With the 39th anniversary of Hulk Hogan winning his first WWF championship approaching (and apparently returning to RAW on 1/23/23), I decided to watch Hogan's AWA (American Wrestling Association) run where it was available on YouTube.
Debuting as a Heel
At this point in his career, Hogan had only been a heel.
He also wasn't considered a great talker. So, the AWA gave him Johnny Valiant as his manager.
Late Summer 1981: Valiant introduces Hogan
Hogan interviewed alone by Gene Okerlund
To get Hogan over as a monster heel, Hogan started off with a gimmick where he would only wrestle two opponents simultaneously.
8/8/81: Hogan vs. 2 Jobbers
8/15/81: Hogan vs. 2 Jobbers
Hogan Babyface Turn
The fans started cheering for Hogan right away despite him being pushed as a monster heel.
8/22/81: Hogan vs. Jobber
9/5/81: Hogan vs. Jobber
Hogan vs. Jobber
The AWA noticed and quickly made him a hero to face the AWA's other big heel, Crusher Jerry Blackwell.
This was Hogan first big feud as a babyface.
Hogan's Face Turn Saving Brad Rheingans
10/4/81: Hulk Hogan vs. Crusher Blackwell
Hulk Hogan vs. the Heenan Family
Bobby "The Brain" Heenan had been the #1 manager in the AWA for a decade. His "family" of wrestlers included AWA World Champion Nick Bockwinkel, Ken Patera, and Bobby Duncan at the time. Also, Heenan still wrestled a fair amount himself.
In this contest, Jesse Ventura (one half of the AWA tag team champions with Adrian Adonis) is at ringside.
Arm Wrestling Contest: Hulk Hogan vs. Ken Patera
3/4/82: Hulk Hogan vs. Bobby Duncan
Hulk Hogan Challenges for the AWA World Title
Hogan would get his first shot at the AWA title in April of 1982.
Here's a Hogan interview promoting the match. He's still a bit reserved here and hasn't yet become "The Hulkster".
Hogan AWA World Title Match Interview
Nick Bockwinkel delivered great reserved interviews. Though, he's much more agitated here. Bobby Heenan is nearly exactly the same as his WWF run (just a bit less comical).
Nick Bockwinkel and Bobby Heenan AWA World Title Match Interview
Hogan's chase of the title started off hot.
4/18/82: Hulk Hogan vs. AWA Champion Nick Bockwinkel
Obviously, Hogan wasn't happy with the result of the match.
Hogan, Heenan, and Bockwinkel Post-Match Interviews
The rematch would get Heenan in the ring so Hogan could get his hands on the Weasel.
5/2/82: Hulk Hogan vs. Nick Bockwinkel and Bobby Heenan
Rocky III Hits Movie Theatres
Hogan was already huge in the AWA when Rocky III was released on May 28, 1982. Obviously, the movie only made him a bigger star.
Hogan was invited on The Tonight Show to promote the film.
6/15/82: Hulk Hogan on Johnny Carson's Tonight Show
6/12/82 Rematch: Hulk Hogan vs. Nick Bockwinkel
Sidetracking the Title Chase
In order to keep things fresh, Hogan got involved in the feud between Jesse Ventura & Adrian Adonis and their babyface rivals Greg Gagne and Jim Brunzell. Those teams were feuding over the tag team titles.
Also, Hogan would be put in the ring against Heenan Family members in tag team matches.
I'm sure all this was done to extend Hogan's chase of the AWA title.
10/82: Hulk Hogan vs. Adrian Adonis
10/31/81: Hogan, Gagne, and Brunzell vs. Adonis, Ventura, and Blackwell
20-Man Battle Royal
By this time, Hogan had figured out his character. This short interview is clearly "The Hulkster".
Post-Battle Royal Interview
11/7/82: Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant vs. The Heenan Family
12/25/82: Hulk Hogan vs. Jesse Ventura
3/13/83: Hogan, Gagne, and Brunzell, vs. Ventura, Patera, and Heenan
April 24, 1983: Super Sunday
Before the first WrestleMania (3/85) and before the first Starrcade (11/83), there was the AWA's Super Sunday. Like those other cards, Super Sunday was broadcast on closed circuit TV.
The main event was the culmination of Hulk Hogan's one-year chase of AWA World Champion Nick Bockwinkel.
And Hogan promised to win the title.
4/24/83: Hulk Hogan vs. AWA World Champion Nick Bockwinkel
The controversial finish to the match outraged fans and is often blamed for the demise of the AWA. If Verne Gagne and Hulk Hogan had been able to come to a business agreement with each other, Hogan could have become AWA champion and perhaps for a very long time.
After the match, Hogan (in kayfabe) said he would never wrestle again in the AWA. In reality, he went to Japan where he famously beat Atonio Inoki in the finals of the first IWGP tournament.
Post-Match Interview: Nick Bockwinkel
Post Title Chase Feuds
Hogan spent his remaining time in the AWA feuding with Dr. D. David Schultz and Masa Saito.
Dr. D. David Schultz Interview
Hogan is still kayfabing that he won't return to the AWA.
6/12/83 Hulk Hogan Interview
6/16/83 Hulk Hogan Interview
Hogan's IWGP victory was acknowledged on AWA TV.
Heel Masa Saito presented a trophy to Hogan for his accomplishment. Events like this always end the same way.
Hogan Trophy Presentation & Match vs. Masa Saito
This interview obviously happened after the trophy presentation but before the match.
7/31/83: Hulk Hogan Interview, "Returns' to the AWA
9/25/83: Hulk Hogan vs. Masa Saito and Dr. D. David Schultz
Hulk Hogan made his WWF return in January of 1984.
On January 23, 1984, Hogan defeated the Iron Sheik in Madison Square Garden to win his first WWF Championship. His title reign would last a little over four years.
Mind boggling that they didn't put the belt on Hogan after he featured in freakin Rocky 3 and was doing Johnny Carson. I wonder how that would've changed the landscape of wrestling. AWA seemed stacked at that time.
