Eric Bischoff SHOOTS On If Bobby Heenan SPOILED nWo Surprise!

Eric Bischoff speaks exclusively to Inside The Ropes about whether or not Bobby Heenan spoiled the surprise of the nWo forming as Hulk Hogan ran down the ramp in WCW! Subscribe to the channel for more clips of our live shows and interviews, and don't forget to like and comment too!
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#ericbischoff #hulkhogan #bobbyheenan

[@InsideTheRopes]

Did Bobby make the right call on commentary? Let us know in the comments below!

[@hitfan2000]

Of course he did. It was always consistent with Heenan's character that he would hate on Hulk Hogan. The entire controversy is just something that was manufactured by the internet fans. Moreover, Heenan wasn't told that Hulk Hogan was about to turn into a bad guy.

[@SupaNatural28]

Yea he did. Like bischoff said "out of the 1000 times he said that about Hogan, he was right once". 😂😂😂😂. If you listen to Bobby over the years against Hogan, he always said something like that. Heenan's heel character never liked Hogan.

[@65if2007]

I don't know that he didn't inadvertently give it away, but if he didn't know, he can't be blamed for it. Hogan as NWO heel did go way over, so certainly, there was no adverse long-term effect.

[@billywhitewolf]

What Heenan said just made sense. Nash and Hall had a third guy who hadn't shown up and why would Sting, Luger, and Savage need more help when it was already 3 on 2? It would've been better in hindsight had he not said it but it made sense for him to say it.

[@patrickperalta59]

Heenan's character has always hated Hogan..so to question why Hogan is out there who's side he was on was the right thing for him to do.......I was not suprised when Hogan came out and turned Hell at the time I was one of few fans who knew hogan was a heel at start of his career. I had read about his history years earlyer. plus the Heenan character hated Hogan... what was a bit of a suprise at the time was Heenan still hateing Hogan dispite his heel turn......any other face wrestler who turned heel Heenan would go from hateing them to cheering them for the heel turn Heenan didn't do that with Hogan. he still in character hated Hogan.

[@marcespinoza6068]

For anyone whos ever listened to Heenan on commentary this call was normal for him. Heenan hates Hogan and made calls like this all the time in WWF, he would question Hogan's actions all the time and Gorilla Monsoon would always reply with "will you be serious"!

[@wanmanrmy]

Exactly, people totally missed that. They should have had Heenan gloat a bit (“I told you all he was no good for years” etc.) to make it more obvious but other than that it was solid logically.

[@SupaNatural28]

People who haven't listen to him in WWF wouldn't think of that. He was the heel color commentator. He said thst about every face in WWF and WCW.

[@IHateNicolasCage]

“Will you stop!”

[@mermaidmeeple1608]

Yep. Him NOT saying that would’ve given it away

[@MatsThyWit]

This is the exact kind of call that would have gotten a big "Are you kidding me?!" Or "Will You Stop?!" from Gorilla Monsoon back in the day. This is what Bobby did. To me that actually completely sells the moment.

[@mrjayshah]

The fact that Bobby was preaching against Hogan heavily for that preceding decade+ makes his words prophetic in retrospect. It helped set the stage for how staggeringly surreal Hogan's presence in black and white proved to be. Heenan was perfect.

[@DrugzMunny]

Heel commentators always paint the babyfaces as heels. And in pro wrestling, ultimately most of the heels and babyfaces switch sides at some point. So this sort of "prophecy" is bound to happen over and over if you're allowing it a 10-year timeline.

[@mrjayshah]

@@DrugzMunny True, especially now when you have more frequency in babyface-to-heel turns (and vice-versa). Certainly at that time, Hogan turning heel was inconceivable. The prophetic element of it is really in their lengthy history together, even prior to Heenan commentating. Hogan finally showed his true colours to everyone EXCEPT Heenan, who saw it all along. It's hilarious because I was re-watching in 2021 the WCW/nWo boom of 1997. On commentary during one of the Nirtros, I caught Heenan saying in response to Schiavone's lambasting of the nWo during a group beatdown: "I actually like them. I like their style. I just don't like Hogan." Just thorough Hogan hatred, what an amazing thread.

[@aluminumsalmongames6277]

Or in the case of Big Show, it happened once every few months. @@DrugzMunny

[@RyTrapp0]

4D 20/20 hindsight - I like it!!!

