WWE Hulk Hogan's Unreleased Collector's Series (Part 1)
by Scrooge McSuck
Welcome to Part 1 of 3 as we dust off a DVD set released way back in 2009... hold on... THAT WAS 16 YEARS AGO?! OK, well, for those expecting something a little more 2025, this "Unreleased" set is a bunch of matches that were never before released by WWE on home video, so while some of it could be considered deep cuts, other stuff is just WCW PPV matches. Each disc is around 3-hours long, so yeah, we're going disc by disc with this for the sake of my sanity.
Hulk Hogan (w/ Fred Blassie) vs. Harry Valdez:
This is listed as being from Championship Wrestling on November 13th, 1979, one of, if not the first appearance of Hulk in the WWF. Ring announcer Joe "BBQ" McHugh doesn't call him "Incredible", but he's also inconsistent in some introductions over the years. Lockup and Hogan sends Valdez to the canvas, with some extra stink on it. Valdez grabs a side headlock and Hulk tosses him across the ring. This guy is terrible, he's done three things and after each move adjusts his gear. Hogan with a pair of slams as Bruno notes that Hulk is handling Valdez like paper. Hulk with the BIG LEG DROP. He throws Valdez into the corner and there's zero grace in execution from either man. Hulk with another slam, running knee, and suplex. Over-the-shoulder back breaker finishes at 2:52. Oh, and McHugh calls him "The Incredible" Hulk Hogan AFTER the match. Vince gets a post-match interview from Blassie and Hulk, and if you are listening without watching, you're probably not going to imagine that it's Hulk Hogan talking. The squash served the purpose of making Hogan look like an immediate threat to the top babyfaces of the WWF.
WWF World Heavyweight Championship Match:
Bob Backlund (c) vs. "The Fabulous" Hulk Hogan:
From the Philadelphia Spectrum on April 12th, 1980. We're "treated" to Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler recording commentary in 2009 for this 1980 hidden gem. I'd much rather have NO commentary than talking over a match from 3 decades ago. Backlund is escorted to the ring by Arnold Skaaland. Gary Michael Capetta mentions this is the first of TWO Main Events. What else was on the card? Bruno Sammartino vs Larry Zbyszko. Oh, and the Wild Samoans won the Tag Titles from Tito Santana and Ivan Putski. ALSO OH, and Hogan is now "Fabulous", not "Incredible." In 6-months, he'll be Kid Hulk. (Full disclosure: I'm watching the match with the original broadcast PBP, which JR says didn't exist. I don't know what the deal is with that)
Backlund offers a handshake... and HOGAN ACCEPTS? CODE OF HONOR ADHERED TO! Lockup, Hogan sends Backlund to the corner and flexes. Hogan has the strength, but Backlund shows he has the advantage as far as agility is concerned. Hogan tries to control on the canvas, but Backlund scrambles out of several attempts and frustrates Hulk with a pair of leg sweeps, sending him for a powder. Back inside, Hogan wants a test-of-strength and Backlund won't back down from the challenge. Hogan relies on cheap tactics to gain the advantage, but Backlund perseveres, spins out, and sweeps Hogan off his feet. Hogan escapes a headlock by carrying Backlund to the turnbuckle, but backpeddles when Backlund is ready to counter a cheapshot. Backlund makes Hogan look silly for attempting a top wrist-lock and controls with a side headlock, having an answer for all of Hogan's strategies so far. Hogan catches Backlund off the ropes with a slam and drops an elbow. Backlund pops up and does the same, popping the crowd for the clean pick-up of the much-larger Hogan.
