Author: Bosco Joey Watts
If you have ever tuned into an episode of GCW or the Watts N' Rokket Podcast, then surely you have heard the 2 of us ramble on and on about the historic match-up between Harley Race and Tommy "Wildfire" Rich at the Bell Auditorium nearly 30 years ago, right here in our hometown of Augusta, Ga. You know.. the one where Tommy Rich snagged the NWA Title from the legendary Race, using his signature Thesz Press. Many of you probably believe that this was the biggest wrestling happening to ever hit town... and maybe it was... but, I believe I need to remind our fans of another historic event that happened right here in Augusta... 19 years ago..
World Wrestling Federation presents... Hulkamania '89.
It surprises me that so many people have no idea that this event ever even happened here. I remember it just like yesterday... my old man loaded my brother and I up in the ol'Camaro (no, my dad did not have a mullet.. but he did have a Magnum PI mustache) and we headed downtown to the Augusta Richmond, Co. Civic Center to witness the homecoming of our very own... Hulk Hogan. For any of you who are unaware (or just ignorant).. Hulk "Terry Bolea" Hogan was born right here in Augusta, Ga. at St. Joseph's Hospital back in 1953. That's right... Hulk Hogan was born right here in Augusta, Ga... and that night... Nov. 11, 1989... he came home to defend his WWF World Heavyweight Title against Bad News Brown at Hulkamania '89.
To give you a bit of perspective on where Hogan's career was at this time... the movie No Holds Barred had just been released (prompting a celebrated feud between Hogan and his partner Brutus Beefcake and Zeus along with his partner Randy Savage).. and in several months he would go onto win the Royal Rumble. Hogan would go onto lose the title, however, to The Ultimate Warrior that same year at Wrestlemania VI.
Yes, Hogan was on top of the world, and fans could not believe that Hogan was returning to little ol' Augusta to wrestle before his hometown fans! But Hogan wasn't the only one on card that night... the crowd was also treated to The American Dream, Dusty Rhodes.... in polka dots, no less!! The enthusiastic Augusta crowd that night also saw... in singles action.. Hillbilly Jim (with his golden horseshoe), Brutus "The Barber" Beefcake (with his hedge clippers), and also Randy "Macho Man" Savage. I fondly remember when Randy Savage made his entrance to the ring that night along with Ms. Elizabeth, a young man in an Evans High School letter jacket leaped over the rail and punched Randy Savage... and the cops swarmed this poor bastard and showed him the exit promptly. That was quite amusing... even to a 12 year old.
One of my prized memories that night was seeing the Killer Bs (B. Brian Blair and Jumping Jim Brunzell) in tag team action against the Iron Sheik and Nikolia Volkoff. It might not have meant much at the time, but looking back... I got to see Iron Sheik squaring off with his sworn enemy B. Brian Blair... live!! I forgot who won the match... but does it really even matter 19 years later? I'm guessing no one got humbled too, too bad.
And in the main event.... oh yes, the main event... Hulk Hogan defended his title against Bad News Brown. The match itself was pretty standard... big boot, leg drop... Hogan retains the title. But I will never... and I mean, never... forgot Hogan's entrance to the ring that night. I am positive this was the only time that the ring announcer ever introduced Hogan as "hailing from Augusta, Ga.". And when Rick Derringer's "Real American" was blasted over the PA.. the crowd went totally nuts!! Everyone in the house was on their feet and making plenty of noise for their hometown hero!! And you could hear the same deafening cheers after Hogan defeated Brown, and did his standard series of poses for the crowd...
Above- Hogan in the ring... damn, we had good seats!
What a night.... it's a shame for people don't remember this event, but I damn sure do. To me... Bosco Joey Watts... it was a historical moment, and I am proud to say that I was there. I have nothing else to add...
See you at the matches...
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