Week 20 – Pop: Hulk Hogan Turns Heel – Bash at the Beach (1996)
The heel turn heard around the world.
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Week 20 – Pop: Hulk Hogan Turns Heel – Bash at the Beach (1996)
Context
Scott Hall and Kevin Nash had been boasting about having a third man in their corner when they took on Sting, Savage and Luger at Bash at the Beach 96. Things were unclear when Hulk Hogan made his way to the ring during the match, until he dropped the leg on Savage and aligned himself with The Outsiders. It all made complete sense as the three men were seen as having come from the WWF. Fans were in disbelief and began hurling garbage into the ring. A red hot heat you rarely see in wrestling. A chaotic and historic moment that helped launch the NWO and the Monday Night Wars. Hogan would turn his back on the red and yellow by reinventing himself as Hollywood Hogan, giving him a whole second run as the leader of the NWO. A must see moment. Not your traditional happy pop but more of a shocked crowd reaction pop.
Did You Know?
Hogan was unsure about turning heel and only agreed to it late on. Eric Bischoff has openly stated that his backup plan would have been to put Sting in Hogan’s place, which is unlikely to have worked as well since Sting never wrestled in the WWF.
Why You Should Watch
The most important heel turn in wrestling history that led to WCW beating WWF in the ratings for 83 weeks and helped establish the NWO as a culture phenomenon in the mid 90’s.
Where Can You See It?
At time of writing WWE has the match on their official Youtube Channel (WWE Vault). You can find it here.
Or watch the match below, courtesy of WWE’s official YouTube channel
Let’s Talk
What if Hogan refused to turn heel? Would the NWO still have worked with Sting in charge of the group?
Coming Next Week:
A Royal Rumble for the title. (1992)
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