Hulkster or HBK: Who’s the better worker?

[Montague]

Some things you may wish to consider:

1.) Who’s contributed more (given more of themselves) to the business?
2.) Who can take a lousy opponent and make him look decent to phenomenal?
3.) Who is better on the mic?
4.) Who’s sold more merchandise?
5.) Who’s drawn more attendance and PPV figures?
6.) Who’s a bigger name?
7.) Who’s made more money during their career?

Think of some others.


Discuss...

[northernlights]

Well your 7 questions have nothing to do with the question you asked in the subject line. I think it is a no brainer that Shawn Michaels is a better worker. Now to answer your other questions.

1.) Who’s contributed more (given more of themselves) to the business? Shawn Michaels
2.) Who can take a lousy opponent and make him look decent to phenomenal? Shawn Michaels
3.) Who is better on the mic? Shawn Michaels
4.) Who’s sold more merchandise? Hulk Hogan
5.) Who’s drawn more attendance and PPV figures? Hulk Hogan
6.) Who’s a bigger name? Hulk Hogan
7.) Who’s made more money during their career? Hulk Hogan

Now with all this being said, like I said before Shawn Michaels is by far the better worker. It does not matter if Hogan made more money or sold more merchandise.

[tu_holmes]

HBK is the better worker by a mile... HBK is the sheezy.

[gordiano]

Better worker or better draw?

It's not even close, as to who the better worker is. Hogan was part of a business boom back in the 80's and was a huge crossover star. Michaels had his run during shitty business years, and just missed the beginning of next boom (Attitude Era). 

No offense, but only a clueless fan would compare HBK to Hogan.

[Montague]

Better worker or better draw?

It's not even close, as to who the better worker is. Hogan was part of a business boom back in the 80's and was a huge crossover star. Michaels had his run during shitty business years, and just missed the beginning of next boom (Attitude Era). 

No offense, but only a clueless fan would compare HBK to Hogan.

Damn,
You HBK marks get defensive (LOL).

Okay, I’m not doubting your "savior," but I am getting at something bigger here and Gordy hit it right away.
I pretty much expected the answers we got, and I agree with what is said.
 
The bigger question I have:

We all agree that Shawn is a better worker.
Even most casual wrestling fans will defend Shawn as such.
So how was it that a much less talented worker like Hogan drew so much more money than HBK.

Is character really that much more important than skill?
Or was it timing like Gordiano suggests?

Michaels was forced to take time off after dropping the belt to Austin at WM14.
Fans didn’t know that break was coming, and were cheering a rapidly rising Austin over HBK.
He was onto something big with D-X, but fans still wanted 3:16 as their new savior. So if Shawn – also a better worker than Austin – had stuck out the Attitude Era – then would he have been top man?
Even on equal grounds as Austin?
Or would he have continued to be used as he was at WM to get Austin over?

[mass 04]

cheftim will have a stroke when he sees this  .

I personally think that Hogan is a very underrated "wrestler". If you have ever seen some of his work in Japan or early stuff, you know what i mean. He carried Warrior to a great match, something that is no small feat. Wrestling is a lot more than just actual moves, it's telling a story, working the crowd etc.. and few can do that better than Hogan. The guy was the WWF for almost 10 years and in IMO the biggest star that wrestling has ever produced. Michaels is by far a better worker than Hogan, but i think in every other aspect Hogan is better, and i'm not even a fan of his.

Wrestling Ability- Shawn, no question. Hogan wrestled a different style but Shawn is a much better athlete and has put on better matches.

Charisma- Close, but i think Hogan wins it. Hogan had the crowd in the palm of his hand as face and had them near riot as a heel. But Shawn is great too, especially as a heel.

Mic work- Even. I think Hogan is bette, especially when he wasn't cutting the crazy Hulkamania promos.

Look- Hogan, no question.

Overall i say Hogan was a better "pro" wrestler. To answer the original question, the only one i'd give HBK over Hogan is # 2

[Montague]

cheftim will have a stroke when he sees this  .

