HUNTING FOR HULK THE MAN, THE MYTH, THE LEGEND

When FHM heard that would be visiting Britain for the first time in 18 years, we sent our man, his biggest fan – and wannabe wrestler – Rusty Trombone, to track him down and find out whether one of the most iconic men of our lifetimes was worthy of the title, Living Legend

PHOTOGRAPHY BY ALEX DE MORA WORDS BY DANIEL MASOLIVER HUNTING FOR HULK

The story of Hulk Hogan’s wrestling career is one that cruising through Nottingham, reason to it – it just works. spans six US Presidents, has witnessed the fall of Manchester and Wembley. And, Every time he goes to the ring, communism and watched Jacko go from black to white to despite not wrestling on British soil I – someone who’s in the business dead. Not bad for a bloke with a handlebar moustache and in nearly 20 years, demand was – watch, and wish I was in the ring a penchant for prancing around in crotch-hugging Speedos… high to catch the man in action: with him, because it’s that powerful.” tickets sold out within a minute. It took years of body slams, leg Sure, he has an impressive CV: wrestling character in true On his last visit, back in 1994, drops and a hell of a lot of ripped 12 world heavyweight titles since WrestleMania spirit, and attempt it’s mind-boggling to think the T-shirts, but the moment that turning pro in 1977, holder of the a move or two on the man himself. Hulk was 40. He’d already Hulk Hogan was confirmed as a record for the longest WCW world They say you should never meet appeared in Rocky III and Gremlins superstar was a pay-per-view event heavyweight title-reign (469 days), your heroes – they’ll only disappoint. 2, and starred in fish-out-of-water captured in front of a live audience and a place in the World Wrestling But there’s no sage advice as to comedy flopMr. Nanny. Already of 68,000 and millions more at Entertainment (WWE) Hall Of whether or not you should dress up made millions, squandered them, home, at Wrestlemania X8 in 2002. Fame. But the truly amazing thing as your wrestling alter-ego Rusty and made them back again. Having returned to the then-named about Hogan, the one that sets him Trombone (special move: ‘the reach Now 58, Terry Bollea from Tampa, WWF as Hollywood Hogan with a apart from his fellow spray-tanned, around’) while you meet him. As Florida, an aspiring baseball player ‘bad guy’ make-over, he took on the are-you-sure-you’re-not-on-steroids the train pulled in to Manchester as a youth, is not only the star most popular wrestler of his time, beefcakes, is that he has gone from Piccadilly station, amid the first attraction at the UK’s most The Rock. Hogan was the one the being the star of the vaguely shouts of, “Fuck off home, prick!” popular wrestling organisation, crowd was meant to boo. Only that’s homoerotic pantomime that is pro from the friendly locals, the fear TNA. He’s become considerably not how it went. The crowd not only News comes in that wrestling, to being one of the best- started to creep in that Hogan would more than that: instantly cheered Hogan, but actually booed the Hulk’s car loved household names on the planet. think we were taking the piss. recognised across the globe, a man The Rock the whole way through. To is stuck in traffic “Somehow Hogan’s Which is why FHM is on It doesn’t help when his press who’s transcended his chosen this day, Hogan treasures that as one a train to Manchester dressed officer explains: “The Hulk’s pretty sport to become a true superstar of the most touching moments of on the M1 connected to several in a bandana, a sleeveless T-shirt, old-school – he’s not going to talk and, dare we say it, a cultural his career. The fans were still on his generations of stars’n’stripes trainers and a pair of to you dressed like that.” We could phenomenon (shit, we just did). side, and always would be. skintight gold leggings. In what only assume that the odds of trying Ex-professional wrestler D’Lo Unfortunately for the crowd here wrestling fans” seemed like a good idea at the time, out an affectionate Tombstone or Brown, who now heads up TNA’s tonight in Manchester, it’s starting when news reached FHM that People’s Elbow on the Hulkster were talent development program, sums to look like they won’t get to see the Hulk Hogan would be visiting our slim to minus-one. it up nicely. “Somehow Hogan’s great man after all. At 7pm, with the rain-sodden land (his first visit in Hogan’s visit to the UK was set to connected to not one, not two, but second bout of the night underway, 18, long, Hulkless years) we be a brief one, a three-date tour with several generations of wrestling the news comes in that the Hulk’s decided, as a tribute to the great his current organisation, Total fans,” he says, “and he’s connected car is stuck in traffic. Hogan may man, that we’d invent our own Nonstop Action (TNA) Wrestling – in a way where there’s no rhyme or have beaten Andre The Giant at You can sit in a hot tub full of bikini-clad girls while you watch Fatboy Slim tearing the Caribbean

Wrestling fans get psyched for the main event

‘Rusty Trombone’ heads to Manchester – possibly the worst idea FHM has ever had

60 YEARS OF 1953 1976 1977 1979 1982 1983 1984 1986 1989 CLEAN CUTOUTYEAR ZERO BASS SKILLS REALISES HIS BALDY BITS THE BIG SCREEN MARRIAGE TAKE ONE HULKAMANIA HITS HULK IN A CAGE CLEANMEGASTARDOM CUTOUT The Hulk makes his Forms a bandCLEAN called CUTOUTPOWER Joins the WWF and is With his careerCLEAN in Marries CUTOUT his first In January he beats He wrestles King Hogan is named the first entrance; Terry Ruckus. They become a Hulk’s physical asked to pretend to full flight, he blonde wife Linda in an Kong Bundy in most requested Gene Bollea is born “local sensation” in prowess is spotted be Irish and dye his appears as the Claridge. CLEANepic match CUTOUT at Madison a cage in Feb celebrity of the HULK in Florida to builder the Tampa Bay region, by two wrestling hair red. His hair wonderfully named Square Gardens. Fans on TV show ’80s by the Make HULK and dance teacher with Hulk on bass. brothers at one of has already started Thunderlips can’t get enough Wrestlemania… A Wish Foundation parents. his gigs. Just months falling out, so he in Rocky of his awesome and wins for terminally later he makes tells the bosses III. showmanship. again, obvs. ill children. his ring debut where to get off. Hulkamania is born. as ‘The Super They don’t mind ’cos Destroyer’. he’s such a charmer. April 2012 073 HUNTING FOR HULK

