How Kevin Sullivan Convinced Hulk Hogan to Turn Heel | Dark Side of the Ring: Unheard (Ep. 8)
Kevin Sullivan was one of the most influential minds behind wrestling’s biggest shifts—and he learned from the very best. In this episode of Dark Side of the Ring: Unheard, the former WCW booker opens up about the psychological blueprint of wrestling storytelling, the behind-the-scenes lessons passed down by Florida promoter Eddie Graham, and the long game that led to Hulk Hogan's iconic heel turn. This rare, never-before-heard interview reveals how Sullivan worked the chessboard of wrestling’s golden eras—from old-school Florida to WCW at its peak. 00:00 Intro: Kevin Sullivan’s Role in Wrestling History 03:00 Why He Wasn’t in the Benoit Episode 06:00 Reflections on the Graham Family & Wrestling Tragedy 09:00 The Satanic Gimmick: Army of Darkness Origins 12:01 Manipulating Perception Without Saying “Satan” 15:00 Booking Florida After Dusty Rhodes Left 18:00 Joining WCW & Navigating Hulk Hogan’s Power 21:00 Dungeon of Doom: Building Around Hogan’s Crew 24:30 Convincing Hogan to Turn Heel in the nWo Era 28:00 Inside Bash at the Beach: The Third Man Strategy 31:30 Trash in the Ring & Booking Real Heat 35:00 Benoit, The Belt, and Sullivan’s Last Run as Booker 38:30 WCW’s Collapse & Kevin’s Final Thoughts 42:00 Miami Reflections & Legacy of Florida Wrestling 45:00 Outro: Remembering Kevin Sullivan’s Influence Subscribe now and never miss a podcast episode: vice.video/SUBSCRIBE-TO-VICETV Season 6 of Dark Side of the Ring: Tuesdays at 10P on VICE TV About Dark Side of the Ring: Unheard: The hit Dark Side of the Ring podcast is back. From the creators of VICE TV’s groundbreaking series and The Lapsed Fan, Dark Side of the Ring: Unheard takes you deep into the archives, revealing never-before-heard interviews with wrestling’s most legendary and controversial figures. New episodes drop every Wednesday. About Dark Side of the Ring: Professional wrestling is the only sport whose stars live in two worlds, balancing their in-ring characters with real life. Dark Side of the Ring examines the complex intersections of fantasy and reality while uncovering wrestling's dark, untold history. Follow VICE TV: Website | www.vicetv.com Channel Finder | www.vicetv.com/en_us/channel-finder Facebook | www.facebook.com/vicetv Twitter | twitter.com/vicetv Instagram | instagram.com/vicetv TikTok | www.tiktok.com/@viceontv Follow VICE Sports: Facebook | www.facebook.com/vicesports Twitter | twitter.com/vicesports Instagram | instagram.com/vicesports Follow Dark Side of the Ring: Twitter | twitter.com/darksideofthering Instagram | instagram.com/darksideofthering #darksideofthering #VICESports #HulkHogan #KevinSullivan How Kevin Sullivan Convinced Hulk Hogan to Turn Heel | Dark Side of the Ring: Unheard (Ep. 8) youtu.be/by0hP04ZrbE
