Does Hulk Hogan realize the trouble he’s caused for himself?
At first, it appeared he had set up a brilliant scenario to symbolically beat the WWF by pinning their New Generation.
Now, it appears two non-factors in the industry just four years ago may sneak up and cause Hogan the greatest embarrassment of his career.
Scott Hall floundered for years in Japan after his initial run in the U.S., most notably in the AWA as “Big” Scott Hall.
He was a pretty dry character in the AWA burdened with coming in while the Hulk Hogan era was still fresh in fans’ minds.
Hall was given hints of a Hogan-level push, but definitely wasn’t ready for it.
Now he has developed into a full-blown good wrestler within his type of match and a great character.
And I mean character in a descriptive way, not a categorical way.
His facial expressions and body language are as good as anyone’s in the industry right now.
He was hilarious messing with Bischoff’s hair, probably because he realizes that bugging and irritating Bischoff is something a lot of wrestlers and fans wouldn’t mind getting a chance at doing.
Scott’s WCW persona is actually a little less held back than his WWF persona.
He’s, well, more of a character and seems to be having more fun.
Then again, both he and Nash are riding a high realizing how fortunate they are to have a huge guaranteed contract and not having to endure the WWF’s grinding road schedule.
Nash was an impressive sight when he first entered the sport.
He had some natural athletic ability and a good attitude toward learning.
But never before has it been more obvious that sometimes it’s best to just let somebody be themselves rather than saddle them with an articifial gimmick.
Then WCW v.p. Jim Herd camouflaged his personality with the hideous Oz gimmick.
When Nash became Vinnie Vegas, his quick, dry wit began to show through.
When the pressure of TV cameras wasn’t in his face, such as when he was a guest on Jim Ross’s Atlanta wrestling radio show, he was naturally funny.
When he went to the WWF, his personality was again camouflaged, although for a better purpose than early in his WCW days.
As bodyguard Diesel, he played the bad-ass bully role well.
So well, fans liked him.
But when he turned babyface, he became a wuss, for all intents and purposes.
He smiled too much, kissed up to the fans, and lost all of his edge.
But after going full circle back to being a heel late last year, he seemed comfortable in his role.
He seemed to have found himself and had become comfortable with an on-air personality.
Finally, after all these years, he was able to act naturally.
Being brash and cocky comes easier when you are well paid, and being an a–h— is easier when you’ve been the top guy and are insecure about being in that pressure role.
His Nitro debut was probably as much fun as he’s ever had behind a mic.
He’s a smooth talker, he can smile without seeming happy-go-lucky, and he’s the type of guy you’d want on your side, but not necessarily as your friend.
Both Nash and Hall are so good now in their respective personalities that they’ll be a nightmare for Hogan.
Unless Nash, Hall, Bischoff, Sullivan, et al get creative really fast, it’s going to be tough to get the fans to boo these two.
There’ll be a few WCW loyalists who will cheer Sting and Hogan, but for the most part the New Generation of wrestling fans responsible for the Rebound of ’96 in the WWF and WCW are hip to why Hogan is out and Nash and Hall are in.
When Hogan returns, fans are going to boo him – more than ever before.
Not only is that bad for Hogan’s ego, but it’s embarrassing for WCW.
Sure, whether they cheer or boo who they’re supposed to, WCW is going to make money on this angle.
But after the angle runs its initial six month course, WCW could be dealing with a boat load of fans who think the “WWF” is more cool than “WCW,” especially after the “injustice” of Hogan pathetically legdropping and pinning Hall and Nash (and Luger, if Luger indeed turns).
Ironically, the only thing that can save Hogan – besides brilliant booking that turns the fans against Hall and Nash (good luck) – is Ric Flair.
The only way WCW fans can be cajoled into supporting “Team WCW” is if The Man himself represents WCW.
Without Flair, fans will see it as “The New Generation” vs. “The Hogan Kiddie Has-Been Generation.”
Without Flair, Hogan may back himself into a corner that not even an eye rake can get him out of.
