5 ways Hulk Hogan's heel turn changed pro-wrestling

Modified Jul 08, 2019 07:44 GMT

The moment that changed professional wrestling forever, resulting in a string of memorable moments

#2 Megastars like Steve Austin and The Rock were born

It's interesting to think what would have become of globally recognized Superstars like Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Rock if Hogan had never turned heel.

When Vince McMahon decided to change the creative direction of his product, one thing that he focused on was to create new stars who would carry the WWE into the new millennium. One of the most cringe-worthy characters of the time, Rocky Maivia, got repackaged as The Rock. The Ringmaster, on the other hand, was given the gimmick of a no-nonsense anti-hero named Stone Cold Steve Austin.

Also read: 8 Superstars Vince McMahon couldn't control

The characters took off in a way no one had ever imagined. Austin still holds the record of selling the most number of T-shirts, with his "Austin 3:16" T-shirt becoming an instant hit with the fans. The Rock is now one of the highest paid actors in Hollywood. Would these two have had this kind of success had it not been for the nWo? It's certainly an interesting topic for discussion.

About the author

Abhilash Mendhe is a pro wrestling journalist at Sportskeeda with nearly five years of experience. He completed his MBA from the Symbiosis Institute of Telecom Management in 2016 and worked with multiple banking institutions, including Tech Mahindra. While he started writing WWE articles for Sportskeeda in 2019 as a hobby, it eventually became a significant part of his professional journey.

Abhilash checks his articles thrice before sending them to the editing team, ensuring his work is highly accurate and reliable.

He has interviewed prominent pro wrestling personalities like Noam Dar, Angry Miz Girl, Brendan Cobbina, and Jesse Lambert. Abhilash is a big fan of AEW star Orange Cassidy, as he believes the former International Champion’s on-screen gimmick of an extremely lazy guy resonates with him.

Given the opportunity to script WWE’s next big storyline, Abhilash would treat fans to the second installment of The Bloodline Civil War. He would book Roman Reigns to re-form The Bloodline with The Usos and Sami Zayn upon his comeback. The angle would see The Tribal Chief-led group go head-to-head with The Rock, Solo Sikoa, Tama Tonga, and Jacob Fatu in a blockbuster family feud.

When not reporting on pro wrestling, Abhilash likes to work out, go on walks, read, and explore new eateries.

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Edited by Israel Lutete