February 25, 2002 Observer Newsletter: Hulk Hogan vs. The Rock set up for WrestleMania

After a very disappointing PPV show, Hulk Hogan put on his best mic performance of his career while going back-and-forth with The Rock to set up the main event at Wrestlemania. What had at first seemed like a huge match on paper for the biggest show of the year, suddenly became a dream match transcending generations as the two went verbally toe-to-toe before an entranced crowd in Chicago.

The handshake, staredown, and heads toward the camera were reminiscent of the famous face-offs in the recent WWF promotional video, most notably last year’s Austin vs. Rock match, which holds the company’s live gate and the all-time overall revenue records for pro wrestling. Then it got a little silly, as after an attack of Rock by Hogan, Scott Hall and Kevin Nash, he was put in an ambulance. Supposedly Hogan drove a forklift into the ambulance where Rock was locked in, leaving him with unspecified serious injuries in a scene that seemed right out of an action movie.

Current subscribers click here to continue reading.