Who here has seen Hulk Hogan work in Japan? [Archive]

Ol Dirty Dastard

10-28-2009, 11:03 AM

Seriously I remember watching videos of him when he wrestled in Japan, and I watched another match of his yesterday.... dont get me wrong he wasn't a technical wizard or anything, but the guy busted his ass. He bumped like a motherfucker, he showed a little bit of technical ability and kept at a decent pace... he even showed some stiffness at some points. His finisher, the axe bomber (ie brutal lariat) was fairly badass.

It just goes to show that the guy is a genius. He knew in the US he could get away with doing jackshit in the ring, but once he came to Japan he had to do SOMETHING in the ring, and he was actually really cool to watch.

Sixx

10-28-2009, 11:17 AM

I've only seen him get smashed with a guitar over his head by Jarrett.

I would appreciate any links to his matches in Japan.

kareru

10-28-2009, 11:26 AM

hulkamaniaがあなたでやりたい放題やるとき何兄弟をする行っているか。

Mr. Nerfect

10-28-2009, 11:34 AM

I've heard good things, but I honestly thought they were jokes.

Ol Dirty Dastard

10-28-2009, 11:39 AM

Ol Dirty Dastard

10-28-2009, 11:42 AM

Him and Hawk beat the fuck out of one another. Though he does sort of shitout on the press slam.

Sixx

10-28-2009, 11:49 AM

Oh wow, an asian Road Warrior.

Ol Dirty Dastard

10-28-2009, 11:53 AM

The Hellraisers is a sick tag team name.

Waylander

10-28-2009, 12:06 PM

His matches with Tenryu and the Great Muta are both on YouTube, I'll fetch a link later if I remember.

CSL

10-28-2009, 12:18 PM

Yeah, seen quite a lot ranging from the early 80's to mid 90's, some good, some bad. Some poor matches, like against Andre and Giant Baba and suprisingly good ones, like against Abdullah the Butcher. Hogan and Stan Hansen beating the piss out of each other is quite fun as well.

Your last sentence in the original post is pretty much bang on. 'Hulk's the man' as just about anybody that shared a locker room with him seems to say.

Fignuts

10-28-2009, 12:32 PM

His match against muta was the best of his whole career, from a wrestling standpoint.

Ol Dirty Dastard

10-28-2009, 01:01 PM

I've seen his match against muta it was really good. But I just watched his match against Hansen and I have to say that is one of the best brawls I've ever seen.

redoneja

10-28-2009, 01:28 PM

If you can find stuff from the mid to late 80's with Hogan, that's really his best body of work in Japan. His match with Muta in 93 is a notable exception. Tremendous match. Also, after the match Hogan gave a press conference where he bashed the WWF Title and said he wanted to come after the IWGP Title. Pretty interesting considering he was the WWF Champion at the time and even had the belt with him at the press conference.

The Ravishing One

10-28-2009, 01:29 PM

redoneja

10-28-2009, 01:32 PM

redoneja

10-28-2009, 01:33 PM

Animals a bit green?? :?:

That wasn't Animal. That was a young Kensuke Sasaki, under the name Power Warrior.

Xero

10-28-2009, 01:35 PM

That promo was actually good.

Why couldn't Hogan be that in the WWF?

redoneja

10-28-2009, 01:38 PM

That promo was actually good.

Why couldn't Hogan be that in the WWF?

I think that's the character Hogan should portray in TNA if he ends up wrestling. Nobody is going to be able to buy Hogan as the unstoppable hero (John Cena?) that he used to be. If he wrestles, he has to wrestle more cagey and rely on his veteran wisdom instead of the "power of the 24" pythons", if you get where I'm coming from.

Xero

10-28-2009, 01:40 PM

Basically, don't be Cena. If they book him like Hogan (and in turn Cena) I think the TNA fans would shit on it. They do need to do something different.

redoneja

10-28-2009, 01:41 PM

Hulk Hogan v Genichiro Tenryu

Pretty big match for the Japanese audience as Tenryu was HUGE in Japan. He is the only wrestler to hold a pinfall victory over both Giant Baba and Antonio Inoki.

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redoneja

10-28-2009, 01:43 PM

Basically, don't be Cena. If they book him like Hogan (and in turn Cena) I think the TNA fans would shit on it. They do need to do something different.

Exactly. To be believable in the ring, he'll need to wrestle more like Hollywood Hogan and less like Hulk Hogan.

Xero

10-28-2009, 01:43 PM

Just skimmed that. Holy shit, Hogan is SELLING.

redoneja

10-28-2009, 01:45 PM

The step over jujigatame takedown around 3:45 in the first video really caught me off guard. Not an amazing move or anything, just not used to seeing Hogan do that, even though I've seen this match a few times.

CSL

10-28-2009, 01:45 PM

Just skimmed that. Holy shit, Hogan is SELLING.

You pretty much have no choice but to sell in Japan if you want to remain concious

Xero

10-28-2009, 01:56 PM

I'm actually enjoying that match. I don't think I've ever actually enjoyed a Hogan match after I was a mark.

