Bret Hart-Hulk Hogan photoshoot (lost professional wrestling promotional photos; 1993): Difference between revisions

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(You know, I thought I would get this one done, just so I don't put it on the backburner any longer.)
 
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|title=<center>Bret Hart-Hulk Hogan photoshoot</center>
|title=<center>Bret Hart-Hulk Hogan photoshoot</center>
|image=Bretharthulkhogan1.jpg
|image=Bretharthulkhogan1.jpg
|imagecaption=Bret Hart facing off against Hulk Hogan
|imagecaption=Bret Hart facing off against Hulk Hogan.
|status=<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span>
|status=<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span>
}}
}}
 
The 1993 ''SummerSlam'' was a professional wrestling pay-per-view show held by the promotion ''World Wrestling Federation'' (WWF). The main event featured WWF champion Yokozuna defending his title against Lex Luger.<ref>[https://wrestlingrecaps.com/2013/07/07/reliving-a-feud-15-lex-luger-vs-yokozuna-in-wwf-93-94/ ''Wrestling Recaps'' discussing the main event between Yokozuna and Lex Luger.] Retrieved 01 May '21</ref> However, during the months leading up to the event, the main event plans were very different. Originally, Hulk Hogan was to have been the WWF champion, defending against Bret Hart, as evidenced by a '''promotional photoshoot both wrestlers were involved in'''.
The 1993 ''SummerSlam'' was a professional wrestling pay-per-view show held by the promotion ''World Wrestling Federation'' (WWF). The main event featured WWF champion Yokozuna defending his title against Lex Luger.<ref>[https://wrestlingrecaps.com/2013/07/07/reliving-a-feud-15-lex-luger-vs-yokozuna-in-wwf-93-94/ ''Wrestling Recaps'' discussing the main event between Yokozuna and Lex Luger.] Retrieved 1 May '21</ref> However, during the months leading up to the event, the main event plans were very different. Originally, Hulk Hogan was to have been the WWF champion, defending against Bret Hart, as evidenced by a '''promotional photoshoot both wrestlers were involved in'''.


==Background==
==Background==
By 1992, Hulk Hogan had long established himself as the top star in professional wrestling. However, with a steroid scandal involving Hogan and the WWF looming,<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1991/06/20/sports/wrestling-hogan-and-piper-set-to-testify-in-steroid-trial.html ''New York Times'' issue reporting on Hogan and other WWF stars being involved in a steroid trial.] Retrieved 1 May '21</ref> Hogan attempting to succeed in a film acting career, and WWF owner Vince McMahon looking to appeal to a new generation of fans, younger wrestlers were being pushed into the main event scene. Among them was Bret Hart, who won his first WWF Championship on 12th October 1992 by defeating Ric Flair.<ref>[https://wrestlingrecaps.com/2016/11/03/the-match-2-bret-hart-vs-ric-flair-wwf-92/ ''Wrestling Recaps'' discussing Hart's win over Ric Flair for the WWF Championship.] Retrieved 1 May '21</ref> Hart was originally set to face and successfully defend his belt against Yokozuna at Wrestlemania IX. However, plans changed, with some claiming that Hogan, who competed at the event alongside Brutus Beefcake against defending World Tag Team champions Money Inc., convinced McMahon that he should be world champion. Therefore, Hart was then booked to lose to Yokozuna, only for Hogan to then face and beat the latter soon afterwards to claim the title once more.<ref>''Wrestlecrap'', discussing the changed ''Wrestlemania IX'' finish and the subsequent ''SummerSlam'' plans. Retrieved 1 May '21</ref>
By 1992, Hulk Hogan had long established himself as the top star in professional wrestling. However, with a steroid scandal involving Hogan and the WWF looming,<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1991/06/20/sports/wrestling-hogan-and-piper-set-to-testify-in-steroid-trial.html ''New York Times'' issue reporting on Hogan and other WWF stars being involved in a steroid trial.] Retrieved 01 May '21</ref> Hogan attempting to succeed in a film acting career, and WWF owner Vince McMahon looking to appeal to a new generation of fans, younger wrestlers were being pushed into the main event scene. Among them was Bret Hart, who won his first WWF Championship on 12th October 1992 by defeating Ric Flair.<ref>[https://wrestlingrecaps.com/2016/11/03/the-match-2-bret-hart-vs-ric-flair-wwf-92/ ''Wrestling Recaps'' discussing Hart's win over Ric Flair for the WWF Championship.] Retrieved 01 May '21</ref> Hart was originally set to face and successfully defend his belt against Yokozuna at ''Wrestlemania IX''. However, plans changed, with some claiming that Hogan, who competed at the event alongside Brutus Beefcake against defending World Tag Team Champions Money Inc., convinced McMahon that he should be the world champion. Therefore, Hart was then booked to lose to Yokozuna, only for Hogan to then face and beat the latter soon afterward to claim the title once more.<ref>''Wrestlecrap'', discussing the changed ''Wrestlemania IX'' finish and the subsequent ''SummerSlam'' plans. Retrieved 01 May '21</ref>


