“Did They Draw the Numbers of Hulk Hogan?”: AEW Commentator Weighs In on the Hulkster’s Popularity Amid Feud Between Two WWE Hall of Famers

WWE Hall of Famer, Eric Bischoff started off a feud with legendary pro wrestler Ric Flair after making a comment that didn’t sit well with the latter. Things got heated after Bischoff downplayed The Four Horsemen and relegated them to ‘regional draw’ status. Flair, who was part of the legendary stable, shot back in his own flamboyant style. Meanwhile, one of Flair’s longtime rivals, Hulk Hogan, got dragged into this controversy.

After days of firing salvos at each other, Bischoff has decided to relent. But a top wrestling commentator, who’s privy to the bygone eras, has weighed in on the debate.

Sharing his thought on the feud, AEW commentator Tony Schiavone has said that both Bischoff and Flair are “full of s**t”. Last year, the former General Manager of Raw said that he had hired Hulk Hogan as the “WCW couldn’t make any money” with The Nature Boy. In the same podcast, he also made the bold claim about Flair’s stable, hinting at Hogan’s prowess as a top draw.

When asked about the comparison, Schiavone stated the Horsemen were certainly draws, but he wasn’t sure if they matched the numbers done by The Immortal One.

“Now did they draw the numbers of Hulk Hogan? I don’t know.”

“To say that the Horsemen were as big as Hulk Hogan, of course, they weren’t,” he said.

The Nature Boy had called Bischoff “an arrogant p**ck”, who “f**ked” him up every time he turned around. For the unversed, Flair and Bischoff have had some tough exchanges since the 90s. In 1998, Flair had a lawsuit filed against him by Bischoff, which saw the former being put off television for five months.

Hulk Hogan accesses his popularity

The Hulkster may not have as many titles as Flair, but the 2x Hall of Famer is arguably the most famous pro wrestler of all time. His 24-inch pythons and tall frame made him superior to many of his contemporaries. Like Flair, Hogan too was part of a stable- nWo, considered one of the best groups to have graced the pro wrestling world.

Consider a heel torturing Dwayne Johnson in the worst way possible, and still getting cheered by the crowd. You have to be a fan favorite to pull off the heist, and Hulk Hogan was just that. There aren’t many wrestlers who have been cheered over Johnson, but Hogan was different.

During their epic match in 2002, Hogan hit The Rock in the head with a hammer. He then put him in an ambulance and chains around the vehicle. Further, he drove a semi-truck and ran over the ambulance. The result? The crowd went wild and cheered for The Immortal One.

During a recent interview, the 12x world champion said his Hollywood gimmick, who fought The Rock, was “very, very powerful”. There is no doubt that if this had been someone else, the crowd would have surely booed the wrestler. But as Schiavone said, “There are not many people in this business who have been as big as Hulk Hogan.”

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Meanwhile, Flair has mended his ties with Hulk Hogan after years of rivalry. He recently gave an update about the status of their friendship and said they are better friends now.

The two connected after the demise of Reid, Flair’s son.

Bischoff loves Ric Flair

Despite the harsh exchange of words, Eric Bischoff has expressed his affection towards the 16x world champion. “I have a lot of affection for Ric, I don’t know why, but I love Ric,” he told Chris Van Vliet during a recent interview.

The former Raw General Manager expressed his interest in solving the issue with Flair by having a ‘face-to-face conversation’.

Even though things look ugly between the two at the moment, The Nature Boy once appreciated Bischoff’s concern after the passing of Reid Flair. However, he had stated that the two wouldn’t be the best of friends.

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While Bischoff is among one of the most divisive figures in the history of the sport, one cannot overlook his contributions. Similarly, Flair’s flamboyance brought fans much joy. Let’s hope that the two reunite for the sake of pro wrestling. As for Hulk Hogan, one surely wouldn’t mind if the Hulkster goes one-on-one with The Nature Boy.