Hulk keeps trying brute strength and he's unable to string anything together with Backlund's level of preparation. Hogan escapes a headlock with a back-breaker and puts the boots to the Champion. Slam into the turnbuckle and Hogan follows with another back-breaker that is only good enough for a one-count! Hogan controls on the canvas, yanking the hair and tights to keep things in his favor. Backlund powers out of a hammer-lock, but the energy spent allows Hogan to regain composure and grab an arm bar. Backlund teases a comeback, but Hogan cuts him off and traps him in a short arm-scissors. Backlund rolls through and lifts Hogan over his head for the escape, then slaps him across the face! Hogan rushes at Backlund and gets caught with a slam, followed by a dropkick. Whip is reversed and Hogan catches Backlund out of the corner with a bearhug. Backlund fights free and spikes Hogan with a piledriver. He throws an arm across Hogan for two, then Hogan does the same to Backlund. Hogan brings up the knees to counter a splash and takes Backlund over with a suplex for a two-count. Backlund blocks a second attempt and gets Hogan up for a delayed suplex of his own. Hogan avoids a leg drop and gives Backlund an airplane spin. Backlund returns the favor, and both men go tumbling over the ropes, with Backlund still holding on with the move. He drops Hogan on the apron and collapses, with Hogan rolling back in to win the match via count-out at 28:59. Backlund wants to keep fighting, but Hulk brushes him off. Bob Backlund's formula of work is one of the toughest to adapt to as a viewer. What he's doing makes sense and is as good an effort as someone can make you believe what he's doing is legitimate and not a show, but the pacing is what kills me. This is a solid match by the standards of the era. ***
"The Fabulous" Hulk Hogan (w/ Fred Blassie) vs. Steve King & Angelo Gomez:
Pulled from the September 10th, 1980 episode of WWF All-Star Wrestling. Gomez and King do the double wrist-lock attempt and are thrown down with ease. This must be the end of the taping, because the crowd looks dead and Vince sounds bored whenever he talks. They go for the legs, and Hogan shrugs them off again. Hogan clubs them both and gives them a DOUBLE NOGGIN KNOCKER. Gomez and King get trapped in the corner and Hogan does his best to lift them off the canvas in a double bearhug. Both men take a back breaker and Hogan covers them for three at 2:48. I guess both men looked like they were trained wrestlers, unlike the goober in the first match on the set. Vince McMahon gets a post-match interview from Hogan and Blassie, with Blassie making claims that Hogan is in high demand to be a centerfold for the most popular publication in the world. Vince says he didn't know Mad Magazine circulated that well. OK, there's the reason why we have this match on the set.Andre The Giant vs. "The Fabulous" Hulk Hogan (w/ Fred Blassie):
From Madison Square Garden, taped on September 22nd, 1980. I'm sure Showdown at Shea was on a previous set, and of course their WrestleMania III encounter, so I like a deep cut like this. Once again, we're "treated" to modern PBP from Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler, and unlike the last match with that, I don't have the original version to jump into so I can enjoy it without the 30-years-later narrative. Oh, GORILLA MONSOON is the special referee to make sure there's no shenanigans, which guarantees some shenanigans.Andre wastes little time getting the action going, shrugging off Monsoon and laying into Hogan with a headbutt. Hogan gets trapped in the corner and Andre repeatedly rams him with his rear. Hogan gains an unfair advantage, then has his hair yanked by the referee when trying to throw a punch! Monsoon doing what he complained about for so many years! Hogan takes a powder and gets trapped in a double arm hook upon his return to the ring. Hogan fights out of a headlock and grabs a BEARHUG. I'm legitimately surprised Andre sells it for as long as he does. It's literally several minutes long. Hogan lifts Andre off the ground with the hold and pays the price for it. Hogan keeps punishing the back with leg and elbow drops. Hogan grabs a choke and Monsoon fast counts him to get to release the hold. Hogan tries going back to the bearhug, but Andre rocks him with a headbutt and lights up the chest with a series of chops. Andre with a scoop slam but he misses a splash. Andre catches Hogan in the bearhug and slams him into the corner. Hogan fights to his feet and plants Andre with a slam! He goes for another, but Andre falls on top and Monsoon quickly counts, giving Andre the victory at 12:19. Ignoring the weird PBP, the work didn't do much for me. That 4-minute bearhug really took me out of the match. *½
Hulk Hogan vs. Nick Bockwinkel & Bobby "The Brain" Heenan:
We're in the American Wrestling Association now, taped on May 2nd, 1982 (the DVD insert incorrectly dates it as 1981). Rod Trongard is solo in the booth, which is an upgrade from Lawler and JR from 2009. We're reminded this is not a Championship Match, because of the Handicap stipulations (under tag team rules, according to Gene Okerlund, who is doing ring introductions). Heenan and Bockwinkel jump on Hogan before the bell, but Hogan shrugs it off and sends them crashing into each other. The shirt gets torn off and Hogan unloads with right hands and a DOUBLE NOGGIN KNOCKER. Bockwinkel cautiously locks hands with the Hulk and gets sent into his corner, again colliding with Heenan. Heenan offers some assistance, only to take a comical bump in the ring and chase to the floor. More comedy shenanigans as Hogan stands tall. Hogan no-sells kicks to the midsection and sends Bockwinkel to his knees with a test-of-strength. There's several fans constantly blurred out for flipping off Heenan. Oh, COME ON with that editing. Heenan puts the boots to the back of Hogan's head. Hogan is quickly on his feet and lays into Heenan with rights. Bockwinkel offers help from the apron that doesn't do much.Hulk continues running wild until getting sledged from behind by Bockwinkel and gets popped in the throat. Heenan chokes Hogan with a towel while the referee focuses all his energy in admonishing Bockwinkel. The AWA Champion continues doing all the heavy work while Heenan undoes the top turnbuckle. Hogan teases a comeback, hitting a clothesline and elbow drop, but Heenan saves. Whip to the ropes and Bockwinkel surprises Hogan with a punt to the chest. Heenan in, using the tag rope to choke Hogan. He prevents a double-team and bops Heenan with an elbow. Bockwinkel's right hands have zero effect and Hogan winds up like he's Popeye. Heenan flails at Hogan and gets caught with a double goozle until Bockwinkel saves. The referee gets knocked silly. Hogan wrestles a foreign object from Heenan and blasts him with it before stuffing it back in Heenan's tights. Heenan is showing color as he's thrown out of the ring. Bockwinkel gets a taste of the turnbuckles. Whip to the ropes, Hogan with the big boot, and the "flying leg smash" finishes at 14:39. This is one of those results that will vary matches, where if you're ok with the 2-on-1 shenanigans, you'll like it more than someone who doesn't. I thought it was fine, but they hit the same beat a few times too much. Still a perfectly solid match. **½
The between-segments narration refers to Hulk Hogan's time in the AWA as "brief." I guess two years isn't FOREVER, but it doesn't feel brief at all, considering his first WWF run was shorter. ANYWAY, this segues to a segment from Tuesday Night Titans dated March 22nd, 1985 where Hulk Hogan and Mr. T visit a local grocery store. T needs raisins and nuts. IT'S GOOD MAN, MAKE YOU HUNGRY, MAKE YOU MEAN! You don't get the good stuff, you're putting it back! He needs some juice, a double for himself, and a triple-double for the Hulkster! LET'S TRY SOME OF THIS WHEATGRASS! Hulk doesn't want no milk in his drink, milk is for babies! Mr. T needs some bananas too. Good for Guerilla Warfare! Mr. T starts rambling about actual GORILLAS while chomping a banana, swinging from trees in the jungle, daddy. If you were wondering who were on drugs in the 80's, the answer is everyone.
WWF World Heavyweight Championship Match:
Hulk Hogan (c) vs. "Macho Man" Randy Savage (w/ Elizabeth):
Taped on April 26th, 1986 from the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, MI. What an interesting location to tape and to my knowledge, wasn't broadcast regionally. Most of the matches taped were used for Prime Time Wrestling, but this, along with a few others, were never shown (to the best of my knowledge). Savage is the reigning Intercontinental Champion, but his title isn't on the line. Jack Reynolds and Ken Resnick (making his first WWF appearance) are calling the action... yikes, can I get that Lawler and JR audio track instead? This crowd is HOT.
Savage ambushes Hogan, throwing his robe over his face for some free shots and whacking him across the back with the Championship belt. Savage continues delivering punishing blows, including a double axe-handle from the top rope. HE HASN'T TAKEN HIS GLASSES OFF YET! Hogan fires up, laying into Savage with right hands (and putting on the sunglasses himself) before dumping him over the top rope. Hogan brings the fight to the floor and sends Savage into the post like a battering ram. Back inside, Hogan with the double goozle and some words for Elizabeth. Well, that's random. Savage with a handful of tights, throwing Hogan through the ropes. Hogan blocks being sent to the corner and unloads with a series of short rights. Whip to the corner, Hogan charges in with a clothesline and sends Savage over the top with an atomic drop. Savage creates some distance, using Elizabeth as a human shield. "He doesn't look so macho there, does he?"
