The Trial Of Hulk Hogan (Podcast Question)
 

On this week's podcast we're returning to our trial format to debate whether or not Hulk Hogan's actions, throughout the course of his career, have caused irrepairable harm to the professional wrestling business, and we're looking for your thoughts on the subject, considering the following elements:

*His appearance on Arsenio Hall and resulting scandals
*His run in World Championship Wrestling and role in bringing the company down
*His stint in TNA and role in possibly hamstringing another potential alternative

To be clear, we are not debating the obvious positive impacts Hogan has had, just whether or not any of the above did irrepairable damage to the business as a whole.

As always we'll read the best contributions on the air and credit you accordingly, so what do you think, and why?

EDIT - The Hogan Trial, with many of the comments below discussed as "witness statements", is now online and available to listen to at the following link: http://squaredcirclegazette.podbean....fHulkHogan.mp3

Oh, this is gonna be fun to come back to in the morning...

But just to get the conversation rolling, anyone who argues that his run in WCW was detrimental to bringing the company DOWN is out of their fucking mind.

It's basically the same thing as with the nWo argument. He definitely raised thd company to heights it would not have seen without him, but at the same time his selfishness in looking after himself to the cost of everyone around him ensure that the benefits wouldn't last. But at the end of thr day it was WCW that enabled him to do it so I can't put all the blame on him.

Hogan pissed me off when TNA brought him in. TNA was fine and Hogan had to come in and WWE it up and try to compete with Raw when they just weren't that. Ever since then I haven't liked a thing Hogan has done. As for his scandal He kind of got what he deserved but I feel he will be back in the industry before long.

Tna not being ready is not Hogan's fault. It's TNA's fault for offering him the money and bringing him with a ridiculous amount of pull and influence. TNA is still going down the shitter without him. If nothing else, it's TNA 's fault they didn't capitalize on the bit of buzz Hogan did generate.

I'd argue in the case of WCW, either the match vs Sting or the match vs Goldberg is where his influence or creative stranglehold over the company should have ended. Hogan shouldn't have been still hogging the spotlight after the Sting match nor by association after the Goldberg match considering how Goldberg's title reign ended.

While he did leave TNA in a worse shape than the pre-Hogan era, that's more of TNA's fault than his for giving him a blank check on power. Him promoting WWE more than TNA in the media should have been a big red flag of him only caring about the money and he'd rather be back in the WWE than do any real good for TNA. Same for supposedly getting Storm's/Roode's title wins delayed so they wouldn't overshadow his match at a ppv and not wanting to put TNA over on his way out since it was just the typical only caring about himself situations.


What happened with his appearance on Arsenio Hall since I've never heard or remember anything about it before?

This should help you
http://www.wrestlecrap.com/induction...an-on-arsenio/

He has done more good than harm.

Cliff notes version - Hogan's name was being banded around in association with steroids since FedEx receipts were found during the investigation of Dr. George Zahorian in 1991 that showed Hogan was sent steroids (as well as Vince and Piper). Hogan was supposed to testify and it got a load of media attention as he would have to admit use, which was a big scandal at the time since Hogan was so obviously marketed to kids. Jerry McDevitt got Hogan pulled from having to testify, which only seemd to prod the media further, so Vince sent him to the Arsenio Hall show to tell the truth and turn a negative into a positive. Admit prior steroid use, then say things have changed. The show itself was told that's what he'd be doing.

Hogan then went on the show and said he'd only used steroids three times in his life back in 83 to repair an injury, which everybody knew was bullshit, and him lying just brought everybody out in a rage. The heat got really bad, and the negative press allowed all the sex scandal stuff (which you can watch all about on the famous WWF Donahue episode) to get traction, and Hogan and WWF got absolutely dragged through the mud, and business tanked as a result.

He also put Arsenio Hall in a headlock. Don't know why but this is the part of the interview I remember the most.

Hulk Hogan used a racist slur so that makes him the worst person ever. Verdict.....GUILTY.

There were times you could mistake Hogan for a black guy. Half-black maybe.

Are you guys mistaking the Arsenio Hall show for Hot Properties? Or did he put 2 people in a headlock?

Was hot properties the one with that Law and Order guy?

Anyway, yeah, two people apparently, the difference being he didn't actually choke Arsenio Hall out.

What was the scandal of him putting Arsenio in a headlock?

That wasn't the scandal. That was just awkward behavior when he realized he was making an ass of himself.

The "scandal" was that he was supposed to admit his steroid use and shit and ended up dodging questions and something. I dunno, that thing is on youtube if you're interested.

I thought he might have used Racial epithets or something... color me disappointed.

hogan will go back to TNA

Give him the Willow gimmick then.

I want to thank everybody for the contributions, the Trial of Hulk Hogan is now online to listen to at the following link:

http://squaredcirclegazette.podbean....fHulkHogan.mp3

With Hulk Hogan facing the charge of causing irreparable harm to the wrestling business, the prosecution and defence go to war talking Hogan's negative impact on the WWF with his Arsenio Hall appearance, his role in bringing down WCW from its apex, and impact on the course of TNA's life. We talk steroids, sex, politics, burials, money and incompetence, and take your witness statements to determine whether or not Hogan is guilty. The fifth of the SCG Trials and a really fun show, check it out and let us know what you think of the verdict!

God, I just got Death of WCW I'm learning to hate Hogan all over again.

Likewise - in fact it was reading the revised version that made me want to do this trial in the first place.