Back in 2003, Hulk Hogan was embroiled in an on-screen feud opposite Vince McMahon. At WrestleMania XIX, the pair conducted a brawl that had no business being as entertaining as it was. The rivalry continued after that big event, and Hogan was eventually fired and told to sit at home by McMahon. This led to the creation of a unique character for Hogan to play. All of a sudden, vignettes started to air on Smackdown for the debut of 'Mr. America'. At first, fans were confused. The new character seemed woefully out of date, so the idea of handing it to be a new, up-and-coming wrestler seemed preposterous. In time, it became clear that it was simply a storyline vehicle for Hogan to continue making appearances. The man underneath the mask was clearly the Hulkster, but WWE instructed announcers to act as though he was a newcomer to the promotion. It was a mysterious time, both for the company and Hulk Hogan. Eventually, the character was outed and Hogan ditched the mask, but it remains a wholly unique time in the career of one of wrestling's biggest stars.
Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.
