Anyone who knows me or has frequented this blog knows that I was never a Hulkamaniac. Seldom few times where I was a fan of his act and his exploits both backstage and outside the ring have tainted my views on the man as time went on. Hell, you could probably argue that Terry Bollea is one of the few people on this earth that I’ve grown to hate over the years through reputation alone.
And yet here I am writing some sort of tribute post… go figure.
It’s no secret that he’s had his share of controversy and it’s no secret that he hasn’t been seen or greeted in the best of lights… and yet no matter what you thought of the man or his beliefs, you cannot deny that he played a MAJOR role in bringing professional wrestling and the idea of sports entertainment to heights that the business had not seen before. Anyone who was around in the 80s knew the name Hulk Hogan, regardless of whether they watched wrestling or not. You knew who he was and nine times out of ten, he was the first guy that came to mind when someone thinks of the word “wrestler.”
Yes, the man has had his demons. Yes, he has done some pretty shady and shitty things. Yes, he has said some things that goes against common sense and decency… but he was also a man who was adored by millions. No one can deny the impact that he’s had on this business. To some people, he was the scummiest man on earth. To others, he was a superhero on the same level as other big 80s stars. Others will perceive him as a good family man or best friend. All of these are equally valid. And for anyone to celebrate his passing because he did or said a few things he didn’t agree with… man, I don’t know what to tell you other than… that doesn’t work for me, brother.
That’s all I have to say. My thoughts and prayers to his family and friends.
RIP Hulkster.
dtm666 