Did it honestly look to you as if Hogan cinched up?
He didn't seem to even straighten up much or lean back at all once the hold was hooked.
Also, I didn't see the muscles in his brachial region tense - which they would contract under the slightest bit of any kind/amount of pressure.
Yes, the move was akin to a rear naked choke, but applied from the front. Hulk wrapped his arm under Belzer's chin and grabbed Belzer's far shoulder. So, Hulk's right bicep and forearm were was cutting off the blood to Belzer's Corotoid on both sides. When Hulk leaned back, he pushed Belzer's head and neck deeper into the choke: the angle created between Hulk's bicep and forearm. It has the same effect as pushing someone's head down when they're in a rear naked choke, or extending your hips when someone is in a triangle choke.
Notwithstanding Hogan's applied pressure, and given your experience, do you believe it was possible for Belzer to pass out the way he did in 6-seconds?
Conversely, is it normal for guys to come back to that quickly?
I'd like to know, because I've always wondered about the legitimacy of this incident.
The timing was exactly right. When someone who knows how to apply a choke puts it on you, you're immediately tapping out. After 6-7 seconds, you're out cold. As far as coming to, it depends on when the choker releases the hold. Hogan did so almost immediately after Belzer went out. Under that scenario, the person usually comes to in about 10-15 seconds.
I can't say 100% that is was real, but I would bet it was.