Savage jumps in the ring with some choice words and a loogie before exiting the ring again. Savage takes advantage of Hogan's aggression and blasts him on the floor with a pair of flying axe-handles. Back inside, Macho chokes Hogan across the top rope and covers for a two-count. Whip to the ropes and Savage hooks Hogan with a clothesline for a near-fall. Savage connects with the flying elbow and Hogan kicks out with authority. IT'S HULK UP TIME! He shakes off Savage's blows and returns fire. Whip to the ropes and Hogan sends Savage out of the ring with a big boot. Elizabeth pleads with Hogan but he picks her up to get her out of the way. He sends Savage back in the ring, but is caught with a kick to the chest. Savage goes for another flying elbow, but he eats a boot on the way down, and Hogan covers to retain at 11:47. Savage attacks again after the bell, but Hogan is the man standing tall at the end. Your usual formula from Savage and Hogan, with my only complaints being the manhandling of Elizabeth spot. If you find a bad match between these two, especially from their 85-86 run on the house shows, you found a hidden gem, because I don't think they were capable of it at this point of their careers. ***½
Hulk Hogan & The Junkyard Dog vs. Big John Studd & King Kong Bundy (w/ Bobby Heenan):
Taped on May 4th, 1986 from Toronto's Maple Leaf Gardens, with Gorilla Monsoon and Killer Ken Resnick calling the action. Hogan comes to the ring without the WWF Championship. We're in a weird period where Hogan was working with a whole bunch of guys, so you're not going to see him working months in a row with the same dance partner. JYD and Bundy were regularly paired up, so that seems to make sense, plus he still had some legitimate star power left in the tank.JYD and Studd lockup to the corner, JYD blocks an overhead right and stuns Studd with a series of headbutts. The Dog goes for a slam, but Studd grabs the top rope to block and plants JYD with a slam in response. Hogan tags in and Studd immediately goes to work, clubbing the body. Whip to the ropes, Hogan ducks a clothesline and unsuccessfully goes for a slam. Studd with two slams of the Hulkster. Whip to the ropes, Hogan ducks an elbow and slams Studd. Bundy charges in and he gets slammed as well! I don't think Studd is going to pony up the $15,000, either in American or Canadian currency. Hogan runs wild on Studd with rights and rams him head-first into the cranium of the JYD. Bundy finally tags in. Dog reverses a whip to the corner and gives Bundy more of the same. Heenan's men cut Hogan off and take turns working him over. Bundy with a slam and knee across the chest for two. Hogan avoids a second knee and tags in JYD. More headbutts from the Dog, followed by a clothesline. JYD kisses the canvas missing a headbutt and now he's getting worked in the corner. Hogan with the REAL hot tag, unloading on Studd with rights and following him into the corner with a clothesline. Hulk with an atomic drop and leg drop, but Heenan runs in for the DQ at 9:35. Post-match, Bundy accidentally gives Heenan an Avalanche thanks to the smart thinking of Hogan and JYD. Standard action, nothing too exciting, but considering a couple of the men involved, this could have been much worse. **
Hulk Hogan is the guest on Jake Roberts' Snake Pit, listed as the March 29th, 1987 episode of All-American Wrestling, but it's originally from the March 22nd episode of Challenge. We've covered this about 2 weeks ago, so forgive the copy and paste: Roberts is holding the new belt Bobby Heenan requested that would fit around Andre's waist. The sands of time are running out for a lot of people, one of them the Honkytonk Man. Jake says he's a tail shaker, while he's a bone-breaker. There's going to be two worlds colliding on March 29th when Hulk Hogan faces overwhelming odds. For the first time, the oddsmakers don't have faith in Hogan walking away victorious. Hogan knows what people are saying and it doesn't bother him. The belt Jake is holding in front of him was made for a man who hasn't won anything yet. Before Andre can wear that belt, he's going to need to beat him for the belt he's currently wearing. Jake points out that never before was a belt made before a title match specifically for the challenger, name-dropping King Kong Bundy. Hogan says Andre was on the verge of greatness, but is heading towards disaster with Weasel Heenan. He doesn't need that huge belt, because he has what it takes to carry the load as World Champion. Andre doesn't have the heart or the guts to carry that burden on his back and tells Andre that he can play with the new toy all he wants, but on March 29th, he can put it back in the box, because he won't be needing it after that.
