Beneath That Tough, Blond Exterior, Hulk Hogan is a Softie. But Don't Tell Him We Said That.
Hulk Hogan granted this morning that the song “American Made,” written about Hulk by his longtime associate Jimmy Hart, could very well be the I-Man’s new theme song.
“It fits you!” Hulk said, excitedly. “You’re like an American icon.”
And he should know, having spent more than 30 years of his life in the spotlight as one of professional wrestling’s greatest characters, and probably its most recognizable one. Hulk, whose real name is Terry Bollea, has witnessed firsthand over the years the myriad ways in which Hulk Hogan’s positive message impacts millions.
“The Hulk Hogan character always said, ‘Train, say your prayers, and eat your vitamins,’” he said. “And even though I derailed quite often during the 70s and 80s, the truth is, that stuff works for the kids.”
One former kid was so profoundly affected by Hulk’s positive message the fan, now 38 years old, wrote a letter that wound up in Imus’s lap today. On hearing that watching Hulk Hogan had, in so many words, made this child become a better man, Jimmy Hart, for one, was not surprised.
“The Hulkster—he’s so real,” Hart said about his friend of more than 30 years. “People relate to him.”
Hulk’s down-to-earth yet wildly entertaining persona is what Spike TV banked on when it began airing “TNA iMPACT” back in January. Started by Dixie Carter, Total Nonstop Action (TNA) is the future of wrestling, in Hulk’s opinion.
“I had the chance to go there and creatively run the show, and actually pass along the wisdom and the art form to these wrestlers, who were running around like a bunch of robots,” said Hulk. “They didn’t create emotion, or drama, or cliffhangers, or violence, or comedy.”
Starting Monday, SpikeTV will put TNA iMPACT up against Vince McMahon’s WWE, “the big monster,” Hulk said.
TNA is good for all of wrestling, he insisted, because it brings more attention to the sport; in fact, Hulk and his new partner “Abyss” will do just that next Monday, when they take on his old nemesis Ric Flair and his protégée, “The Phenomenal” AJ Styles.
Though he’s working his way back to the top, Hulk was in the doldrums for a while: his wife of more than 20 years left him for a teenager; his son was involved in a horrific car accident; and he lost nearly all his money.
“I believe more in what I don’t see—in my faith—than what I can actually touch and feel,” he said, telling Imus that the steroids he took decades ago have had little affect on his body because, “I didn’t abuse them.”
“I didn’t just go to some gym and buy a bag of unlabeled bottles and try to get to 450 pounds,” said Hulk, who now weighs around 280. “I had a little bit of common sense.”
Hulk looks healthy now, and feels it, too. Jimmy Hart, however, was still coping with the emotional effects of the Hulk fan’s grateful letter.
“Pull yourself together, Jimmy,” Imus instructed.
-Julie Kanfer
Hulk Hogan 
Reader Comments (1)
Sorry Hulk
You lost your way especially when you allowed your son to trash talk the victim of the car crash that he probably caused.