Most Rocky followers know that Sylvester Stallone was prepared to take stiff punches from the likes of Carl Weathers, Mr T, and Dolph Lundgren to be able to create these horrendously hard-hitting scenes within the extremely profitable boxing film franchise, however when Stallone forged professional wrestling celebrity, Hulk Hogan as ‘Thunder Lips” in Rocky III, the motion acquired so intense that bones had been virtually damaged.
On August 26, 2024, Sylvester Stallone reposted after which responded to feedback made in a previous interview that Hulk Hogan had given in regards to the physicality displayed within the 1982 cinema traditional. Not solely did Rocky III carry us the fitness center playlist mainstay, Eye of the Tiger, and the emergence of Mr T’s Clubber Lang, nevertheless it additionally introduced us that chaotic boxer versus wrestler bout as well. Within the film, Rocky Balboa thought he was signing up for a charity match that was solely imagined to be an exhibition, however Thunderlips had different concepts and ended up taking the Italian Stallion to the restrict.
Hulk Hogan says Sylvester Stallone bodyslammed him for actual in Rocky III
In a single scene, Rocky picks up Thunderlips and bodyslams him outdoors of the ring. So, how did Stallone handle to lift Hogan, who weighted round twice his personal body weight on the time? Was it somewhat film magic? Not so says the WWE legend. “That was him,” defined Hogan. “Bro, if you happen to don’t understand, he was like a buck 60 kilos, and I used to be like 320. And, he acquired me up, and he was wobbling. That was him. He did every little thing. He did all of his personal stunts.”
And, when it got here to taking a beating moderately than dishing one out, Sly was simply as desirous to take his lumps to be able to create the perfect motion sequences. “I imply, I powerslammed him, threw him within the nook, landed on him, and once I bounced off him the blood got here out of his mouth,” recalled The Hulkster. Maybe fearing that his first foray into Hollywood may be his final, Hogan sought his mentors approval, and was happy to search out out that Stallone was simply as robust as any professional wrestler that he’d labored with. “He goes, oh, that was nice!,” explains the wrestler, who revealed that he virtually crushed his smaller foe. “Cuz I bear in mind, I hit him with a excessive knee within the shoulder, within the nook, and virtually broke his collarbone.”
In most film combat scenes, punches are designed to overlook an actors head however they’re made to look actual, as a result of angle that they’re shot at. The Rocky films usually bucked this pattern nonetheless, as a result of Stallone wished every punch to look as genuine as potential. “I threw my punches straight into the brow, once I threw them, ?,” remembers Hogan. “And, I do know I caught him with one real-good one, however he was a trooper, man.”
Sylvester Stallone says Hulk Hogan was the very best puncher in Rocky
After all, Rocky III was a huge success, surpassing Rocky I and II, and grossing greater than $125 million throughout it’s North American theatrical run alone. Worldwide field workplace earnings reached round $270 million. Stallone had gotten himself into insane bodily form for the film too, chopping all the way down to 2.8% bodyfat for the function.
Greater than 40 years later, the bout between Rocky Balboa and Thunderlips stays one of the crucial memorable affairs in film historical past. “WOW,” responded Sylvester Stallone after listening to Hogan’s remarks within the clip. “Hulk was the very best. Unbelievable athlete and threw essentially the most wonderful punches of all. As a result of he was naked fisted, I may truly really feel his punch touching my pores and skin, but he knew how one can pull again… Wonderful!” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBPCWTBBFUs
