Want more wrestling news, rumors, and results? Be sure to visit PWInsider.com and PWInsiderXtra.com.
One of the biggest sports stories this week is the fact that this Sunday Brett Farve will return to Lambeau Field for the first time in almost two years. The future Hall Of Fame quarterback will go to Green Bay, not as a Packer, but as a Minnesota Viking, looking to defeat his former team for the second time this season (the two teams played once in Minnesota earlier this season). The idea of Farve "going home" as part of the enemy has filled up many a sports column and blog this week, and one of the big angles (arguably the biggest) on the story is the reaction the fans will give him.
Some "experts" have claimed that the Green Bay faithful should cheer Farve for all he has done for the team over the years. As someone who has attended many pro football games, I can tell you that idea is ridiculous. Does Farve deserve cheers for all he did as a Packer? Of course, and he will get those cheers when he goes into the Hall Of Fame, or have his number retired (which probably won't happen until some management changes are made). However, on November 1st, Brett Farve is the enemy, the quarterback for a team that stands between the Packers and hopes of a playoff spot. Respect for Brett is fine. If you don't want to boo, you can be silent, but you don't cheer the opposing team.
Most expect a more "middle of the road" reaction, with Farve getting booed, but not with a large amount of enthusiasm, as the Cheeseheads reserve their energy to cheer on their current quarterback, Aaron Rodgers and the rest of their team. Certainly, it seems this is the more realistic expectation. Packer fans are not known for being classless or crude. Their audience is made up of long-time older fans (and owners) who sit on hard metal benches in ridiculously cold weather to root on their players. This isn't a drunken crowd of young men who see the fourth quarter cut-off on beer sales as a reason to get tanked earlier.
Still, many (especially TV producers) are hoping for a "moment" on Sunday. A huge derogatory chant, shouted out in unison, and directed at Farve. They want fans howling at the quarterback the first time he is sacked or throws an interception. Should Farve throw a touchdown pass, some sports writers will be hoping for the fans to get crazed in their negative response. After all, it makes for a better story. Either way, we will see on Sunday what happens when Farve walks onto the field (and believe me, they will show him walking out, rather than going to commercial).
At this point, you are saying "Hey Buck, what the hell does this have to do with wrestling?" and wondering where Hulk Hogan plays into this. Well, I'm getting to that.
Hulk Hogan has signed with TNA, and in case you've missed the advertisements, he will be appearing on Impact tonight. However, since Impact was already taped in advance, we know Hogan won't be appearing "live" in the Impact Zone. No, the Hulkster won't make his first appearance in front of the TNA faithful until this Monday's Impact taping at Universal Studios in Orlando Florida. And that is where the comparison to Brett Farve comes in. What kind of reaction will Hulk Hogan get from the TNA fans? The answer is not as cut-and-dry as some might want to think.
Let's go back to 2003, when it appeared Hogan would be coming into TNA to feud with Jeff Jarrett (and if you need to be reminded about that, click here). When Jarrett was cutting one of his first promos about Hogan coming into the company to face him, some fans chanted "We Want Hogan" while a large number responded with "No We Don't" even louder. Memories of what Hogan's ego (and infamous "creative control") had done to WCW was still fresh in the minds of many, and they didn't want to see TNA become a springboard for Hogan to elevate his status and make himself more attractive to Vince McMahon for another WWE run. The fans in Nashville didn't want to see him, and they never did.
Now, before anyone says "TNA is a totally different animal" now, let me make it clear that I agree. From a weekly PPV entity running in Nashville, TNA has grown into a legitimate number two promotion in the U.S., with a prime time cable show, monthly PPV events and house shows almost every weekend. The show is now slicker, the roster bigger, and it now tapes television in Orlando at Universal Studios. However, that has not changed the fact that a large portion of the fans that pile into the Impact Zone every few weeks are, for lack of a better term, "smart" fans.
These are fans that pop when a new star debuts that has never been on national television before, but the fans know him from watching his matches on DVD or at independent events. These are fans that "get" all the inside jokes and past references are mentioned during interviews. Are there some theme park patrons that are there just to see some wrestling (and enjoy some air conditioning)? Sure. But a larger, and more vocal portion of the crowd knows what they are watching, and knows what they want (and don't want) to see. Remember when Abyss and Sting had that ridiculous match with the coffin being lowered from the ceiling? The "Fire Russo" chant was louder than anything else that night. If these fans want to dog the Hulkster, they can.
But will they? That's the big question. After all, this is Hulk Hogan, still one of the most beloved stars in the history of wrestling. The name Hulk Hogan means something positive to thousands, and his appearances are something to be cherished by many fans. All the reality shows, bad CD's, horrible publicity and general stupidity hasn't changed the vision of Hulk Hogan to many of those that grew up watching him.
Will the Hulkamaniacs, looking for one more trip down memory lane, drown out the fans who see Hogan as the enemy of good wrestling? Will the devoted TNA fanatics see Hogan as someone who can "get them to the next level" or as the poison that could kill their beloved company? Will fans take the "wait and see" attitude and determine Hogan's intentions before approving or damning him?
When Hulk Hogan walks out in the Impact Zone for the first time, and the music stops, and Hogan speaks on the mic, a lot of people will be listening. However, it isn't Hogan's words that they will be listening for, it will be the reaction of the TNA faithful. The boos, the cheers and the chants.
That's going to be the real story.
You can write me at BuckWrestling@aol.com.