Wrestlemania III, but here he is, As if every single member of the like the outfit, brother,” he says, “it surely, after all the surgeries and all Our man finally facing defeat at the hands of the audience had realised they were sat reminds me of my fights with Mr. the broken bones, he must just want gets to meet the M1, northbound. Dixie Carter, the on a naked flame, the crowd launches T back in the ’80s.” Proof, if ever to have a cup of tea and a nice sit legendary Hulk President of TNA, is concerned to itself to its feet as one. The Hulk any was needed, that Hulk Hogan down? “I’ve had that feeling before, say the least. And not just because slowly makes his way down to his is one of the nicest people ever to but then I’ll drink a beer and that she has a gold spandex-clad, stage, high-fiving the fans who have wear spandex. “I got locked into changes my attitude.” chicken-legged Englishman sprinted down to the barriers to that look for quite a long time, and The last remaining fans drag their The charisma, the stage standing in front of her. She knows scream messages of support at him. the one good thing about right dog-eared Hulkamania placards out that Hogan is the main man on the Walking up the metal steps into now is that if I do climb in the of the building, still pumped from presence and the bill, which is why she personally the ring and ducking under the top ring, most of the time I’ll wear a seeing the Hulk beat Bully Ray over handlebar moustache saw to it that he would sign on the rope he surveys the several thousand pair of blue jeans and a T-shirt, so the head with an old lady’s walking dotted line, and elbow drop his way elated faces around him, before I don’t have to worry about getting stick to rack up his latest victory. As are still there onto the good ship TNA in the first tearing his vest open from the collar dressed in the locker room with the chants of “Hogan, Hogan” still place. “It’s unbelievable,” she says. down, as he has done so many the spandex anymore, or the boots.” linger in the empty arena, the “There’s not a place in this world thousands of times before. In the Despite towering over everyone lad-from-Florida-done-good takes a that you can go where people don’t stands, the ground underfoot is wet in the building, Hogan manages to moment to reflect on his enduring Hulk beats Bully know him. I have worked with and sticky from the pints knocked put every single person he meets success. “It’s the guys that know Ray over the head famous actors, musicians, all of over by the grown men hugging each – from the arena employees and their character, the guys like The with an old lady’s that, but with Hogan it’s just on other in unadulterated joy. PR people, to his fans and the idiot Rock or like , that don’t a whole different level.” In other Even from the cheap seats, the wearing gold leggings – at ease. He have to do a whole heck of a lot of walking stick words, the man still sells a lot signs that Hogan isn’t a young speaks in a deep, heavy-metal voice stuff, but when they do something it of Hulkamania T-shirts. upstart any more are pretty obvious: that makes him seem younger than means something – those are the In the ring – Hulk or not – the red tracky bottoms pulled up to his 58 years, and every time he guys that are really going to be around.” show is cracking on, with the crowd Cowell-esque heights; back wrinkles calls you “brother” – “sweetie” for Someone like Hogan, he means, roaring every clothesline, bodyslam enhanced by a few too many sessions the ladies – you hold him in just who only has to hold his hand to his and . Good guys and under a high-power sunbed; and he that little bit more awe. “They’re ear, tear off his vest, or indicate the the beer-swigging walks with a limp so exaggerated that loyal,” says Hulk of his British fans, way to Muscle Beach to turn a room have found themselves it would almost be funny if it wasn’t acknowledging just how long he’s full of sensible people into sectionable outnumbered by baddies Kurt a result of three decade’s worth of been away. “They made a decision Hulkamaniacs. Someone like Hogan Angle, heavyweight champ Bobby atomic leg drops and eight major a long time ago to be on my side, who, after a career longer than most The Hulk Roode, and Bully Ray (now wearing back surgeries. But the charisma, the and so no matter what has stars of sports and entertainment, brings the a Steven Gerard Liverpool shirt to stage presence and the handlebar happened in my career, or no is still filling stadiums. Someone pain to Bully really rile up the home fans). The moustache are still there, and as matter what has happened in my like Hogan: a gentleman, an icon, Ray and his Stevie Gerrard place is in a sweaty, beer-swigging powerful as ever they were. personal life, they’re with me.” a brand, a bloody superhero. Liverpool frenzy, and then, in the midst of the After the show, in the maze-like The emotion in his voice is They say you should never meet shirt madness, the spotlights flash across backstage area at the MEN Arena, genuine. “You can walk down the your heroes. Unless your hero is to the entrance ramp, Eye Of The Rusty Trombone (we’re still wearing street and just feel the love and the Hulk Hogan. Tiger rumbles out of the audio the costume) finally comes face-to- respect that these people have. The system, and Hulk Hogan steps face with the man, the myth, the energy and how excited people are, TNA airs every out into the arena. legend, the incredible Hulk Hogan. “I it’s just blowing our minds.” But Sunday night on Challenge TV.

1990 CLEAN1991 CUTOUT 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 2005 CLEAN2007 CUTOUT 2012 TRIUMPHS TRIUMPHS AGAIN HE STARTS MAKING HOGAN’S HE DOES A JAMIE FIGHTING THE HE REINVENTS HOGAN MAY OR HEARTBREAK AND BACK IN BLIGHTY Wins the The next year he only BEAUTIFUL MUSIC IN TROUBLE CLEANOLIVER CUTOUT BIG DOGS HIMSELF MAY NOT HAVE SORROW TIME Hulk triumphantly in January. wins the Royal Rumble Gunning for Christmas Admits during a court Before Jamie was out Back for round two of Dresses in black KNOWN BEST In the reality show returns to our shores again, making him No.1, Hulk releases a case he has taken of short trousers the his career, ’96 isCLEAN a and adoptsCUTOUT the alter- His bizarrely fall-out his wife for the first time in the first person ever cover of Gary Glitter steroids since 1976. Hulk has launched big year for Hogan, ego ‘Hollywood addictive files for divorce 18 years with new to win it two years classic I’m The his restaurant, where he injures Hulk Hogan’. reality after he’s accused company, TNA in a row. Leader Of The Gang Pastamania, which and show Hogan of having an affair Wrestling. Men cry. which peaks serves up culinary fights Dennis Knows Best with his daughter Women swoon. in the UK treats such as Rodman. airs on MTV Brooke’s mate. at a mind- ‘Hulk-U’s’ and in July. Ooops. blowing 25. ‘Hulk-A-Roos’. Pictures: Allstar, Globe Photos, PA Photos, Rex Features April 2012 083