[@mrjayshah]

@@RyTrapp0 You can only connect the dots looking backward. Anything that's predictive or prophetic can only be proven so AFTER the event in question has taken place. Heenan seemed completely off-base - until it happened. Which is why, to Eric's point, anyone watching Heenan prior to the turn moment wouldn't have expected it. On another, cooler note, Heenan's antipathy towards Hogan especially during his nWo days really helped make the angle feel that much more real. All the commentators were unified in their hatred of Hogan, even Heenan, who was naturally the heel commentator. No matter your stripes, you hated Hogan, which presumably would help to influence the fan-base as well.

[@nabilmekkaoui1174]

The call didn’t ruin the surprise for anyone. This seems to be something that people have made a bit of a deal about this in the years after but in the actual moment, this was a standard Heenan call and nobody would have thought Hogan was the third man.

[@georgepapoulias3562]

Well said. Can’t believe this keeps coming up. If anything it would’ve seemed suspicious if Bobby wasn’t skeptical of Hogan’s intentions.

[@bobmarshall8527]

Spot on

[@romacechina]

Hindsight bias from people who either forget of Heenan's years of shitting on Hogan or who wasn't there when it happened that no one ever believed Hogan would ever turn heel after being a face for over a decade. Which is why him turning heel was such a big shock and why it's so remembered along with it being the offical start of the NWO.

[@119Agent]

Definitely hindsight bias. Nobody was tipped off by Heenan at the time. It actually helped that Heenan was bashing Hogan seconds before his heel turn.

[@zeromagnum2811]

I did as soon as he came out before Heenan spoke. He came out and i was like, oh shit its Hogan.

[@essj3334]

I remember when Heenan yelled "Yeah but who's side is he on?" It did in the moment make you wonder if Hulk would turn his back on WCW. As Bischoff highlighted the backstory of Heenan/Hulk story from WWF days is he always hated Hulk and always questioned him. Also if you remember after Hulk makes the turn Heenan says something like "What have I been telling you all these years".

[@jeremyhorne1997]

Bobby's commentary was perfect. Because it made him sound like a heel commentator. So when Hogan turned heel, Heenan turned f baby face announcer and became Goldberg's biggest supporter in the announcing booth. It was perfect. It was so perfect that I always thought Heenan knew.

[@mrbransformer4184]

That’s always Bobby’s character. He was always against Hogan.

[@williamsmith8497]

This 'controversy' must've been started by little kids. This was actually Heenan's greatest moment. He had been telling us for over a decade that Hogan was a POS and he was proven right. They should've played that up more. It would actually be strange if Heenan wasn't suspicious.

[@boscopit]

Yeah, I've only seen this issue come up in the last 10 years.

[@ElizaOrlinsStan]

Hogan complained about it in WWE documentaries back in the early 2000s about Heenan almost ruining the biggest WCW angle ever. The influx of podcasts and stuff like that made it more discussed recently. Hogan is the first person I ever heard whine about it

[@williamsmith8497]

@therealyanksup Hogan also complained about Undertaker dropping him on his head when footage shows that's false. He's a self-serving POS (like Bobby always said). I'm not downing the kids, there's no way for them to really understand. They didn't see Heenan take digs at Hogan week after week in two different companies. If you're older than me, add the AWA to that list. That turn happened when I was 19-20. And I can vividly remember listening to Heenan drag Hogan when I wore the zip-up onesie pajamas and couldn't touch the stove 🤣. That's how far back it goes. Completely expected.

[@TeganCantEven]

He even says “what have I been saying all these years?!”

[@creoleDJ]

@@TeganCantEven I loved that part! It’s like he had to regain his composure from the shock of the actual heel turn & get back into his usual “You can’t trust Hogan” mode! 🤣

[@deelove7518]

If you understand the history between Heenan and Hogan going back to the awa days, then you wouldn't have a problem with it. He didn't spoil anything

[@cutekanjii]

Hogan himself said he spolied it

[@deelove7518]

@@cutekanjii and you believe the biggest liar in professional wrestling. The same guy who said taker injured him. 😭😭

[@magilla2282]

​@@deelove7518also the same guy who said he wrestled in front of Elvis when Elvis died before Hogan even started to wrestle.

[@mikebottomlesspitdunham2954]

@@magilla2282 also also the same guy who said that he was the guy WWE put in the ring with Brock Lesnar when he first came back after UFC.

[@oldironsides4107]

I love Bobby but he blew that call.

