HULKAMANIA DAY!!!!

[MSBNYY]

Hard to believe it's January 23 once again. But let's not forget that historic day, back in 1984, when the world was changed forever.

It was a cold January night in 1984 at Madison Square Garden--the mecca of professional wrestling. Just one month earlier, the Iron Sheik, the evil Iranian from Tehran, and enemy to Americans everywhere, had defeated long time champion Mr. Bob Backlund.

Mr. Backlund had held the belt for years, but due to a conspiracy and chicanery, lost his title when his manager threw in the towel as he attempted to power out of the most devastating submission hold of all time--the dreaded Camel Clutch.







Fans were stunned. Children cried. It was truly a dark time in WWF history, and no one knew what kind of evil the Iron Sheik would unfold now that he was the WWF champion.

If the Iron Sheik could wrest the title from Mr. Bob Backlund, then what could anyone do to stop him?

So that's where we were on January 23, 1984. The Iron Sheik came to the ring confident for his first title defense.

But it was a mystery opponent. Surely no one would be able to take on the dominant Iron Sheik. Who would dare, if not even the legendary Mr. Bob Backlund could stop him?

Defeating the Iron Sheik would take more than just a man. It would take a hero.

The capacity crowd at Madison Square Garden was scared into silence by the devastating champion.

But suddenly the loudspeakers broadcast some musical notes and the crowd heard the classic Survivor tune, Eye of the Tiger.

The crowd erupted as through the curtain emerged more than just a man.

It was a hero.

From Venice Beach, California, at 6'7" tall, weighing in at an astonishing 302 pounds, it was...

The INCREDIBLE HULK HOGAN!!!!!!

Suddenly, you could feel the electricity in the air and the crowd at Madison Square Garden nearly blew the roof off the place.

Like Moses before him, a man stood ready to deliver his people from tyranny.

The Iron Sheik's look of confidence faded as he knew he was in for a fight.

But the Iron Sheik was a worthy champion and he still had the camel clutch as the great equalizer.

As the match began, Hogan took it to the Sheik. The crowd was roaring with every punch and was having a grand old time as Hogan really gave the Iron Sheik what for.

Yet when facing a champion like the Iron Sheik, it was inevitable that eventually, the Iranian would get the upper hand.

Soon, the greatest fear of everyone in the world happened, as the Iron Sheik placed Hogan in the camel clutch.

It was over.

The Iron Sheik would defeat Hulk Hogan just like he did Mr. Backlund.

On any other night, the story would end tragically.

But this was not any other night. January 23, 1984 would be remembered. The capacity crowd at Madison Square Garden would not let the match end.

As the Iron Sheik used his strength to get the Hulkster to submit, the crowd began to cheer. No one had ever escaped the dreaded camel clutch, but that did not sway the crowd.

They cheered and cheered and cheered.

Suddenly, the miracle the crowd was trying to inspire began to happen. It was as if the energy of the crowd began to course through the veins of the Hulkster.

Hogan did something no one had done before.

He started to fight back.

He started to shake.

He started to shimmy.

He started to shutter.

And soon, he found himself stronger than ever. It was as if 22000 people were lending Hogan their strength, and Hogan took it and within moments, the miracle was complete.

Hogan had done the impossible and powered out of the dreaded camel clutch.

The Iron Sheik didn't know what to do. He started throwing punches at Hogan, but to no avail. As the crowd continued to scream, Hogan was impervious to pain!

Finally, Hogan threw the Sheik into the ropes and hit him with the big boot and atomic leg drop for the 1-2-3.

He had done it!



The WWF had a new champ and the fans had a new hero in the Incredible Hulk Hogan!

The celebration began quickly as Andre the Giant congratulated the Hulkster on his victory.



But history would not just remember January 23, 1984 as the day the title changed hands. Hogan and the people had created something new. Sometime miraculous. A new phenomenon.

It would be dubbed simply:

Hulkamania.

The power of Hulkamania spread and quickly became the strongest force in the universe.

At first there were just 3 demandments:

1. Train hard.
2. Say your prayers
3. Eat your vitamins.

By living by these principles, there was little a Hulkamaniac could not accomplish. And Hogan became the shining example of Hulkamania when applied brilliantly.

