Hulkamania runs rampantyet again - Mat Matters

IN THIS ISSUE, WE LOOK AT THE future superstars of the WWF. The logic behind the timing was that after the pathetic return of Hulk Hogan and the NWO, the WWF brass would see that the future of the federation was in developing new stars and not bringing back old ones.

Well, while I still believe that the WWF desperately needs to develop a new generation of superstars, it also looks like I was guilty of underestimating the power of Hulkamania. Of course, anyone within earshot last fall also would have heard me expound on how Michael Jordan's NBA comeback with the Washington Wizards would be an embarrassment to the game's greatest player.

It didn't take the WWF long to realize that the fans still love Hogan. Even though the Hulkster's mat skills--which were never considerable, even when he was in his prime--have slipped precipitously and he has little to no endurance, there was no mistaking the cheers of the 68,000-plus faithful who filled Toronto's Skydome for Wrestlemania X-8. The Rock may go by "the People's Champion," but on that night, the Hulkster was "the People's Favorite."

Although a babyface turn for Hogan had to have been in the cards for weeks, the pop Hogan received at the WWF's version of the Super Bowl had to have everyone behind the scenes at the WWF smiling from ear to ear.

Clearly this 2002 version of Hulkamania has a limited shelf life. Still, the WWF has a golden opportunity to utilize the sport's greatest superstar to get over a new class of stars. Let's hope the federation doesn't squander it.