10 Most Divisive Figures In Wrestling History
5. Hulk Hogan
Prosecution:
Racist. That much cannot be denied because Hogan used the actual phrase "I am a racist" without even the "I'm not a racist, but..." prefix/suffix tell. His in-ring body of work has aged terribly. You can watch a typical Stone Cold Steve Austin match 18 years later and still find a six-pack of entertainment in it. Hogan's histrionic, cartoonish work was rendered parodic in half that time. It's impossible to take seriously now. He's just a giant fantasist and transparent a** when he wants to be, too, which is more often than not. There are fewer things more galling in wrestling than the sight of Hogan flopping about and making a mockery of the idea that he's in genuine pain.
Defence:
The matches aren't really the point. Hogan in his pomp - even well after it - made you feel. Nobody can touch him as a proper worker. As firmly in control as he was of his public, he also stands up as a beacon of brilliant, unintentional comedy.
Author Verdict:
If you lived after him, you might not totally 'get' the appeal. If you did, as did I, the opening bars to 'Real American' alone are enough to send you into a state of pure, unadulterated nostalgia and absolve Hogan of his many misdemeanours.