In the years to follow, Hogan would add a 4th demandment:

4. Believe in yourself.

By leading the Hulkamania brigade, the Hulkster was able to topple all comers and become the greatest wrestler of all time. Maybe even one of the greatest human beings.

Though for a short time, Hogan went astray and abandoned the Hulkamaniacs, the Hulkamaniacs never abandoned Hogan, and soon, he was back in the fold, being a Real American.

Today is the anniversary of the birth of Hulkamania, and for that, we should all be thankful. As a gift, we at Heckle House offer you the chance to experience the birth of Hulkamania itself, in the footer of the main section. Hulkamania is the reason Youtube exists.

Remember, if you ever find yourself doing the wrong thing, just ask yourself one simple question:

WHATCHA GONNA DO, WHEN THE POWER OF HULKAMANIA RUNS WILD ON YOU!!!!

[$heriff Tom]

I am very excited. This is a high spot on the calendar each and every year. I was like a kid at Christmas last night, and could not wait, so I watched Hogan vs Orndorff from "The Big Event" just before bed.

I am glad Balls and I share the same values, and could use the board as a canvas today, to paint the happy portrait of all that is Hulkamania. I will be back on over the course of the day with reflections, memories of the Hulkster, and experiences that I myself have enjoyed because I grew up with the big boot and the legdrop.

Happy Hulk Hogan Day!

[thecaptain15]

Tom I just saw this thread as I always go to the Wrestling thread first..feel free to delete my post in the WWE thread..I will paste again here in the proper spot...

Happy Hulkamania Day..I was 4th row at the end of the row even with the camera side turnbuckle on the right if you extend a straight line out for this monumental moment in history......

[$heriff Tom]

Oh, no, feel free to post any and everywhere on this special occassion.

It makes me happy that someone I know was in attendance on that joyous eve. I will be watching that match tonight, and toasting the Hulkster with a stiff glass.

I will never forget when Hogan took on the Rock, and i had crammed upwards of 10 folks in my dingy studio apartment in Queens, and we made enough noise that the landlord complained to me for the first and only time of my tenure there. And that is a man who sat still while Capone and I had a fistfight that went all over the place, with things breaking, to where the landlord thought I was being "killed up there." Yet he made no move to quiet things down. But for the cacophony Hogan produced that night, he had to bitch about the excessive noise.

[MSBNYY]

Can you find yourself in the video? And Captain--you should know that Hulkamania Day transcends wrestling.

[thecaptain15]

I have never been able to find myself due to them turning out the lights around the ring and everytime they go in that corner something blocks the view back.

I had a "home made" (well before they started selling them at events)yellow and red lettered shirt made (my buddy's was Blue with white lettering) at the local transfer place that said

"American Made" in the front and

"Hulk
-A-
Mania"

On the back. Me and a friend of mine got them made up a couple days after the Hulkster debuted by making the save of Mr. Bob Backlund as he was being attacked by the Wild Samoans and Cat. Lou on the Saturday morning weekly show....

I remember after the win someone hurled a chair in the air in joy and it went right over my head and landed a few feet in front of me...

Also since Tom mentioned the WM 18 epic Rock vs. Hogan at Skydome, he will be overjoyed again to know I was in attendence for that as well.......LOL

[MSBNYY]

You've been there for some epic Hulkamania moments.

I wonder how many people can say they were at both events. You were there for both the birth and the REBIRTH of Hulkamania.

You were there at the beginning and the second coming.

You are the Robert Lincoln of wrestling. Robert Lincoln was a guy present at 3 separate presidential assassinations. Though Hulkamania is obviously a force for good and not evil, you have a nice uncanny knack for being at great historical moments.