[@xjp1998]

This is funny as a person who saw all this go down live. The way Bobby went nuts when Hogan turned it was not scripted. For over 9 years Bobby had said Hogan was faking it, and when it happened, he jumped out of his chair screaming that he was right all along. You could never have planned a better story like that to go that long and have it happen the way it did. That was truly a magical moment and you could tell from just how Bobby was talking. It really was Magical.

[@creoleDJ]

I would’ve loved to see cameras on the broadcasters’ faces when it happened! Dusty & Toney’s look of shock, awe & disdain; and Heenan’s “Wow! He really IS the third man after all!” reaction…THAT would’ve been golden!

[@NathanDewey11]

Lol that's perfect, all those years of doubting the sincerity of Hulk paid off hehe

[@PeteSometimesPostsStuff]

They deleted Bobby’s line from one of the WWE DVDs and it really pissed me off. It felt so natural for Bobby to question Hogan. It fit the moment perfectly. Unnecessary removal.

[@creoleDJ]

Huh? Never knew that! Which line did they delete?

[@PeteSometimesPostsStuff]

Originally as hogans walking out, Bobby says “Whose side is he on?” Then Dusty says “what are you talking about?!” I forgot which dvd I was watching, either the nWo dvd produced by wwe or hulk hogan the ultimate anthology. Had to be one of those. Weird ommision.

[@creoleDJ]

@@PeteSometimesPostsStuff oh, okay. Didn’t know that. Doesn’t make sense for the WWE to do that.

[@jeffreymitchell3220]

Eric is such a smart man great respect for him!☠

[@ElwoodBruise39]

Anybody who slanders Bobby Heenan for what he said is clearly under the age of 40. Like Bischoff said, Heenan's questioning of Hogan's motives was a major part of his character for 10+ years. Also, like Bischoff says here, this was the one time Heenan was right. And maybe, just maybe, he had been right all along. That entire sequence, both in and out of the ring, was perfectly executed.

[@neil2905]

loved Schiavone and Heenan in WCW.

[@MrPerfect2000Z]

The answer will always be no...at the time Heenan was always the one to be suspicious of Hogan. Through AWA, WWF and WCW, Heenan always made Hogan out to be less than a hero To me, if Heenan all of a sudden started praising Hogan or would be like "Oh thank god Hogan's here"...I'd be immediately suspicious

[@chuckfriedricegaming8578]

All the way back to the WWF day he always bashe Hogan, lol

[@Hoovie9596]

Well said

[@creoleDJ]

Newscaster: “Here’s footage of Hulk Hogan, being wheeled out on a stretcher, having dived in front of president Reagan to prevent Reagan’s assassination. Let’s hope Hogan has a speedy recovery from this heroic act.” Bobby Heenan: “But why did he REALLY do it? Hogan’s got something up his yellow sleeves! You see, he’s just trying to get on Reagan’s soft side, acting like he saved his life to do something to him later!”

[@adamzullo3624]

Yes and had Heenan Known he was the third man he wouldn’t have accused him. That might’ve tipped me off because Heenan never gave Hogan any credit. By the way, best commentator in wrestling history. He was simply the best.

[@magilla2282]

​@@creoleDJHogan has never had sleeves.

[@user-zm5ic1ul2q]

Bobby Heenan was (in my opinion) one of the greatest wrestling stars. When you look back at the Heenan family in WWF he created more heat than anyone and always made the matches more anticipated. Then when he got behind the desk and was given the time to talk he dropped more one liners than any comic at that time. And still had heat. Is probably the most underrated man for what he brought to the business. For the record, he loved working with Hogan because he made more money than with anyone else

[@Jviix]

I always remember Heenan saying that , and comments on the comment section pointing out Heenan was right , that’s when I started listening to the commentary

[@billwebber400]

God bless Bobby Heenan you are missed sir❤

[@gambitvegeta]

ABSOLUTELY

[@champlainscrap6076]

Bobby saying that makes total sense since he was saying stuff like that since the 80's when it comes to Hogan

[@smyersfishingadventures]

One of the few times I can say I agree with Bischoff 100%. It was exactly how Heenan should have called it. It was in line with his character and his history of questioning Hogan.

[@BrianJamesShanley]

If Hogan was about to save 5 puppies from a burning building, Heenan would comment, “But what’s his angle?”. It’s just how he always spoke of Hogan, as a heel announcer.