Nevertheless, the WWF was still interested in having Hart be champion. It was claimed in ''Wrestlecrap'' and ''The Death of WCW'' that McMahon decided on the title switch providing Hogan agreed to lose to Hart at ''SummerSlam'' and essentially "pass the torch" to the younger wrestler.<ref>''The Death of WCW'', discussing the plans for Hogan to drop the belt to Hart at ''SummerSlam''. Retrieved 1 May '21</ref> According to Hart's autobiography ''Hitman: My Real Life in the Cartoon World of Wrestling'', on 24th May that year, he was summoned to Halifax in order to promote the match. There, a photoshoot was conducted, featuring Hart and Hogan having a mock tug of war with the WWF belt in-between.<ref>''Hitman: My Real Life in the Cartoon World of Wrestling'', where Hart discusses the photoshoot, and the changing SummerSlam plans. Retrieved 1 May '21</ref> This account was supported by WWF executive Bruce Pritchard in his podcast ''Something to Wrestle with Bruce Prichard''.<ref>[https://youtu.be/7uvSyzK96BE ''Something to Wrestle with Bruce Prichard'' clip where Pritchard supports Hart's claims about the photoshoot and changed SummerSlam plans.] Retrieved 1 May '21</ref> Hart also claimed he was to win the encounter via submitting Hogan with his signature move, the Sharpshooter. He stated that McMahon called him on 29th May to inform Hart he was winning the title back, and that Hogan would be used as a special attraction for future shows.
Nevertheless, the WWF was still interested in having Hart be champion. It was claimed in ''Wrestlecrap'' and ''The Death of WCW'' that McMahon decided on the title switch providing Hogan agreed to lose to Hart at ''SummerSlam'' and essentially "pass the torch" to the younger wrestler.<ref>''The Death of WCW'', discussing the plans for Hogan to drop the belt to Hart at ''SummerSlam''. Retrieved 01 May '21</ref> According to Hart's autobiography ''Hitman: My Real Life in the Cartoon World of Wrestling'', on 24th May that year, he was summoned to Halifax in order to promote the match. There, a photoshoot was conducted, featuring Hart and Hogan having a mock tug of war with the WWF belt in-between.<ref>''Hitman: My Real Life in the Cartoon World of Wrestling'', where Hart discusses the photoshoot, and the changing SummerSlam plans. Retrieved 01 May '21</ref> This account was supported by WWF executive Bruce Pritchard in his podcast ''Something to Wrestle with Bruce Prichard''. Hart also claimed he was to win the encounter via submitting Hogan with his signature move, the Sharpshooter. He stated that McMahon called him on 29th May to inform Hart he was winning the title back, and that Hogan would be used as a special attraction for future shows.


==Cancellation of feud==
==Cancellation of Feud==
Ultimately, the match never materialised. The reasoning behind the feud's cancellation is disputed. In 2018, Hogan claimed that he was still drawing huge money for the WWF and that Hart's era was yet to begin.<ref>[https://thesportsdaily.com/2018/12/24/hulk-hogan-reveals-why-he-refused-to-lose-against-bret-hart-in-wwe-tfs11/ ''The Sports Daily'' article containing Hogan's explanation for why the feud did not occur, as well as mentioning Hogan and Hart facing each other in ''World Championship Wrestling''.] Retrieved 1 May '21</ref> However, Hart wrote in his autobiography that McMahon had called him ten days after the 29th May call to inform Hart that Hogan did not believe Hart was in his league, and thus was refusing to drop the title to him. Meanwhile, Pritchard stated Hogan felt there was more money to be made in a re-match against heel (bad guy) Yokozuna, a 500lb "monster" wrestler, while also disliking the concept of a babyface (good guy) vs babyface encounter.  
Ultimately, the match never materialized. The reasoning behind the feud's cancellation is disputed. In 2018, Hogan claimed that he was still drawing huge money for the WWF and that Hart's era was yet to begin.<ref>[https://thesportsdaily.com/2018/12/24/hulk-hogan-reveals-why-he-refused-to-lose-against-bret-hart-in-wwe-tfs11/ ''The Sports Daily'' article containing Hogan's explanation for why the feud did not occur, as well as mentioning Hogan and Hart facing each other in ''World Championship Wrestling''.] Retrieved 01 May '21</ref> However, Hart wrote in his autobiography that McMahon had called him ten days after the May 29th call to inform Hart that Hogan did not believe Hart was in his league, and thus was refusing to drop the title to him. Meanwhile, Pritchard stated Hogan felt there was more money to be made in a re-match against heel (bad guy) Yokozuna, a 500lb "monster" wrestler, while also disliking the concept of a babyface (good guy) vs babyface encounter.  


Ultimately, Hogan would go on to face and lose to Yokozuna at 1993's ''King of the Ring'' pay-per-view, and would depart the WWF soon afterwards. Yokozuna would instead defend the belt against Lex Luger at the ''SummerSlam'' pay-per-view, while Hart would begin a long-term feud with Jerry Lawler at the event.<ref>[https://cultaholic.com/posts/bret-hart-s-5-greatest-wwe-rivalries ''Cultaholic'' article summarising Hart's feud with Jerry Lawler.] Retrieved 1 May '21</ref> Hart would eventually reclaim the WWF Championship by beating Yokozuna at ''Wrestlemaia X''.<ref>[http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wwf/mania.html#X ''Pro Wrestling History'', listing the ''Wrestlemania X'' results.] Retrieved 1 May '21</ref> Ultimately, Hart and Hogan would never face each other in the WWF, but they would later feud together in rival company ''World Championship Wrestling''.
Ultimately, Hogan would go on to face and lose to Yokozuna at 1993's ''King of the Ring'' pay-per-view and would depart the WWF soon afterward. Yokozuna would instead defend the belt against Lex Luger at the ''SummerSlam'' pay-per-view, while Hart would begin a long-term feud with Jerry Lawler at the event.<ref>[https://cultaholic.com/posts/bret-hart-s-5-greatest-wwe-rivalries ''Cultaholic'' article summarising Hart's feud with Jerry Lawler.] Retrieved 01 May '21</ref> Hart would eventually reclaim the WWF Championship by beating Yokozuna at ''Wrestlemania X''.<ref>[http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wwf/mania.html#X ''Pro Wrestling History'', listing the ''Wrestlemania X'' results.] Retrieved 01 May '21</ref> Ultimately, Hart and Hogan would never face each other in the WWF, but they would later feud together in rival company ''World Championship Wrestling''.


