Hulkamania, forever

@WWE IG

 This news actually broke yesterday and it was shocking. And in his case it warrants this blog post here otherwise it would go on the "Beta".

I wrote a tweet that read something like this

There are a lot of people who take issue with some of Hogan's tall tales or even his alleged racism, I still respect him as a wrestling legend. He was one of the first wrestling champions I cheered. He's not a perfect man, no one is.

A lot of people are saying that Hogan - aka as Terry Gene Bollea - was a racist p.o.s. and the recording that came out within the last decade led to his temporary separation from WWE (the organization formerly known as the World Wrestling Federation or WWF) in about 2015-16. Of course he came back long enough to be booed by the wrestling fans in attendance for Monday Nite Raw's debut on Netflick as he attempted to put over Real American Beer - has latest business venture.

That proved to be his last appearance in front of the WWE Universe.

I used the nice term tall tales, but some people do think of him as a liar. Perhaps telling tall tales of how he put others over and also reports of him trying to protect his top position at the expense of others.

I don't think much of his usage of the N-word or even his attempts to sort of explain himself. Perhaps it's more the stories of how he protected his position in the business when he was still an active wrestler. I may take more issue with that than anything else.

No denying, however, that he is the most recognized wrestler ever. Perhaps there would be now WWE without him the 1980s. He belongs on the Mount Rushmore of pro wrestling although we can debate the other four performers.

As I stated he was the first wrestling champion I ever cheered, and then when he turned heel in WCW and joined the nWo I booed him. I still did when he came back to the organization then known as the WWF. While I might have not let go of his heel persona, I was glad to see the nostalgia and he was cheered by the crowds again in one of his last runs in the now WWE. He sort of adjusted very well to the "Ruthless Aggression" era.

And now he leaves us with memories. He had been in declining health in recent months. Hadn't made many public appearances, even was rarely posting on social media - it was even reported any pics of him were older pics. There were reports that he had been in the hospital for a bit and the last report a day before his demise was he had a damaged trachea.

And then he leaves us to have his last match with the Macho Man Randy Savage who died over a decade ago.

R.I.P. Hulk Hogan