In a world where the boundaries of reality are slightly skewered, the realms of professional wrestling and Hollywood boxing come to an epic crossroads as the ultimate fantasy match comes to be…Hulk Hogan vs. Rocky Balboa. No folks, we aren’t talking about an exhibition charity match against Thunderlips that ultimately ended in a draw, we are talking about the Hulkster entering the squared circle against the Italian Stallion.
Set in the iconic Madison Square Garden, an arena made perfect for the iconic clash between two cultural icons, the atmosphere in New York City is electric.
Hulk Hogan, a larger-than-life WWE heavyweight champion, stands in one corner, clad in his trademark red and yellow ring gear, flexing his 24-inch pythons. In the other corner, with a significant height and weight disadvantage but a never-say-die attitude and the heart of a true underdog turned "The People's Champion" (shout out to The Rock) stands Rocky Balboa, a symbol of resilience and determination.
Following introductions by Michael Buffer, the two warriors with obviously contrasting fighting styles slowly approach each other in the middle of the ring. As the capacity crowd cheers both men, the two combatants engage in a war of words. Pandering to the crowd as only the Hulkster does, Hogan tries to intimidate Balboa with his signature flexing and showmanship. Unfazed by the theatrics, Rocky remains stoic with his focus strictly on the task at hand.
As the two men separate, Hogan’s early strategy focuses on using his overwhelming strength to outmuscle Balboa. With a series of power moves, Hogan attempts to showcase his dominance, but thanks to some quick footwork and reaction skills, Balboa’s boxing instincts allow him to dodge and weave by most of Hogan’s attempts.
Being that he is more of a power wrestler than finesse, relying on clubbing blows, clotheslines, and big kicks, Hogan found himself in trouble early in the match as Balboa began to land a series of quick jabs and body shots, trying to wind his towering opponent. Rocked by a classic Balboa left hook, Hogan would stumble into the ring ropes, showing signs of fatigue.
Unaccustomed to facing an opponent with a spirit of Balboa’s, Hogan finds himself on the receiving end of a relentless attack of left hooks and body shots, tipping the scale in favor of the boxing champ. A product of the scripted world of professional wrestling, Hogan struggles to adapt to the unpredictable, unchoreographed nature of a boxing match.
Backed by most of the soldout crowd, it appeared that The Italian Stallion was on the verge of pulling off the impossible. However as fans were accustomed to, Hogan soon tapped into his reservoir of energy, fueled by the Hulkamaniacs. Despite the continued body shots, Hogan began “hulking up” becoming impervious to anything that Balboa was throwing at him.
Turning the tide of both the crowd and the match in his favor, Hogan would hit Balboa with a flurry of headshots and a powerful bodyslam, before whipping him into the ropes for his trademark big boot and leg drop finishing combo. Unlike countless of Hogan’s opponents who succumbed to the onslaught, Balboa would kick out of the pinning attempt at the last second, sending shockwaves of awe through the arena.
Visibly exhausted, both men attempt to trade final blows as every person in attendance is on their feet, knowing that they are witnessing history. Summoning one last Herculean effort, Balboa, on wobbly legs, connects with one final thunderous left hook that sends The Hulkster crashing to the mat.
“One! Two! Three!
In this fantasy world of speculation, the showdown pitting the underdog boxer from the streets of Philadelphia against arguably the biggest name in professional wrestling history captured the true essence of sports entertainment. Blending the theatrics of professional wrestling with the raw intensity of the sweet science of boxing, this once-in-a-lifetime spectacle would leave fans talking about this epic encounter for years to come.