STW #2: The Mega Powers

Something to Wrestle with Bruce Prichard is an audio podcast that discusses topics, events, wrestlers and memorable moments through the lens of former WWE executive Bruce Prichard co-hosted by Conrad Thompson.
The show was launched in August 2016 on MLW Radio. The episodes typically range from 2 hours to 4 hours in length, and include discussions about previous WWE pay-per-views and former WWE wrestlers.
Whatcha gonna do when Bruce takes you back to the days of the Mega Powers in the WWF? Hulk Hogan and Macho Man teamed up to become one of the biggest attractions in WWF history… only for the explosion of the Mega Powers to create a massive box office event as Hulk chased Macho for the coveted WWF Championship. Learn all about what REALLY happened behind the scenes.
www.Facebook.com/SomethingToWrestle
Don't miss our live shows: www.BoxOfGimmicks.com
Buy a Shirt, Get a Call from Bruce: www.BrucePrichard.com
Save Yourself Some Money: www.SaveWithBruce.com Visit BlueChew.com and get your first shipment FREE when use our special promo code WRESTLE - Just pay $5 shipping! Logos and album art by Dave Silva
All backgrounds licensed by Videoblocks
Videos edited and uploaded by Steve Kaufmann Some copyrighted images may have been curated and altered to create the uniquely transformative piece of content you're watching.

[@TheJollyMisanthrope]

The promos Macho cut on Hogan during their feud are some of the greatest of all time.

[@PLAYA_PLAYZ]

Jolly Misanthrope Randy more or less was rapping in his promos at that time. He was the best rapper alive in the late 80's lol

[@gravewax5892]

This promo war between those 2 was the one that made me love Randy even more and hate Hogan even more... Never was a Hogan fan, but by the time mania 5 came around, I was sick and tired of Hulk beyond belief. I always liked Randy, but mania 4 cemented Randy as one of the greatest ever then. Extremely long story made to just a long story now-- Randy's promos tore hogan's apart! Loved them and rooted for Randy in that match, but as we all know..... Hogan must pose...

[@girthbrooks1740]

The promos were good and all, but they don't hold a candle to Bruce's Macho Man promo, bruce sounds more like macho than macho does

[@michaelfrazia4569]

they were good because there was some real heat...hulks wife was buddies with Liz and I think randy felt she was influential on Liz breaking away from randy at times...randy and hulk always had a love hate relationship

[@tylero4082]

Savage doesn't get the clout he deserves as one of the best Promos of all time, guy was fucking gold with mean gene holding the mic

[@ultimatetruth3046]

1:05:18 I have to say, I never thought there was anything more to that than Hogan passing the torch to Warrior, as Prichard states. It seems a perfectly appropriate gesture in a face vs. face match.

[@kirkwatanabe6012]

Bruce is awesome! I'm an old school fan and remember all these things, including hating "brother love," and it's just so great to hear the first person retrospective is amazing. Thanks to both of you!

[@tommyisaacs6607]

I absolutely loved the Mega Powers but Randy Savage as a single wrestler was my favorite of all time and always will be !! Macho Man is the greatest of all time Period !! Loved you too Bruce as Brother Love :) I love watching all these old wrestling shows Primetime, Superstars of Wrestling, Saturday Nights Main Event, WWF Wrestling Challenge etc, re-watching all these great matches & feuds just reliving my childhood in general makes me feel good inside, makes me feel young again :) Thanks Bruce !!

[@ROSTAFA]

Starts at 4:03

[@hermonymusofsparta]

Not all heroes wear capes

[@Dredsed]

Bruce is an absolute GEM in this business

[@GryphonICD]

This storyline was built so brilliantly. It was my entry point into American wrestling and loved it. Feels these days storylines are either shoehorned or rushed to completion and suffer for it.

[@HereIsWisdom1318]

GryphonICD This was my entry point into wrestling too; WM V is the 1st ppv, I watched. It will always be my favor WrestleMania! Every year, they claim “This is the greatest WrestleMania of all time” or “This is the greatest Super Bowl of all time.” But for me, WM V is it!

