The Hulkamania Tour of Australia: Hulk Hogan and Ric Flair Invade Brisbane For The Third Show
The busy foyer at the event (Image Credit: New World Video)
As was the case leading into the last show, ticket sales had been down on what they expected so even more 2 for 1 ticket offers were available. Many people were yet again provided with free upgrades if they had bought some of the cheaper tickets.
This is most likely just so the upper levels can be fully curtained off and the floor area looks full for the supposed Hulkamania tour DVD that will be hitting the shelves in the future. In all seriousness, who’s going to buy that?!
Despite the poor ticket sales, however, it seems like Hulkamania merchandise at each venue is flying out the door. The lines at this show were said to be out the door, even though yellow Hulkamania Shirts cost $50…
After the poor turnouts for the previous shows, production costs were said to have been cut way back. This was proven tonight when there wasn’t even a single second of pyrotechnics, even during the entrances. Yeah, that’s really what the fans want. Even less of a spectacle just so Hogan and Flair can line their pockets with money that little bit more.
As the event was getting underway the arena was still less than half full, but still very enthusiastic with lots of people yelling out “Wooo.” Overall it was another bad result for Hulkamania, which probably means a further cut back on production costs in Sydney on Saturday. They’d be better off holding it at a local pub. At least then they might, and I emphasize the word might, get a full house.
Results
“Pimp Fatha†Charles Wright (aka WWE’s Godfather) d. Heidenreich
Wright tried to bribe Heidenreich with some of his hoes at the start of this match, but Heidenreich wouldn’t accept the offer. Instead, he gotbeat down and pinned for the 1, 2, 3. You should have taken the hos, buddy!
Shannon Moore vs. “Spartan 3000″ Matt Cross (aka M-Dogg 20)
This was the third of a three match series for $25,000 with each man having a win under the belt leading into the bout. What was the result? Surprise, surprise, the match went to a time limit draw which means that the pair will be facing off one last time in Sydney. Lots of “Bullshit! Bullshit!” chants were coming from the crowd after the match had ended.
Moore and Cross have been the highlight of the tour from a pure wrestling point of view, so I hope they’re booked in a match type that can really show off their talent.
In regards to the time limit draw, if this is the type of predictable booking that we can expect to see in TNA from now on, then maybe Dixie should reconsider bringing Hogan into the company…
Sean Morley (aka WWE’s Val Venis) d. Nick Dinsmore (aka WWE’s Eugene)
There was a feeling of the ECW One Night Stand 2006 PPV here when Morley threw his towel at a guy in the crowd who threw it right back. The biggest victim of this match, besides the audience, was Dinsmore’s toy Koala that Morley belted. Dinsmore cried and later gave the Koala to the same man in the crowd that had thrown the towel back at Morley.
Kiara Dillion d. Stephanie Pietz and Koa Marie Turner in a Lingerie Contest
These three no namers were purely here as a filler, just like they have been for the tour to date. Dillion won the contest which shortly turned into a brawl that even the ref got involved in.
Ken Anderson (aka WWE’s Mr. Kennedy) & Brutus Beefcake d. Orlando Jordan & Uso Fatu (aka WWE’s Umaga)
Two days ago in Perth, a couple of the matches on the card were Anderson vs. Jordan and Fatu vs. Beefcake. This time around saw the winners of those matches taking on the losers of those matches, and the losers won. I like the way how Hogan likes to make sure everyone gets at least one win during the tour. Hey Hogan, what about Flair?
Brian Lawler (aka WWE’s Grandmaster Sexay) & Solofa Fatu Jr. (aka WWE’s Rikishi) & The Nasty Boys d. Rock of Love (Billy Blade & Kaden Anthony) & Vampire Warrior (aka WWE’s Gangrel) & Black Pearl “The Count of California” in an Elimination Tag Team match
Looks like the Hulkamania tour is trying to capitalize on WWE’s Survivor Series PPV with this match. Yet another sign of Hogan’s poor booking if he does in fact have a hand in that department during his tenure in TNA.
