hulk Hogan joining the dark side. 190 00:08:55,620 --> 00:08:59,499 - Oh, what is this? Come on! 191 00:08:59,540 --> 00:09:04,170 * * 192 00:09:04,212 --> 00:09:07,215 - So I flew myself down to Clearwater 193 00:09:07,256 --> 00:09:10,134 and had a conversation with Hulk. 194 00:09:10,176 --> 00:09:13,638 "What do you think about turning heel? 195 00:09:13,679 --> 00:09:18,976 Going from good to the bad guy?" 196 00:09:19,018 --> 00:09:21,437 - Eric came up with this idea and, you know, 197 00:09:21,479 --> 00:09:24,190 I knew I needed to do something, but I wasn't sold. 198 00:09:25,775 --> 00:09:29,445 - I think Hulk knew that the red and yellow Hulk Hogan 199 00:09:29,487 --> 00:09:33,574 was still generating a lot of revenue 200 00:09:33,616 --> 00:09:37,829 and would be turning his back on the fans. 201 00:09:37,870 --> 00:09:40,039 And I just don't think he was interested 202 00:09:40,081 --> 00:09:45,545 in taking the risk associated with turning heel. 203 00:09:45,586 --> 00:09:47,338 Because Hulk had made it clear to me 204 00:09:47,380 --> 00:09:50,383 he had no interest in turning heel at all, 205 00:09:50,425 --> 00:09:52,427 so I had to have a plan B. 206 00:09:52,468 --> 00:09:54,345 * * 207 00:09:54,387 --> 00:09:57,515 - WCW president Eric Bischoff hatched a real life plot 208 00:09:57,557 --> 00:10:00,184 to put WWE out of business. 209 00:10:00,226 --> 00:10:03,438 - Scott and I had taken on the perception 210 00:10:03,479 --> 00:10:06,733 of two of the WWE's top guys 211 00:10:06,774 --> 00:10:08,818 doing basically, a hostile takeover 212 00:10:08,860 --> 00:10:10,611 of another corporation, 213 00:10:10,653 --> 00:10:13,489 so we were always perceived as the WWE. 214 00:10:13,531 --> 00:10:16,701 - Get security out here and get them outta here. 215 00:10:16,743 --> 00:10:19,328 - The perception was implied 216 00:10:19,370 --> 00:10:23,666 that they were being sent from us at the WWE 217 00:10:23,708 --> 00:10:28,296 and it was an invasion of WWE talent going to WCW. 218 00:10:28,337 --> 00:10:30,548 [tires squealing] - See you, buddy! 219 00:10:30,590 --> 00:10:31,883 Whoo! 220 00:10:31,924 --> 00:10:34,552 - Scott Hall and Kevin Nash, 221 00:10:34,594 --> 00:10:38,181 they killed everyone. 222 00:10:38,222 --> 00:10:40,349 - Stop take, get security. 223 00:10:41,309 --> 00:10:43,436 - They didn't have anything to lose 224 00:10:43,478 --> 00:10:46,105 and they were willing to take risks. 225 00:10:46,147 --> 00:10:48,274 - Oh, my God. - Hey, get him outta here. 226 00:10:48,316 --> 00:10:50,860 - We picked up a lot of momentum right off the bat. 227 00:10:50,902 --> 00:10:53,196 Certainly got people's attention, 228 00:10:53,237 --> 00:10:55,740 but I needed to make as big a splash as I could, 229 00:10:55,782 --> 00:11:00,161 so we built an entire storyline around a third man. 230 00:11:00,203 --> 00:11:02,330 What made it tricky for me is 231 00:11:02,371 --> 00:11:07,251 I had to find a third man in that story. 232 00:11:07,293 --> 00:11:10,213 - Bischoff wanted the promise of a mysterious third man, 233 00:11:10,254 --> 00:11:12,924 the baddest of the bad guys, 234 00:11:12,965 --> 00:11:15,635 a true heel of a human being. 235 00:11:15,676 --> 00:11:18,805 But who could possibly fill those boots? 236 00:11:18,846 --> 00:11:20,598 - Everyone wanted that spot. 237 00:11:20,640 --> 00:11:22,600 These two guys had lit up the world. 238 00:11:22,642 --> 00:11:26,979 I'm talking about number one spot on cable television. 239 00:11:27,021 --> 00:11:30,441 - We wanna know who your three guys are. 240 00:11:30,483 --> 00:11:34,862 - And then he cut that promo about "Bring your best three, 241 00:11:34,904 --> 00:11:36,948 we're bringing our best three." 242 00:11:36,989 --> 00:11:41,536 - The big man and the medium size man 243 00:11:41,577 --> 00:11:43,579 and our surprise buddy-- 244 00:11:43,621 --> 00:11:46,958 - "And next week, I'm bringing the big man in." 245 00:11:46,999 --> 00:11:49,585 The really crazy part is 246 00:11:49,627 --> 00:11:52,755 no one knew 247 00:11:52,797 --> 00:11:55,174 who the third guy was 248 00:11:55,216 --> 00:11:57,927 because there wasn't one yet. 249 00:12:05,727 --> 00:12:08,646 - I remember the day that I got a call from Hulk. 250 00:12:08,688 --> 00:12:10,898 And he said, "Hey, man, I'd like to talk to you 251 00:12:10,940 --> 00:12:12,150 "about what's going on. 252 00:12:12,191 --> 00:12:15,361 Can you make it out to LA?" So I did. 253 00:12:15,403 --> 00:12:18,489 I think I got to Hulk's trailer around midnight. 254 00:12:18,531 --> 00:12:22,034 After we had a beer or two and lit up a Cuban cigar, 255 00:12:22,076 --> 00:12:23,953 Hulk said to me, "So... 256 00:12:25,079 --> 00:12:27,331 Who's gonna be the third man?" 257 00:12:27,373 --> 00:12:29,709 And I didn't wanna tell him. 258 00:12:29,751 --> 00:12:32,045 I already had Sting lined up. 259 00:12:32,086 --> 00:12:34,255 - I said, "You can't ask Sting." 260 00:12:35,757 --> 00:12:38,801 I needed major, major change, 261 00:12:38,843 --> 00:12:40,636 really, really bad. 262 00:12:42,555 --> 00:12:44,098 I was starting to get to the point 263 00:12:44,140 --> 00:12:48,102 where I was second-guessing everything about myself. 264 00:12:48,144 --> 00:12:51,522 Was the Hulkamania ride a fluke? 265 00:12:51,564 --> 00:12:55,651 Was the reason Hulkamania got so big, 266 00:12:55,693 --> 00:12:59,072 was it just Vince McMahon's promotion? 267 00:12:59,113 --> 00:13:02,366 When this whole three guys thing came along 268 00:13:02,408 --> 00:13:03,868 and I decided to jump on it, 269 00:13:03,910 --> 00:13:07,830 I needed it more than life itself, at that point. 270 00:13:07,872 --> 00:13:10,333 I didn't want Sting to get it. 271 00:13:10,374 --> 00:13:13,920 And I wanted to prove to people that I knew this business. 272 00:13:13,961 --> 00:13:17,048 And not only could I be the greatest good guy ever. 273 00:13:17,090 --> 00:13:18,257 I knew this business well enough 274 00:13:18,299 --> 00:13:20,760 that I could be the greatest bad guy ever. 275 00:13:20,802 --> 00:13:25,807 So I said, "I'm in. I'm in. Let's do it." 276 00:13:25,848 --> 00:13:29,644 - I was like, "Wow. Didn't see that one coming." 277 00:13:29,685 --> 00:13:31,687 [dramatic music] 278 00:13:34,982 --> 00:13:37,360 Boy, have I got butteries. 279 00:13:37,402 --> 00:13:41,656 Luger's here. Sting's here. Savage is here. 280 00:13:41,697 --> 00:13:43,950 I only see two of them. 281 00:13:43,991 --> 00:13:46,744 - We were told there would be three of these interlopers. 282 00:13:46,786 --> 00:13:50,331 And as you can see, there are only two. 283 00:13:50,373 --> 00:13:52,667 - There's just two of them. 284 00:13:52,708 --> 00:13:54,419 They're fighting three guys. 285 00:13:54,460 --> 00:13:56,796 Savage and Luger and Sting. 