 

You raise excellent points.

Hogan is no HBK, but he did work a program with Warrior, and don’t forget Zeus.
Hogan did an entire PPV with a guy who’d never set foot in a pro ring and had no clue how to work, and “bottle fed” him throughout the entire match to make him look like a formidable opponent.

It also depends on how you define "worker."
Bobby Heenan has said that a lot of people criticize Hogan’s ability as a worker, but he put a lot of asses in a lot of seats, and that – to Heenan – makes him a great worker.

Move for move, HBK blows Hulk out of the water, but Hulk will always be the bigger star of several generations.

The HBK marks will always rush to defend Michaels to the death because they see it as a cut and dry issue with no room for debate.
Lifelong Hogan fans will swear he’s their hero, and maybe can never explain quite why.

In the end, I kind of liken it to people who were quick to compare Heath Ledger’s Joker to Nicholson’s.
A direct comparison is impossible because although it’s the same character, they are two very different portrayals.



I wonder what Vince would say if asked this question.
 

[mass 04]

You raise excellent points.

Hogan is no HBK, but he did work a program with Warrior, and don’t forget Zeus.
Hogan did an entire PPV with a guy who’d never set foot in a pro ring and had no clue how to work, and “bottle fed” him throughout the entire match to make him look like a formidable opponent.

It also depends on how you define "worker."
Bobby Heenan has said that a lot of people criticize Hogan’s ability as a worker, but he put a lot of asses in a lot of seats, and that – to Heenan – makes him a great worker.

Move for move, HBK blows Hulk out of the water, but Hulk will always be the bigger star of several generations.

The HBK marks will always rush to defend Michaels to the death because they see it as a cut and dry issue with no room for debate.
Lifelong Hogan fans will swear he’s their hero, and maybe can never explain quite why.

In the end, I kind of liken it to people who were quick to compare Heath Ledger’s Joker to Nicholson’s.
A direct comparison is impossible because although it’s the same character, they are two very different portrayals.



I wonder what Vince would say if asked this question.
 

I think Vince will answer whoever he thinks will make him the most $$$ that day. It's impossible as you said to compare the two, their styles are so different. Hogan was a bigger draw than Shawn could ever dream of being, not to put Shawn down. IMO Hogan made the WWF and Wrestlemania wouldn't be in 75,000 seat stadiums without him. Hogan is pro wrestling.

[Montague]

I think Vince will answer whoever he thinks will make him the most $$$ that day. It's impossible as you said to compare the two, their styles are so different. Hogan was a bigger draw than Shawn could ever dream of being, not to put Shawn down. IMO Hogan made the WWF and Wrestlemania wouldn't be in 75,000 seat stadiums without him. Hogan is pro wrestling.

QFT

[Playboy]

They are both great in there own way. Hogan made wrestling and put it on the map as Shwarrzenegger did bbdg. Everyone new and loved Hogan especially in the eighties. I remember going to house shows with my dad every two months here in Toronto way back in the late eighties and when hogan was on the card you easily had an 18,000-20,000 sellout crowd.

Michaels on the other hand was very innovative and amazing to watch. His performace levels are just out of this world. Watch any WM match that involves him and you'll see what I mean.

Money wize and fan wize, Hogan takes it all. Skill wize and innivative wize, Michaels is king.

[Playboy]

