You think Hogan came up with his character, booked his rise, and promoted his matches all by himself? I wouldn't think so. Vince could have put any number of people in Hulk's spot. Greg Valentine, Paul Orndorff, John Studd, hell, Jimmy Valiant.... any of them could have done the things that Hulk did. All Greg needed was a tan and to cut some weight and there you have yourself a Hogan. Top stars are always expendable and if one person can play the role, there are at least five people out there that could play the part just as well. Or in those three's cases, probably better, since all of them were superior wrestlers.