286 00:13:56,838 --> 00:13:57,964 - Where is he? 287 00:13:58,005 --> 00:14:00,091 It's your partner telling me 288 00:14:00,133 --> 00:14:02,468 that your third man is in the building? 289 00:14:02,510 --> 00:14:04,137 - Oh, he's here all right, Gene. 290 00:14:04,178 --> 00:14:07,014 - What made it tricky for me is 291 00:14:07,056 --> 00:14:08,766 I wasn't 100% convinced 292 00:14:08,808 --> 00:14:11,269 that Hulk was actually going to see it through. 293 00:14:11,310 --> 00:14:13,312 - Up until 4:00 o'clock, 294 00:14:13,354 --> 00:14:15,690 Hulk wasn't sure he was gonna do it, you know. 295 00:14:15,732 --> 00:14:17,775 It was--it was not a go. 296 00:14:17,817 --> 00:14:21,654 And the backup plan was gonna be Sting turning. 297 00:14:25,783 --> 00:14:27,368 - I think everybody under their breath 298 00:14:27,410 --> 00:14:29,662 said a little bit of prayer because we knew 299 00:14:29,704 --> 00:14:32,874 we're taking the biggest name in the history of this business 300 00:14:32,915 --> 00:14:34,709 and switching him to a bad guy. 301 00:14:34,751 --> 00:14:37,503 - We couldn't afford any mistakes. 302 00:14:37,545 --> 00:14:41,007 Keeping it a secret was my top priority. 303 00:14:41,049 --> 00:14:44,969 I pulled him over into this big janitorial closet, 304 00:14:45,011 --> 00:14:48,389 and we started going through that promo 305 00:14:48,431 --> 00:14:51,434 just beginning to middle and end. 306 00:14:52,810 --> 00:14:56,230 It was the most exciting, most stressful, 307 00:14:56,272 --> 00:15:00,693 probably two hours of my professional life. 308 00:15:00,735 --> 00:15:04,072 Once Hulk walked through that curtain, 309 00:15:04,113 --> 00:15:05,698 it was what it was going to be, 310 00:15:05,740 --> 00:15:07,241 and there was nothing I or anybody else 311 00:15:07,283 --> 00:15:09,368 could do about it. All bets were off. 312 00:15:09,410 --> 00:15:11,537 - Hulk Hogan is in the building! 313 00:15:11,579 --> 00:15:13,372 - You're damn right he is! - Go get 'em, Hulk! 314 00:15:13,414 --> 00:15:15,374 - Hulk comes out. Here he comes! 315 00:15:15,416 --> 00:15:18,711 America, red and yellow, blah, blah, blah. 316 00:15:18,753 --> 00:15:20,838 People are there. They're there. They're there. 317 00:15:20,880 --> 00:15:25,134 - Yes. Finally, the Hulkster to the rescue. 318 00:15:25,176 --> 00:15:26,928 - And I'm--I'm in on it. 319 00:15:26,969 --> 00:15:28,346 I know he's gonna turn. 320 00:15:28,388 --> 00:15:31,307 And all I'm thinking in my mind is, "Oh, man. 321 00:15:31,349 --> 00:15:32,725 "Five minutes from now, man, 322 00:15:32,767 --> 00:15:35,395 I'm going to get the photo op of a lifetime." 323 00:15:35,436 --> 00:15:37,939 Like, I'm in the ring with Hulk Hogan. 324 00:15:37,980 --> 00:15:40,149 - I go to the ring and Bobby Eaton goes, 325 00:15:40,191 --> 00:15:42,068 "But whose side is he on?" 326 00:15:42,110 --> 00:15:44,237 - But whose side is he on? 327 00:15:44,278 --> 00:15:45,905 - What are you talking about, Bobby? 328 00:15:45,947 --> 00:15:47,156 What side is he on? 329 00:15:47,198 --> 00:15:48,658 There's only one side for him to be on. 330 00:15:50,618 --> 00:15:53,579 - Literally, it was hard for me to breathe. 331 00:15:53,621 --> 00:15:54,747 I was so excited. 332 00:15:54,789 --> 00:15:56,416 - Kevin and Scott cleared out of the ring 333 00:15:56,457 --> 00:15:57,792 like they were afraid of me first. 334 00:15:57,834 --> 00:15:59,210 - Get it, Hogan! 335 00:15:59,252 --> 00:16:01,045 Go get it, baby! 336 00:16:01,087 --> 00:16:02,839 Hulk, Hulk, Hulk! 337 00:16:02,880 --> 00:16:05,091 - Oh, my God! Is he the third man? 338 00:16:05,133 --> 00:16:06,467 - He's the third man! 339 00:16:06,509 --> 00:16:08,428 - I went in and dropped the leg on Mach. 340 00:16:08,469 --> 00:16:09,971 - What has he done? 341 00:16:10,012 --> 00:16:13,182 - Hulk Hogan has betrayed WCW! 342 00:16:13,224 --> 00:16:16,269 [crowd booing] 343 00:16:16,310 --> 00:16:17,645 - They were in shock. 344 00:16:17,687 --> 00:16:20,606 - You just sold your soul to the devil. 345 00:16:20,648 --> 00:16:25,278 - I mean, you could feel the air come out of the arena. 346 00:16:25,319 --> 00:16:27,947 No one knew how to react. 347 00:16:27,989 --> 00:16:30,867 - Hogan drops the leg and stands there in the ring 348 00:16:30,908 --> 00:16:33,703 being interviewed by a disgusted Mean Gene Okerlund. 349 00:16:33,745 --> 00:16:36,622 - Mean Gene, the first thing you need to do 350 00:16:36,664 --> 00:16:39,125 is to tell these people to shut up 351 00:16:39,167 --> 00:16:41,461 if you wanna hear what I gotta say. 352 00:16:41,502 --> 00:16:44,464 Well, I told everybody I was done 353 00:16:44,505 --> 00:16:46,299 and all you fans out there, 354 00:16:46,340 --> 00:16:49,177 you're just like the trash in this ring. 355 00:16:49,218 --> 00:16:51,971 When I said that, man, they were throwing bottles, 356 00:16:52,013 --> 00:16:54,307 they were throwing anything they could get their hands on. 357 00:16:54,348 --> 00:16:55,808 - Look at the ring. 358 00:16:55,850 --> 00:16:58,936 Look at all this crap in this ring. 359 00:16:58,978 --> 00:17:01,314 - As far as I'm concerned, 360 00:17:01,355 --> 00:17:04,525 all this crap in the ring 361 00:17:04,567 --> 00:17:07,153 represents these fans out here. 362 00:17:07,195 --> 00:17:10,239 You fans can stick it, brother. 363 00:17:10,281 --> 00:17:13,659 - Trash is raining down from the crowd. 364 00:17:13,701 --> 00:17:15,286 You knew you were seeing something 365 00:17:15,328 --> 00:17:18,122 you never thought you would see. 366 00:17:18,164 --> 00:17:20,374 Hulk Hogan was evil. 367 00:17:20,416 --> 00:17:23,002 He had become the ultimate villain. 368 00:17:23,044 --> 00:17:25,254 - You can call this 369 00:17:25,296 --> 00:17:29,801 the New World Order of wrestling, brother. 370 00:17:29,842 --> 00:17:31,636 - And he ushers in 371 00:17:31,677 --> 00:17:36,391 an entirely new era of professional wrestling. 372 00:17:37,809 --> 00:17:40,186 - And that was the birth of the nWo. 373 00:17:40,228 --> 00:17:43,898 * * 374 00:17:47,235 --> 00:17:48,778 - Hulk Hogan, for you to join up 375 00:17:48,820 --> 00:17:50,655 with the likes of these two men 376 00:17:50,696 --> 00:17:53,783 absolutely makes me sick to my stomach. 377 00:17:53,825 --> 00:17:55,868 - The way it is now, brother, 378 00:17:55,910 --> 00:18:01,666 not only are we gonna take over the whole wrestling business 379 00:18:01,707 --> 00:18:05,962 with Hulk Hogan and the new blood, the monsters with me, 380 00:18:06,003 --> 00:18:11,134 we will destroy everything in our path, Mean Gene. 381 00:18:11,175 --> 00:18:13,136 It got so much heat. 382 00:18:13,177 --> 00:18:17,432 Me, Kevin, and Scott got to the back and went, "Holy [bleep]." 