I think it's the fact that I've never seen Hogan do anything "good" in the ring.

redoneja

10-28-2009, 01:59 PM

redoneja

10-28-2009, 02:00 PM

Typing "Hulk Hogan Japan" brings up a bunch of stuff. Other notable matches include Hogan v Fuijinami (1985), Hogan v Abdullah the Butcher, and Hogan v Akira Maeda (1983). The last one is only two and half minutes long, but is pretty intense and the crowd is hot.

Vastardikai

10-28-2009, 02:09 PM

I watched some Hogan's work in Japan and told my buddy that I felt ripped off as a result.

The Ravishing One

10-28-2009, 02:13 PM

That wasn't Animal. That was a young Kensuke Sasaki, under the name Power Warrior.

Yeah i know. I was taking the piss.

Ol Dirty Dastard

10-28-2009, 02:13 PM

You pretty much have no choice but to sell in Japan if you want to remain concious

lol yeah pretty much.

The Tenryu match was pretty good. Gotta love the axe bomber, it's a stiffass looking lariat. Also liked how they always kick out of the leg drop and there's no hulkups.

His promo said it best, pretty much he bullshits in America. Can't blame him. It's not like anyone would have noticed a change in his style.

Ol Dirty Dastard

10-28-2009, 02:17 PM

2 more things

1) I don't know if this was for effect, but he seemed almost nervous trying to please the Japanese crowd, like he was out of his element... though it's not like he doesn't have experience there so he was probably just playing up being a visitor

2) I was reading a youtube thread deal and I think the commentators refer to him as Hollywood Hogan. Apparently that's what he was referred to as behind the scenes and in Japan even before his heel turn? :s

Anyone care to elaborate if you know anything?

Ol Dirty Dastard

10-28-2009, 02:19 PM

Honestly watching any Japanese wrestling depresses me because it makes me realize how much of a cartoon WWE is :(

does it really have to be like that? I mean... I GUESS it does, but have they ever tried to change it? The closest they have come to changing it is 1997, and even then we had the Undertaker and Kane and Mankind. Oh and I guess the year 2000... that was an amazing year to be a WWF fan.

Xero

10-28-2009, 02:24 PM

I have no problem with the 'cartoon' stuff, it's just when they go overboard and shit that is completely illogical is when I get pissed.

But there's no reason they couldn't incorporate both cartoon and the 'serious' stuff to a good mix, and the Attitude Era sort of did that. Maybe it was turned up a bit too much, but still.

CSL

10-28-2009, 02:25 PM

They don't need to change it. It's not about great, competitive looking wrestling for most fans outside of Japan. People wanna see larger than life characters, muscles and catchphrases. Just how it is :-\

Ol Dirty Dastard

10-28-2009, 02:31 PM

The cartoon stuff is pure shite. People are sick of it now which is why ratings are not as good as they once were. The merch sales are alright but that's because little kids will buy anything.

If they tried with competitive, great wrestling it could work. Obviously guys need to be able to talk. There will always be room for guys who can talk... just because guys can talk doesn't mean they have to try blow guys up in their cars and pretend to have sex with a corpse.

Xero

10-28-2009, 02:32 PM

On the flip side, just because they can't talk doesn't mean they shouldn't not get pushed.

That's what managers are for.

Sixx

10-28-2009, 02:37 PM

WWE would be boring for me if it was just for the wrestling itself. I enjoy the soap operas, even though they tend to be ridiculous.

Ol Dirty Dastard

10-28-2009, 02:39 PM

On the flip side, just because they can't talk doesn't mean they shouldn't not get pushed.

That's what managers are for.

Exactly, now we're on the same page.

See cartoon stuff is okay to an extent but I mean very slight. I'm talking the way Stone Cold Steve Austin rolled. That wasn't even really cartoon... that was just someone being a badass and spitting in the face of authority.

Then there's someone like Piper who had a huge personallity, and did "cartoon" type things like breaking the coconut over Snuka's head. That's funny, great shit. But it doesn't overshadow the wrestling.

When Heyman was a manager we saw guys get over that we never thought had it in them (see: A-Train and Big Show)

Bobby the Brain was one of a kind. Cornette was great. But Vince decided one day we're past the days of managers. I don't really know why. It doesn't make sense. He apparently knows what his fans like more than they do. :s

Jordan

10-28-2009, 04:34 PM

AXE BOMBER!!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Sixx

10-28-2009, 05:19 PM

Come on, that's just a clothesline.

CSL

10-28-2009, 05:21 PM

AXIE BOOMBAH!

Ol Dirty Dastard

10-28-2009, 05:24 PM

Sixx

10-28-2009, 05:25 PM

Only partially related, but I thought it was cool enough to post.

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Sixx

10-28-2009, 05:26 PM

Ol Dirty Dastard

10-28-2009, 05:28 PM

AXIIIIIIIIIIIIIE BOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMBA

Xero

10-28-2009, 05:28 PM

That 8 second promo was more logical and watchable than any of his WWF promos.

Swiss Ultimate

10-28-2009, 05:37 PM

Sixx

10-28-2009, 05:40 PM

Holy shit, Hogan can cut a straight promo.

That reminds me of the "I was just the right gay guy" bit.

Mr. Nerfect

10-29-2009, 02:47 AM

It's kind of scary how much an act his American shit is.