Everyone knew there was only one match left, and after the new tag champs left chants of "Hogan" immediately began. Paul Wight was obviously out first and looked to be in better shape than his last months in WWE. It looked like the time off has definitely done him a lot of good. As soon "Real American" hit, the roof blew off the FedEx forum. It was deafening! The ovation was so loud I couldn't hear my brother next to me yelling and could barely hear myself (note: after ripping off his shirt and throwing it into the crowd my brother and I came THIS CLOSE to catching it, with the guy in front of us managing to snag it down). With Hogan's age and Wight's size, I completely expected a slow spotfest much like the opening match. While anyone with any knowledge of previous Hogan vs. big man matches (or Big Show vs. anyone) could have easily predicted the match's booking, the two of them really busted it and put on a good match. You could tell that Wight's time off and Hogan's desire to prove McMahon wrong on drawing power definitely improved this match, as despite following somewhat of the predictable course, both guys added an amount of physicality that I didn't expect. The crowd was hot throughout the entire match, which saw Hogan kicking out after a choke slam. He hulked up, then sent Wight over the top rope with a big boot. Once back in the ring, Hogan nailed the expected body slam (which looked AWESOME in person). That and the following leg drop for the pin had the crowd going insane! Anyone with respect for Wrestlemania history and every 20-something yr old's inner Hulkamaniac was in Heaven for that 30-second period of their lives. It's a shame that Wight's contract expiration/desired time off and Hogan's falling out with WWE prevented this match from being on Wrestlemania 23, as they put on a great one that would have been worthy of being the 20th anniversary tribute to the match that made WWE what it is today. My hat goes off to both of them for giving us in Memphis what everyone should have seen on April 1st. Afterwards Hogan ate it up with the crowd doing his usual routine before leaving.
Nothing post-show to report, as we were thanked for coming and that was it.
TONS OF BACKSTAGE NOTES:
No official figure, but I am guessing close to 6000 fans with a gate close to $256,500&Jazz performed her own entrance music to the ring&Koko had Frankie and got Lance Russell to dance with him&NBA's Memphis Grizzlies Mascot - The Grizz came out and was shooting t-shirts out to everyone at intermission&Before the show started, it was announced that "Too Cool 2" [Flex/Tim Grind] had regained the Southern Tag Team Titles from The Moondogs [Cujo/Spike]. That was one of those phantom changes. They announced Grind/Flex vs Rock N Roll Express for later in the show, but it turned out to be Kash/Morton&After Bubbas match they brought some kid from St. Jude down and Bubba had the kid on his shoulders. VH1 cameras captured that and it was a kewl moment for the kid and the crowd&I got to say "great job" to Corey Maclin and crew for putting the local guys - Flex/Grind in the semi-main event. All my ing about them not featuring the local guys and they do go and do this -- perfect way to get them over being seen by so many fans. I would have loved have seen them win, but apparently they got plans for Morton/Kash and Flex/Grind down the road&I was told all in all a fun show and crowd loved it.
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