==Availability==
==Availability==
Because the feud never materialised, the promotional photos featuring Hogan and Hart were not publicly released. It is possible they still remain within the vaults of the renamed ''World Wrestling Entertainment'', but ultimately they have yet to have been showcased by the company.
Because the feud never materialized, the promotional photos featuring Hogan and Hart were not publicly released. It is possible they still remain within the vaults of the renamed ''World Wrestling Entertainment'', but ultimately they have yet to have been showcased by the company.


==Gallery==
==Gallery==
{{Video|perrow  =1
{{Video|perrow  =2
   |service1    =youtube
   |service1    =youtube
   |id1          =7uvSyzK96BE
   |id1          =7uvSyzK96BE
   |description1 =Bruce Prichard's account of the photoshoot and SummerSlam plans.
   |description1 =Bruce Prichard's account of the photoshoot and SummerSlam plans.
  |service2    =youtube
  |id2          =zsuel6c6xjU
  |description2 =Diamond Joe video of the incident.
}}
}}
==See Also==
*[[AJ Styles vs Kenny Omega (lost footage of professional wrestling match; 2006)]]
*[[Alberto Del Rio vs CM Punk vs Dolph Ziggler vs Jack Swagger vs John Cena (partially found master tape footage of untelevised Hell in a Cell match; 2011)]]
*[[Awesome Kong vs Melissa Anderson (lost footage of professional wrestling match; 2009)]]
*[[Bill Longson vs Whipper Billy Watson (lost footage of professional wrestling match; 1947)]]
*[[Blood Circus (partially found Santo Gold film; 1985)]]
*[[Braden Walker's "Knock Knock" promo (lost original pre-tapes of WWE backstage segment; 2008)]]
*[[Bradshaw vs Christian (lost footage of professional wrestling match; 2001)]]
*[[Bret Hart vs Tom Magee (found untelevised professional wrestling match; 1986)]]
*[[Catch-As-Catch-Can Wrestling (lost early BBC televised professional wrestling matches; 1938-1939; 1946-1947)]]
*[[Celebrity Wrestling (partially found ITV professional wrestling reality show; 2005)]]
*[[Chowdaheads (partially found unaired professional wrestling cartoon show; 1999)]]
*[[Collision in Korea (found professional wrestling event in North Korea; 1995)]]
*[[Collision in Korea wrestler sketches (lost North Korean pencil sketch portraits of professional wrestlers; 1995)]]
*[[Cultaholic (lost debut video of professional wrestling YouTube channel; 2017)]]
*[[ECW Anarchy Rulz (lost build of cancelled Nintendo 64 port of professional wrestling game; existence unconfirmed; 2000)]]
*[[ECW at E3 2000 (partially found footage of professional wrestling at gaming trade event; 2000)]]
*[[ECW Hardcore TV final episodes (lost episodes of Professional Wrestling Show; 2001)]]
*[[FMW at E3 2000 (partially found footage of professional wrestling at gaming trade event; 2000)]]
*[[The Game (partially found Disturbed cover of professional wrestling theme song; mid 2000s)]]
*[[GFW Amped (partially found unaired professional wrestling show; 2015)]]
*[[The Giant's moonsault (lost footage of professional wrestling move; existence unconfirmed; 1990s)]]
*[[Girls Gone Wild: Live from Spring Break (found WWE/Girls Gone Wild crossover special; 2003)]]
