Whose Side is He On?

Here comes Hulk! (WWE)

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

I'm watching some classic videos on WWE's YouTube channel and I again came across the 1996 Bash at the Beach.  For those unfamiliar with that show, it was a WCW pay per view that was the site of one of the most historic heel turns in the history of wrestling.  Heck, dare I say it, maybe it WAS the biggest turn ever.

The match was to feature the Outsiders, Scott Hall and Kevin Nash and a tag team partner against WCW mainstays Randy Savage, Sting, and Lex Luger.  For some reason the third Outsider never showed up, but Hall and Nash were able to take out Luger, rendering him useless in the match and turning it into a tag team affair.

After a back and forth battle, all the contestants end up flat on the mat when who should appear, but former WCW champion Hulk Hogan.  He wasn't booked on the show for some reason, I really don't remember the story line as to why he wasn't a part of team WCW.  Anyway, the point of the post is this.  During commentary when Hogan strolls down to the ring, Bobby Heenan wonders out loud, "Whose side is he on?" To me, it was to imply that Hogan was not coming down to help his allies Savage and Sting.

Heel turn!

After Heenan's question, Dusty Rhodes (who is also on commentary) seems to almost stumble and actually seems surprised by the question.  I don't know if anyone has talked about this before, but were the announcers in on the Hogan heel turn?  Or was Heenan just being inquisitive and trying to cast that shadow of doubt in the minds and hearts of the fans?

I love the Brain, but I think if the announcers were in on it, he may have let the cat out of the bag about 30 seconds too soon.  In the grand scheme of things it doesn't matter all that much I suppose, but I would think that some fans found this to kinda ruin the surprise.  That was more than 15 years ago and that line "whose side is he on?" still echoes in my memory bank.  Of course the turn was successful regardless, I just wonder if it was a legitimate accident or if Heenan was trying to get someone's goat.

Watch for yourself.  And tell me your thoughts?  Post them here or on Facebook.  Thanks for reading.