Which Moment Meant More — Austin 3:16 or Hogan’s Heel Turn?

Austin king of the ring moment with the promo just had its 30 anniversary and it was a huge moment. But that wasn't because of a match or winning king of the ring. The moment was huge because of the promo Stone Cold cut after winning. Which put Stone Cold and Austin 3:16 on the map. But Austin could have done that on another raw or on a PPV. So, the moment is huge and that is because of the promo. The Austin run on top didn't happen until the fall 1997 into the spring 1998. Steve Austin became hot in 1998 and turned WWF around from looking rough business wise into a billion-dollar company by 2001.

The hogan heel turn happened on July 7th, 1996. The three guys chosen the night after the Great American bash on Nitro, were Sting, Lex Luger, and Macho Man Randy Savage. Which originally Sting was supposed to be the third guy. But a couple weeks before this moment, Hogan asked Eric to come down to talk to Hogan. So, Eric flew to California. Hogan was filming the movie Santa with Muscles. Which we all know is a classic. Hogan saw what Hall and Nash were doing on WCW and asked Eric who is the third man. Which Eric didn't say anything. He didn't want to say Sting. Then Hulk said it should be me. Which Eric was like wow and went with it. Which Eric had tried before the previous year to turn Hogan heel which Hogan would not do it.

The moment was Hogan come walking down to the ring. No one knew what was next. Despite Bobby Heenan saying which side is he on. Which none of the announcers knew that Hogan would land the leg drop on Savage and join the NWO. This was shocking moment to wrestling fans and the wrestling world. Hogan even cut a promo saying the fans can stick it. That wrestling wouldn't be where it is today without him kind of promo which Hulk was not wrong. The announcers were into it. I remember Tony Schiavone saying Hulk Hogan you can go to hell. Over the next couple weeks and months, Hogan would run wild as a heel on top with Hall and Nash. Even adding more members to join like the Giant, and Syxx, and Ted Dibase by the fall.

Well, it's Hogan by a mile. I'm a bigger fan of Stone Cold. But without Hogan turning heel, the business would have not changed for the better. Without this moment wrestling would have not had WCW stomping WWF in the ratings. Which made WWF go more edgier and become the attitude era. By WWF going this route, helped WWF put WCW out of business by 2001. If you look at it, Hogan made Vince a millionaire, then made Vince a Billionaire by 2001.

The only moment close to the Hogan heel turn was not Cena's. That was sad last year the way it turned own. The closest? The way Roman turned heel in 2020 with saying that is not a spoiler, that is a prediction. Paul Heymanclosed the segment with saying believe that.

Austin 3:16 made Austin a star which Austin is still the number one merchandise seller 30 years later. Hogan's heel turn changed the business forever.

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