[@sgtlegacy7]

I agree with Konrad, the best Wrestling angle the mega powers explode!

[@philliesbob9745]

One of my favorite moments was when The Twin Towers wrestled The Mega Powers and Akeem fell over the top rope.

[@brendanh44]

He fell through the ropes. But all time moment for sure 😂

[@kingrobthegreat7446]

What if-----Savage drops the belt to Dibasie in WM 5, Hulk gets the belt back, Savage wins the 1990 rumble--hulk loses to savage at wm 6 and Macho takes the torch into the 90s. The mega powers never break up. Just curious-----

[@HereIsWisdom1318]

When I hear Bruce do a voice, it makes me think he comes up with and tells every wrestler how to sound.

[@charlessmith48]

Lmfao... Except most of the guys he impersonates, were doing those voices before Bruce was in the WWF!

[@jasonthomas9758]

When Hogan came in on Saturday night main event to save Macho , greatest moment in the history of sports.

[@jaronzennaiter]

I listen just to hear his spot on voice impressions.

[@thedude4672]

The Macho Man was a heel, but he was a very popular heel. You could even say that he was an anti-hero like Stone Cold became in the mid 1990s.

[@IrishCarney]

Most of that was Elizabeth. Without her to provide eye candy and a softening sympathetic part of his image I don't see his heel act getting over nearly as much, especially with the more straightforward audiences of the time.

[@troysmith4507]

He's is anti-hero because there is truth in his antagonism. You can respect how a man would feel about his wife.

[@user-eg4bw6dw1h]

People loved Elizabeth

[@HereIsWisdom1318]

Like Jake the Snake!

[@anthonymartin3975]

In the Steamboat dvd. He had to drop the belt because he wanted time off for his sons birth. That was the start of his being unhappy. But he was in the WWF for another year after that. He was in the tournament in WM 4. Lost to Valentine in the first round. That was another reason for his leaving. He wanted to face Savage again and give him his win back but Vince shut it down and had him lose in the first round.

[@marcbarhausen8132]

Not many of the storylines i enjoyed as kid aged well, but this Megapowers thing is to this day one of the best, if not THE best story, they ever told. It felt so big then, feel so big now. It is told that many of the ideas to that story came right from Elizabeth. What a underrated person this lovely girl was!

[@fins2334]

Warrior was not in RR match 89. He did the pose down with Rick Rude. Nice try Conrad

[@georgex5130]

Greatest story line !

[@HereIsWisdom1318]

15:00-or so. I just watched Hulk Hogan vs Honky Tonk Man on SNME, and Honky was a helluva worker and performer (im 42 and didn’t appreciate him as a kid).

[@MarLenBo]

Honestly, this is storyline began in late 86 with Andre's suspension. They carried it out all the way to late 89. It unfolded seemlessly.

[@cltcwarrior1]

Very well told you guys. I found my new daily listen here. Keep up the great work you two. Love the impressions to.

[@kuma1388]

Best one year program of all time

[@edorisk]

The one that can come close is the Macho King's redemtion. Also a 12 15 months in the making. Also involving Randy Macho Man Savage.

[@maximumeffort2729]

@@edorisk 😅

[@jcmartin1978]

I just found this podcast... I love this

[@ramonestrada1503]

I'm so glad I found this. Macho Man is the GOAT.

[@nealbfinn]

Bruce does a helluva Macho Man impersonation

[@jakelang806]

No Dan Soder does.

[@MRDOZEDOFF420]

With lust in his eyes.

[@HereIsWisdom1318]

Bruce Prichard and I share the same first Wrestlemania!

[@Super122291]

Awwww 🥰 how cute

[@dalehulen8364]

Bruce and Conrad on here showboating and hotdoging !

[@jcb998]

I love Bruce's Macho impression and his American Dream impression

[@josephrauch7241]

At the 44 minute mark is really really funny lol I love that laugh

[@oh_my_pickles1368]

With luuust in his eyyyes >.

