On a recent edition of the “83 Weeks” podcast, Eric Bischoff discussed WCW’s relationship with NJPW in the 1990s, Hulk Hogan not wrestling in Japan, and more.
You can check out some highlights from the podcast below:
On whether there was talent that didn’t want to work in Japan: “No, it was the opposite really. Most talent love going over to Japan, loved it. Hulk Hogan wasn’t going to Japan, he’d been there enough. He’d been there and done that. He built a lot of his career in Japan and had all the fun that he wanted to have, and wasn’t as interested in 20-hour flights as the rest of the talent was. But beyond Hulk, no everybody was excited. I never had anybody balk about going over there. Look, had I brought up Hogan’s name as a potential for a big show? Absolutely. I think everybody would have done backflips, including Inoki who was the president of the company at the time. But I think most people also recognize that that Hulk was, for the most part, done with Japan. And if he did come over, it would be a very special occasion for one match. He wasn’t going to go over there and tour as The Nasty Boys did, or Eddie Guerrero or Chris Benoit, Dean Malenko, or Sting or any of the other talent that would go over to tour. They weren’t going over for one shot. I think everybody in Japan would have been excited about it, but I think everybody in New Japan knew that it was probably unlikely to happen. It would have been very, very expensive to.”
On whether NJPW wanted Hogan and Hogan didn’t want to work in Japan: “[Hulk] loved working in Japan. If you sit down and talk to Hulk Hogan you get him to open up about his experiences in Japan. And I think there would have been a scenario back in the day when Hulk could have been convinced to stay in Japan. He loved it, absolutely loved it. But like a lot of things in life, you love it to the point where okay, don’t need to do that anymore. And the travel was hard. You know, Hulk Hogan spent a long time [on the road]. He was the original road warrior when it came to schedule. Vince McMahon worked him to death early in the ’80s, and I think when Hulk finally got to the point where financially he was secure and had experienced so much, he was a lot more picky about where he worked and how often he earned that right.”
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In the world of professional wrestling, the relationship between different promotions is crucial for the growth and success of the industry. One notable partnership in the 1990s was between World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). Recently, on the “83 Weeks” podcast, Eric Bischoff, former WCW President, shed light on WCW’s relationship with NJPW and Hulk Hogan’s decision not to wrestle in Japan.
Bischoff revealed that most talent in WCW loved the opportunity to work in Japan. However, Hulk Hogan, one of the biggest stars in wrestling history, had already established himself in Japan and was not interested in making the 20-hour flights anymore. Hogan had built a significant part of his career in Japan and had experienced all the excitement and fun he desired. While Bischoff mentioned that he had considered bringing Hogan to Japan for a special occasion, he acknowledged that it would have been a costly endeavor due to Hogan’s star power.
Contrary to popular belief, Bischoff clarified that NJPW did want Hogan to wrestle for them. Hogan had a deep affection for working in Japan and would often reminisce about his experiences there. Bischoff believed that there could have been a scenario where Hogan could have been convinced to stay in Japan if the circumstances were right. However, after years of grueling travel schedules and being worked to the bone by Vince McMahon in the early ’80s, Hogan became more selective about where he worked and how often he wrestled.
The podcast episode also featured a video embed of “83 WEEKS #301: WCW & New Japan Pro Wrestling,” allowing fans to delve deeper into the topic.
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In conclusion, the WCW-NJPW partnership in the 1990s was a significant collaboration in the wrestling industry. While most WCW talent embraced the opportunity to work in Japan, Hulk Hogan, due to his extensive experience and preference for less travel, chose not to wrestle there. Despite NJPW’s interest in Hogan, he had reached a point in his career where he was more selective about his wrestling commitments. The insights shared by Eric Bischoff on the “83 Weeks” podcast shed light on the dynamics of this partnership and Hogan’s relationship with Japan.