383 00:18:18,933 --> 00:18:20,935 - It was the craziest thing I've ever seen in my life. 384 00:18:20,977 --> 00:18:23,521 They had to call extra police in 385 00:18:23,563 --> 00:18:25,648 from the Daytona Police Department, came out there 386 00:18:25,690 --> 00:18:27,775 because there was a riot that took place. 387 00:18:27,817 --> 00:18:30,778 I mean, all the news medias picked up on it everywhere. 388 00:18:33,906 --> 00:18:35,533 - The next day, 389 00:18:35,575 --> 00:18:39,662 Turner Broadcasting was flooded 390 00:18:39,704 --> 00:18:41,622 with emails and phone calls 391 00:18:41,664 --> 00:18:45,668 of really pissed-off people, 392 00:18:45,710 --> 00:18:47,170 mainly 'cause of the kids. 393 00:18:47,211 --> 00:18:48,671 'Cause Hulk was, 394 00:18:48,713 --> 00:18:50,506 "Say your prayer, eat your vitamins." 395 00:18:50,548 --> 00:18:54,510 And now you're heel? Ooh, man. 396 00:18:54,552 --> 00:18:59,849 People were-- bleep, bleep, bleep--pissed. 397 00:18:59,891 --> 00:19:03,102 - People lost their minds, dude. 398 00:19:03,144 --> 00:19:05,021 I mean, kids were burning 399 00:19:05,063 --> 00:19:09,067 their Hulk Hogan wrestling huggers in effigy. 400 00:19:09,108 --> 00:19:11,611 I mean it was insane. 401 00:19:11,652 --> 00:19:15,448 That's how beloved that man was. 402 00:19:15,490 --> 00:19:17,700 [crowd chanting] Hogan sucks! Hogan sucks! 403 00:19:17,742 --> 00:19:19,786 Hogan sucks! Hogan sucks! 404 00:19:19,827 --> 00:19:21,204 - That was devastating. 405 00:19:21,245 --> 00:19:25,208 Little kids were crying. Grown men were pissed. 406 00:19:25,249 --> 00:19:28,419 It was genuine betrayal. 407 00:19:28,461 --> 00:19:33,091 And the hate that surely follows. 408 00:19:36,094 --> 00:19:38,054 - Hollywood Hogan embraced his dark side 409 00:19:38,096 --> 00:19:40,390 with greater ease than anyone expected. 410 00:19:40,431 --> 00:19:44,018 It was clear he was in this for the long haul. 411 00:19:44,060 --> 00:19:45,645 - Wearing black 412 00:19:45,686 --> 00:19:48,147 instead of his customary and traditional 413 00:19:48,189 --> 00:19:49,649 yellow and red, 414 00:19:49,690 --> 00:19:56,697 Mr. Hollywood Hulk Hogan! 415 00:19:56,739 --> 00:19:59,951 - The biggest on-camera change for Hulk Hogan 416 00:19:59,992 --> 00:20:02,829 going from good guy to bad guy was wardrobe. 417 00:20:02,870 --> 00:20:05,790 The red and yellow. Those were his colors. 418 00:20:05,832 --> 00:20:09,544 Then going to the black and the bandana being black. 419 00:20:09,585 --> 00:20:11,421 - He's turned his back on it all. 420 00:20:11,462 --> 00:20:13,005 - What I liked the most about it 421 00:20:13,047 --> 00:20:15,341 as opposed to just the wardrobe, it was in the beard. 422 00:20:15,383 --> 00:20:21,222 It visually made his heel turn more dramatic. 423 00:20:21,264 --> 00:20:25,017 - At the time, it wasn't gray. It was still kinda blonde. 424 00:20:25,059 --> 00:20:26,561 I grew the beard in, 425 00:20:26,602 --> 00:20:28,646 and I got Just For Men, 426 00:20:28,688 --> 00:20:31,441 and I dyed it shoe polish black, 427 00:20:31,482 --> 00:20:35,570 as evil, as Snidely Whiplash as I could get it. 428 00:20:35,611 --> 00:20:37,822 And that was the look. 429 00:20:37,864 --> 00:20:41,784 It made people so mad that they knew I dyed my beard 430 00:20:41,826 --> 00:20:43,786 or I put makeup on it or whatever they thought. 431 00:20:43,828 --> 00:20:45,121 - Listen to the fans! 432 00:20:45,163 --> 00:20:47,540 - It put that extra icing on the top 433 00:20:47,582 --> 00:20:49,709 to make people hate me even more. 434 00:20:49,751 --> 00:20:52,503 And then nobody airbrushed their boots, you know. 435 00:20:52,545 --> 00:20:54,714 So I was putting "Hollywood" 436 00:20:54,756 --> 00:20:56,632 and lightning bolts on the boots. 437 00:20:56,674 --> 00:20:57,925 And so that was like tweaking 438 00:20:57,967 --> 00:20:59,093 the character and getting it right. 439 00:20:59,135 --> 00:21:02,805 But it made me act a certain way too. 440 00:21:02,847 --> 00:21:05,308 - You know, there wasn't a bigger boogieman 441 00:21:05,349 --> 00:21:07,602 than Hollywood Hulk Hogan. 442 00:21:07,643 --> 00:21:08,978 - Hollywood Hulk Hogan, 443 00:21:09,020 --> 00:21:11,731 he'd give the cheap shots behind the referee's back, 444 00:21:11,773 --> 00:21:13,232 you know, scrape the back. 445 00:21:13,274 --> 00:21:15,526 He would get on his hands and knees and beg, 446 00:21:15,568 --> 00:21:17,487 "Oh, please, don't hit me, please," 447 00:21:17,528 --> 00:21:19,989 where the people wanted to see that happen, you know? 448 00:21:20,031 --> 00:21:21,866 And so it was just a whole different persona 449 00:21:21,908 --> 00:21:23,868 than he was from Hulk Hogan. 450 00:21:25,036 --> 00:21:28,289 - Hulk Hogan is the man that you voted for 451 00:21:28,331 --> 00:21:30,792 for The Most Hated Wrestler of the Year. 452 00:21:30,833 --> 00:21:33,169 Hulkster, wait a minute. I've known you, like, forever. 453 00:21:33,211 --> 00:21:35,380 I mean, you were the most popular guy in the world 454 00:21:35,421 --> 00:21:37,882 and now The Most Hated Wrestler of the Year? 455 00:21:37,924 --> 00:21:41,052 - Well, brother, times change and so do people, man. 456 00:21:41,094 --> 00:21:45,014 - The scourge of the wrestling world! 457 00:21:45,056 --> 00:21:50,269 - Not only was the heat so pure, but all the-- 458 00:21:50,311 --> 00:21:53,147 I don't wanna say purist wrestling fans, 459 00:21:53,189 --> 00:21:55,608 but the dicks like me, 460 00:21:55,650 --> 00:21:57,902 we all loved it. We were like, "Oh, 461 00:21:57,944 --> 00:22:00,988 if he can do that, anything's possible." 462 00:22:01,030 --> 00:22:03,699 - I just wanted to set the tone 463 00:22:03,741 --> 00:22:06,869 for what really would make the nWo take off. 464 00:22:06,911 --> 00:22:08,746 - * Let's get the-- get get get the money * 465 00:22:08,788 --> 00:22:10,331 * * 466 00:22:10,373 --> 00:22:13,835 - And man, we rode it hard and we rode it long. 467 00:22:13,876 --> 00:22:19,048 The nWo is the only way to go. 468 00:22:19,090 --> 00:22:21,217 - Asking Hogan to turn his back on the ideals 469 00:22:21,259 --> 00:22:23,761 that made him the icon of a generation 470 00:22:23,803 --> 00:22:26,055 was a big ask to say the least. 471 00:22:26,097 --> 00:22:27,807 He knew there was no turning back. 472 00:22:27,849 --> 00:22:29,767 - * Let's get the-- get get get the money * 473 00:22:29,809 --> 00:22:31,769 * * 474 00:22:36,357 --> 00:22:43,156 - The new World Heavyweight Champions, the nWo! 475 00:22:43,197 --> 00:22:48,077 - The fans picked up on the nWo Hulk Hogan. 