CUE THE DAMN MUSIC!
I have a question: Is that the most American 3 minutes and 20 seconds in the history of mankind? I mean in one music video Hulk Hogan single handedly took down Russia, Gaddafi, he played guitar at the 50 yard line of the Rose Bowl and the St. Louis Arch, hell he even became the fifth profile on Mount Rushmore:
Put that picture in the history books!
Anyway, as a kid who was a bonified Hulkamaniac, I had to throw a birthday shoutout to the man himself. Happy 69th, Hulkster!
One of my fondest memories as a kid was when I was 6 or 7 years old and got to spend some birthday money at Toys R Us on one of these bad boys:
Spending my OWN money on a wrestling buddy at the greatest store in the history of overpriced commercialism?? I floated into that Toys R Us. They carried me in like a king.
And that was money well spent. I played with that thing for YEARS. In our basement we had two of those fold-out cushion chairs, like these:
I would unfold them and put them side by side like a wrestling ring. I had the fake plastic title belt and everything. I’d be flying off of recliners like Macho Man Randy Savage, banging my head against coffee tables, full send. Actually probably explains a lot about why I am the way I am, come to think of it.
Anyhow, from about 1989-1993 there was no bigger celebrity in my mind. I think my favorite moment in Hogan’s WWF career during that time was when he beat the Iraqi sympathizing Sargent Slaughter at Wrestlemania 7:
I was devastated when Hogan lost the title to the Ultimate Warrior at Wrestlemania 6. In many ways I still haven’t recovered. So when he was back the next year taking on Slaughter (who hired Saddam Hussein as his manager), I was GEEKED. You can’t find the full match anywhere on Youtube but his intro that night with the American flags was legendary.
Admittedly I didn’t watch WCW a TON, but his heel turn to the NWO was one of the all time swerves in wrestling history and reignited his career. But I loved when he finally made his way back to the WWF and took on The Rock at ‘Mania 18. One of the all time Wrestlemania matches and the crowd was HOT for Hogan that night, despite the fact that he was supposed to be a villain.
So once again, happy birthday Hulk! Train, say your prayers, take your vitamins (steroids) indeed.
PS: Today is also the birthday of The Green Bay Packer Football Club! George Calhoun (sports editor at the Press Gazette, who doesn’t get enough credit for the creation of our beloved Packers) and Curly Lambeau founded the team this day in history, 1919. Honest to God, outside of my birthday, this might be the most defining day in my life between Hogan and the Packers.
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