It may have been more than forty years since they fought each other in the ring in Rocky III, but Sylvester Stallone and Hulk Hogan have plenty of vivid memories, and lots of praise for each other. In a new Instagram post, Stallone shared a video of an interview with Hogan, recalling his experiences playing the wrestler Thunderlips for his fight scene in Rocky III. In the video, the WWE Hall of Famer voices his amazement that Stallone was able to hold his own physically in the ring, despite an obvious weight and height advantage Hogan had on him.
“He was like a buck-sixty (160) pounds, and I was like 320 pounds,” Hogan says in the video. “He did everything, he did all his own stunts.” The 71-year-old, who was 6′ 7″ at the time, admits he almost broke Stallone’s collarbone with a kick, but admitted his toughness kept him in one piece, a quality he says the Rambo actor still possesses. “He was a trooper. All these years later, he’s the same paisan he used to be. He hasn’t changed a bit.”
Stallone responded in the post, commending him on his ability. The two have remained friends over the years, as Hogan was still an up-and-coming wrestler at the time Stallone cast him as Thunderlips. Rocky III helped make him a superstar, who would go on to make films like No Holds Barred and Suburban Commando. When Hogan was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, Stallone introduced him at the ceremony. Stallone said of Hogan:
WOW, HULK was the best. Fantastic athlete and threw the most amazing punches of all. Because he was bare fisted, I could actually feel his punch touching my skin yet he knew just when to pull back. Amazing!
The Legacy of Rocky III
Rocky III marked a shift in tone for the franchise. Stallone would later say the film, as well as Rocky IV, focused more on training and boxing than character development. The late Carl Weathers, however, called Rocky III his favorite film in the franchise, as he felt it humanized his character more than the other films. When Weathers’ Apollo Creed agrees to train Rocky and help him get back the “Eye of the Tiger,” the plot twist allowed the actor to have some of his best scenes in the entire film series.
Stallone took over directing duties for the films beginning with Rocky II, with the original director John Avildsen returning only to helm Rocky V in 1990. The action icon would go on to direct Staying Alive, 2008’s Rambo, and The Expendables. His new Paramount+ series, Tulsa King, is about to premiere its second season on September 15.
Hulk Hogan would go on to fame as “Hulkamania” took over the nation, and he became the most famous wrestler in the world. He remains a popular figure, and recently made an appearance supporting Donald Trump’s presidential reelection bid. His overall appeal is evident in the fact that there are dueling movie projects about him in development. Ben Affleck and Matt Damon are producing a film about Hogan’s infamous lawsuit against Gawker, with Affleck reportedly eyeing the lead role. Thor actor Chris Hemsworth was reportedly going to star in a biopic about Hogan’s life, but that film appears to be in development hell and may not be made at all.
Rocky III
is currently streaming on Prime Video.
