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Wrestling backstage politics
Shallow:
--- Quote from: KURUPTION-81 on January 21, 2006, 10:30:35 AM ---what happened with hogan in japan ? injuring/killing someone ?????
--- End quote ---
Hogan and Antonio Inoki were the two finalists in the first ever IWGP tournament and according to all inside sources I've read and wrestling articles, Inoki was slated to win since he was the biggest star in wrestling history in Japan. His fame in Jaan cannot be compared to any wrestler in the US. He was as big in Japan as Michael Jackson once was in the US. And he won evey other IWGP tournament, beating Dick, Murdoch, Andre The Giant, and Masa Saito. Anyway, Hogan hit Inoki with an Axe Bomber, Hogan's finisher in Japan which was a lariat or clothesline. Inoki was hit too hard and was KOed.
M Dogg™:
Years later, a former New Japan referee revealed that the entire incident was staged to help stir up publicity for a rematch..
June 14, 1984: Antonio Inoki defeated Hulk Hogan for the IWGP Heavyweight title
Shallow:
--- Quote from: M Dogg on January 21, 2006, 12:38:23 PM ---Years later, a former New Japan referee revealed that the entire incident was staged to help stir up publicity for a rematch..
June 14, 1984: Antonio Inoki defeated Hulk Hogan for the IWGP Heavyweight title
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You gotta link? because most places I read about it they call it an unplanned finish. And I still don't see why an unkown Hogan would have to beat the "unbeatable" Inoki. It really hurt his legend in Japan when he lost like that.
M Dogg™:
The match was in 1983, by that time Hogan was popular due to his Rocky role.
--- Quote ---New Japan Pro Wrestling
During this period of Hogan's career, he was not competing strictly under the AWA (or any) banner. A great deal of Hogan's early success was achieved in New Japan Pro Wrestling. Japanese wrestling fans were in awe of the gargantuan blond American, and nicknamed him "Ichiban" (which translates to "Number One"). Hogan first appeared in Japan on May 23, 1980, while he was still with the WWF. He would tour the country from time to time over the next few years, facing a wide variety of opponents ranging from Tatsumi Fujinami to Abdullah the Butcher. When competing in Japan, Hogan used a vastly different repertoire of wrestling moves, relying on more "scientific" (i.e., technical, more amateur style-seeming) looking traditional wrestling holds and maneuvers as opposed to the power-based (feats of strength), brawling style U.S. fans were accustomed to seeing from him. On June 2, 1983, Hogan became the first International Wrestling Grand Prix tournament winner, defeating Japanese wrestling icon Antonio Inoki by knockout in the finals of a 10-man tournament featuring top talent from throughout the world. Hogan and Inoki also worked as partners in Japan, winning the prestigious MSG Tag League tournament two years in a row, in 1982 and 1983. Also Hogan's popularity in Japan was so great, he even recorded an album there-a forerunner to the World Wrestling Federation's "Rock' n' Wrestlin' Connection" of the mid-'80's.
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hulk_Hogan
http://www.obsessedwithwrestling.com/profiles/h/hulk-hogan.html
Shallow:
None of this explains that it was a work. I'm not saying you are wrong. For all I know it was, but all I've read about it was that it was an accident.
As for Hoganbeing big. Sure he wasn't an unknown but he wasn't a megastar. He didn't become a megastar until Wrestlemania in '85. Even in '84 he was just another main eventer with charisma. Remember Black Saturday?
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