476 00:22:48,119 --> 00:22:52,290 It was something the wrestling world had never seen before 477 00:22:52,331 --> 00:22:57,170 and what's even crazier more so than anything, 478 00:22:57,211 --> 00:23:00,506 they liked it and they ate it up. 479 00:23:00,548 --> 00:23:04,427 - I think secretly, we all love the bad guys. 480 00:23:04,469 --> 00:23:06,888 There's always a cool factor to the bad dude. 481 00:23:06,929 --> 00:23:09,015 I think there's something within all of us 482 00:23:09,057 --> 00:23:10,349 that kind of wishes 483 00:23:10,391 --> 00:23:12,351 we could do a little bit of that in real life. 484 00:23:12,393 --> 00:23:13,811 - What are you fans gonna think? 485 00:23:13,853 --> 00:23:16,022 - Hey, what you gonna do? I'm a bad guy. 486 00:23:16,064 --> 00:23:18,441 - Oh, oh, G-Gonzo! Gonzo, help! 487 00:23:18,483 --> 00:23:20,526 - Thistle! 488 00:23:20,568 --> 00:23:22,612 - I think there's a certain authenticity 489 00:23:22,653 --> 00:23:24,906 that rings with people 490 00:23:24,947 --> 00:23:29,577 when they find out that this pure hero is flawed. 491 00:23:29,619 --> 00:23:31,954 And then when they see that they go, "Wow, 492 00:23:31,996 --> 00:23:33,414 I don't have to be perfect." 493 00:23:33,456 --> 00:23:38,461 You can identify with that person that has the flaws. 494 00:23:38,503 --> 00:23:40,254 - They were cool bad guys. 495 00:23:40,296 --> 00:23:42,090 And I think that's what makes the fans go, 496 00:23:42,131 --> 00:23:43,925 "You know, I wish I could dress like him. 497 00:23:43,966 --> 00:23:45,551 "I wish I could go and tell my boss off 498 00:23:45,593 --> 00:23:46,719 like this guy here." 499 00:23:46,761 --> 00:23:48,054 It's being everything 500 00:23:48,096 --> 00:23:51,724 that you wish you could be, but you're not. 501 00:23:51,766 --> 00:23:53,434 - It's a new world order. 502 00:23:53,476 --> 00:23:55,895 There's nothing you can do about it. 503 00:23:55,937 --> 00:23:58,564 You know, the more we would beat people up 504 00:23:58,606 --> 00:24:02,235 and spray paint Ted Turner's equipment outside, 505 00:24:02,276 --> 00:24:04,570 the more evil stuff we did, 506 00:24:04,612 --> 00:24:07,407 the more the fans cheered. 507 00:24:07,448 --> 00:24:11,160 - I think the audience's appetite was changing. 508 00:24:11,202 --> 00:24:13,996 The audience was beginning to dig the anti-hero 509 00:24:14,038 --> 00:24:15,623 a lot more than the hero. 510 00:24:15,665 --> 00:24:19,127 So the whole idea was to be edgier, 511 00:24:19,168 --> 00:24:21,254 more adult-themed, 512 00:24:21,295 --> 00:24:26,426 and to have much more of a reality sensibility. 513 00:24:26,467 --> 00:24:28,177 And it worked. 514 00:24:31,848 --> 00:24:34,726 - It was fascinating because they were showing us things 515 00:24:34,767 --> 00:24:36,352 that we had never seen before. 516 00:24:36,394 --> 00:24:38,938 They were taking us back behind the scenes, 517 00:24:38,980 --> 00:24:41,107 and they were just disrupting. 518 00:24:41,149 --> 00:24:43,276 From a fan's point of view, it was almost like 519 00:24:43,317 --> 00:24:46,529 now there was a virus in wrestling 520 00:24:46,571 --> 00:24:49,240 and you were either cool like Hogan, 521 00:24:49,282 --> 00:24:53,161 or you were, you know, company people. 522 00:24:53,202 --> 00:24:56,831 - Getting the world to get behind it 523 00:24:56,873 --> 00:24:58,750 and want to be a part of it, 524 00:24:58,791 --> 00:25:00,918 it was genius. It really was. 525 00:25:00,960 --> 00:25:05,006 Everybody in the arena had the shirt. 526 00:25:05,048 --> 00:25:06,424 - Wanna make a fashion statement? 527 00:25:06,466 --> 00:25:07,884 - Buy the shirt! 528 00:25:07,925 --> 00:25:10,803 - My grandmother wouldn't allow me to wear 529 00:25:10,845 --> 00:25:13,890 the nWo shirt in my house. 530 00:25:13,931 --> 00:25:16,559 She even ripped down my Hulk Hogan poster. 531 00:25:16,601 --> 00:25:18,936 So when Hulk Hogan was transforming 532 00:25:18,978 --> 00:25:20,480 and the nWo was forming, 533 00:25:20,521 --> 00:25:22,482 I was also turning into a younger adult too. 534 00:25:22,523 --> 00:25:24,484 So I was kind of changing the way I was moving 535 00:25:24,525 --> 00:25:25,610 and the things I liked. 536 00:25:25,651 --> 00:25:27,487 So that whole transition was perfect 537 00:25:27,528 --> 00:25:30,156 from, you know, loving this guy in the yellow and red 538 00:25:30,198 --> 00:25:33,034 to, "Grandma, I need my nWo shirt. 539 00:25:33,076 --> 00:25:35,203 Where's my black and white shirt?" 540 00:25:35,244 --> 00:25:37,497 - Ironically, the villainous Hollywood Hogan 541 00:25:37,538 --> 00:25:39,624 was now attracting the sort of celebrity attention 542 00:25:39,665 --> 00:25:43,127 that Hulk Hogan could only dream about back in '94. 543 00:25:44,837 --> 00:25:47,340 - The nWo thing was so cool 544 00:25:47,382 --> 00:25:49,342 that there were really no boundaries. 545 00:25:49,384 --> 00:25:51,803 - Hang on, you guys. Now, listen-- 546 00:25:51,844 --> 00:25:53,805 - I mean, it was insane. 547 00:25:53,846 --> 00:25:54,889 We had a blast. 548 00:25:54,931 --> 00:25:57,350 [moody rock music] 549 00:25:57,392 --> 00:26:01,396 - All of a sudden, our ratings went from like 2.4s 550 00:26:01,437 --> 00:26:05,817 to sixes, sevens, and eights. 551 00:26:05,858 --> 00:26:07,985 I mean, those are NFL numbers. 552 00:26:08,027 --> 00:26:10,279 - We had our own NASCAR nWo car. 553 00:26:10,321 --> 00:26:11,948 - Oh. - Oh! 554 00:26:11,989 --> 00:26:13,950 - Everybody wanted to be a bad guy. 555 00:26:13,991 --> 00:26:17,495 - You proved you are the icon 556 00:26:17,537 --> 00:26:21,165 that everybody in this building has always known you are. 557 00:26:21,207 --> 00:26:24,043 Give it up for the Hulkster. Come on, give it up. 558 00:26:27,422 --> 00:26:33,094 - It totally changed the landscape of the business. 559 00:26:33,136 --> 00:26:37,682 All of a sudden, bad guys became everything. 560 00:26:39,267 --> 00:26:42,812 - Hulk Hogan becoming evil and becoming bad 561 00:26:42,854 --> 00:26:46,441 was the game-changer that allowed WCW 562 00:26:46,482 --> 00:26:50,653 to move ahead in the ratings above us for 83 weeks. 563 00:26:50,695 --> 00:26:55,575 And that was the catalyst that really set WCW into motion, 564 00:26:55,616 --> 00:26:58,619 becoming a very successful promotion. 565 00:26:58,661 --> 00:27:01,956 - Let's destroy the broadcast booth... 566 00:27:01,998 --> 00:27:03,040 - No! No! 567 00:27:03,082 --> 00:27:07,587 - Just like we destroyed the WCW. 568 00:27:07,628 --> 00:27:09,797 - At that time, the world celebrated 569 00:27:09,839 --> 00:27:11,174 power hungry villains 570 00:27:11,215 --> 00:27:13,926 who might just burn the whole world down. 571 00:27:13,968 --> 00:27:16,512 But in a bizarre twist of fate, 572 00:27:16,554 --> 00:27:20,683 the very monster WCW created in order to destroy WWE 573 00:27:20,725 --> 00:27:23,311 turned into an evil they could not forbear. 