Jimmy Hart on Hulk Hogan turning heel 30 years ago in WCW
“The timing couldn’t have been better”
Hulk Hogan did not make a major decision in wrestling without Jimmy Hart.
So when then-WCW President Eric Bischoff proposed a heel turn for Hogan in 1996, the natural–automatic, even–response from the perennial babyface was to seek counsel from his real-life manager.
“When the whole thing was suggested, Hulk thought long and hard about it,” said Hart, who first formed a bond with Hogan in the Memphis wrestling territory in the 1970s. “I remember we got together. Hulk turned to me and said, ‘Whatta ya think?’”
The 30th anniversary of that seismic event–which took place on July 7, 1996 at WCW’s Bash at the Beach pay-per-view–represents one of the most famed moments in pro wrestling history. Year after year, Hogan’s leg drop on the “Macho Man” Randy Savage–followed by his celebration with Kevin Nash and Scott Hall–becomes even more iconic. But without the benefit of three decades of hindsight, that decision was a legitimate gamble for Hogan, who had reached previously unknown heights in professional wrestling as a crowd favorite.
“I reminded Hulk of an old saying,” said Hart. “I said, ‘Hulk, if you do what you’ve always done, you’re going to have what you’ve always had.’ When everything is running smoothly, you keep doing it. That’s no different in wrestling or a restaurant. But once people quit coming, you need to change the menu.
“We took a hard look at his merchandise sales, and we could see everything dipping. Let’s face it–you can only go so many red-and-yellow t-shirts. It was time for a change, and Hulk knew it.”
More than a dozen years after Hogan set the World Wrestling Federation aflame by bringing Hulkamania to Madison Square Garden and defeating the Iron Sheik for the world title, Terry Bollea unveiled a new whole dimension to his wrestling persona. A pro wrestling enthusiast since childhood, Hogan doubled as a wrestling historian. He grew up admiring the villains, and many of his favorites–Ray Stevens, Pat Patterson, “Superstar” Billy Graham, and The Great Malenko in particular–were heels. Before Hulkamania exploded in Vince McMahon’s promotion, Hogan had sharpened his teeth as a wrestling antagonist.
Plus, Hogan was surrounded by incredible star power in WCW. He was working with Hall and Nash, two of the most popular, cutting-edge acts in the whole industry, and had a slate of babyfaces–beginning with the legendary Savage, WCW poster boy Sting, and Lex Luger–to make magic with in the ring.
“The timing couldn’t have been better,” said Hart. “You had Nash and Hall, who’d just come over from WWE, and they were red hot. Plus it was so important to have Randy involved–don’t forget he’s the one who Hulk hit with the leg drop. From there, it all just clicked. It all worked beautifully.
“The NWO, it worked so well with Hulk, Nash, Hall, and Bischoff. It got so popular. Baby, it still works. Those t-shirts are still selling. But the popularity hurt them, too. Pretty soon, the boat almost sunk because there were so many members of the NWO. You had Ric Flair, Diamond Dallas Page, and Sting against 30 people. It felt like there was no one else left for them to fight.”
Hart recalled Hogan’s heavy contemplation as weighing the options behind that career-altering move, the deep thought he put into whether the risk would be worth the reward. Thirty years after the heel turn and formation of the NWO, the moment has become intertwined in Hogan’s eternal highlight reel.
“Look around at any WrestleMania and you’ll still see NWO shirts throughout the crowd,” said Hart. “NWO shirts and Stone Cold Steve Austin shirts, for years that hasn’t changed. It was a risk, but Hulk was willing to take it.”