[thecaptain15]

Thank you Balls though I attribute WM 18 to being lucky.... right place right time as we were going up anyways to Toronto...For the birth of Hulkamania me and my friends attended every monthly card at MSG for about a 4 year run missing only one for high school graduation. I used to wait outside on line and always be second right behind that light skinned black guy with light brownish blonde hair that is always in the front row in a tank top at all the WWE events at MSG thoughout the 80's and 90's - he was also in the front row for the UWF Penta shows currently airing as I have seen him though he sat cameraside....Back in our day we always wondered how you could be first or second on line and never do much better than the 10th row on most occasions (though I was lucky for the Hulkster with the 4th row)..as most of the front rows were held by promoters, friends, arena personal, scalpers etc.....I have been to 2 Wrestlmanias 18 and 20.......I was also at the Royal Rumble that Benoit won in Philly (I have the folding chair) and the first One Night Stand (again I have the chair), King of the Ring when Angle took 3 tries to throw Shane o Mac through the Titantron "glass"...........I also remember seeing Andre the Giant and Torkamata(recently deceeased) at Wagner College as a kid on S.I. if that means anything too..LOL..recently though I have not really gone to anything in the last 2-3 years but was a regular before then for a few years at any Smackdown / Raw show at the Meadowlands........

[thecaptain15]

I was also at the Meadowlands in 1991 (I think) which at the time was the "Great American Bash Tour" where Flair recaptured the belt from Sting for the 12th or 13th time (not sure) in a blizzard that had only about 500 fans brave the elements. Me and my friends were all in costume. Me and my one friend (I was dressed as Flair and he was dressed as Sting and I sat right next to Flair's now ex wife) made the 10 o'clock news on Channel Nine with Reg Wells in costume commenting on the Fabulous Freebirds (at this time it was the Haynes and Jimmy Garvin version). They were covering it because Lawrence Taylor was involved in a "football" match between Luger and I think Mr. Hughes with LT in Luger's corner. Suffice to say they invited everyone back to LT's resturant after the show and I have a blank check from there signed by a bunch of people including, LT, Ric Flair, Michael Wall Street, JR, One of the RnR Express (I think Morton) and one of Tom's favorites Tommy "Wildfire" Rich.......

[cactusjames]

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

[$heriff Tom]

Ah, young James. So glad you could join us. I saw you posted before 7AM and I thought you were done for the day, and missed all the fun.

[MSBNYY]

Make sure you take the Heckle House of Hulkamania tour in the various sections.

[cactusjames]

How could I miss a glorious day like this? I'd like to point out the second biggest run in Hogan's carreer began when he became that backseat bitch to half of the cliq. Remember when Nash and Hall reviatlized his meaningless existence? No, you dummies celebrate this day, the day he cheated to beat a proud Iranian champion of the people. Then take into consideration how Backlund got screwed by the Sheik and Skaaland, Hogan will never earn the belt the right way, more contrevesy than Bonds.

[MSBNYY]

Actually, it was Hogan that made the nWo what it was. While it is true that Mr. Backlund was screwed by Skaaland and the Sheik, many titles have changed hands by villainy. It took a hero like Hulk Hogan to rise up and bring the title back into the light. Hogan served as a shining hero for nearly 25 years. It is an honor just to type his name for he is a real American. I'm sure his good friend Mr. America will agree.

[cactusjames]

Till he beats Backlund, he'll never be champ. It's like Fraizer and Ali, Frazier couldn't call himself champ till he beat Ali, cause no one beat him for the belt, he was robbed. Like Mr. Backlund, no one beat Backlund fairly, he's the real champ. Enjoy your tarnished day, Hulkamania sucks, the cliq is the most powerful force in all of professional wrestling. Shit, one of the cliq married the boss daughter, we run wrestling, not Gladiator cocksucker.

[IronHorse4]

What a glorious day, indeed. A very important day in the history of our great nation.

I am proud to be a Hulkamaniac!

[MSBNYY]

Wrestling and boxing are totally different sports, and the power of Hulkamania is still unstoppable to this day. Hulk Hogan's legacy is astounding. It is a great day indeed.

[Chris]

"Wrestling and boxing are totally different sports"

You mean like...one is real, one isn't?

[IronHorse4]

You're probably right, and it's a shame.

But I think boxing used to be real at one point.

[Chris]

I walked right into that one.

[thecaptain15]

Gladiator Ratings > WWE Ratings........


LOL

[MSBNYY]

Why rewrite what works so well. Once again, we celebrate the power of Hulkamania, which turns 26 today.

God Bless Hulk Hogan. God Bless America.

[thecaptain15]

The video never gets old. As I have stated without a doubt, the loudest I have ever heard MSG. When the Sheik had Hogan in the camel clutch, the corner in the backround was the corner I was sitting in 4th row..

[thecaptain15]

Also, interesting tidbit, I am in the midst of reading Ivan Koloff's book and he mentions that he was originally supposed to be the one to beat Backlund and drop the belt to Hogan. Vince had asked him several months earlier when he gave Vince notice if he would stay a few more months (but did not mention why) and Koloff said no thanks and left and later on he found out Vince wanted him to stay to be the transtional champ just like he was years earlier for Bruno and Pedro Morales...Once he left the Sheik got the honors..

[$heriff Tom]

What a glorious day! I shall celebrate tonight with drinks and some Hogan DVDs. Just watched that match a few weeks ago, Ive seen it dozens of times.

Cap, Ive never heard the Koloff story and I dont know if I believe he is telling the truth (even with him being a Born-again and all) - the Hogan thing happened fast, from most accounts Vince decided to go with Hogan pretty spur of the moment cause of the amazing pops he came in with, not what he had done in the AWA. Another guy who claims he was asked to be a transitional champ is, of all people, the great Masked Superstar.

One of the DVDs I got has Hogan's initial WWF appearances, teaming up with and saving Bob Backlund from attacks.

[thecaptain15]

Yeah I remember that like yesterday..........later that day we ran out and made our own American Made T-Shirts at the local transfer shop exactly how Hulk had it except mine was yellow with red lettering..lol

Quality not great

[4dogg]

what i remember most about that night was that it was the day after the super bowl and i was hung over to the max....it was great being there for history....a title change back then was a rarity,not like todays WWE

[4dogg]

great clip Captain....joe Mchugh and dick wherlee

[thecaptain15]

4Dogg to bad I didn't know you then..LOL

Joe McHugh was the best he should be a Hall of Famer...

"The referees for this hour of wrestling......Dick Kroll, Jack Lotz, Dick Wherlee, Gilberto Roman, the Doctor in Attendance Dr. George Zoharian, Time Keeper at the Bell (can't remember his name) and my names is Jooeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee McHugh!!!!!!"

[thecaptain15]

Sorry to get off topic...

JOE McHUGH’S HAPPY 80TH BIRTHDAY

(Allentown Morning Call, April 29, 1984)

By Dan Shope

Joe McHugh believes in mind over age. The wrinkled ring announcer will celebrate his 80th birthday tomorrow, but he says he can’t die. He’s booked until 2004.

"I’m not going to die, because I’m booked through my 100th birthday," McHugh says. "Most fellows start practicing to get old at 45. That’s when they start planning their retirement. They think old and they get old. I’m not going to sit around and wait for the arteries to get hard. I’m not going to wait for Dr. Death. I’m keeping busy."

Upon seeing Dr. Death, McHugh probably won’t be able to resist announcing his arrival, just like he has for Rocky Marciano, Larry Holmes, Muhammad Ali, Jack Sharkey, "Red" Skelton, Jackie Gleason, Ivan Putski and "The Incredible Hulk" Hogan.

"In this corner . . . Wearing black trunks . . . Weighing 10 million pounds . . . The current soul releaser . . . From Heaven’s Gate . . . Doctor . . . Death!" "Joooooe" McHugh has been a ring announcer since before the invention of professional wrestling. In fact, the Allentown native bills himself as "the oldest active announcer in the U.S." Nobody’s going to argue.

With his lined face and knowing eyes, McHugh can sit for hours and discuss the past. He remembers well how his older brother, Terry, fought world bantomweight champion Pete Herman in 1919. He recalls working as a standup comedian in nightclubs during prohibition. And, almost grudgingly, he repeats how he hired "Red" Skelton to perform for $35 at Club Rio in Dorneyville, where the Bill Daniels’ Music Factory now stands.

McHugh would rather talk about the present. For it’s present technology which has made him a celebrity. Vaudeville, nightclubs and radio were fine in their time. But the television camera has made his face recognized from Brooklyn to London to Sydney, Australia

"I enjoy every minute of it," McHugh says. "Today I was walking up on Hamilton Street and some lady walks up to me and hands me all these snapshots of me and (local boxing and wrestling official) Mike Mittman. Where were these women 50 years ago?

"No matter where I go, people recognize me. I love kids, and they always come up to say hello. You know, when I announce, I always say ‘This is your ring announcer Joooooe McHugh!’ So the kids always yell to me, ‘It’s Joooooe McHugh!’ "

In today’s world of slick professional announcers who all seem to be Dick Clark clones, McHugh is an antique. When he began, there were no public address systems, microphones and stereophonic speakers. Only lung power. Instead of adjusting to the modern systems, he still belts out each phrase. He’s the Ethel Merman of the ring.

So when the Worldwide Wrestling Federation moved into the Allentown Fairgrounds’ Agriculture Hall and was televised on Allentown’s Channel 69, New York’s Channel 9 and USA Network, McHugh and his ancient voice became as famous as Putski, Bob Backlund and Chief Jay Strongbow.

"TV has changed everything," McHugh says.

"When I was announcing fights before it, only a handful of people heard me. Now there are millions of people. I get mail from around the world.

"We’ve been taping at Ag Hall every three weeks for the last seven years. It started when the old Arena in Philly was torn down. The promoters were looking for a new place. They tried Ag Hall here in Allentown and fell in love with it.

"The people love it here because of the (Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton) airport. It’s so convenient and there are few traffic problems. The promoters and wrestlers stay at the Hilton or George Washington, then they go on to Hamburg the next night."

Joe never dreamed of television when he was growing up on Gordon Street in the Irish section of Allentown’s Sixth Ward. As was the case with many Irish families at the turn of the century, his dad, Owen, was a cop and his older brother was a boxer. After graduating from Allentown Catholic High, which had only 40 pupils in all four classes, he opted for show business.

"Not all the boxers were Irish," McHugh says. "A lot of them were Jewish, Polish. They just took Irish names. Fighting as an Irishman was the proper thing to do. That’s how they got work.

"At 14, I watched my older brother, Terry, fighting Pete Herman. Of course, that was before there was a boxing commission. Back then, the sports writers decided the winner. The champion carried his own ref, so it was pretty hard for a champion to lose.

"When I was 16, I went into vaudeville and worked all over the country. I did comedy and was an M.C. I used to tell stories about crabgrass, mothers-in- law and families. But then in 1928 or ‘29, I was licensed as a ring announcer.

"Back then, Allentown was a hub for boxing. We had some of the best in the country here in the ‘20s. But the guy I enjoyed best was Rocky Marciano. After retiring from boxing, he became a ref for pro wrestling. We worked the circuit together.

"The best boxer I ever saw was Rocky. He worked the ring like a mechanic. Outside the ring, he was a pussycat. Such a gentleman. He was one of the best people I’ve ever met. It was a shame when he died in that airplane crash.

"I remember doing a benefit with his son in the crowd. Rocky’s wife was pregnant at the time of the crash, so he never met his father. Well, after I spoke, the kid came up to me and asked ‘was my dad really that wonderful?’ I told him every word was true. And it was."

Many of McHugh’s best friends have passed away. Marciano is but one. All of Joe’s five brothers have died, including Jack, the father of Lehigh County Commissioner and former Allen High Principal Dr. John McHugh ("You think Doc McHugh is a good speaker, you should have heard his father," Joe says.)

Gone is his partner, Roy Eichelberger, with whom he ran a roofing and siding business until 12 years ago.

And gone is Joe’s wife, Barbara, who gave him his daughter, also Barbara, who now lives in New Jersey with her husband, a corporate lawyer. But McHugh has replaced the old friends with new. And most are made through TV.

"TV is the whole thing today," he says. "Years ago there were some great performers, but few people heard of them. Now, people are on TV once, and they’re stars. Half the people don’t belong on it. "I get some funny mail. Last Christmas, I got a frame with 12 to 18 beautiful pictures in it. The note just said ‘From your friends in Connecticut.’ Nothing else. Ladies are always sending me cakes. One little girl gave me a red carnation."

The secret is his voice. With it, he refuses to fade away. It’s his weapon against Dr. Death. People love the gravel of his old-time announcing. And those people are keeping him active, keeping away Dr. Death.

"Over the years, announcers have changed," he says. "Once in a while, I go into a supermarket or a mall and hear an announcer speaking into the microphone like its a telephone. You can’t do that. You’ve gotta speak from your stomach.

"It’s like my wife used to tell me when I left for work, ‘Keep your big mouth open.’ "