The Internet Wrestling Community was dumbfounded Sunday September 15 at WWE's Night of Champions pay per view. During the event a series of polls were being conducted on the official WWE website, wwe.com asking among other questions, who the fans thought was the greatest WWE champion of all time. To no surprise to this author, the winner - by an overwhelming majority I might add - was non other than Hulk Hogan. And it wasn't even close. Hogan got an incredible 55% of the vote followed by "Stone Cold" Steve Austin (who only got 16%), John Cena (13%), CM Punk (12%) and Triple H (4%).
The result takes on an even bigger meaning once you realize that this poll was not conducted amongst older fans who grew up with the glory days of Hulkamania or even those who grew up with the Monday Night Wars of the 90s when Hogan was in WCW. No, this was a pole conducted with today's WWE fans many of whom were not even born when Hogan was last WWE champion 12 years ago let alone when he was in his prime. Hogan's detractors were quick to try to dismiss the poll as fraudulent. Not that WWE is above fixing or working poll results but, if it were true in this case why, one must ask would they make a star who's currently in another promotion outshine all of their own? Would it have not been more beneficial to WWE to have John Cena, CM Punk or even Steve Austin win? The augment that the polls were fixed is further defeated by the fact that another current TNA star - Sting - won the poll of greatest United States champion. Sorry IWC but it seems that the fans have spoken. Hulk Hogan is still #1!
Hogan's victory does much more than re-affirm his unmatched legacy in the sport of professional wrestling. It does more than remember him as the biggest star of the 80s and 90s. It shows that he is STILL a huge influence in professional wrestling today. Even from a General Manager position in a smaller promotion, the younger fans of WWE still know who he is, love the energy he brings with him where ever he appears and with this poll they made it clear that he is still the most popular wrestling personality in the world. All of this has to make Vince McMahon drool with dollar signs in his eyes. With WrestleMania XXX coming up next year and Hogan's TNA contract reportedly up soon, one must assume that Vince & Hogan will be in talks before long.
But what will the Hulkster do if he does return to WWE? Hogan's close friend and former manager Jimmy "Mouth of the South" Hart recently stated on a radio show that Hogan's doctors have approved Hogan to wrestle a few more times. I have long believed that no matter how long Hogan stays in the sport, he will ultimately end his career in WWE. While I personally would like to see him win the TNA World title first, a return to WrestleMania for one more match is the ultimate goal be it this year or in the future because Hogan wants it, Vince wants it and most important the fans have shown that they want it.
TNTMF,
The Boss
The result takes on an even bigger meaning once you realize that this poll was not conducted amongst older fans who grew up with the glory days of Hulkamania or even those who grew up with the Monday Night Wars of the 90s when Hogan was in WCW. No, this was a pole conducted with today's WWE fans many of whom were not even born when Hogan was last WWE champion 12 years ago let alone when he was in his prime. Hogan's detractors were quick to try to dismiss the poll as fraudulent. Not that WWE is above fixing or working poll results but, if it were true in this case why, one must ask would they make a star who's currently in another promotion outshine all of their own? Would it have not been more beneficial to WWE to have John Cena, CM Punk or even Steve Austin win? The augment that the polls were fixed is further defeated by the fact that another current TNA star - Sting - won the poll of greatest United States champion. Sorry IWC but it seems that the fans have spoken. Hulk Hogan is still #1!
Hogan's victory does much more than re-affirm his unmatched legacy in the sport of professional wrestling. It does more than remember him as the biggest star of the 80s and 90s. It shows that he is STILL a huge influence in professional wrestling today. Even from a General Manager position in a smaller promotion, the younger fans of WWE still know who he is, love the energy he brings with him where ever he appears and with this poll they made it clear that he is still the most popular wrestling personality in the world. All of this has to make Vince McMahon drool with dollar signs in his eyes. With WrestleMania XXX coming up next year and Hogan's TNA contract reportedly up soon, one must assume that Vince & Hogan will be in talks before long.
But what will the Hulkster do if he does return to WWE? Hogan's close friend and former manager Jimmy "Mouth of the South" Hart recently stated on a radio show that Hogan's doctors have approved Hogan to wrestle a few more times. I have long believed that no matter how long Hogan stays in the sport, he will ultimately end his career in WWE. While I personally would like to see him win the TNA World title first, a return to WrestleMania for one more match is the ultimate goal be it this year or in the future because Hogan wants it, Vince wants it and most important the fans have shown that they want it.
TNTMF,
The Boss
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