Fatu Jr. was the true sole survivor (unlike in WWE when 3 guys can be called the “sole survivors”) after a match which included The Nasty Boys being disqualified for using weapons and Rock of Love later being counted out. One of the biggest pops of the night was for Fatu Jr. when he was dancing after the win.
Hulk Hogan d. Ric Flair w/ Lacey Von Erich
Will The Nature Boy EVER get a win during this tour?! Yet again Von Erich, who was standing at ringside, was mauled by Jimmy Hart and had some of her clothes taken off. I reckon that if you ask Hogan how to make up for a wrestling event with very little technical wrestling on display his answer would be giving away 2 for 1 ticket offers, showing off half naked women despite having a numerous amount of children in the building, and blading like there’s no tomorrow.
Not even a minute into the bout and Hogan was already “bleeding like a stuck pig.” Then, somewhat similar to the first Hulkamania event in Melbourne, the referee was taken out during the match and Hogan went on to win by “Hulking up” and later clobbering Flair with a megaphone. Yes, you read that correctly, a megaphone.
My overall opinion of this show can be summed up in three small words. Good luck TNA!
Other News
Image Credit: Celebuzz
There’s been one picture that has quickly made the rounds since the last Hulkamania show in Perth. By now most of the TWD readers have read Ray Bogusz’s latest article about Lacey Von Erich and they know how she had her bare ass exposed at the event, but it turns out that she wasn’t the only one.
During the Hulk Hogan vs. Ric Flair main event, Hogan reached up while laid out on the canvas and grabbed the first thing that he could. Unfortunately for The Nature Boy, and the entire crowd in attendance, Hogan had grabbed at Flair’s tights to try and pull himself up which of course pulled the tights down. What ensued was a display that caused several of those in attendance to projectile vomit.
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Overall a good description of the event, but man your a bit Harsh on the Hulkster.
If the event had more good and more known wrestlers on the Card and a proper big named promotion like WWE or TNA and even WCW back in the day then Hogan and Flair headlining would be a big success.
You dont need to bag out Hogan for the tour not being a sell out, afterall its only him and Flair that the people prettymuch pay for.
I don’t think the name of the promotion changes anything. It’s the age of those main eventing that spoils it in my opinion.
I’m only being harsh on Hogan because he would have a big hand in what’s going on during this tour seeing as it’s his name on the line, and if this is what we can expect in TNA then we might see ratings take a hit.
It was largely Hogan’s responsibility to book guys who would be successful on the tour, but he failed to do that and now he’s seeing the repercussions.
If it was up to me then I would have booked Flair and Hogan in the main event each show for nostalgia purposes but have the undercard full of talented and/or recognizable wrestlers. Not guys like Beefcake, The Nasty Boys, Heidenreich, and The Godfather. More matches like Moore vs Cross would have been awesome and a great way for a largely unknown guy like Cross to get over with the fans.
Hmm was an alrite show, not too great, the crowd was so small you could hear this one guy yelling out comments all the time . . hopefully TNA goes better
I think with the right advertising and booking, TNA in Australia will have a huge cult following. It won’t outsell WWE, but it will sure as hell make more people aware of TNA for next time.
I would actually prefer the smaller venues like the Impact zone though because it makes the event seem more personal for those in attendance. At least that way TNA would be guaranteed to have a sellout and those with tickets would be the big fans who make lots of noise, which is exactly what TNA wants.
I’m sure they’re saving the best for last… Go Sydney!!!
Only time will tell. I’d like to think so, but at this point I have a feeling that the first show in Melbourne will be looked back upon as the best of the tour.
I hope they do I paid $360 for what I assumed to be a front row ticket but oh no you can’t choose a seat so I got a seat on the ramp and while slapping hands with the wrestlers is cool the first few times I actually wanted to see the matches with my own eyes not through a video screen which acording to budget cuts may not even make it to sydney at this rate I wanted to see the hulksters match not just his entrance.
