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Creative had idea for Hogan to be Leader of DX in 1997

9K views 47 replies 39 participants last post by  Nightrow 
#1 ·
I've got two words for ya, brother :maury


Thanks to WrestlingINC.com reader Kerry Morris @chitownot for sending in these highlights from this afternoon's Eric Bischoff - Bruce Prichard debate, moderated by Chris Jericho:

The show started late because Jericho wanted to finish his lunch. The crowd was not happy. Most of the show was old info, but here are some interesting items:

* Prichard said that "Macho Man" Randy Savage was extremely drunk the morning he called Vince McMahon to quit.

* Road Warrior Hawk came up with the Doink character.

* When Scott Hall and Kevin Nash's contracts came up in 1996, Vince McMahon really only wanted Scott Hall to stay. McMahon didn't care that Nash was leaving.

* There was an idea by WWF creative in late 1997 to have Hulk Hogan come back and be the leader of DX. Hogan would then pass the torch to Steve Austin and drop the belt to him at WrestleMania 14.
 
#12 ·
Hogan doing the crotch chop would have been hilarious.

And an Attitude Era Hogan would be as well.
Hogan did the crotch job in the NWO as well. And his "Hollywood" persona was as "Attitude" as a character gets.

Anyway this is old news, it was reported back in 97 that Hogan might jump. And of course he would only jump to headline Mania against Austin.

But isn't it ironic how WWE buries WCW for their reliance on "old" guys, when they tried to get Hogan back in 97 and Flair back in 98, make them champion and have them headline Mania?
 
#17 ·
Not sure if it pertains but Hogan's contract with WCW expired on 12/31/96. Obviously, he stayed, so I'm thinking maybe it was originally a 1 year extension.

There was rumors of him going back to WWF at the top of '97, but most feel it was just a negotiation tactic to get more money from WCW.


Along with all of that, Sullivan said the original plan was for Hogan to drop the title to Sting at Superbrawl '97. So, possibly the '96 contract expires, he sticks around for 2 more months and then goes back to WWF. Not sure if DX was planned by then, though (February '97).

Pretty sure somebody will jump in and tell me how wrong I am but it's what I read.
 
#7 ·
LOL Hogan coming out in DX would have been the worst. Plus why in god's name would he have agreed to come back at that time? they would have had to offer him the world, and they didn't have it to offer at the time.

Not as surprised about the Hall thing. I liked Nash, but Hall was the driving force behind the NWO. He's the one guy it wouldn't have worked without.
 
#9 ·
Hogan vs Sting was coming up and his contract was expiring so of course Hogan was going to use that leverage against WCW to make sure he still runs the company.

I don't know how real those negotiations were. Ric Flair had the same thing happen the next year and really I just think it's Vince driving up their asking price and ensuring the company still revolves around them. It's hey WCW you better sign this guy and make them champ otherwise we'll use them at WM. Under his breath. Idiots.

Could you imagine what a buzz kill The Corporate Champ Flair vs Austin would have been.
 
#14 ·
I don't know, as similar as DX and NWO were in their nature of being a heel stable, I think Hogan in DX would have been ridiculous. I look at NWO like a pack attempting to take over, whereas D-Generation X were rebellious and taking liberties rather than taking over. It wasn't the WWF VS DX like it was WCW VS NWO. Hogan wouldn't really fit that.

Scott Hall would have easily though.

I'm surprised at Jericho, if it's true he wanted to finish eating and left fans waiting then that's a bit shit (If it's passed the scheduled and advertised start time.)
 
#15 ·
There's no way in heck that kite would fly if they even tried to line Hogan up with HBK at that time. Shawn literally was DX before they started using DX as an actual group from a booking standpoint.

There are some late Summer '97 promo's where Shawn is using the "Degenerate" title while he was dealing with Bret. I believe it was a lot of behind the scenes name calling, and HBK simply ran with that word... A couple months later and he and Hunter are calling themselves Degeneration X.

What I'm saying is that it was originated from Michaels... there's no way in hell Hogan was going to come in and take over the steering wheel of that bus.
 
#18 ·
Right, I remember it like yesterday, and DX is the real originator of the overrated attitude era.

Hell I even used do to the crotch sign in the club with my pals...:cool2
 
#32 ·
Hogan was the biggest representation of everything that D-Generation X were rebelling against.
:ha

Hogan started the NWO, the first "rebellious" faction, Hogan did the crotch chop and made mainstream wrestling edgy before DX. he would have fix in perfectly in 97.
 
#25 ·
Had to be a negotiating tactic. Because my god, that would have been some sight. :lol I doubt Hogan ever wanted to come back to the WWF, especially in the Attitude era. WCW was able to pay him ALOT more money for ALOT less dates worked. Why would anyone, especially a guy in his mid 40s with a ton of miles on his body, want to increase his dates worked and travel and on top of that get paid less? And not to mention, go from working the seniors circuit in the WCW main event scene at that time, to having to work with younger guys in the ring who it would have been a chore for him to keep up with in the ring? Makes very little sense, but would have been hilarious to see.
 
#26 ·
fpalm Don't buy it at all.

No way, NO WAY HBK & HHH would let Hogan be the "leader" of DX much less be in the damn company.

Gotta be some crazy rumor or a funny as negotiating tactic.
 
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#33 ·
It was pretty well known that at some point around the time that Hogan's first WCW contract was coming to an end, he ended up running into Vince in a hotel lobby and the two buried the hatchet regarding the fall-out from the steroid trial. Vince was trying to sell Hogan on a WWF return but basically, Hogan would have been foolish to leave WCW with the kind of money and control he was getting in his contract. Of course, the leaked story helped him land an even bigger deal with his negotiation. Can't hate the player though.
 
#45 ·
This is true I remember this. I'm really laughing at all the comments about how Hogan could not be DX. When DX formed on television the very first interview HBK claimed HE WAS THE REAL LEADER OF THE NWO. Night after Survivor Series he told Bret his friends down there would take good care of him for him lol.

DX was a BITE of the NWO. Hogan coming back and doing promos on it would sell like hotcakes. Hogan's whole ordeal as leader of the NWO was the premise he was sent down South by the great big organization up North.

Russo and Mcmahon probably mapped it out pretty good to use the NWO BACK on WCW with Hogan.
 
#37 ·
It was the outsiders that were cool and edgy. Hogan was never cool at any point.

Shame this never happened, it would've killed the DX angle and severely halted the momentum WWF were starting to build. Old man Hogan killing DX with his campy promos would've been hilarious
 
#41 ·
Oh man that would've been great except for Hogan doing the job to Austin. But Hogan in DX after being the front man of NWO would've rocked the wrestling world. Again. I don't know what would've happened to HBK though. I couldn't see him being Hogan's flunkie. Maybe he would've lost his smile again or finally made the jump to WCW. Definitely would've been interesting.
 
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