WWE Hall of Famer Bret “The Hitman” Hart recently reflected on the professional wrestling landscape of the 1980s, specifically addressing the massive impact and backstage demeanor of Hulk Hogan. During the rise of the World Wrestling Federation’s national expansion, Hogan served as the face of the company, leading the brand through a boom period often referred to as the Golden Era. Speaking to Inside The Ropes, Hart acknowledged the undeniable popularity Hogan enjoyed during that time, comparing his cultural significance to that of a massive rock and roll icon. The Elvis Presley of Wrestling Hart described the atmosphere in the locker room as the company’s popularity exploded, crediting Hogan as the driving force behind the movement. He noted that while the entire roster was working hard, Hogan was clearly the leader of the team. Hart explained that the wrestlers understood they were in a “very unique opportunity” to take the industry to a new level. “Hogan was so over,” Hart said. “He was the Elvis Presley of wrestling. Wrestling took off bigger than everyone in the dressing room, including Hogan and maybe even Vince McMahon, ever imagined. Wrestling was transformed.” Hart emphasized that there was a sense of unity among the talent roster during this expansion period. He viewed the collective effort of the locker room as a crucial component of the company’s success, with Hogan serving as the focal point of that effort. “Everyone started pulling together,” Hart continued. “It was like a team. Hulk was the quarterback.” “No Room For Anybody Else” Despite acknowledging Hogan’s pivotal role as the “quarterback,” Hart expressed that Hogan’s professional conduct often left little opportunity for others to shine. Hart admitted that while he was personally a fan of Hogan, he felt the top star was unwilling to share the spotlight with his peers. He noted that while others helped build Hogan’s stardom, that generosity was not reciprocated. “The problem with Hulk was that. this is my opinion. that he was one of those kind of guys that had no room for anybody else,” Hart stated. “You could push him, everyone else pushed him and helped him be the star that he was, including the guys that worked with him.[He] took up all the space.” A Limited Athlete With A Great Look Hart’s critique extended to Hogan’s in-ring ability, though he balanced the criticism with an acknowledgement of Hogan’s undeniable charisma. Hart suggested that while the roster supported Hogan and helped build his brand, the favor was rarely returned in terms of elevating other talent to that same level. “He was a limited athlete as far as wrestling goes, but he had a great look and a great gimmick,” Hart said. “His talk and his walk and everything was just something special at that time.” Hart concluded that while Hogan was the star the company needed at that specific moment, his dominance over the spotlight created a difficult environment for other wrestlers trying to break through to the top tier.
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Bret Hart Describes Hulk Hogan As “Elvis Presley Of Wrestling”