I've seen both Hulk Hogan and Shawn Michaels live front row in their primes. There's no energy on Earth like Hulkamania running wild. If you don't agree? Then you've never seen it. I've seen the Hulkster at MSG more times then I can remember. You have no idea what the atmosphere was like when that guy entered the arena. There's still a huge picture of him in the lobby. No one will ever exceed what Hulk Hogan did for the show. Can't say the same about the Boy Toy. I have no idea about who made more money for the business? The big difference I see between HBK and Hogan? HBK would be successful in any era of wrestling. One of the greatest if not ever. Hogan made his name in the 80's and rode the wave. I love the Hulkster with all of my heart. But Hogan was in the right time at the right place with the right act. The NWO saved his career. Three words. Andre the Giant. Shawn would have been a star with or without Bret. I don't get "who's the better worker"? If they were both drowning? I'd save the Hulkster first. But P4P in the ring. It's The Showstoppa. I've seen him deliver time and time and time and time again. Who's had a better career then Shawn? Marty through the window. Ladder match. Hell in the Cell. Won every title known to man. DX. Screw job. Came back after a serious injury. Retired Ric Flair. Mr. Wrestlemania. AND HE NEVER SOLD OUT AND LEFT THE FEDERATION FANS FOR WCW!

Very well put.

[njflex]

i don't care if it was live or on t.v. when real american blared throught the msg speakers it was sheer hysteria,bringing that euphoria of exitement for a few minutes to the paying customer is what mattered ,hogan had/has it .hbk did his thing ,but could never deliver what hogan did.as a wrestling fan in that era thats all i needed to believe.

[mass 04]

i don't care if it was live or on t.v. when real american blared throught the msg speakers it was sheer hysteria,bringing that euphoria of exitement for a few minutes to the paying customer is what mattered ,hogan had/has it .hbk did his thing ,but could never deliver what hogan did.as a wrestling fan in that era thats all i needed to believe.

No one could pop a crowd like Hogan. The only guy who came close was Austin.

[Playboy]

No one could pop a crowd like Hogan. The only guy who came close was Austin.

You got that right, bro. Hogan was king of the crowd. Did you hear Austin's pop at WM? That was crazy.

[mass 04]

You got that right, bro. Hogan was king of the crowd. Did you hear Austin's pop at WM? That was crazy.

Yeah it was good to see. The biggest pops i've heard in person was when Austin won the title at wm 14 and when Foley beat the Rock to win the title. The infamous "that will put butts" in the seat comment. The place went apeshit..

[Playboy]

Yeah it was good to see. The biggest pops i've heard in person was when Austin won the title at wm 14 and when Foley beat the Rock to win the title. The infamous "that will put butts" in the seat comment. The place went apeshit..

I loved the pop Austin got when he dove off the zamboni and clothes lined McMahon back in the early 2000.

[Karl Kox]

I've seen both Hulk Hogan and Shawn Michaels live front row in their primes. There's no energy on Earth like Hulkamania running wild. If you don't agree? Then you've never seen it. I've seen the Hulkster at MSG more times then I can remember. You have no idea what the atmosphere was like when that guy entered the arena. There's still a huge picture of him in the lobby. No one will ever exceed what Hulk Hogan did for the show. Can't say the same about the Boy Toy. I have no idea about who made more money for the business? The big difference I see between HBK and Hogan? HBK would be successful in any era of wrestling. One of the greatest if not ever. Hogan made his name in the 80's and rode the wave. I love the Hulkster with all of my heart. But Hogan was in the right time at the right place with the right act. The NWO saved his career. Three words. Andre the Giant. Shawn would have been a star with or without Bret. I don't get "who's the better worker"? If they were both drowning? I'd save the Hulkster first. But P4P in the ring. It's The Showstoppa. I've seen him deliver time and time and time and time again. Who's had a better career then Shawn? Marty through the window. Ladder match. Hell in the Cell. Won every title known to man. DX. Screw job. Came back after a serious injury. Retired Ric Flair. Mr. Wrestlemania. AND HE NEVER SOLD OUT AND LEFT THE FEDERATION FANS FOR WCW!

I agree .  Well said.

[mame09]

no contest hulk hogan was the best. when he tried to body slam andre for the first time he tore his lats but the crowd kept on cheering and slammed him. the crowd went ballistic.

a better argument would of been austin or shawn    or even macho man or shawn

[Hulkster]

You got that right, bro. Hogan was king of the crowd. Did you hear Austin's pop at WM? That was crazy.

I was at Hogan-Rock in Toronto and the pop when hogan hulks up is still ringing in my ears..