Wrestling Career Background & WCW vs WWE War

• Worked for Ted Turner 10 years
• Started NWO storyline with Eric Bischoff, Kevin Nash, Scott Hall
• WCW was competitor trying to put Vince McMahon out of business
• WCW killed WWE in ratings for 83-88 weeks straight
• WCW made programming mistakes:
  • Were live while WWE taped shows
  • Would spoil WWE finishes on air (told viewers Mick Foley would beat Rock)
• WWE turnaround when they brought Mike Tyson
• Ted Turner merged with AOL, lost control, kicked to end of hall
• Hogan's Hollywood Hogan bad guy run was as big/bigger than original red & yellow Hulkamania

Vince McMahon's Call for WrestleMania 18

• Got call from Vince requesting match with Rock at WrestleMania
• Vince said "things are different now" - warned Hogan to "really bring it"
• Vince explained Rock "does this thing" and everything
• Hogan thought to himself: "if you want me to bring it, you'll be asking me to take it back when I'm done"

Pre-Match Storyline Build-up

• Hogan did everything possible to be bad guy on TV
• Chicago appearance - place was "slammed" with intense crowd
• Rock challenged Hogan to WrestleMania in ring
• Rock wouldn't let go of handshake, pulled Hogan back, Rock Bottomed him
• NWO (Kevin Nash, Scott Hall) came down to attack Rock
• Hogan got toolbox, dumped it out, grabbed ball peen hammer
• Hit Rock from behind with actual hammer (not fake)
• Dragged Rock outside, put him in ambulance, chained ambulance shut
• Got in semi truck cab, ran over ambulance
• Had to back up and run over ambulance again
• Did "everything to be worst most evil person in the world"

WrestleMania 18 Match Experience

• Venue: Toronto
• Crowd was cheering Hogan despite all villainous acts
• Problem: Rock was leaving for Scorpion King movie
• Hogan was supposed to pass torch/give Rock the rub
• Rock was "so good in the ring" - second/third generation wrestler
• Had instinct, timing, placement - "had everything"
• Took 7-8 minutes to turn crowd dynamic around
• Rock had input on match structure
• Described as "one of greatest wrestling matches of all time"
• "Most electrical moments ever in pro wrestling history"
• "Epitome of entire what makes wrestling entertaining"
• Both wrestlers kind of bad guys but with likable qualities
• "Win-win no matter what"

Physical Condition & Age

• Hogan was 53-54 years old at time
• Had hip replacement and two knee replacements
• Still extremely jacked/muscular at 54

Post-WrestleMania 18

• Following year took on Vince McMahon at Safeco Field
• Got to "beat the shit out of Vince" - described as fun
• Vince was "all in" and loved it