>>12878915This. Rick was never the same afterward. Even as a "face" he lost many of his fans that day.
Hogan proved that day how much pro wrestling and the fans meant to him. Hogan debuted in 1977. He had been working 300 days a year for nearly two decades before the lighter schedule with WCW in the mid to late 90s. Hogan came back to WWF to do jobs for big stars like Rock, Brock, and Angle. Hogan clearly loved the business.
Rock, meanwhile, had already started to distance himself from pro wrestling by 2002. He had only debuted in 1996 and was already leaving for TV and movie roles within a few years. Rock never loved the business or the fans. Rock used wrestling as a stepping stone for Hollywood, his real passion along with football. Rock retired from active status, although he would appear for big matches on occasion, after only 6 years in the business, and at only 30 years old!
So when Hogan and Rock squared off, it immediately forced viewers to compare them, to see a young, 30 year old with only 6 years experience set to leave wrestling soon for a Hollywood career, against a dedicated wrestler with 25 years experience and STILL wrestling at nearly 50 years old, AND Hogan did the job and put over Rock clean, only for Rock to spit in his and fans faces and fuck off the Hollywood about a year later, after already being a part timer for a few years too.
Hulk Hogan IS pro wrestling.
The Dwayne is a loser that cares about his image and acting more than he ever did about wrestling.
