“What was once old is now new”

I hope everyone is well and having a wonderful end of winter – if winter will ever end. It’s 19 degrees in Atlanta as I write this! It SNOWED this morning! Glad I moved to the sunny south!

Does anyone remember back to 1996 and 1997 when WCW was neck and neck with the WWF? Actually, WCW was ahead of the WWF in the ratings many weeks and some low blows were thrown by both WCW and the WWF. The competition was so close the that perennial powerhouse WWF was doing something it had never done before – acknowledged it’s competition. Vince McMahon had a hard and fast rule that the WWF had no competition so he wouldn’t dignify any other wrestling organization by admitting it existed.

This strategy worked well for many years, but when the WWF started to lose prestige and advertising revenue Vince changed philosophy. Vince and the WWF went on a very cleverly planned and organized mud slinging campaign aimed at WCW, Eric Bischoff, Ted Turner, and all the WWF talent that had left the WWF for the guaranteed money in WCW. The talent targeted was The “Huckster, Nacho Man, and Billionaire Ted”. The skits were aimed at Hulk and Macho’s age implying at that time they were too old to be superstars in the WWF. Billionaire Ted character was based on the owner of WCW Ted Turner painting the picture that a billionaire threw his financial clout at the WWF robbing them of their superstars. How could the WWF compete with a billionaire? WCW had an unfair advantage because Ted Turner had more money.

Hmmmm,  It’s interesting the way things work out.

Vince becomes a billionaire, buys WCW, and becomes the sole owner of any and all major wrestling franchises. His success is insured. He has all the talent, all the past video, and all the heart of what was left of WCW. He must be in for some smooth sailing, he’ll be sitting back watching the money roll in and make history as the man who once again revolutionized the wrestling business.

Did that happen?

Not exactly.

The very same company who’s slick production team made sartorial skits at Hulk’s expense, had to hire Hulk back to save the ratings. Hall and Nash were painted as traitors for selfishly doing what was best for themselves and not “the team.”  Now, they’re back in the WWF as the nWo, the very entity the WWF saw take away their preeminence.

Isn’t it ironic?

The very talent that caused the WWF to change their policy acknowledging competition – hires them back 5 years later. Hulk was “too old” 5 years ago to be in the WWF, but now is a focal point of the promotion’s major Pay Per View event of the year – Wrestlemania.  My how things change.

I never thought Hulk was too old. Hulk is a star and the WWF needs stars to compete on the same level as the Rock and Stone Cold. Hulk deserves this opportunity to chart his own course on his way out of the business he elevated in the mid-eighties. Hulk’s legacy should pay respect to the man who took wrestling from the era of Gorgeous George into the golden era we now enjoy.

The title of this article is “What was once old, is now new” –  This is a new chance for the greatest name in our business to show a whole new group of fans why he is the “Immortal Hulk Hogan.” It’s his chance at redemption.  

Take care until next week,
Terry Taylor