574 00:27:28,608 --> 00:27:31,319 - In 1996, thanks to Hollywood Hogan, 575 00:27:31,360 --> 00:27:34,822 WCW was dominating WWE in the TV ratings. 576 00:27:34,864 --> 00:27:37,283 But as it's often been said, 577 00:27:37,325 --> 00:27:39,577 the devil's in the details, 578 00:27:39,619 --> 00:27:40,995 or in this case, 579 00:27:41,037 --> 00:27:42,497 the fine print. 580 00:27:42,538 --> 00:27:46,000 - Going back to some of the first-- 581 00:27:46,042 --> 00:27:50,421 the initial meetings I had with Hulk about coming to WCW, 582 00:27:50,463 --> 00:27:53,007 he looked me right in the eyes and said, "Brother, 583 00:27:53,049 --> 00:27:54,258 "I don't trust anybody here. 584 00:27:54,300 --> 00:27:56,094 "I don't know you, Eric. 585 00:27:56,135 --> 00:27:58,930 "And I know everybody that works here in this company, 586 00:27:58,971 --> 00:28:00,765 "and I really don't trust them. 587 00:28:00,807 --> 00:28:03,226 "So here's how this is gonna have to work. 588 00:28:03,267 --> 00:28:04,936 Creative control." 589 00:28:04,977 --> 00:28:08,523 [dramatic rock music] 590 00:28:08,564 --> 00:28:10,525 - It means a lot to have creative control 591 00:28:10,566 --> 00:28:13,194 because if somebody else comes in and says, 592 00:28:13,236 --> 00:28:15,738 "I think we need to do this or do that," 593 00:28:15,780 --> 00:28:17,240 and you can't perform, 594 00:28:17,281 --> 00:28:18,825 it really hurts the money you're making. 595 00:28:18,866 --> 00:28:21,369 So we knew if you do have creative control, 596 00:28:21,411 --> 00:28:23,037 it's like you can do no wrong. 597 00:28:23,079 --> 00:28:25,498 - When Hulk came over to WCW, 598 00:28:25,540 --> 00:28:27,917 for Hulk, creative control meant 599 00:28:27,959 --> 00:28:31,170 that you could call the match that you wanted, 600 00:28:31,212 --> 00:28:33,423 when you wanted it. 601 00:28:33,464 --> 00:28:37,468 It was something that opened a can of worms. 602 00:28:37,510 --> 00:28:40,179 I think it rubbed a lot of the guys the wrong way. 603 00:28:40,221 --> 00:28:42,306 - A lot of the wrestlers were upset. 604 00:28:42,348 --> 00:28:44,434 Their egos just got out of control. 605 00:28:44,475 --> 00:28:46,853 They were just really upset. 606 00:28:46,894 --> 00:28:48,563 - We were pissed. 607 00:28:48,604 --> 00:28:50,940 We were all just fighting for your spot. 608 00:28:50,982 --> 00:28:54,110 The nWo has had some good times. 609 00:28:54,152 --> 00:28:57,238 Quite frankly, lately, some bad times. 610 00:28:57,280 --> 00:28:58,614 - For Scott and I, 611 00:28:58,656 --> 00:29:00,700 his creative control was very hard 612 00:29:00,742 --> 00:29:04,245 because the golden one would walk in at 5:15, 613 00:29:04,287 --> 00:29:07,081 on an 8:00 o'clock start and go, 614 00:29:07,123 --> 00:29:10,168 "Brother, that doesn't work for me." 615 00:29:10,209 --> 00:29:14,130 Well, [bleep] you. 616 00:29:14,172 --> 00:29:15,757 You know, like, "Wow, really, man? 617 00:29:15,798 --> 00:29:18,843 "Okay. What does? Do you have an idea? 618 00:29:18,885 --> 00:29:20,386 "You don't even have an idea. 619 00:29:20,428 --> 00:29:22,722 "That just doesn't work for you? 620 00:29:22,764 --> 00:29:25,224 So we'll just-- we'll work around it." 621 00:29:27,977 --> 00:29:29,353 - It got to a point 622 00:29:29,395 --> 00:29:31,439 when the lunatics started running the asylum 623 00:29:31,481 --> 00:29:34,108 and the ship started falling apart. 624 00:29:34,150 --> 00:29:37,653 [cackling] 625 00:29:37,695 --> 00:29:41,282 The numbers started slipping just a little bit. 626 00:29:41,324 --> 00:29:43,785 Instead of Eric taking over control, 627 00:29:43,826 --> 00:29:46,329 you had everybody in the Turner offices 628 00:29:46,370 --> 00:29:48,206 that knew nothing about wrestling, 629 00:29:48,247 --> 00:29:49,874 trying to put their two cents worth in. 630 00:29:49,916 --> 00:29:51,375 - We need to talk. 631 00:29:51,417 --> 00:29:53,461 - Uh--what do we need to talk about? 632 00:29:53,503 --> 00:29:55,296 - Wait a minute, this is the president 633 00:29:55,338 --> 00:29:57,131 of Turner Sports. He's your boss. 634 00:29:57,173 --> 00:30:00,051 - I know. - This is Dr. Harvey Schiller. 635 00:30:00,093 --> 00:30:02,804 This cannot bode well for you. 636 00:30:02,845 --> 00:30:06,557 - Turner basically took WCW away from him. 637 00:30:06,599 --> 00:30:08,559 Eric Bischoff lost control. 638 00:30:08,601 --> 00:30:13,314 So it was like being sabotaged at the highest level. 639 00:30:13,356 --> 00:30:15,233 It just--it just fell apart. 640 00:30:17,443 --> 00:30:22,281 - So, yeah, I mean, in September of '99, 641 00:30:22,323 --> 00:30:26,911 I was relieved of my duties in WCW. 642 00:30:26,953 --> 00:30:30,289 In their infinite wisdom, 643 00:30:30,331 --> 00:30:32,333 WCW brought in Vince Russo-- 644 00:30:32,375 --> 00:30:34,836 - Guys, this show really sucks. 645 00:30:34,877 --> 00:30:37,588 - Because Vince Russo was able to convince 646 00:30:37,630 --> 00:30:40,925 certain people in WCW and Turner Broadcasting 647 00:30:40,967 --> 00:30:43,970 that Vince Russo was actually the architect 648 00:30:44,011 --> 00:30:45,513 behind the Attitude Era 649 00:30:45,555 --> 00:30:48,850 and all the success that WWE had. 650 00:30:48,891 --> 00:30:51,144 - Oh, my God, that's Vince Russo. 651 00:30:51,185 --> 00:30:54,439 - Bro, as sure as I'm sitting here, 652 00:30:54,480 --> 00:31:00,361 I walked into a WCW locker room. 653 00:31:00,403 --> 00:31:03,030 And the minute I walked in, 654 00:31:03,072 --> 00:31:06,409 there was a giant target, 655 00:31:06,451 --> 00:31:09,370 bullseye on my back. 656 00:31:09,412 --> 00:31:11,664 - Vince Russo came in 657 00:31:11,706 --> 00:31:14,125 and he said, "I'm gonna fire everybody 658 00:31:14,167 --> 00:31:17,420 that's one day over 40." 659 00:31:17,462 --> 00:31:20,631 And I went, "Okay, how's this gonna work?" 660 00:31:20,673 --> 00:31:23,468 - One of the ways he was able to galvanize himself 661 00:31:23,509 --> 00:31:27,180 with some of this lower card, younger talent 662 00:31:27,221 --> 00:31:30,683 was to badmouth guys like Hulk Hogan. 663 00:31:30,725 --> 00:31:33,394 - Hulk Hogan and Ric Flair can't go on wrestling forever. 664 00:31:33,436 --> 00:31:35,646 You've got to build the undercard. 665 00:31:35,688 --> 00:31:37,940 - And I'm just going, "Oh, my God. 666 00:31:37,982 --> 00:31:40,318 "If you guys buy this, I got a lot of swamp land 667 00:31:40,359 --> 00:31:41,694 here in Florida to sell you." 668 00:31:41,736 --> 00:31:44,322 - Russo's goal is to get rid of Hulk Hogan. 669 00:31:44,363 --> 00:31:46,574 That was going to be his claim to fame. 670 00:31:46,616 --> 00:31:50,536 He was gonna put the nail in Hulk Hogan's career. 