*[[GLOW (lost unfinished final season of Netflix comedy-drama series; 2019-2020)]]
*[[Goldberg's pre-television debut matches (lost footage of professional wrestling dark matches; 1997)]]
*[[Gotch-Hackenschmidt Match Film (lost world championship match; 1908)]]
*[[Gotch-Hackenschmidt Match Film (lost world championship match; 1911)]]
*[[Jake "The Snake" Roberts DDTs Hulk Hogan (lost Snake Pit segment; 1986)]]
*[[Johnny Gargano vs Velveteen Dream (lost footage of alternate finish to professional wrestling match; 2019)]]
*[[Kurt Angle vs Owen Hart (lost footage of professional wrestling match; 1999)]]
*[[The Last Battle of Atlanta (found untelevised professional wrestling steel cage match; 1983)]]
*[[Lita's training matches (partially found training videos of professional wrestler; late 1990s-2000)]]
*[[Low Ki & Mercury vs Ric Blade & TCK (partially lost footage of hardcore wrestling tag team match; 2000)]]
*[[Mark Jindrak in Evolution (partially found unaired vignettes of professional wrestling stable; 2003)]]
*[[Pat Tanaka vs Rocco Rock (lost footage of "Body Count" professional wrestling match; 1993)]]
*[["Plane Ride From Hell" (lost photographs of drunk wrestler incidents; 2002)]]
*[[Radio WWF (lost professional wrestling radio show; 1993-1994; late 1990s-2000)]]
*[[Screwed: The Bret Hart Story (lost unfinished wrestling documentary film; 2005)]]
*[[Sex University (lost WWE webshow; 2006)]]
*[[Shin Nihon Pro Wrestling Gekitou Densetsu (lost build of unreleased Virtual Boy wrestling game; 1995)]]
*[[Strange Kentucky People (lost recording of Chris Jericho "tribute"; 1994)]]
*[[TNA Impact! 2 (lost build of unfinished professional wrestling game; 2009)]]
*[[WCW 2000 (lost work on unfinished PlayStation 2 game; 2000)]]
*[[WCW All Nighter (partially lost professional wrestling compilation show; 1994-1995)]]
*[[WCW Classics (partially found professional wrestling compilation show; 2000-2001)]]
*[[WCW Internet-only Special Events and PPVs (lost audio streams; 1997-1998)]]
*[[WCW/nWo Live (lost build of cancelled PlayStation professional wrestling game; 1998)]]
*[[WWE 24x7 (lost professional wrestling compilation show; 2007)]]
*[[WWE Brawl (lost build of cancelled fighting game based on professional wrestling; 2012)]]
*[[WWE Crush Hour (lost build of cancelled Xbox port of vehicular combat game; 2002)]]
*[[WWE SmackDown vs Raw Online (lost build of cancelled online professional wrestling PC game; 2010-2011)]]
*[[WWE Wrestlemania 36 (lost footage of alternate finishes to professional wrestling matches; 2020)]]
*[[WWF Attitude (lost professional wrestling recap show; 2001-2002)]]
*[[WWF Backlash (non-existent unfinished Nintendo 64 professional wrestling game; 2001)]]
*[[WWF Excess (partially found professional wrestling talk show; 2001-2002)]]
*[[WWF In Your House 8: Beware Of Dog (partially found untelevised professional wrestling matches; 1996)]]
*[[WWF Livewire (partially found professional wrestling recap and talk show; 1996-2001)]]
*[[WWF No Mercy (lost Game Boy Color games based on Nintendo 64 wrestling game; 2000)]]
*[[WWF Shotgun (partially found July to December season of syndicated wrestling show; 1997)]]
*[[WWF Xperience (found pay-per-view event footage; 1996)]]