I would have thought that they would treat every single person willing to spend that much money as if they were literally made of pure gold. The fact that they didn’t accommodate you with one of the best seats in the house is an absolute travesty and just another reason to add to the huge list of why this tour is a failure.
Thanks Scott for the detailed reviews…Funny about the crowd’s reaction to Flair’s exposed bum! Ha! Perhaps, as your reader said above, that Sydney will be the best show yet!?! Keep hope alive! There have been some highlights throughout the tour and of course lowlights too, however, I’m sure everyone did their best and of course wished for better ticket sales, as who wants to walk into an empty area? Doesn’t look like Flair will come out with a “W” on this tour, if he hasn’t won yet then I don’t see it on the last show of the tour… I hope Sydney closes out the tour sucessfully and the crowd enjoys it! It has been fun reading your reviews and perspective from afar… Continued success… I will await your final review and hope you have fun! That is what it is all about anyway…
I’m sure the old boys in the crowd have enjoyed this tour but as someone who isn’t a fan of wrestling from the 80’s I don’t really find the idea of a coming out of retirement 60 year-old taking on a guy famous for one move that now he can’t perform that exciting.
The only win that I could see Flair getting now is via count out or DQ, but then Hogan would probably tell the ref to start the match again anyway just so the Hulkster can have a clean sweep during his tour.
I’m glad you’ve enjoyed the articles so far. Sydney’s review will be up sometime on Saturday so be on the look out for it!
Nice job of writing, could you be any more bias against hulk hogan. I’m taking a wild guess and saying your not his biggest fan. I’m not his biggest fan either but i’ll admit that you put any other wrestler on a no name card and tour him anywhere in the world they wont draw no one. The fact that hogans drawing 7500-10000 a show and selling his own merchandise is damn impressive. Next time when you write an article can you try not to express your personal opinions so much in the write up.
I’m indifferent when it comes to Hogan. I don’t like or dislike him that much, but based on this tour he’s doing a terrible job.
As for your claim that no other wrestlers could get the numbers that Hogan does with a “no name” card, I think you’ll find that if Flair and Hogan were replaced with John Cena and The Rock or Steve Austin then more people would be walking through the gates. At least then we’d know that the match isn’t dependent on cutting each other open and countless run-ins.
7,500 – 10,000? Where are you getting your information from? They’ve been lucky to draw half that amount of people and that’s with providing 2 for 1 ticket offers.
It’s my personal opinion in this article that separates it from every other recap out there. Without it, you would be reading the same repetitive crap that every other website spews out.
“Next time when you write an article can you try not to express your personal opinions so much in the write up.”
Hi afa
I’m the site’s editor. If I had thought there was some sort of vendetta on the part of Mr. Beeby against Hogan, I’d have dealt with him privately. When (if) that ever becomes an issue, I’ll be the one who deals with it. Then again, I don’t foresee that ever becoming a problem since all Scott has done since joining TWD is be an ace reporter.
Next time, leave the job evaluation to someone who actually *gets* to do it.
Flair, Hogan, the Alimony-Mania Tour with Eric Bishoff as lead henchman for the tour. Both are way over the hill, despite the will and the “body for a man my age†statements. Flair is my all time favortie. Too bad having his pants pulled down in the ring is the current remaining image we will have for him. Sure fun for the fans perhaps, but this is a wrestling ICON, no larger has really existed with the mike skills, passion and athletic ability of Flair. No one can whip a crowd into a frenzy better and more effectively than the Nature Boy. Hogan is a cartoon image of himself, great for the industry but way past his time. Both need to be involved in wrestling outside the ring, and let the new blood shine. To quote FLAIR, “TO BE THE MAN, YOUVE GOT TO BEAT THE MAN†Sadly these days he seems to be beating himslf
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