“The Whole Wrestling World Changed”: WWE Legend Hulk Hogan Recalls How He Changed Pro Wrestling “All of a Sudden”

The crowd works are the most essential part of pro wrestling. We all remember how monotonous the WWE had become during the pandemic. A loud cheer from the audience or repeated lyrics of an entrance song of the superstar can make an individual watching from home excited about what comes next.

But the wrestling scene wasn’t always like that. According to The Hollywood Hulk Hogan, he started the crowd work and getting involved with the audience, and then other superstars followed.

Hollywood Hogan once discussed in The Herd with Colin Cowherd how the trend began. Hogan explained how the wrestlers were underpaid until that time and didn’t receive much respect. After appearing in the Sylvester Stallone movie Rocky 3, Hogan remembered how things changed for good.

Watch This Story: From Dwayne Johnson To Hulk Hogan which celebrity’s arm size is bigger

“On January 23rd, 1984, when Vince McMahon took over his father’s company the WWE and I wrestled the Iron Sheik in the Madison Square Garden.[…] When I wrestled the Iron Sheik Eye of the tiger hits (Rocky 3 song) and I won the WWE title. The whole wrestling world changed.” said Hulk Hogan. The Iron Sheik was a superstar from Iran and at that time, Iran had pretty frosty relations with America. A feeling of patriotism mixed with Eye of the Tiger pumped up the audience.

Hulk Hogan on figuring out the crowd work

Hulk Hogan explained how he figured out what works for the audience and how to get them pumped up.

“At a time I was just wrestling and taking the guy down, getting the body slam rolling[…]. Then all of a sudden I would slam somebody, and then I’d kinda look at the crowd with a goofy look. And the look got more of a reaction than the move did. So I went, oh my God, that’s what they want. They want the physicality, plus they want to be involved and interacted and entertained.” said Hogan.

Hogan believes the one other wrestler who not only followed his footsteps but was able to make a mark in pro wrestling is none other than Dwayne Johnson. Johnson also has the ability to pump up the audience and interact with them.

Read More: Hulk Hogan, Who Had Numerous Health Scares Over the Years, Once Ignored Medical Expertise to Hit the Gym

The topic may be debatable among pro wrestling fans on who started the crowd works. But The Hollywood Hulk Hogan indeed altered the course of pro wrestling in more ways than one.