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 15:17, 26 February 2022

Bretharthulkhogan1.jpg

Bret Hart facing off against Hulk Hogan.

Status: Lost

The 1993 SummerSlam was a professional wrestling pay-per-view show held by the promotion World Wrestling Federation (WWF). The main event featured WWF champion Yokozuna defending his title against Lex Luger.[1] However, during the months leading up to the event, the main event plans were very different. Originally, Hulk Hogan was to have been the WWF champion, defending against Bret Hart, as evidenced by a promotional photoshoot both wrestlers were involved in.

Background

By 1992, Hulk Hogan had long established himself as the top star in professional wrestling. However, with a steroid scandal involving Hogan and the WWF looming,[2] Hogan attempting to succeed in a film acting career, and WWF owner Vince McMahon looking to appeal to a new generation of fans, younger wrestlers were being pushed into the main event scene. Among them was Bret Hart, who won his first WWF Championship on 12th October 1992 by defeating Ric Flair.[3] Hart was originally set to face and successfully defend his belt against Yokozuna at Wrestlemania IX. However, plans changed, with some claiming that Hogan, who competed at the event alongside Brutus Beefcake against defending World Tag Team Champions Money Inc., convinced McMahon that he should be the world champion. Therefore, Hart was then booked to lose to Yokozuna, only for Hogan to then face and beat the latter soon afterward to claim the title once more.[4]

Nevertheless, the WWF was still interested in having Hart be champion. It was claimed in Wrestlecrap and The Death of WCW that McMahon decided on the title switch providing Hogan agreed to lose to Hart at SummerSlam and essentially "pass the torch" to the younger wrestler.[5] According to Hart's autobiography Hitman: My Real Life in the Cartoon World of Wrestling, on 24th May that year, he was summoned to Halifax in order to promote the match. There, a photoshoot was conducted, featuring Hart and Hogan having a mock tug of war with the WWF belt in-between.[6] This account was supported by WWF executive Bruce Pritchard in his podcast Something to Wrestle with Bruce Prichard. Hart also claimed he was to win the encounter via submitting Hogan with his signature move, the Sharpshooter. He stated that McMahon called him on 29th May to inform Hart he was winning the title back, and that Hogan would be used as a special attraction for future shows.

Cancellation of Feud

Ultimately, the match never materialized. The reasoning behind the feud's cancellation is disputed. In 2018, Hogan claimed that he was still drawing huge money for the WWF and that Hart's era was yet to begin.[7] However, Hart wrote in his autobiography that McMahon had called him ten days after the May 29th call to inform Hart that Hogan did not believe Hart was in his league, and thus was refusing to drop the title to him. Meanwhile, Pritchard stated Hogan felt there was more money to be made in a re-match against heel (bad guy) Yokozuna, a 500lb "monster" wrestler, while also disliking the concept of a babyface (good guy) vs babyface encounter.

Ultimately, Hogan would go on to face and lose to Yokozuna at 1993's King of the Ring pay-per-view and would depart the WWF soon afterward. Yokozuna would instead defend the belt against Lex Luger at the SummerSlam pay-per-view, while Hart would begin a long-term feud with Jerry Lawler at the event.[8] Hart would eventually reclaim the WWF Championship by beating Yokozuna at Wrestlemania X.[9] Ultimately, Hart and Hogan would never face each other in the WWF, but they would later feud together in rival company World Championship Wrestling.

Availability

Because the feud never materialized, the promotional photos featuring Hogan and Hart were not publicly released. It is possible they still remain within the vaults of the renamed World Wrestling Entertainment, but ultimately they have yet to have been showcased by the company.

Gallery

Bruce Prichard's account of the photoshoot and SummerSlam plans.

Diamond Joe video of the incident.

See Also

References

  1. Wrestling Recaps discussing the main event between Yokozuna and Lex Luger. Retrieved 01 May '21
  2. New York Times issue reporting on Hogan and other WWF stars being involved in a steroid trial. Retrieved 01 May '21
  3. Wrestling Recaps discussing Hart's win over Ric Flair for the WWF Championship. Retrieved 01 May '21
  4. Wrestlecrap, discussing the changed Wrestlemania IX finish and the subsequent SummerSlam plans. Retrieved 01 May '21
  5. The Death of WCW, discussing the plans for Hogan to drop the belt to Hart at SummerSlam. Retrieved 01 May '21
  6. Hitman: My Real Life in the Cartoon World of Wrestling, where Hart discusses the photoshoot, and the changing SummerSlam plans. Retrieved 01 May '21
  7. The Sports Daily article containing Hogan's explanation for why the feud did not occur, as well as mentioning Hogan and Hart facing each other in World Championship Wrestling. Retrieved 01 May '21
  8. Cultaholic article summarising Hart's feud with Jerry Lawler. Retrieved 01 May '21
  9. Pro Wrestling History, listing the Wrestlemania X results. Retrieved 01 May '21