671 00:31:50,578 --> 00:31:52,872 - A wrestler's paranoia, 672 00:31:52,914 --> 00:31:55,583 you can't-- you can't change that. 673 00:31:55,625 --> 00:31:59,087 They're gonna believe what they wanna believe. 674 00:31:59,128 --> 00:32:00,421 And they believe 675 00:32:00,463 --> 00:32:02,757 that I was trying to run them outta Dodge, 676 00:32:02,799 --> 00:32:05,301 which was the last thing I was trying to do. 677 00:32:05,343 --> 00:32:07,762 - Vince Russo never butt heads with anybody to their face. 678 00:32:07,804 --> 00:32:11,599 It was always behind your back. 679 00:32:11,641 --> 00:32:15,144 Don't edit that out. I dare you. 680 00:32:15,186 --> 00:32:21,067 - Let's get ready to rumble! 681 00:32:21,109 --> 00:32:24,320 - So when we talk about "Bash at the Beach," 682 00:32:24,362 --> 00:32:25,947 I had written the show 683 00:32:25,988 --> 00:32:30,451 and Hulk had to give the script approval, okay? 684 00:32:30,493 --> 00:32:34,038 Sent the first one over, Hulk didn't like it. 685 00:32:34,080 --> 00:32:37,500 Sent the second one over, Hulk didn't like it. 686 00:32:37,542 --> 00:32:39,085 - Basically, they want to get the belt off you 687 00:32:39,127 --> 00:32:40,420 and put it on Jarrett. 688 00:32:40,461 --> 00:32:41,671 And I said, "Well, here's the deal, bro. 689 00:32:41,713 --> 00:32:44,048 "I don't get along with this Vince Russo guy. 690 00:32:44,090 --> 00:32:46,008 "Anyway, he's been trying to sabotage me 691 00:32:46,050 --> 00:32:48,553 since the day he walked in here." 692 00:32:48,594 --> 00:32:51,431 - So I write the third script, and basically, 693 00:32:51,472 --> 00:32:55,476 I have Hulk killing everyone in the building, 694 00:32:55,518 --> 00:32:58,646 but not walking out with the title. 695 00:32:58,688 --> 00:33:00,189 - He's here! - It is. 696 00:33:00,231 --> 00:33:02,108 - Vince wanted Hulk to drop the belt to Jeff. 697 00:33:02,150 --> 00:33:04,485 And he said, "Look, let me win the belt tonight 698 00:33:04,527 --> 00:33:07,238 "on the pay-per-view--" which is the money. 699 00:33:07,280 --> 00:33:09,157 "And then Monday night," he said, 700 00:33:09,198 --> 00:33:10,992 "I'll drop it, you know, at Nitro." 701 00:33:11,033 --> 00:33:13,161 Well, he didn't want to do that. 702 00:33:13,202 --> 00:33:18,166 - I then go to Jeff Jarrett and say to Jeff, 703 00:33:18,207 --> 00:33:20,793 "Jeff, F Hogan, 704 00:33:20,835 --> 00:33:23,004 "Lay down in the middle of the ring. 705 00:33:23,046 --> 00:33:24,589 "Let him cover you. 706 00:33:24,630 --> 00:33:27,592 And let him leave with his belt. F him." 707 00:33:33,306 --> 00:33:35,266 - What's Jeff doing? - Hang on a minute. 708 00:33:35,308 --> 00:33:36,768 - What's Jeff doing? 709 00:33:36,809 --> 00:33:38,352 Russo, I think, told Jarrett to lie down. 710 00:33:38,394 --> 00:33:39,520 What's going on? 711 00:33:39,562 --> 00:33:41,189 - Jarrett lays down. 712 00:33:41,230 --> 00:33:43,316 I looked down, and said, "Brother, don't do this." 713 00:33:43,357 --> 00:33:46,402 I said, "Don't screw this business up like this." 714 00:33:46,444 --> 00:33:48,529 You know? And he just laid there. 715 00:33:48,571 --> 00:33:53,159 Is this your deal, Russo? - Wow. 716 00:33:53,201 --> 00:33:55,620 - That's why this company's is the damn shape it's in, 717 00:33:55,661 --> 00:33:58,122 because of bull[bleep] like this. 718 00:34:01,918 --> 00:34:04,087 [match bell rings] - This is wild. 719 00:34:04,128 --> 00:34:06,047 Hulk Hogan is the world champion. 720 00:34:06,089 --> 00:34:09,675 And this sport has never seen anything like this. 721 00:34:09,717 --> 00:34:12,178 - Maybe Russo can explain to the world 722 00:34:12,220 --> 00:34:16,057 what we have seen. 723 00:34:16,099 --> 00:34:17,683 - Look at his face. - Yeah. 724 00:34:17,725 --> 00:34:19,602 We know that face, don't we? 725 00:34:19,644 --> 00:34:22,105 - I've done nothing, 726 00:34:22,146 --> 00:34:26,984 nothing but deal with the bull[bleep] 727 00:34:27,026 --> 00:34:32,365 of the politics behind that curtain. 728 00:34:33,282 --> 00:34:36,494 I came back to the guys behind that curtain 729 00:34:36,536 --> 00:34:41,040 that give a [bleep] about this company. 730 00:34:41,082 --> 00:34:43,334 And let me tell you who doesn't give a [bleep] 731 00:34:43,376 --> 00:34:45,128 about this company. 732 00:34:45,169 --> 00:34:49,590 That goddamn politician Hulk Hogan. 733 00:34:49,632 --> 00:34:52,677 Because Hulk Hogan tonight 734 00:34:52,719 --> 00:34:58,641 wants to play his creative control card. 735 00:34:58,683 --> 00:35:01,185 You will never see that piece of [bleep] again. 736 00:35:01,227 --> 00:35:03,521 [cheering] 737 00:35:03,563 --> 00:35:05,940 - Amen. 738 00:35:06,816 --> 00:35:10,695 - So now you gotta understand with Hulk's ego, 739 00:35:10,737 --> 00:35:11,946 I go back to the office 740 00:35:11,988 --> 00:35:14,115 and I gotta meet with Brad Siegel, 741 00:35:14,157 --> 00:35:16,200 who was the head of TNT. 742 00:35:16,242 --> 00:35:18,703 And Brad says, "Vince, what happened?" 743 00:35:18,745 --> 00:35:21,038 And I laid out the entire scenario 744 00:35:21,080 --> 00:35:22,623 and Brad says to me, 745 00:35:22,665 --> 00:35:26,044 "How did you leave it with Hulk?" 746 00:35:26,085 --> 00:35:28,713 - That was the Vince Russo show. 747 00:35:28,755 --> 00:35:30,882 The whole thing was just so-- 748 00:35:30,923 --> 00:35:34,552 just out of the realm of what this business is about. 749 00:35:34,594 --> 00:35:36,846 It was just--it was a disaster. 750 00:35:36,888 --> 00:35:39,557 - Where does Hollywood Hogan's career go from here? 751 00:35:39,599 --> 00:35:42,310 - Where does WCW go from here? 752 00:35:42,351 --> 00:35:45,772 - With the WCW's value at an all-time low, 753 00:35:45,813 --> 00:35:47,857 the powers cut their losses 754 00:35:47,899 --> 00:35:51,110 and sold out to the man they sought to destroy: 755 00:35:51,152 --> 00:35:52,570 Vince McMahon. 756 00:35:52,612 --> 00:35:58,618 - The fate of WCW is in my hands. 757 00:36:04,791 --> 00:36:06,334 - When Hollywood Hulk Hogan 758 00:36:06,375 --> 00:36:10,797 and his band of cutthroats destroy you, 759 00:36:10,838 --> 00:36:16,302 the WCW will be on a silver platter, brother. 760 00:36:16,344 --> 00:36:21,474 And just like the big, bad wolf said... 761 00:36:21,516 --> 00:36:23,893 Better to eat you with. 762 00:36:25,311 --> 00:36:27,814 Uh, wow. [chuckles] 763 00:36:27,855 --> 00:36:30,024 The downfall of WCW. 764 00:36:32,110 --> 00:36:34,737 - I didn't feel any, you know, 765 00:36:34,779 --> 00:36:37,073 ego boost of, "Way to go, Vince..." 766 00:36:37,115 --> 00:36:39,033 You know, "You crushed them. 767 00:36:39,075 --> 00:36:41,119 And now you own them," and all that. 768 00:36:41,160 --> 00:36:44,288 I look at it as business as usual. 