Hulk Hogan recorded a dual identity in the wrestling world through decades. If someone names him as the most reputed franchise player during the 1970s and 1980s, another might term him as someone who often misused creative influence to get his way.

There are very few superstars who enjoyed as much control over the creative as The Hulkster did. Thanks to his eternal star power and rich contribution to the business. WWE and WCW gave him tremendous control over his character and at times booking decisions. One such infamous instance came when Hogan squared off against the six-time world heavyweight champion, Sting, in WCW Starrcade back in 1997. The controversial match came as one of those many mishaps that eventually led to WCW’s demise.

Hulk Hogan once saved his image, risking the collective reputation of WCW

The finish of the main event, Starrcade 1997, was crystal clear after months of buildup. It would have planned out a way that would see Sting tap out Hogan via the deadly Scorpio Death Drop and win the World Heavyweight Championship belt around his waist. In the process, he would’ve ended nWo and this would be seen as WCW’s victory. But it didn’t materialize that way as The Hulkster declined to risk his big guy image by giving it up to Sting Clean, who didn’t possess an impressive physique back then.

It was later revealed that Hogan met the AEW star in the locker room just in time and thought it would be a blow to his ego to lose to a weak-muscled wrestler like him.

However, according to Eric Bischoff, Hulk Hogan never used his creative influence in WCW except for that night against Sting.

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Therefore, he played his infamous creative control card, and he ended up beating Sting but the match result was later overturned and Sting pinned Hogan after the restart. All this tarnished Sting’s win and left a bitter taste.

Hulk Hogan didn’t exercise creative control in WCW except in that infamous Starrcade night

Hogan and Bischoff spent a lot of time together during their WCW and TNA tenure. Hogan’s closest peer once revealed that The Immortal One never really used the enormous power he has been given in the WCW until WCW Starrcade hit.

In the WWE Legends: NWO biography episode, the 68-year-old Hall of Famer noted Hogan only wanted a certain level of freedom to freely express ideas about his character in the ring. Exercising creative control to alter any match’s outcome was never his intent.

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What’s your take on Hulk Hogan exercising creative control back in Starrcade 1997? Sound off in the comments.