[@mrddm3]

Great show!

[@whitecloak11]

I can listen to bruce tell stories forever

[@hideaway7768]

The greatest heel/face/mega face/mega heel angle ever

[@HereIsWisdom1318]

1:06:25 DAMN!!! That WrestleMania run for Macho is insane!!!!

[@Aizenborgman]

love this show loooove it

[@dalynsanders]

Unwarranted hate on HTM. He is a great worker.

[@charlessmith48]

dalyn Sanders...yes absolutely! Conrad is a fucking asshole!

[@jakelang806]

Compared to Flair and Steamboat?

[@kevinbrown4073]

Fabulous Macho man impression from Brother love

[@SteveWallsable]

Bruce is brilliant! ….

[@user-eg4bw6dw1h]

I think Hulk touched Elizabeth @Summerslam. I read somewhere that Vince was trying to get Flair at that time. This was framing the WWF dynasty perfectly! 4 big pay-per-views (Grand Slam style similar to tennis)

[@IrishCarney]

Loved this angle to death back then. Surprised they didn't mention the devaluing of the Macho Man's elbow drop finisher when he landed not one but many on Hogan before the Hulk-up, no-sell, etc. Did I mention my huge crush on Liz? What a great job she did at conveying femininity, vulnerability, class, etc. Somehow even pulling off her skirt didn't make her cheap. Still mad at WCW, Bischoff etc for her nWo heel turn, black boot outfits, etc.

[@HereIsWisdom1318]

IrishCarney Are you confusing Hogan with the Warrior? At WM V, Macho hit 1 elbow. At WM VI, Macho hit 7 elbows on Warrior who then kicked out STRONGER than kick out in that match.

[@jrazor28]

@@HereIsWisdom1318 agreed. 1 on Hogan 5 on warrior and it was wm 7 not 6

[@waynemoro8650]

Yeah we all loved Elizabeth especially George 'the animal' Steele.....

[@IrishCarney]

@@jrazor28 Late to this reply which I saw by checking the thread b/c of wayne moro's reply. Thanks to both HereisWisdom and jrazor for your corrected info.

[@vgordonw]

4:30

[@vinson311]

Papa bless 🙌

[@rmwing]

Doesn't start 10 seconds before that?

[@villarreal0706]

Thank you 🙏🏽

[@danieltempleton838]

I wont forget what you did here today

[@justinnardine8564]

THIS IS AWESOME

[@gregjohnson2824]

Thanks for sending me down that staph rabbit hole. 😂

[@HereIsWisdom1318]

1:00:14-ELIMINATE THE MACHO MAN! That was great!

[@chefmastershake]

Much better than that dumb Wrestle audio account that ran 5 ads in a 10 minute video. I'm glad you guys are getting some ad revenue from us.

[@donceres1862]

chefmastershake 6l

[@NTT9709]

#machowasright

[@HereIsWisdom1318]

1:05:14-Thats Hogan LITERALLY passing the torch!

[@king425onlyforrest7]

Bruce, I have pictures of a house show that has Hulk Hogan and Razor Ramon in the same ring... how is this possible when there respective times with the company are different? .... could this have been a 1-off house show for Hogan? I was really young I remember this show but dont remember much of it, but getting a high five from Owen Hart.

[@BlueWingedPanther12]

Both were there in 1993

[@SheriffOutlaw]

I wonder if "Hulk Hogan Ruining Things" ever became a drinking game lol

[@billieboybuddha4238]

Stop bitching about Hogan

[@scottfleenor2036]

These are some of the best wrestling podcasts ever who knew Butch Reed was in line to be IC champion

[@billieboybuddha4238]

Thank God he didnt get it

[@Buffstang76]

Hogan touched Elizabeth's behind at SummerSlam 88, not Survivor Series, and Randy didn't notice at the time. At Survivor Series Hogan picked up Elizabeth, hugged her and twirled around with her, which Randy noticed and had an obvious problem with.

