Hulk Hogan’s legacy is complex, especially toward the end of his life when fans’ views of him were largely negative. However, one of the most memorable moments unrelated to his broader reputation was his shocking heel turn at WCW Bash on the Beach in 1996, where he was revealed as the third member of the New World Order (NWO) alongside Kevin Nash and Scott Hall. Nearly three decades later, this storyline remains iconic and is regarded as one of the greatest heel turns in wrestling history.
Shortly after Hogan’s passing, WWE Hall of Famer JBL reflected on Hogan’s career highlights on "What To Wrestling," focusing on the Bash on the Beach event and the birth of the NWO. While JBL admired the angle, he admitted that from his perspective as a WWE wrestler during that era, it was terrifying because it seemed like a huge threat to WWE’s future.
"I thought it was all… I’ve never had a war like that," JBL said. "Many people didn’t, but I had never seen anyone leave the territory before. And suddenly, does Hogan appear as a heel? We thought we were dead."
Fortunately for JBL and WWE, those fears were unfounded. WWE bounced back between late 1997 and early 1998, eventually winning the Monday Night War against WCW. By 2002, JBL and Hogan were working together again in WWE, with Hogan returning alongside Hall and Nash for a brief NWO reunion.
If quoting, please credit "What To Wrestling" and Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.
Fan Take: This reflection from JBL highlights how pivotal the NWO angle and Hogan’s heel turn were, not just for wrestling storytelling but for the entire industry’s survival. For WWE fans, understanding this history underscores the resilience of the sport and the ever-evolving nature of wrestling narratives that continue to captivate audiences today.
