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,"
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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.
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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.
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00:03:43,224 --> 00:03:44,559
I loved everything about him.
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00:03:44,600 --> 00:03:47,061
He was big. He was tall.
He was tan.
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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.
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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.
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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.