On a recent edition of his “The ARN Show” podcast, WWE Hall of Famer Arn Anderson discussed Hulk Hogan leaving WWE for WCW in 1994, WCW making him an offer that WWE couldn’t match, and more.
You can check out some highlights from the podcast below:
On WCW mentioning Hulk Hogan in March 1994 on TV despite him not being under contract: “For that time, that just was unheard of. I mean, you know, first right of refusal, is that a real thing? I think that’s what WWF had. I just remember that term, you know, first right of refusal which means, ‘Okay, his contract ran out. They can make him an offer.’ But it’s like, there can be a bidding war now, right? Because his contract ran out.”
On WCW making Hogan a strong offer that WWE couldn’t match: “Can you imagine in that boardroom with WWF them actually saying, ‘Well, he’s not worth that.’ After the career that he had had up to that point? I mean, it’s almost surreal, isn’t it?”
On WWE not matching the deal: “He [Vince McMahon] decided he was going to go with the youth movement. And it’s, like when you commit to letting Hogan go to the opposition, and various other guys eventually that were his friends and his comrades move over — you know, change companies, it must have been an, ‘Okay for damn sure, we’re gonna go with a different slant here. We’re gonna go with a youth movement.’ And he was already committed, 100%.”
On Hogan’s big money deal: “If you want to know the truth, if I can remember — and my mind will save me here — I must have had the thought that, ‘I don’t know that anybody’s worth that much money.’ And I was aware of who Hulk Hogan was, I’d been in the ring with him prior to that when he was at his hottest and double-clotheslined me and TUlly over the top rope.”
On whether the move to get Hogan was a gamble for WCW: “I don’t know if ‘gamble’ is the right word. We’re taking a chance. Because you gotta remember also, what was — going back from WCW to Jim Crockett Promotions, which WCW was an extension of Jim Crockett Promotions, the way we were able to compete with that company when Hogan was 300 pounds and you had all that talent, he went around and scooped up all the top guys from every territory, is because we could outperform them. From a wrestling perspective, Jim Crockett Promotions, which morphed into WCW — our crew could outwork their crew. And that’s how we were able to compete with the lunchboxes and all the marketing genius, and all the stuff that they had going on.”
On Hulk Hogan the businessman: “Well, it’s crystal clear he’s the smartest guy in the history of the business on how to market himself, and knows absolutely how to let everybody involved in the bidding war know just how important he is. He was a great self-promoter.”
On the WCW locker room reaction to Hogan’s deal: “Well, just the kind of thoughts that I would think would be going through my mind, being a guy that saw how you built a match. Like, a guy in a business that was working for a company, ‘How do you build a match? How do you build a character? How do you build a show,’ for that matter? How do you do all that and do it the proper way. And the wrestler in me that I had been taught up to that point is going, ‘Well, if you give them Flair and Hogan right away, how do you stop that?’
“But I also understand that that’s something that nobody expected to see. You go, ‘Holy Ghost!’ right out of the gate. Hogan-Flair. So it was one of those things that you kind of just go, ‘I know what I’ve been taught.’ I don’t know what you do after that, unless — there’s ways to do it. And none of those would involve Hogan winning.”
You can keep up with all your wrestling news right here on eWrestlingNews.com. Or, you can follow us over on our Twitter and Facebook pages.
In the world of professional wrestling, few names are as iconic as Hulk Hogan. Known for his larger-than-life personality and incredible in-ring abilities, Hogan became one of the biggest stars in the industry during the 1980s and 1990s. However, in 1994, Hogan shocked the wrestling world by leaving the WWE (then known as WWF) for its rival promotion, WCW. In a recent episode of his podcast, WWE Hall of Famer Arn Anderson discussed Hogan’s departure and shed some light on the circumstances surrounding it.
One of the most intriguing aspects of Hogan’s move to WCW was the fact that the promotion mentioned him on television before he was even under contract. This was a highly unusual move at the time, as promotions typically had a “first right of refusal” clause in their contracts, which meant that they had the option to match any offer made to their talent. However, WCW decided to take a chance and mention Hogan on TV, opening the door for a potential bidding war.
WCW ultimately made Hogan a lucrative offer that the WWE couldn’t match. Anderson expressed his disbelief at the WWE’s decision not to match the deal, considering Hogan’s incredible career up to that point. It was a bold move by WCW, and it paid off handsomely for them in terms of ratings and revenue.
Vince McMahon, the owner of WWE, made a strategic decision to go with a “youth movement” in the wake of Hogan’s departure. This meant focusing on younger talent and moving away from the established stars of the past. While this decision may have been influenced by Hogan leaving for WCW, McMahon was committed to his new direction and didn’t attempt to match WCW’s offer.
Hogan’s big money deal with WCW raised eyebrows among some in the wrestling industry. Anderson admitted that he questioned whether anyone was worth that much money. However, he acknowledged Hogan’s status as a marketing genius and a master at promoting himself. Hogan knew how to make himself valuable and ensure that everyone involved in the bidding war understood his importance.
The move to bring Hogan to WCW was seen as a gamble by some. WCW had to compete with the WWE’s marketing machine and the star power of its top talent. However, Anderson pointed out that WCW had a strong roster and a crew that could outperform the WWE from a wrestling perspective. This gave them the confidence to take a chance on Hogan and build their brand around him.
The reaction in the WCW locker room to Hogan’s deal was mixed. Some wrestlers, like Anderson, questioned how they could top a Hogan vs. Ric Flair match right away. It was a dream match that fans had been clamoring for, but it also set a high bar for future events. However, everyone recognized Hogan’s star power and understood the impact he would have on the company.
In the end, Hogan’s move to WCW changed the landscape of professional wrestling. It marked the beginning of the Monday Night Wars, a fierce rivalry between WCW and WWE that captivated fans and pushed both promotions to new heights. Hogan’s presence in WCW helped the company become a legitimate competitor to WWE and cemented his status as one of the greatest wrestlers of all time.
As fans, we can look back on this pivotal moment in wrestling history and appreciate the impact that Hogan had on the industry. His departure from WWE for WCW was a game-changer, and it forever altered the course of professional wrestling.