[@thetruth72667]

No Randy definitely noticed & even before that Liz ran up to him as soon as they won & he motioned to her to get over there!!! He then turns & puts his hands out & hogan can't keep his laughter in. Even as they shake hands Macho still looking cross eyed @him. Randy shoulda won @mania 5!!

[@beakahd590]

Would have liked to see The mega powers have more opponents. Brainbusters or powers of pain. They didn’t have many opponents

[@stevemccullagh36]

Just catching this ep now. I'm glad Conrad's research has improved, because the timeline of Steamboat's losing of the IC title and his departure from the WWF given here is completely wrong and a total mess.

[@aaronfell1816]

This was a great STW but a little disappointed there was no talk about the irony of the angle being 2 best friends who end up hating each other.

[@jayell8253]

Love that intro music.😂

[@markmenning1804]

Bruce is more open when he isn't working for WWE

[@brunnen1]

GRAND STANDIN AND HOT DOGGIN

[@JMFabiano]

Great stuff....the Megapowers saga ties into SO much in the past and the present and future at the time. Interesting to hear that Steamboat wanted out after he won the I-C title....thought he lost the title and was depushed as punishment for wanting to leave the road to be with his family. But I guess that was NEWZ after all? Bonnie tried to steal the rights to the Ricky Steamboat character when they got divorced, no? (just accidentally typed "ho" when I tried "no"...hmmmmm....)

[@tommyhallum3020]

Maybe it's just this picture but Hogan looks huge next to macho. I dont remember there being that much of a size difference.

[@JerGer918]

I'd like to know in the Jan 1989 SNME: was Randy cool with the Big Boss Man handcuffing Miss Elizabeth knowing full well how overly protective he was of her.

[@HereIsWisdom1318]

JerGer918 I’d say probably, because if you’re handcuffed to the ring, you’re going to be away from the action.

[@adamzachary3705]

Bruce is a genius

[@thunercattt6018]

Why no STW for WM5? Would of loved to hear about Bruce and Piper's interview lol

[@Dredsed]

Needs more views omg

[@king425onlyforrest7]

Bruce, to add to my comment about the picture of Hogan and Razor being in the same ring at a house show, the picture has someone reaching a hand but you cant see who it is because the ref and Hogans body block the view. This could have been a tag match?

[@chris2makeupissed424]

Lmfao macho man impersonation

[@HereIsWisdom1318]

At about 1:05:30. Of course Hogan was passing the torch to Warrior.

[@kingoffarts8352]

Bruce didn't know how Coliseum Video worked? Vince leased it out to a separate company in New Jersey called A & H video sales. Vince gave Coliseum video permission to film,produce,sale,and market his events. Coliseum Video still had to pay Vince and Linda royalties each month for sales and rentals. In 1998 Vince purchased it directly from A& H video and renamed it WWF Home video.

[@dalynsanders]

Is it 89 or 97 Conrad?... fickle!!!

[@HereIsWisdom1318]

1:02:34-If anything, Hogan can be seen as the bad guy-getting to close to another man’s woman.

[@stevenkunzer9027]

Hogan is also out of character after the 1996 Starcade Main Event. After the match with Piper you hear Hogan politely ask the camera man to put the camera on him and once he does he starts talking trash as Hollywood and spits into the camera lens.

[@HereIsWisdom1318]

Steven Kunzer cool

[@renspecs]

I don't get it. Steamboat dropped the IC title because he wanted time off. But...he was still with the company nearly a year later in the WM4 tournament. In that case, why not just keep the title on him? Why have him drop it to HTM if 9 months later he's still in the company?

[@realm23x73]

Lust Hogan vs. Superman Randal Savage

[@cretinousjester3475]

The Rooster gimmick.....maybe if he was just "The Rooster" Terry Taylor and have him get away with pulling some absolutely hilarious pranks on the heels he might have been able to wing it. That rooster hairdo and that strut weren't gonna cut it.

[@eddie9244]

i started to listening to this podcast few months ago episode 60 and up, but since all i do is drive most of my days im gonna start from episode 1 . and you can hear the difference with bruce. his mannersim, pace of talk, high amount of chapstick 😂

[@jasonhowell9723]

We all know that Hogan had lust ❤️‍🔥 in his eyes for Ms.Elizabeth...I do not blame Randy for kicking Hulk's a$$..dig it!!

[@bootlegpass5969]

My wife is so thrilled that i'm listening again 😁😎💕

[@tonymartinii]

Hogan just passed the torch to warrior without thinking about himself Hahahaha Yeh sure Brucey

[@rafeeqturner1458]

His entire breakdown of the Red Rooster character is a "rib"

[@the80sguy80]

@11:35 Steamboat`s Wife was pregnant and Steamboat wanted to be there for the birth of his son. Having just won The Intercontinental Title, Vince wouldn't let him take time off unless he dropped the belt. Originally He was supposed to drop the title to Butch Reed, But he No Showed? Rumor has it because he felt he wasn`t being paid enough...

[@blkmamba31]

I love how people always talk about how “overprotective”. macho man was with Elizabeth backstage. As if they don’t remember lita & edge, woman & Benoit, sunny & everybody………..

[@paulearl8203]

Hogan admitted he presented the belt to warrior for himself.

[@SirJosephPesci]

There is nothing Perfect about the Red Rooster Terry Taylor Curt Hening was a god that deserved a title run🏃

[@TheNoirAlien]

Rick must of felt a way about savage going first, I'm sure a title chasing steamboat would be a draw and the pay in same vein as wrestlemania 3.

[@TravJam317]

Bruce's all "No. Of course it's not a rib. We're not stupid enough to do that with our investment." My take: "Ok. Then you guys were stupid enough to think it was a great idea instead. And that's worse!"

[@jamiespencer1041]

Not as strong as the Dusty Rhodes one, but still some great tails and the birth of box of gimmicks. 3/5

[@hereticlife2546]

3:41

[@TravJam317]

Your timeline on Steamboat is off. Steamboat didn't go back to Crockett til 1989. He dropped the IC belt to Honky Tonk in June 1987. Steamboat took some time off, but he was back in the WWF by Wrestlemania IV. The why's... I'm not sure of. But it wasn't to go back to Crockett, yet.

[@deathstar5138]

Mega powers yhe greatesy of all time

[@HereIsWisdom1318]

Death Star NO! I saw someone else say the Steiners are GOAT, to which I said “no!”

[@robertmanning1514]

44:30 The Red Rooster WAS a rib on Ric Flair/Terry Taylor. - Blood Red Hair - Bejeweled Robe - The Strut - Red trunks Bruce is just a shill for Vince.

[@inutero10]

The mega P O W D E R S

[@HereIsWisdom1318]

How the hell can you make the Red Rooster succeed???

[@sklba632]

As a business owner, I wouldn't invest a dime. As a bored multimillionaire with ego problems, I'd spend as much as I wanted.

[@brandonford4474]

46:20 Akeem explanation

[@TheKevkevkevkev]

Why does the host not know the name to the show?

[@gothchicksbongrips5712]

No love for George Steele vs Macho at WM2

[@mattboots5453]

Look into my eyes Hogan!

[@jblanch3]

I just started listening to this podcast and am really enjoying it. One thing though. I don't know what Bruce is smoking to suggest that Terry Taylor could have gotten over as The Red Rooster if he had just committed to the character. No one, and I mean no one, could have made Red Rooster work. If they'd kept it to him having that red patch of hair at the top, and doing that silly rooster strut, maybe (and a very, very big maybe at that) he would have had a shot at winning people over. But when you're actually having him say "Cock-a-Doodle Do" in his promos, no. Absolutely no chance in hell. He's had a pretty decent career in the business regardless, though, so good for him.

[@mikemc4340]

Brother!!!

[@toma.4808]

Twin towers were hot. They were feuding with savage and hogan, they had slick. They should've been tag champs

[@Tafsman]

What's Conrad's hate on the Honky Tonk Man anyway?

[@Super122291]

Chat me up

[@butch5419]

That’s a great heal