Most Rocky followers know that Sylvester Stallone was keen to take stiff punches from the likes of Carl Weathers, Mr T, and Dolph Lundgren in an effort 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 obtained 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 regarding the physicality displayed within the 1982 cinema traditional. Not solely did Rocky III carry us the health club 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 in addition. Within the film, Rocky Balboa thought he was signing up for a charity match that was solely speculated 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 exterior of the ring. So, how did Stallone handle to boost Hogan, who weighted round twice his personal body weight on the time? Was it a bit film magic? Not so says the WWE legend. “That was him,” defined Hogan. “Bro, if you don’t realize, he was like a buck 60 pounds, and I was like 320. And, he got me up, and he was wobbling. That was him. He did everything. He did all of his own stunts.”
And, when it got here to taking a beating fairly than dishing one out, Sly was simply as desirous to take his lumps in an effort to create the perfect motion sequences. “I mean, I powerslammed him, threw him in the corner, landed on him, and when I bounced off him the blood came 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 seek out out that Stallone was simply as robust as any professional wrestler that he’d labored with. “He goes, oh, that was great!,” explains the wrestler, who revealed that he virtually crushed his smaller foe. “Cuz I remember, I hit him with a high knee in the shoulder, in the corner, and almost 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 typically bucked this pattern nonetheless, as a result of Stallone needed every punch to look as genuine as attainable. “I threw my punches straight into the forehead, when I threw them, you know?,” recollects Hogan. “And, I know I caught him with one real-good one, but he was a trooper, man.”
Sylvester Stallone says Hulk Hogan was the most effective 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 right down to 2.8% bodyfat for the position.
Greater than 40 years later, the bout between Rocky Balboa and Thunderlips stays one of the memorable affairs in film historical past. “WOW,” responded Sylvester Stallone after listening to Hogan’s remarks within the clip. “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 how to pull back… Amazing!” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBPCWTBBFUs