Post by verbaltoxin on Sept 20, 2012 17:28:08 GMT -6
Just some food for thought.
Hulk Hogan was born on August 11, 1953. He came back to the WWF in Dec. 1983. He became the WWF champion the first time on January 23, 1984. He was 30 years old by that point, undoubtedly the prime of his career. He held the WWF title longer than anyone but Bruno Sammartino. He has headlined more Wrestlemanias than anyone ever, from the first one until Wrestlemania IX.
By the time of Wrestlemania VII in 1991, Hogan was 37. By Wrestlemania VIII, he was in a "double main event," and was not in the final match of the night. In fact his match was used to reintroduce the Ultimate Warrior. It was hardly even about Hogan. His last "headlining" Wrestlemania was no. 9, but he technically, again, wasn't the headliner. It was another double main event. Hogan went over in a final, impromptu match, but it was not advertised on the card. It was also not done to bury Bret, as is commonly believed. It was a, "Send 'em home happy" match.
Three months later at King of the Ring, Hogan lost to Yokozuna and he was gone. He trotted off to Japan and then WCW, where he basically took a decade long retirement tour, in addition to his heel turn.
Now for John Cena. He was born on April 23, 1977. He won his first WWE title at Wrestlemania 21, beating JBL. Cena was 28 at the time. He has been the longest reigning WWE champ of the 00's, and is behind Bruno, Hogan and Backlund in longest reigns of all time. He's 35 now. He has headlined Wrestlemanias 21-23, then 27-28. He has far and away headlined more ppv's than Hogan ever did though. In fact he's headlined more ppv's than anyone ever, and many of them were without wearing a title.
One would think that WWE plans on coasting with Cena as long as possible, but he has a clear expiration date. Kids will only cheer Cena for so long before noticing that he looks "old." Hogan was on a major, downward slide in the 90s, post-Wrestlemania VI. He wasn't the sole focus of the major ppvs of the time anymore, and WWF was trying to move away from him. By the time he left WWF in 1993, he was on the cusp of 40.
This is as good as it's going to get for Cena, literally. In maybe 2 years, tops, it'll start the downward slide for him. Except unlike Hogan, he has no acting career, he's not a major crossover celebrity, and there's no WCW. There's TNA, but it's no WCW. I hope he's invested wisely.
Hulk Hogan was born on August 11, 1953. He came back to the WWF in Dec. 1983. He became the WWF champion the first time on January 23, 1984. He was 30 years old by that point, undoubtedly the prime of his career. He held the WWF title longer than anyone but Bruno Sammartino. He has headlined more Wrestlemanias than anyone ever, from the first one until Wrestlemania IX.
By the time of Wrestlemania VII in 1991, Hogan was 37. By Wrestlemania VIII, he was in a "double main event," and was not in the final match of the night. In fact his match was used to reintroduce the Ultimate Warrior. It was hardly even about Hogan. His last "headlining" Wrestlemania was no. 9, but he technically, again, wasn't the headliner. It was another double main event. Hogan went over in a final, impromptu match, but it was not advertised on the card. It was also not done to bury Bret, as is commonly believed. It was a, "Send 'em home happy" match.
Three months later at King of the Ring, Hogan lost to Yokozuna and he was gone. He trotted off to Japan and then WCW, where he basically took a decade long retirement tour, in addition to his heel turn.
Now for John Cena. He was born on April 23, 1977. He won his first WWE title at Wrestlemania 21, beating JBL. Cena was 28 at the time. He has been the longest reigning WWE champ of the 00's, and is behind Bruno, Hogan and Backlund in longest reigns of all time. He's 35 now. He has headlined Wrestlemanias 21-23, then 27-28. He has far and away headlined more ppv's than Hogan ever did though. In fact he's headlined more ppv's than anyone ever, and many of them were without wearing a title.
One would think that WWE plans on coasting with Cena as long as possible, but he has a clear expiration date. Kids will only cheer Cena for so long before noticing that he looks "old." Hogan was on a major, downward slide in the 90s, post-Wrestlemania VI. He wasn't the sole focus of the major ppvs of the time anymore, and WWF was trying to move away from him. By the time he left WWF in 1993, he was on the cusp of 40.
This is as good as it's going to get for Cena, literally. In maybe 2 years, tops, it'll start the downward slide for him. Except unlike Hogan, he has no acting career, he's not a major crossover celebrity, and there's no WCW. There's TNA, but it's no WCW. I hope he's invested wisely.