Wrestling fans love a good myth. We spend hours debating who would win in a "prime vs. prime" scenario, usually involving a lot of shouting about work rates and "the look." But back in 2002, we actually got it. We saw the past collide with the future when Brock Lesnar and Hulk Hogan shared a ring on a random episode of SmackDown. It wasn't just a match. It was a execution.
Most people remember the sight of a bloodied Hogan trapped in a bear hug, fading away as the "Next Big Thing" smeared the legend’s blood across his own chest. It was visceral. Gross, even. But the story behind that match—and the weird relationship these two had in the years following—is way more complicated than a simple passing of the torch. Honestly, it wasn't a passing of the torch at all. Lesnar basically took the torch and hit Hogan over the head with it.
The Night Hulkamania Flatlined on SmackDown
Let's set the scene. August 8, 2002. Richmond, Virginia. Brock was this terrifying NCAA monster who looked like he was carved out of granite. Hogan was... well, he was the Hulkster. He was back in the red and yellow, riding a wave of nostalgia after his WrestleMania X8 classic with The Rock.
People think Hogan never liked losing. That's mostly true. But for some reason, he agreed to let Lesnar absolutely destroy him.
The match was short. It was brutal. Hogan hit the big boot. He hit the leg drop. In any other decade, that’s the end of the show. Instead, Lesnar kicked out with so much force he nearly launched Hogan into the third row. Then came the F-5. Then that miserable bear hug. The referee had to stop the match because Hogan literally couldn't continue.
Why the Rematch Never Happened
You’d think a beatdown like that leads to a huge pay-per-view payoff, right? That was the plan. WWE wanted a rematch for Survivor Series 2002. But this is where the "Hogan politics" everyone talks about actually kicked in.
- The Proposal: WWE creative wanted Lesnar to beat Hogan again to cement him as the undisputed top guy.
- The Refusal: Hogan reportedly felt that since he did the "job" on free TV, he should get the win back at the PPV.
- The Result: Vince McMahon said no.
Because they couldn't agree on who was going over, the rematch was scrapped. Hogan left the company shortly after, and Lesnar went on to feud with the Big Show instead. It’s one of those "what if" moments that could have changed the trajectory of the late 2000s.
Brock Lesnar and the "Grandpa" Incident
Fast forward to 2014. Hogan is back in WWE for his birthday celebration on RAW. The ring is full of legends—Ric Flair, Kevin Nash, Scott Hall. It’s a love fest. Then the music hits.
Lesnar walks out, stares at a ring full of Hall of Famers, and utters the line that launched a thousand memes: "Party's over, Grandpa."
It felt real. Mainly because Brock Lesnar doesn't really "do" scripts in the traditional sense. He says what he wants. Hogan later admitted in interviews that he wasn't exactly thrilled about the comment, but he respected the "business" of it. There’s always been this weird mutual respect between them, probably because they both know they are the only two people who truly understand what it’s like to be the "chosen one" in different eras.
What Most People Get Wrong About Their Relationship
Social media loves to paint Hogan as a guy who hated Lesnar. But if you listen to Hogan talk on podcasts like Joe Rogan or 83 Weeks, he actually raves about Brock's strength. He’s called Lesnar a "freak of nature" more times than I can count.
There’s also that weird bit of "Hogan logic" that popped up recently. In 2025, before his passing, Hogan started claiming in interviews that he was the first guy to wrestle Brock after Lesnar left the UFC.
Fact check: That never happened.
Brock left UFC in 2011 and returned to WWE in 2012 to face John Cena. He and Hogan never touched in a ring after the 2002 massacre. Whether it was the 25 surgeries catching up to him or just the classic "Hulkster" habit of embellishing the truth, it’s one of those stories that fans just sort of rolled their eyes at.
The End of an Era
The wrestling world changed forever in July 2025 when Hulk Hogan passed away at age 71. It’s strange to think about, but that 2002 match with Lesnar remains one of the last times Hogan looked like the "immortal" version of himself before the injuries really took a toll.
As for Lesnar? As we head into the 2026 Royal Rumble in Riyadh, the rumors are flying that the Beast is coming back. WWE has him penciled in for a massive run leading to WrestleMania 42. It’s a different world now—one where Hogan is a memory and Brock is the elder statesman.
What You Can Do Now
If you want to understand the sheer scale of what these two meant to the business, you've gotta go back and watch the footage. Don't just watch the highlights.
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- Watch the August 8, 2002 SmackDown match in its entirety. Look at the crowd. They weren't just cheering; they were in shock.
- Check out the 2014 Birthday Celebration segment. Watch the faces of the other legends when Brock tells Hogan the party is over. You can see the genuine tension.
- Compare their "Big Man" styles. Hogan was about the theatrics; Lesnar is about the "Suplex City" efficiency. It’s a masterclass in how the industry evolved from character-driven spectacle to athletic dominance.
The "Next Big Thing" actually became the thing he promised, and he did it by stepping over the biggest name in history. It wasn't pretty, but it was effective.