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The loss of the WWE Hulk Hogan icon left many remembering his favorite moments with him within the ring, where his lush personality and athletic talent came alive in front of thousands.
Jonathan Coachman, a former WWE issuer, spent time exactly that at “Hot Mic” of Outkick, and the only game he mentioned in particular was what some consider among the 10 best of all time.
It was the “Hulkster” against Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson in Wrestlemania X8.
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Hollywood Hulk Hogan, he left, and rock fights Wrestlemania X8. (George Pimentel/Wireimage)
“I probably only had all my career three or four times, which covered more than a decade at the WWE, where I went out to the floor. That wanted to be there, and it was the 45 most surprising minutes of my career, seeing fans see these two icons, and changed the game because the fans wanted to encourage Hulk Hogan and Boo The Rock,” Coachman recalled.
“Then, it was such a unique moment to see Hulk, that physically it was not where I needed to be and that was basically the section for him to be so long in a game. It was a magical night, and I still look at him as one of the most prominent aspects of my career.”
The match took place in Toronto at Skydome, where these two were the main attraction. The party was called “Icon vs. Icon”, and was the first appearance of Hogan WrestleMania from Wrestlemania IX in 1993.
Wrestling icon Hulk Hogan dead at age 71
The story at that time was The Rock and “Stone Cold” Steve Austin against New World Order, which consisted of Hogan, Kevin Nash and Scott Hall. The rock had challenged Hogan to a Wrestlemania party, and Hogan shook his hand.
However, the exclusive movement of the rock, “Rock Bottom”, came out instead of letting Hogan go, which led to the dispute that accumulated until the game arrived in March 2002 to the north of the border.
“That is what has always been the wrestling business: build at great moments. Build at great shows and make it worth it,” Coachman said. “And until the mid -1990s or the end of the 90s, Hogan was really the guy beyond any other person. As we advanced in the 2000s, things began to happen and there was good and there was bad. Being able to put that couple together, and your words are incredible, because I wanted to feel it. I was part of so many great moments in my career, and my career was the attitude and it was not better.” “
The crowd was electric throughout the night, and some even believed that it was one of the most noisy professional struggle crowds of all time, since these two exchanged blown from one side to another for more than half an hour.
Coachman also said that it was rock who kept Hogan in him as much as they did. There was even some improvisation that should be done in the middle of the party.
Hollywood Hulk Hogan, right, and the rock is faced in Wrestlemania X8. (George Pimentel/Wireimage)
“I don’t know if the game had ever happened because Rock was at his best at that time. He had to give Hogan a lot to make that game credible,” he said. “So, what was so shocking that they had worked in that game for weeks. They even established a ring at the hotel and we would rent it throughout the week. They had worked on it for many hours.
“Then, to walk in the ring with 80,000 or for the people who have many people there, they changed it completely because there are certain things you can do as a good guy, you cannot do as a bad boy and vice versa. For the rock to stop there, and the people look at the game, they threw themselves for 10 minutes. They were not talking about garbage, Rock said it how to change it.”
In the end, the rock was victorious about Hogan, and Nash and Hall did not like Hogan showing respect for rock. Nash and Hall began hitting Hogan, who was effectively out of Nwo at that time.
The rock ended up arriving at Hogan’s help, and as a great sign of respect, he asked Hogan to pose with him in the ring to greet the crowd.
“For me, it is the pinnacle of what our business is,” Coachman said. “I fought for three or four years. If I had to go 10 or 12 minutes, that was a long time for me. These guys, kept the crowd in the palm of their hand and that was the greatness of Hulk Hogan, the character and Hulk Hogan, the fighter for so many years.”
Hollywood Hulk Hogan and the crash of rocks in Wrestlemania X8. (George Pimentel/Wireimage)
Hogan died at age 71 due to an alleged “cardiac arrest” at his home in Clearwater, Florida, according to TMZ Sports.
“WWE saddens the member of the WWE Hall of Fame, Hulk Hogan, died,” the company wrote in a statement. “One of the most recognizable figures of pop culture, Hogan helped WWE achieve global recognition in the 1980s.
“WWE extends his condolences to the family, friends and fans of Hogan.”