[@AlienFrequency]

Heenan was the greatest commentator and manager of all time IMO.

[@Buckyhendersen]

I agree

[@Stubbla]

He was a good wrestler too.....

[@AlienFrequency]

@@Stubbla I've heard that. I guess by the time I started watching, his wrestling days were mostly behind him. What timeframe, company etc would I search on Peacock, if I want to see his matches?

[@SAnd-pd1ou]

Absolutely...and Piper was best with stand up Mic

[@AlienFrequency]

@@SAnd-pd1ou agreed.

[@itsyourlastrolo]

That call was never out of place for Heenan, so nobody batted an eyelid when he said it.

[@korban381]

Bobby Heenan was probably the greatest ever. I thought how that went was perfect with the commentary! I remember watching that as a kid. It was so awesome!

[@sethwetzel974]

I'm so happy to hear you say that Eric. Bobby was the greatest commentator in the history of it all. Period. Mike Tenay is second best.

[@user-pk3zw7mb8w]

Heenen was the GOAT of managers. Top 10 promo too

[@TheHannibalTV]

Bobby was a great commentator

[@keithw43]

I always felt like Heenan had some sort of relief in his voice. He knew for years Hulk was the bag guy. He tried to warn us. Heenan saying that shows he was the only one that truly saw it coming

[@creoleDJ]

So is anyone gonna talk about how Heenan regained his composure enough to come with the “You see?! What have I been telling you humanoids about Hogan for all these years??” or are y’all still convinced he purposely sabotaged the surprise?

[@jamiewiesner135]

The Bobby Heenan "Yeah but whose side is he on?" is one the most memorable commentary calls of all time.

[@jodavey]

You had to know the Heenan mistrust of Hogan their entire Kayfabe careers. Did not surprise me

[@namikstudios]

It's easy to say that Bobby spoiled it when rewatching it now with the knowledge of what actually happens but for live viewers it was different.

[@moik5185]

Heenan hated this format of not being in on the storylines. He liked adding humor to his color commentary, and not having to worry about what was _generally_ gonna happen made that alot easier. It freed his mind to add _color_ as it came to him..

[@drvn8]

True he didn't like it, but it actually worked in his favor. This was an excellent call for Heenan, a shining moment actually.

[@DudeLovesHorror76]

Bobby made the right call, just Heenan's history in WWF alone of talking smack on Hogan. Made it real.

[@L4-295]

‘Real’

[@wastedforever6762]

Everything Bobby Heenan ever said about Hogan was the truth. Lol

[@ant4158]

If you knew the history of Heenan and Hogan, Heenan hated Hogan, he was always against Hulk Hogan, so for Heenan to say "Whose side is he on" isn't a spoiler, it wouldve been more suspect if Heenan said "I would've never thought i'd be happy to see Hogan" at Bash at the Beach

[@stenzel27]

I was 16 years old when Hulk became Hollywood. I was "smart" to the business at this point. I grew up watching Hulkamania run wild. When Heenan made that call it was exciting either way, because I never thought they would pull the trigger on anything like that. I don't think I'm alone when I say that I wanted Hulk to turn heel, but wasn't really sure if it was going to happen. It was literally the biggest event in all of wrestling. For me it wasn't just about that moment, it was about where they were going afterward.

[@mopsandmuscles7855]

Bobby Heenan, Vince McMahon and Gorilla Monsoon were the voices from my childhood watching wrestling in the 80s

[@stenzel27]

Jesse Ventura was pretty great at the desk too

[@onilara4602]

This is the best analogy I’ve heard about any commentary in any sports!

[@desertraider8628]

I remember watching it as a kid and his comment didnt spoil it for me

[@knection1986]

The only ppl who claim this were ppl that never heard Heenan's commentary on Hulk b4 that moment.

[@A.ITakeovers]

There's a lot of guys in the wrestling business that I raise my eyebrows on and don't trust but I can honestly trust eric on almost everything he says that he is one hundred percent telling the truth

[@ej55033233]

Monsoon Voice: GIVE ME A BREAK

[@underpressure07140]

WILL YOU STOP

[@stenzel27]

Right in the occipital protuberance!

[@ironman2326]

2:47 you mean those brass knucks that don't look like brass knucks but we'll call them brass knucks anyway?

[@Georgia_Outlaw_Vinyl]

At almost the same time I said the same thing to my cousin I was watching it with. He gave me a look as if I’d lost my mind.

[@ej55033233]

I thought it added to it. He always thought Hogan was a snake. They had history in main event WWF programs. Can’t pretend that didn’t exist.

[@fttommy]

Exactly this. Bobby was a legend.

[@FuckYoutubeAndGoogle]

You're delusional.

[@2ndlifecustomsAdam4]

J.R and the King were absolutely great together!! BOBBY was probably #1

[@lifeasafanpodcast9529]

What Eric didn't say is Bobby was the funniest guy ever and truly amazing at what he did

[@mitube4u]

I didn't even know this was an issue. To me it was Heenan being Heenan and it was natural hate for Hogan to question which side Hogan was on.

[@troymoitt5248]

Erick is and always was a brilliant guy

[@kevnb3]

Heenan always questioned hogan, all the way back to the 80s. Why would he say anything different? The other announcers should have reacted better though.

[@palaceofwisdom9448]

Heenan had such a great rant afterward, how he had warned everyone for years that Hogan was no good but they called him a weasel and told him to shut up. The moment was his vindication.

[@renafan3333]

Ridiculous. There were 5 minutes left to the show,why else would he be going to the ring? Why did no one ever say Randy Anderson ruined the surprise when he put three fingers up and asked "Are You The 3rd Man?"

[@KeyIntelMedia]

Amazing story

[@jamesbyersmusic]

What I thought ACTUALLY spoiled it somewhat, was "Mean" Gene interviewing Hogan. I think had the PPV ended just with the three of them posing/celebrating in the ring (Still of course with Schiavone's "straight to hell" line) then that would have been a much stronger moment and a fantastic cliffhanger. Then people would have to wait and would WANT much more strongly to hear Hogan "explain himself" on the following Nitro. Having the interview there and then just dilutes the moment somewhat for me.

[@redplanet667]

In a way what really happened that night was Bobby was finally proven right about Hogan, after years and years of being wrong about him he was finally proven right, Hogan finally turning heel really validates Heenan as the only one who “knew all along”

[@azapro911]

Made total sense for Heenan to doubt Hogan's intentions, considering their storyline history. Schiavone immediately cuts him off with "What are you talking about?!", reflecting the audience's expectation that Hulk will save the day again.

[@jamestrivett4910]

Bobby heenan is a wrestling national treasure rip miss him wish we could have him again today's wrestling we have to put up with the like of c Graves who makes rob bucklet look good

[@acerimmer8338]

Bischoff is so right. Commentators should have little to no idea what's going to happen. Make it organic, 'real'.

[@IHateNicolasCage]

Those that think he jumped the call has never really listened to Heenan. He always called people as secretly being heel because he was a heel.

[@FuckYoutubeAndGoogle]

Just because he did it before doesn't mean it was right to do it then.

[@Shizzmoney74]

I liked it when he said, "whose side is he (Hogan) on?". He kinda went back into the WWE "The Brain" mode, with a babyface twist. WWE "The Brain" hated Hogan and always called him a phony, and went Hogan actually went heel to NWO, it made it hilarious when Bobby goes, "Of course he's the 3rd guy! That's who he is!"

[@AJRESH6]

I was there in the moment and it was right on par for questioning Hogan, One... because at the time EVERYONE was a suspect on being the third member. And Two, Bobby was a heel announcer at the time. It is something he would have said. I think it would have been telling if he pretended to believe Hogan was siding with Macho.

[@j.d.6915]

Bobby and Hulk feuded since their days in the AWA, which began in '81, which means for 15 years, Bobby had been ragging on Hulk. Like Eric said, "This time Bobby just happened to be right."

[@FuckYoutubeAndGoogle]

But he could have been right, without saying it beforehand.

[@Trancymind]

The Shockmaster sure did.

[@TheWorstAmy-LegacyAccount]

I wonder if, had Rhodes or Schiavone had said something to the effect of, "Well, even a broken clock is right at least once a day," after the turn, or anything that would in some form acknowledge Heenan's history of casting Hogan in a suspicious light through the previous years, it would absolve Heenan in the eyes of anyone who had a problem with that call. I personally see nothing wrong with it. Besides that, personally, I think the call of the night is Schiavone's sign-off XD "For Bobby 'the Brain' Heenan... for Dusty Rhodes... Gene Okerlund... I dunno... I'm Tony Schiavone - Hulk Hogan, you can go to hell! We're outta here. Straight to hell!" So much disgust and indignance in his voice in that moment!

