you’re free to’t spell WrestleMania without some of Hulkamania.
And with Hulk Hogan’s appearance at WrestleMania 30, it may run wild again.
Weve had Beatlemania, Ribmania, and Jonasmania.
Linsanity was pretty close, too.
There isnt a cool one for One Direction though, I just googled it.
Sorry, Ill get back to the point.
In the minds and hearts of wrestling fans, 2 manias stand above the rest: Hulkamania and WrestleMania.
Without one, the other would not be what it is today.
Starting his run in 1977, Hogan, real name Terry Bollea, was mostly cast as a villain.
Going through numerous name and slight image changes, the soon to be Hulksters 6 7 and 300 lb.
frame was a stark contrast to the traditional, amateur trained wrestlers who still dominated the title scene.
Even Bruno Sammartino, the WWWFs most beloved figure, stood only 510.
After an interesting but failed run in the northeast, Hogan left to hone his style in Japan.
His reputation and popularity were on the rise.
Hogan would soon return to the United States as a heel in the AWA.
This would soon change.
After appearing inRocky IIIin 1982, Hogan became the top face in the company.
For the first time, Hogan was indeed Hollywood.
It was in the AWA that Hulkamania was born.
Gone was the wrestler of the past and here was the wrestler for the 1980s.
A star of television and of film, as talented as he was marketable.
The only problem was that they werent all that innovative and Hogan would never win their title.
Vincent K. McMahon saw green and signed Hogan in late 1983.
By the end of the month, Hogan had the championship and Hulkamania was finally able to run wild.
The WrestleMania Age of wrestling truly began.
Hogan was the hero of the 80s and the general public took notice.
Ad content continues below
With Hogan flying high, McMahon could begin to plan the greatest of coups.
On the back of Hulkamania would riseWrestleMania.WrestleManiawas built on the same principal that Hulkamania would grow on.
Hogans size and personality required villains who could match his over the top image.
Hogans persona helped take wrestling from a fairly structured form to a multi-media entertainment sensation.
Gone were the restrictions of old, in the new world of wrestling, the stakes could be anything.
Hogans villains werent just cheaters, they were supervillains.WrestleManiawas possible because Hulkamania changed the potential of the form itself.
Hogans feuds werenevercompletely focused on the title, they were focused on thedestruction of the enemies of the crowd.
To be a true enemy of Hogan, one had to be an enemy of hisfans.
Hulk was a champion in an older sense, the representative of his people.
He was their defender from these monsters, the last line of defense.
This is never more evident than atWrestleMania III.
In one respect, Andre was right.
Going undefeated for years, there was no one else who deserved a shot at Hogans title.
The legitimacy of the threat was established.
He may have been right, but he was being selfish.
Holding the title was not about athletic prowess, but therightto hold such power.
It was this aspect that made the fan favorite Giant into the greatest villain Hogan would ever face.
Out of the first nineWrestleManias, Hulk Hogan would headline eight.
This repetitiveness slowly became damaging as Hogan had already done the impossible.
After that match, it should have been time for another to conquer their greatest foe.
While originally fortified by Hogans title reigns,WrestleManiahad moved past Hulkamania.
Sticking Hogan in the main event was no longer a guarantee of success.
The fans wantedWrestleMania, but they were souring on Hogan.
For nearly a decade, Hogan would be separated fromWrestleMania.WrestleManiaproved to not need him.
In turn, the matches were still aboutthe charactersand the belt was an enhancement to their stories.
If that happens at aWrestleMania, someone is liable.
Then atWrestleMania XVIII, something incredible happened.
Hogan, having returned to the WWF earlier in the year, was to face The Rock.
Hogan, having adjusted his persona during the 90s, was to be the heel in the match.
The crowd decided that they did not accept this.
Gone was the fatigue from years of Hulkamania, and the crowd was willing to accept their champion back.
The old knight finally had an adversary worthy of his attention.
Regardless of how he was portrayed, Hulk Hoganmeant something differentwhen placed in aWrestleManiamatch.
Hogan lost that match, and it wasnt supposed to be the main event, but Hulkamania was reborn.
A few months later, Hogan had the belt.
This would be his lastWrestleMania…until now.
Hulk Hogan has returned to the WWE and will be hostingWrestleMania XXX.
There are also valid questions.
With a seemingly endless list of legal troubles, has Hogans imaged been tarnished?
Can he be the hero he once was?
Has the crowd grown tired of the star?
Does the younger fanbase even know who he is?
Can he wrestle one more match?
Rumors will run wild.
How the crowd reacts to Hogan atWrestleManiawont be known until it happens.
Maybe, just maybe, Hulkamania will get to run wild one more time.
Like us onFacebookand follow us onTwitterfor all news updates related to the world of geek.
AndGoogle+, if thats your thing!
