Ex-WWE star only landed big role due to Hulk Hogan friendship, Bruce Prichard says
Bruce Prichard worked behind the scenes when Hulk Hogan received an unlikely WWE tag team partner in 1989. The current creative team member recently recalled how he disagreed with Vince McMahon's decision to pair Hogan up with Brutus Beefcake.
Beefcake and Hogan were close friends in real life when they defeated Randy Savage and actor Zeus at SummerSlam 1989. The same match took place later in the year to promote the No Holds Barred wrestling movie, with Hogan's team winning again.
On Something to Wrestle, Prichard used Beefcake's inclusion in the storyline to highlight how McMahon sometimes approved head-scratching booking ideas:
"Wasn't a fan at all of Beefcake and Hogan as the team to face Savage and Zeus. It just came out of nowhere because Beefcake was Hulk's buddy. Frankly, I would have preferred the one-on-one [between Hogan and Zeus] with Savage in the corner and then built to whoever it is that we could have gotten. I would have rather had Tugboat, frankly, than Beefcake at that point." [2:01 – 2:40]
Beefcake and Hogan also teamed up in 1993 to face IRS and Ted DiBiase Sr. in a losing effort at WrestleMania 9.
Bruce Prichard reveals alternative Hulk Hogan idea
While Hulk Hogan was the main star in No Holds Barred, the movie also featured wrestlers including Bill Eadie, Jesse Ventura, and Stan Hansen.
Bruce Prichard added that WWE's higher-ups seriously considered recruiting Hansen to feature in the 1989 storyline instead of Brutus Beefcake:
"There was also talk about Stan Hansen coming in and working a program with Hulk Hogan. That never happened, never materialized. I don't think that ever got past the talking stages, but if you're talking about a 'What if?' scenario. What if Stan Hansen had come in and Stan Hansen had been the partner of Hulk Hogan?" [4:37 – 5:01]
Hansen is widely viewed as one of the toughest wrestlers of all time. Although the 2016 WWE Hall of Famer also wrestled in America, he is best known for his work in Japan.
What are your thoughts on McMahon's booking of Hogan in 1989? Hit the discuss button and let us know.
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