[@basslife2248]

Nobody is sharper then Bobby Heenan

[@jrichard88]

Exactly. Heenan and Hogan had been on-screen foes since their time in the AWA. Heenan was always questioning Hogan’s motives and painting him as a disingenuous glory hog. So anyone who heard that line that night I don’t think would’ve questioned anything for a second because it was such a well established trope that Heenan hated Hogan.

[@monsterheel4895]

Bobby was just being Bobby. He was a heel announcer.

[@coldworldkel]

Just cuz he’s dead, doesn’t mean he never f’d up. He completely spoiled it for me and a lot of wrestling fans I know.

[@edgarmalone7694]

I remember seeing that and if you think about it; it added to the story. Heenan had always hated Hogan and build the "Heenan Family" to destroy Hogan in WWE. So it seem like Bobby had been right about Hogan all those years when it happen. I mean that was the greatest turn in wrestling history and everyone a part of it played their part well.

[@geraldcooper284]

Heenan and Hogan had a rivalry for 30 years. Heenan would never give Hogan full credit for anything. Asking which side Hogan was on was perfectly in character and in proper context.

[@MeLoNHeAd00]

I loved wcw when eric ran it !

[@SupaNatural28]

People who haven't listened to him in WWF wouldn't think of that. He was the heel color commentator. He said that about every face in WWF and WCW. Vince and Gorilla Monsoon always hit him with (Vince THATS ENOUGH or Gorilla's WILL YOU STOP!!)

[@westyraviz]

Based on Eric Bischoff’s correct assessment of Bobby Heenan’s dislike and antagonistic relationship towards Hulk Hogan, Heenan’s reaction when Hogan was walking out would rather have been “Here’s Hogan trying to make it about him by saving the day…this doesn’t concern him…this is not his business.” But instead he says “But whose side is he on.” I think he either suspected or actually knew what was going to happen. Or are we to believe that Hogan, Hall, or Nash didn’t tell anyone? Or that Sting and Macho Man were in the dark about what would transpire? The reality of life is that the moment you tell a secret to more than one individual, then it’s no longer a secret.

[@AxeDharme]

People keep saying he "spoilt it" because of 1) Hindsight, knowing what would happen 2) Watching it in a vacuum. None of us who were watching the PPV thought for a single second that something was amiss. Heenan doubting Hogan was second nature, it's what he has been doing for over 9 years at that point. The literal reaction was "Whose side is he on? Lmao really Bobby? Isn't it obvious Hogan is here to save the day?"

[@NicholasTryon]

See that’s an issue 2 or 3 days later…. Vince would know immediately or heard it live

[@ganglabesh]

it did take away from the moment, because he was saying what was about to happen

[@Predators--cz2fb]

It as typical Bobby. Nobody thought Hogan was going to turn henceforth why he said it. He’s been a storyline villain of Hulk since the 80’s.

[@sdd619]

The problem with Hogan turning heel. Bobby Heenan became a babyface announcer. I feel Bobby Heenan showing have joined the nWo & started cheering for Hogan on commentary.😊

[@michaelmagyar5785]

No, It was unthinkable at the time that he was the third man and that was on brand for the Brain 😂

[@KrygonTheMaster]

I'm glad Eric cleared that up, Idk why people think Bobby ruined anything. As someone who has been watching since the mid/late 80's (yes im old shutup) Bobby ALWAYS tried to make the good guys look bad. That was just part of his job. And since Hogan was always the super baby face of company back then, Bobby leaned on his commentary that much more. Why stop doing what consistently worked and was part of what made him great?

[@mazzoanV2]

I think that his statement made it more unpredictable. In today's products if the commentators were all saying the same thing that would have given the game away

[@RyanRumbles434]

Heenan hated Hogan in the 80s. I thought nothing of it in 1996. Fit in just fine. 🤣

[@MoneyMac219]

Bobby was being Bobby. He spoke against Hogan his whole career.

[@joeadgie4188]

That was part of his character. It would have been strange if Heenan had praised Hulk Hogan all of a sudden after YEARS of being anti-Hogan in character.

[@schechku19]

Bobby had “it”…every time.

[@hyakushiki9438]

Sounds like people binge watching Nitro on peacock for the first time are giving that criticism. If they would watch 94/95 WCW, let alone older WWF, they would understand this is his thing. If Bobby didn’t say that stuff, that would be suspicious!

