Before He Left Us, Hulk Hogan Rocked El Paso in This Iconic Match

They say that celebrity deaths always come in three’s and unfortunately that was proven to be true this past month.

It’s safe to say that it has been a tough week for fans of iconic legends. Just days after we learned about the passing of rock god Ozzy Osbourne, another titan of pop culture has left the ring for good: Hulk Hogan.

While fans across the world are mourning the wrestling icon, here in El Paso, we’re remembering our Hulk moment. I came across an article that 600 ESPN El Paso's Steve Kaplowitz wrote back in 2012 where he shared a fond memory he had with his dad.

Courtesy: John McKeon via ESPN 600

El Paso Remembers Hulk Hogan and His Wrestling Legacy in the Sun City

According to the article, back on March 7, 1989, the El Paso Civic Center was electric as the World Wrestling Federation rolled into town and with it, a stacked lineup of wrestling royalty. That night, Hulk Hogan stepped into the ring to take on the Big Boss Man in one of the most unforgettable live events El Paso had ever seen.

“I have vivid memories of that one particular wrestling card. My dad and I bought our tickets months earlier and we were lucky to be ringside for that huge WWF show. By the time we arrived about 15 minutes before the start of the first match, the Convention Center was packed with thousands of wrestling enthusiasts.”

If you were lucky enough to snag a ticket that night, you also witnessed legends like Andre the Giant, “Macho Man” Randy Savage, Bret Hart, The Ultimate Warrior, and even a young Shawn Michaels. Nearly 30 matches packed the card, many of which were replayed on national WWF broadcasts like Superstars and Prime Time Wrestling.

The news of Hulk Hogan’s passing came with mixed responses because some fans lost respect for him after his support of President Donald Trump, but politics aside, Hogan wasn’t just a wrestler—he was a cultural phenomenon. And for one epic night, he brought his larger-than-life energy to El Paso.

Between Ozzy’s legendary concerts at the El Paso County Coliseum and Hogan’s powerhouse match at the Civic Center, El Paso has seen its fair share of icons. And while we say goodbye to these legends, their legacy in the Borderland will never be forgotten.

Photos of the Osbourne Family Through the Years

10 Infamous Receipts in Pro Wrestling History

In pro wrestling, a "receipt" is an ass-kicking that you brought upon yourself. It comes from the cardinal rule of the business -- always take care of your opponent. If you fail to do that, the repercussions will fall squarely on your head (often via chair shot).

The Undertaker recently explained the purpose of giving receipts in wrestling. "I'm pretty patient [when it comes to giving a receipt]. It all depends on intent," the Deadman said. "Some guys just work very snug. I pride myself on my punches. I feel like I can make it look like I can take your head off and not touch you. Every once in a while one gets away from me... I'd much rather it be there than it miss. It ain't ballet."

But not all receipts come after a stiff shot gets away. Sometimes a performer delivers a receipt to protect themselves from an unsafe worker, like when Taker had to shut down Giant Gonzalez at Wrestlemania IX. "[Gonzalez] cracks me right across the back of my neck, and then once I get back the feeling in my little fingers... I flipped," Taker recalled on his podcast. "I turned around and just started wailing on him."

Let's go back to classic WWE, the old territories, and even a battle between monsters in Japan. Here are 10 of the most infamous receipts in pro wrestling history.

Gallery Credit: WWE / NWA / HWA / YouTube

Source: El Paso Remembers Hulk Hogan’s Wild 1989 Wrestling Showdown

Filed Under: Texas, Hulk Hogan, el paso

Categories: Local News