WWF World Heavyweight Championship Match:
Hulk Hogan (c) vs. Kamala (w/ Mr. Fuji & Kim-Chee):
Taped on June 26th, 1987 from the Sam Houston Coliseum in Houston, TX, and here we go, another match with Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler calling the action from the present day of 2009. Hogan and Kamala had a hell of a house show run at the end of 1986 and into the early days of 1987, but by this point, Kamala's stock had completely fallen, and was mostly working tags partnering with Sika. They feel each other out, meeting in the middle with a pair of shoulder blocks. Kamala shows off his leap-frog ability and puts Hogan on his back. Hogan goes for a slam, but Kamala blocks and clubs him across the back. Hogan rolls away from the big chops and lays in a series of right hands. Kamala gets sent across the ring, with Hogan following in with a clothesline. Kim-Chee with a distraction, allowing Kamala to regain control, working the pectoral muscle. He plants Hogan with a slam and comes off the ropes with a splash for a near-fall. Kamala teases coming off the top rope, but Hogan scrambles away. He starts no-selling Kamala's strikes, which means HULK UP TIME. Hogan with a series of chops, followed by a big boot. He slams the giant from Uganda and comes off the ropes with the leg drop to retain at 6:06. Post-match, Hogan fights off a 3-on-1 attack and poses. Not one of their better outings, but this was fine. **
WWF World Heavyweight Championship Match:
Hulk Hogan (c) vs. Killer Khan (w/ Mr. Fuji):
Taped on September 12th, 1987 from the Boston Garden. A great example of Hogan's schedule following WrestleMania III, facing names like Kamala, Harley Race, and Killer Khan, to name a few. Gorilla Monsoon and DUKE DOHERTY on commentary. Again, maybe JR and Lawler isn't the worst options in the world. Khan attacks Hogan while the referee is giving him the pre-match instructions and chokes him with a piece of his own gear. I'm bad with names, but the referee is the familiar timekeeper of the era, so you know they stretched the roster for 3 tours on this date (edit: Mark Yeaton). Khan whacks Hogan with the belt and the referee is OK with it. He spews the mist, but Hogan ducks and the referee takes it instead! A second referee takes over as Khan continues to dominate and Fuji adds a cheap shot here and there.
Hogan rolls away from a jumping knee drop and fires himself up in the corner. He unravels the wrist tape and uses it to clothesline Khan. FIGHT FIRE WITH FIRE, BROTHER. I bet Hogan played a mean bass for that track. Khan gets dumped and Hogan follows, smacking him across the back with a chair. Fuji with a helpful distraction, allowing Khan to blast Hogan in the throat to regain control. We slow things down with a nerve hold. The crowd erupts as Hogan fights to his feet. He escapes with elbows to the midsection and comes off the ropes with a pair of shoulder blocks. Khan counters a third, plants Hogan with a slam and comes off the top with the flying knee. Hogan kicks out and it's HULK UP TIME. He shrugs off the strikes and blocks the mist with his hand! Hogan rubs the mist into Khan's eyes and finishes with the leg drop at 9:39. Nothing too fancy, but I did appreciate the finish, even if it's a little ridiculous. **½
Final Thoughts: We're setting the table for what to expect, as we're digging deep in the archives for some more curious and lesser-known stuff, so while I'm always happy to have the best of the best available, most of Hogan's best or well recognized matches have been available on so many different sources of entertainment, and believe it or not, this is the THIRD DVD set dedicated to the Hulkster between 2002 and 2009. If you're OK with some house show fodder or a couple of squash matches from his earlier run with the company, you'll enjoy most of what is available, at least on Disc 1. We'll save final judgment for later, with Disc 2 coming up, covering late 1987 through 1991.
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