[@ElizaOrlinsStan]

I was a 7 year old and that actually added to moment. I watched every show so even at 7 i thought obv the person coming out when there's a 3rd mystery partner that everyone is talking about like huge deal was Hogan when he walked out. Heenan made me think twice.

[@richk1306]

At the time it didn't spoil anything. It made perfect sense considering Heenan/Hogan history. I watched it live and it didn't even register. But today I'd be ok with some revisionist history and cut it out of the streaming version of BATB 96 😂

[@nicktaylor2657]

I don't think it ruined the moment It was a logical question to have since Hall and Nash third man hadn't shown up It was still a shocking moment that changed wrestling forever

[@MikeWh0]

Agreed Bobby was always pushing on Hogan turning heel for anything he did lol, reminds me of when Shawn Michaels kicked Janetty through the glass and Heenan says Shawn never kicked him it was Janetty jumping through it trying to run away lmao

[@phenomblitz8676]

It would have been weird if the Weasel DIDNT doubt Hogan

[@josamaroo]

The best way to put it is Heenan was Wild E. Coyote and Hogan was the Roadrunner. Heenan's whole existence in WWE as a manager was based around chasing Hogan for the championship but always coming up short. Just imagine Paul Heyman managing a heel Brock Lesnar, a heel Roman Reigns, a heel CM Punk and several other top stars all at the same time against a World Champion like John Cena but never legitimately winning the World Championship and that would be Bobby Heenan's entire run in WWE. Yes he did represent Flair when he was the Champion in 92 but the Heenan Family stable was over and Bobby was focused on commentary while also being a consultant to Flair on the side. Mr. Perfect was Flair's manager. And yes Andre won the title with a fake referee that had plastic surgery to look like the real referee but that decision was overturned. Heenan never could beat Hogan when it mattered and everyone knew it so he carried that resentment towards Hogan with him his entire career as a color commentator and always made jabs like that towards Hogan.

[@jamess9623]

Correction, The Andre decision was not overturned. Andre won the world title. Afterwards(which was within minutes) he attempted to sell the title to the Million Dollar Man. That is what was voided and it was ruled that when he attempted to do that he had voluntarily vacated the title. So Andre was the champion, but at the time MDM was acting as his manager not Heenan. MDM had paid Heenan off. On a side note, that angle was great, they got Dave Hebner's twin brother Earl who was also a Ref but for a different promotion to portray the fake doppleganger ref and they end up with two Dave Hebners in the ring at the same time and it was explained as being orchestrated by MDM and his deep pockets.

[@ddcs0s]

You know I've now seen a few different videos where people talk about the formation of the NWO or Hogan turning heel and listen if you're under a certain age you're just not gonna get it ... Hogan was the golden boy back before everyone knew what was going on like imagine for a second that the only thing you understood about wrestling was what the WWE shows you an you watched SuperCena for over a decade an out of nowhere for what seems like no reason at the time he just decided to start doing heel stuff like even if I told you it was gonna happen even if I walked you thru it step by step you would think there's no way hell Cena could be the bad guy ... At the time nobody thought Hogan could be a heel even if you knew what was going on you probably thought Hogan wouldn't do it for the simple fact that Hulkamania was his entire gimmick ... The Hulk heel turn was impossible to spoil it was one of the few times in wrestling history that it didn't matter how much you thought you knew you didn't see it coming again everyone could have told you but until you saw it Hogan was Hulkamania anything other than that was unreal

[@hyperchord]

I watched it at the time and thought nothing of it

[@barfo281]

Corey Graves, despite his many flaws, is the closest we'll ever get to a modern Bobby Heenan announcer.

[@Justin-bo5pg]

Never understood why people thought he spoiled it. That was how he always talked about Hogan for the 15ish years they worked together across 3 companies he always talked about what a terrible person Hulk was.

[@user-qv3dj1pl4f]

I knew when he said it he spoiled it for me

[@unclelloyd]

The only person I've ever heard criticize Bobby for that comment is Hogan himself, who should've been (and probably is) smart enough to know that was just Heenan heeling on him like he always did (as Bischoff notes). Why Hogan would say it the way he did on whatever documentary it was where he basically accuses Heenan of spoiling the moment though is something only Hogan knows. I doubt he truly believes that, but as always, he has a personal agenda behind everything he says.