In the world of cinema, few moments resonate as powerfully as the struggles faced by Rocky Balboa. The iconic boxer, brought to life by Sylvester Stallone, has cemented his place in Hollywood history, with Rocky III standing out as a culmination of triumph and despair. In this chapter of the saga, Rocky finds himself grappling with personal and professional turmoil, capturing the essence of an athlete at his lowest point.
Filming the intense scenes of Rocky III was not without its challenges. In one memorable moment, Stallone faced off against the formidable Hulk Hogan, who charged at him “like an enraged bull.” The impact was so severe that Stallone feared he had sustained a serious injury. After being floored by Hogan, he recalls pleading with the crew not to move him, convinced he might have a broken collarbone.
This terrifying encounter wasn’t Stallone’s only brush with pain during his time in the ring. He would later experience a brutal altercation with Dolph Lundgren while filming Rocky IV. Yet, Stallone has admitted that nothing compared to the excruciating experience during the fight scenes in Rocky III. “At 6 feet 7 and 295 pounds with 24-inch biceps! He was an amazing athlete! Incredibly powerful,” Stallone recalled. “I remember a violent move where he threw me into the corner, charged across the ring, and leaped so high that his shin-bone came crashing down on my collarbone.”
As he lay on the floor, Stallone was terrified to look at his shoulder. “I was afraid to look at my shoulder for about 10 minutes… I said, ‘Don’t roll me over, don’t move me,’ because I was sure there was bone protruding through my upper chest!” Thankfully, this wasn’t the case, but the pain he felt was unlike anything he had ever experienced before.
Rocky III featured a formidable cast, notably Carl Weathers, who portrayed Apollo Creed. Although Stallone and Weathers both have impressive physiques, they were undeniably overshadowed by Hogan’s towering presence. Stallone, standing at a modest 5’8″, paid tribute to his co-star on Instagram, reflecting on the moment they met during the early ’80s when he directed the film. Hogan, known for his wrestling persona and larger-than-life character, left an indelible mark, both in the film and on Stallone himself.
Sadly, Hogan passed away at the age of 71 due to a cardiac arrest, but his memory lingers on. In a minor yet memorable role, he participated in a staged charity exhibition match that left more than just physical impressions on the set. Stallone reminisced about Hogan’s wild energy, noting that during one of his audience dives, three stuntmen required hospital treatment.
Despite the pain, Stallone remembered Hogan as a great friend and a genuine presence that added depth to the film. “HULK, if you’re reading this, it was a privilege to be mangled by such a gentleman,” he expressed. In a playful twist of fate, Hogan issued a challenge for a rematch, stating, “I want to fight Stallone again like I did in Rocky III. I would love it… It would be a lot of fun standing opposite him, face-to-face.”