SUMMARY: RUNNING TIME: Approx. 10 Min.
At a Monday Night RAW taping on May 13, 2002, in Toronto, without any prior build-up, these legends meet yet again. For the first time since 1993, Hogan had just recently regained the title in a three-way clash vs. Triple H and Shawn Michaels at Backlash 2002. Playing himself up as the storyline co-owner of RAW, “Nature Boy” Ric Flair challenges the new WWE World Champion, “Hollywood” Hulk Hogan.
The commentators are Jim Ross and Jerry “The King” Lawler.
Note: At the time, Flair was 53 years old – Hogan was 48.
REVIEW:
In fairness, it’s a rare opportunity to see Hogan vs. Flair contesting the WWE Title for the first time since Late 1991-early 92, as their early encounters were deliberately inconclusive. Ironically, they were setting up a pivotal WrestleMania VIII title showdown back then … which never happened, as Hogan opted to ‘retire’ amidst the WWE’s ongoing steroid scandal.
This particular 2002 bout is among the few times that these two wrestling icons clashed in the WWE after their rival WCW imploded. However, watching Hogan & Flair here, when their combined age is now a century, is the wrestling equivalent of the aging Three Stooges in their best-forgotten 1950’s Columbia shorts. The same, old slapstick gags/clichés are half-heartedly served up yet again, but their tired execution falls well short of their prime.
With a run time of only ten minutes, no one would have realistically expected an all-time classic. The bout’s sped-up pacing tries hiding that the “Nature Boy” and the Hulkster are far past their respective primes.
Reminiscent of old TV re-runs, fans will sense when certain pet moves they’ve seen a thousand times or more are coming — i.e. Flair’s upside-down turnbuckle flip-and-run or a far larger Hogan being tossed through the ropes to the floor. Or, for that matter, Hogan brazenly blowing off Flair’s standard-issue offense … or a series of ridiculous late match run-ins to muddle an already-crummy match. Hence, it’s the ghostly vibes of WCW Monday Nitro at its worst all over again.
As was often the case with Nitro, this slugfest isn’t worth ten minutes of breathing. To the shock of no contemporary fan, the outcome doesn’t remotely impact WWE’s next Pay-Per-View: Judgment Day 2002. Its existence is completely forgettable, short of pitting Hogan vs. Flair ten years too late for the WWE World Championship.
ROSCOE’S ODD MOON RATING: 4 Stars
Note: For a satisfying Hogan vs. Flair title showdown, there’s Hogan’s first-ever WCW match back in mid-1994. Facing Flair for the WCW World Title at Bash at the Beach in Orlando, FL, this clash is a greatest-hits medley. In terms of its extra star power, ‘Sensational’ Sherri valets for Flair, while the Hulkster’s ringside entourage consists of Jimmy Hart, Mr. T, and Shaquille O’Neal. The match is available on a Hulk Hogan DVD set released by WWE.
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