Hulk Hogan vs. Stan Hansen in Japan: Inside Wrestling, August 1990
When readers opened the August 1990 issue of Inside Wrestling, they were greeted with one of the magazine’s most dramatic Insider columns: a feature on Hulk Hogan’s bruising clash with Stan Hansen in Japan. Written by Eddie Ellner, the piece captured Hogan at a unique moment in his career — just after losing the WWF World Title — and pitted him against one of the most feared brawlers in wrestling history.
For fans used to seeing Hogan’s larger-than-life battles in the WWF, this article stood out. It was about Hogan fighting outside his usual stage, across the Pacific, in the first-ever card co-promoted by New Japan, All-Japan, and the WWF. And it was about more than wins or losses. It was about survival.
The column begins with a note on what made the event historic: it was the first co-promoted show between New Japan Pro Wrestling, All Japan Pro Wrestling, and the WWF. For wrestling fans in 1990, this was extraordinary. Promotions typically guarded their stars, but here, Hogan’s appearance became a focal point for global attention.
Originally, Hogan’s scheduled opponent was Terry Gordy. But when Gordy pulled out, the speculation over his replacement set imaginations running. Would Shohei “Giant” Baba step in? Could Genichiro Tenryu, regarded as the world’s best wrestler, withdraw from his scheduled match to face Hogan? Would Randy Savage surprise fans and attack Hogan instead?
The answer turned out to be Stan Hansen.
Hansen wasn’t just another name on the card. He was a legend of brawling toughness, an ex-AWA World Champion, and, as the article reminds readers, the man who had once broken Bruno Sammartino’s neck. The Insider calls him “arguably the wildest brawler to ever lace up a pair of boots.”
Facing Hansen was a different kind of test for Hogan. Without his WWF World Title — which he had recently lost — Hogan came into the match with something to prove. The magazine emphasizes that “without the weight of his title belt, [he] had never wrestled better.”
The Insider column is packed with the kind of pulp-like detail that made Inside Wrestling famous. Eddie Ellner’s style blends exaggerated imagery with grounded reporting, creating a narrative that feels part history, part action novel.
The photos complement the storytelling perfectly. One striking image shows Hogan, sweat-drenched and grimacing, clutching the ropes in exhaustion. The caption underlines the context: “Days after losing the WWF World title, Hulk Hogan went to Japan and wrestled Stan Hansen, one of that country’s most loved American wrestlers.”
The text paints the violence vividly. Hansen is said to have “raised a cowbell,” crushing Hogan with brutal strikes. Hogan, in turn, bled profusely. At one point, Ellner even likens Hansen’s assault to his wife Emma crushing tomatoes for homemade chili. It’s a strange but memorable metaphor that captures the magazine’s distinctive style — mixing the mundane with the spectacular.
The article emphasizes blood, punishment, and the sheer toughness of the encounter. Both men, it says, “bled profusely.” Both men were “crushed like tomatoes.” Hogan, so often portrayed as indestructible in the WWF, is here presented as a man fighting for survival against one of the hardest hitters in Japan.
This is why wrestling magazines mattered. They didn’t just report on matches. They dramatized them, pulled readers into the moment, and made every fan feel like they were witnessing something unforgettable — even if they never saw the match on television.
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Historic Event – First co-promoted card between New Japan, All Japan, and WWF.
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Opponent Speculation – Early rumors included Shohei Baba, Genichiro Tenryu, and even Randy Savage.
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Stan Hansen Chosen – Hansen replaced Terry Gordy, giving fans a dream brawl.
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Hansen’s Reputation – Ex-AWA World Champion, breaker of Bruno Sammartino’s neck, feared worldwide.
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Hogan Post-Title Loss – Coming off his WWF title loss, Hogan was described as wrestling “better than ever.”
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Brutality of the Match – Hansen’s cowbell attack, Hogan’s bleeding, and nonstop punishment.
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Colorful Language – Comparison to Emma Hansen crushing tomatoes for chili — pulp storytelling at its best.
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Photos as Proof – Hogan pictured exhausted in the ropes, showing his vulnerability.
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Japanese Respect for Hansen – Caption notes him as “one of that country’s most loved American wrestlers.”
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Hogan Tested Beyond WWF – Framed as a fight for survival outside his comfort zone.
Today, this issue of Inside Wrestling is prized by collectors for several reasons:
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Hogan in Japan
This column captures a rare look at Hogan outside WWF storylines, emphasizing his battles in Japan. For collectors, that makes it unique. -
Stan Hansen Coverage
Hansen’s reputation as a brutal, no-nonsense wrestler makes this feature even more appealing. His inclusion connects U.S. fans to his iconic Japanese career. -
Historic Cross-Promotion
The issue documents the first time New Japan, All Japan, and WWF collaborated on an event, making it a valuable snapshot of wrestling history. -
Original Artifact
Owning the August 1990 Inside Wrestling isn’t just about the stories inside. It’s about holding the very pages that once fueled fan conversations and debates at schoolyards, barbershops, and living rooms.
Condition is always important for collectors. Copies without mailing labels, with sharp covers and intact spines, are most sought after. But even worn issues retain cultural and historical value.
This feature endures because it shows Hulk Hogan in a different light. In WWF, Hogan was often invincible, the superhero who always “Hulked up” and triumphed. In Japan, against Stan Hansen, the article shows him as human: tested, bloodied, and forced to prove himself in a way fans rarely saw in America.
For collectors and historians, this isn’t just about a match — it’s about wrestling culture at the crossroads of East and West. It’s about how magazines like Inside Wrestling built narratives that made fans feel part of something larger than themselves.
If you love wrestling history, Inside Wrestling, August 1990 is a magazine worth adding to your collection. It captures a moment when Hulk Hogan stepped outside the familiar confines of WWF arenas and faced one of the toughest opponents of his career in Japan.
👉 Browse the full collection of Inside Wrestling and other vintage wrestling magazines here:
https://originalmagazines.com/collections/inside-wrestling
From the 1970s through the 1990s, these magazines weren’t just publications — they were gateways to the drama, rivalries, and spectacles of professional wrestling. Owning one today means preserving that history for the next generation of fans.
The August 1990 issue of Inside Wrestling captured something special. Its Insider column on Hulk Hogan vs. Stan Hansen in Japan wasn’t just about a wrestling match — it was about history in the making, the brutality of two legends colliding, and the way magazines shaped the stories fans still remember.
For collectors, this issue is more than vintage paper. It is a living artifact of a time when wrestling’s biggest star stepped into one of the toughest fights of his life — and survived.