769 00:36:44,330 --> 00:36:47,417 You have to grab your competition by the throat, 770 00:36:47,458 --> 00:36:49,293 and you've gotta squeeze the life 771 00:36:49,335 --> 00:36:51,003 out of your competition, 772 00:36:51,045 --> 00:36:53,923 just like I did to WCW. 773 00:36:53,965 --> 00:36:56,801 - On March 26th, 2001, 774 00:36:56,843 --> 00:37:00,179 WWE officially purchased WCW. 775 00:37:00,221 --> 00:37:02,473 Vince McMahon would dismantle the roster 776 00:37:02,515 --> 00:37:05,101 and yank WCW off the air. 777 00:37:10,106 --> 00:37:13,067 A year later, Vince McMahon was looking to squeeze 778 00:37:13,109 --> 00:37:16,154 whatever evil juice was left out of Hogan. 779 00:37:16,195 --> 00:37:18,906 While Hollywood's star was on the wing, 780 00:37:18,948 --> 00:37:22,452 The Rock was on his way into the stratosphere. 781 00:37:22,493 --> 00:37:25,955 It was to be a symbolic passing of the torch 782 00:37:25,997 --> 00:37:28,166 from an icon of an era gone by 783 00:37:28,207 --> 00:37:31,044 to the great one of the Attitude Era. 784 00:37:31,085 --> 00:37:32,962 - Hey, it's The Rock. Come on, guys. 785 00:37:33,004 --> 00:37:35,256 - Hey, wow. It's our people's champ. 786 00:37:35,298 --> 00:37:36,340 - I'm a baller. 787 00:37:36,382 --> 00:37:38,259 - This is my son's favorite wrestler. 788 00:37:38,301 --> 00:37:41,054 - Vince wanted me to wrestle The Rock, you know. 789 00:37:41,095 --> 00:37:42,430 - Hogan, you take that camera. 790 00:37:42,472 --> 00:37:44,265 It's already shined up, turn sideways, 791 00:37:44,307 --> 00:37:45,516 eat your vitamin, say your prayers, 792 00:37:45,558 --> 00:37:49,479 and stick it straight up all your candy asses. 793 00:37:51,481 --> 00:37:53,566 - It's kind of funny because, 794 00:37:53,608 --> 00:37:54,859 you know, I remember him saying, 795 00:37:54,901 --> 00:37:56,319 "Well, Terry, you know, things have changed. 796 00:37:56,360 --> 00:37:58,696 "And, you know, if you're gonna wrestle The Rock, 797 00:37:58,738 --> 00:38:00,448 you better really bring it." 798 00:38:00,490 --> 00:38:02,492 In my mind, I'm thinking, "Brother, if I bring it, 799 00:38:02,533 --> 00:38:04,827 you're gonna be begging me to take it back." 800 00:38:04,869 --> 00:38:10,416 - Hollywood Hulk Hogan! 801 00:38:11,918 --> 00:38:13,169 - The Rock against Hulk Hogan. 802 00:38:13,211 --> 00:38:15,213 Here's the aging Hulk Hogan. 803 00:38:15,254 --> 00:38:17,548 Here's the newcomer, The Rock. 804 00:38:17,590 --> 00:38:21,219 What was gonna happen? 805 00:38:21,260 --> 00:38:23,221 - I mean, I took my daughter to hear the Backstreet Boys 806 00:38:23,262 --> 00:38:25,932 and NSYNC and girls scream so loud it hurt my ears. 807 00:38:25,973 --> 00:38:28,184 It was just that loud. 808 00:38:28,226 --> 00:38:30,853 - There's a lot of fans here in SkyDome 809 00:38:30,895 --> 00:38:33,898 that love this legendary figure, 810 00:38:33,940 --> 00:38:36,651 Hollywood Hulk Hogan. 811 00:38:37,276 --> 00:38:39,779 - Oh, the power of Hogan. 812 00:38:45,076 --> 00:38:48,079 - When Hulk came back, they don't want the nWo Hulk. 813 00:38:48,121 --> 00:38:49,914 They didn't want Hollywood Hulk. 814 00:38:49,956 --> 00:38:51,416 They wanted Hulk. 815 00:38:51,457 --> 00:38:53,876 I think our audience looked at it as 816 00:38:53,918 --> 00:38:55,294 it had been long enough. 817 00:38:55,336 --> 00:38:56,421 He had been black and white 818 00:38:56,462 --> 00:38:58,506 for ten years or whatever it was, 819 00:38:58,548 --> 00:39:00,675 and people were ready now, 820 00:39:00,717 --> 00:39:03,469 what's old is new again. 821 00:39:03,511 --> 00:39:05,680 - I mean, God, how long 822 00:39:05,722 --> 00:39:08,266 did the beginning of that match go on? 823 00:39:08,307 --> 00:39:11,144 Where they were just listening to the crowd 824 00:39:11,185 --> 00:39:15,231 and listening to the deafening Hogan chants. 825 00:39:15,273 --> 00:39:17,650 - Many in the crowd chanting for Hogan. 826 00:39:17,692 --> 00:39:19,193 - Holy cow, man. 827 00:39:19,235 --> 00:39:23,156 It was a worldwide audience telling you that, 828 00:39:23,197 --> 00:39:26,617 "Man, we love him for everything he was. 829 00:39:26,659 --> 00:39:30,413 "We loved him for leaving. We loved him for coming back. 830 00:39:30,455 --> 00:39:31,998 "We love Hulk. 831 00:39:32,039 --> 00:39:34,917 And maybe you're shoving Rock down our throat." 832 00:39:34,959 --> 00:39:40,006 [crowd cheering loudly] 833 00:39:40,048 --> 00:39:43,301 - Heard 'em cheering and I went, "Oh, crap." 834 00:39:43,342 --> 00:39:44,302 You know, and they were cheering 835 00:39:44,343 --> 00:39:45,595 and cheering and cheering. 836 00:39:45,636 --> 00:39:47,096 And The Rock started taking over on me. 837 00:39:47,138 --> 00:39:48,890 Every time he'd punch me, they'd boo him. 838 00:39:48,931 --> 00:39:50,433 [crowd booing] 839 00:39:50,475 --> 00:39:51,976 - I don't think The Rock expected a mixed reaction. 840 00:39:52,018 --> 00:39:53,853 - The Rock was getting booed. 841 00:39:53,895 --> 00:39:55,229 He's had the push of a lifetime, 842 00:39:55,271 --> 00:39:57,106 and here, I come back, 843 00:39:57,148 --> 00:39:59,317 trying to put the WWE out of business 844 00:39:59,358 --> 00:40:02,195 for ten years, trying to destroy the company. 845 00:40:02,236 --> 00:40:05,615 I come back and the people are cheering me and booing him? 846 00:40:05,656 --> 00:40:08,117 - The crowd is solidly behind Hulk. 847 00:40:08,159 --> 00:40:10,495 I don't know if The Rock knows what to think. 848 00:40:10,536 --> 00:40:12,413 - People went crazy over the Hulkster. 849 00:40:12,455 --> 00:40:13,706 Oh, my God. It was unbelie-- 850 00:40:13,748 --> 00:40:15,166 and then people loved The Rock too. 851 00:40:15,208 --> 00:40:16,459 But they got the match turned around 852 00:40:16,501 --> 00:40:18,378 where people cheered The Rock, cheered Hulk. 853 00:40:18,419 --> 00:40:20,630 You know, "Let's go, Hulkster. Let's go, Rock." 854 00:40:20,671 --> 00:40:22,799 "Let's go, Hulkster. Let's go, Rock." 855 00:40:22,840 --> 00:40:25,218 - Hulk, Rock. 856 00:40:25,259 --> 00:40:27,929 Two of the greatest of all time. 857 00:40:27,970 --> 00:40:31,265 And they were able to listen, 858 00:40:31,307 --> 00:40:32,600 react, 859 00:40:32,642 --> 00:40:34,060 and make it work. 860 00:40:38,731 --> 00:40:40,441 - People just couldn't take it anymore. 861 00:40:40,483 --> 00:40:42,777 Couldn't wait for Hulk to hulk up 862 00:40:42,819 --> 00:40:44,195 and make that big comeback. 863 00:40:44,237 --> 00:40:46,531 Comeback, comeback. 864 00:40:46,572 --> 00:40:49,367 - Oh, my God. - What you gonna do, Rock? 865 00:40:49,409 --> 00:40:52,954 - Hulk heard an audience, a worldwide audience 866 00:40:52,995 --> 00:40:54,956 telling you that, 867 00:40:54,997 --> 00:40:58,084 "Man, we want our traditional Hulk back. 868 00:40:58,126 --> 00:40:59,961 And we love him." 869 00:41:00,002 --> 00:41:02,171 It was a beautiful moment 870 00:41:02,213 --> 00:41:05,258 because that was an evolution for Hulk. 871 00:41:10,221 --> 00:41:11,514 [match bell ringing] 872 00:41:11,556 --> 00:41:16,561 - You smell what The Rock is cooking. 873 00:41:16,602 --> 00:41:19,230 - It was interesting because it was almost like 874 00:41:19,272 --> 00:41:21,566 it was the first time that Hogan realized 875 00:41:21,607 --> 00:41:27,155 that there could be some ambiguity to his character. 876 00:41:27,196 --> 00:41:29,824 I think it wasn't until that night 877 00:41:29,866 --> 00:41:32,702 'cause he was so over with the audience, 878 00:41:32,744 --> 00:41:36,164 he realized he could have elements of Hollywood 879 00:41:36,205 --> 00:41:38,958 and not be completely bad. 880 00:41:42,503 --> 00:41:45,923 [crowd cheering] 881 00:41:45,965 --> 00:41:47,425 - At the end, 882 00:41:47,467 --> 00:41:49,093 the people really got what they wanted to see: 883 00:41:49,135 --> 00:41:51,345 two of the biggest icons in the world. 884 00:41:51,387 --> 00:41:54,057 And so, you know, it was kinda like a passing of the torch. 885 00:41:54,098 --> 00:41:57,018 [triumphant music] 886 00:41:57,060 --> 00:42:04,192 * * 887 00:42:07,653 --> 00:42:09,405 - It was so intense... 888 00:42:11,616 --> 00:42:13,534 That Vince McMahon goes, 889 00:42:13,576 --> 00:42:16,788 "Where is your red and yellow gear?" 890 00:42:16,829 --> 00:42:20,083 Vince goes, "You need to go get your red and yellow stuff." 891 00:42:23,378 --> 00:42:25,296 My whole character 892 00:42:25,338 --> 00:42:28,007 of Hollywood Hogan was nothing but fun 893 00:42:28,049 --> 00:42:30,885 and being nasty as I want to be 894 00:42:30,927 --> 00:42:32,220 and having a blast doing it. 895 00:42:32,261 --> 00:42:35,181 [sentimental music] 896 00:42:35,223 --> 00:42:38,101 * * 897 00:42:38,142 --> 00:42:41,646 The Hulk Hogan character actually was up here 898 00:42:41,687 --> 00:42:44,148 and it brought me up and made me a better person 899 00:42:44,190 --> 00:42:45,942 all these years. 900 00:42:45,983 --> 00:42:47,443 And I finally understand 901 00:42:47,485 --> 00:42:49,570 what it meant to so many people. 902 00:42:49,612 --> 00:42:50,905 * * 903 00:42:50,947 --> 00:42:53,116 [National Anthem playing on electric guitar] 904 00:42:53,157 --> 00:42:54,909 - Wait just a minute! 905 00:42:54,951 --> 00:42:57,662 Looks like Hulk Hogan's got the red and yellow! 906 00:42:57,703 --> 00:43:01,124 The true colors of the Hulkster! 907 00:43:01,165 --> 00:43:04,001 The bright red, the bright yellow. 908 00:43:04,043 --> 00:43:06,671 Hulk Hogan is back! 909 00:43:06,713 --> 00:43:09,757 That is so cool to see the Hulkster 910 00:43:09,799 --> 00:43:12,343 in the red and yellow. 911 00:43:12,385 --> 00:43:14,303 - Psychoanalyst Carl Jung once said 912 00:43:14,345 --> 00:43:17,265 the inside of every person is a shadow self. 913 00:43:17,306 --> 00:43:20,017 It's where we keep the things we don't like about ourselves. 914 00:43:20,059 --> 00:43:22,895 Pride, ruthless ambition, 915 00:43:22,937 --> 00:43:24,772 tendency to violence. 916 00:43:24,814 --> 00:43:26,858 That's Hollywood Hogan. 917 00:43:26,899 --> 00:43:30,695 As much as we all want to be the hero that was Hulk Hogan, 918 00:43:30,737 --> 00:43:34,282 we all have a little bit of Hollywood Hogan inside of us. 919 00:43:37,660 --> 00:43:40,204 - I think if one were to go back 920 00:43:40,246 --> 00:43:44,375 and try to do a postmortem 921 00:43:44,417 --> 00:43:46,044 on the "evil" Hulk Hogan, 922 00:43:46,085 --> 00:43:48,713 at its core 923 00:43:48,755 --> 00:43:52,550 was the fact that Hulk turned his back 924 00:43:52,592 --> 00:43:55,636 on people who loved him and supported him 925 00:43:55,678 --> 00:43:56,846 as a character. 926 00:43:56,888 --> 00:43:59,682 And in creating a mystery, 927 00:43:59,724 --> 00:44:01,893 getting the audience to ask questions, 928 00:44:01,934 --> 00:44:03,394 blurring the line, 929 00:44:03,436 --> 00:44:06,397 which I will admit now that the, you know, 930 00:44:06,439 --> 00:44:08,941 litigation is far behind us. 931 00:44:08,983 --> 00:44:11,736 You know, creating that feeling 932 00:44:11,778 --> 00:44:14,072 of not being sure what we're seeing 933 00:44:14,113 --> 00:44:16,074 is real or make-believe. 934 00:44:16,115 --> 00:44:19,452 - For Hollywood, every night's a main event. 935 00:44:19,494 --> 00:44:21,454 Every night's a payoff. 936 00:44:21,496 --> 00:44:23,998 And every night's another trip to the bank. 937 00:44:24,040 --> 00:44:26,667 - It was genuine betrayal 938 00:44:26,709 --> 00:44:31,089 and the hate that surely follows. 939 00:44:31,130 --> 00:44:34,258 It was a thing of beauty, 940 00:44:34,300 --> 00:44:37,512 if I do say so myself. 941 00:44:38,304 --> 00:44:41,641 - It's the most cunning that will survive. 942 00:44:41,682 --> 00:44:44,018 - What are we to think of the duplicitous Hulk Hogan? 943 00:44:44,060 --> 00:44:47,021 Is he the icon who inspired a generation of Hulkamaniacs 944 00:44:47,063 --> 00:44:49,148 to say their prayers and eat their vitamins? 945 00:44:49,190 --> 00:44:52,318 A superhero who made it cool to be the good guy? 946 00:44:52,360 --> 00:44:54,779 Or is he the nefarious Hollywood Hogan 947 00:44:54,821 --> 00:44:57,782 who became intoxicated with his own power and fame 948 00:44:57,824 --> 00:45:00,827 to the extent he brought down an entire company? 949 00:45:00,868 --> 00:45:02,203 Either way, 950 00:45:02,245 --> 00:45:04,831 for the most beloved superstar of a generation 951 00:45:04,872 --> 00:45:07,834 to become the most prolific villain of the next 952 00:45:07,875 --> 00:45:09,669 is an amazing feat. 953 00:45:09,711 --> 00:45:13,798 If you really wanna know what evil lurks around you, 954 00:45:13,840 --> 00:45:17,802 take a closer look inside the heart of your heroes. 955 00:45:17,844 --> 00:45:19,387 - I am the master 956 00:45:19,429 --> 00:45:21,806 of the mental game of wrestling. 957 00:45:21,848 --> 00:45:23,933 To maneuver people like puppets, 958 00:45:23,975 --> 00:45:26,477 to financially take what I want, 959 00:45:26,519 --> 00:45:27,854 there's nobody better. 960 00:45:27,895 --> 00:45:29,021 Batter up! 961 00:45:29,063 --> 00:45:31,065 And each and every time I hit an arena, 962 00:45:31,107 --> 00:45:33,568 I made sure I left my mark. 963 00:45:33,609 --> 00:45:35,445 Because I gave wrestling something 964 00:45:35,486 --> 00:45:36,904 that nobody else could've given it. 965 00:45:36,946 --> 00:45:38,656 I gave it life, 966 00:45:38,698 --> 00:45:41,576 and wrestling will live forever because of me. 967 00:45:41,617 --> 00:45:43,911 - The preceding announcement has been paid for 968 00:45:43,953 --> 00:45:45,872 by the New World Order.