Once the most beloved babyface in all of pro wrestling, Hogan forever changed the wrestling industry when he turned heel at WCW’s Bash at the Beach in the summer of ’96. That still stands as a genuinely iconic moment, spurring one of wrestling’s hottest, most profitable stretches.
Unlike Cena, who is planning on retiring before the end of the year, Hogan got far more mileage out of his turn to the dark side. But Hogan sees only endless potential here. A long-time admirer of Cena’s work, he believes this is a monumental moment in pro wrestling.
“It’s one of the best heel turns I’ve seen in a long, long time,” said Hogan. “All the major players were involved. I can’t say enough about The Rock, too–he was incredible. They did it right, I’ll tell you that.”
Hogan’s affinity for the storyline extends deeper than the on-screen product. He was peers with Dusty Rhodes and Rocky Johnson, who, respectively, are the late fathers of Cody Rhodes and The Rock. Prior to that, Hogan was a passionate fan, one who was willing to go to any length to get involved in pro wrestling.
“I grew up watching Dusty Rhodes and Rocky Johnson,” said Hogan. “Before I started training, back when I was playing in a rock and roll band, I used to pick up Rocky Johnson and drive him to shows. I was such a fan–I’d borrow my girlfriend’s Torino and drive him all over. And when Rocky said, ‘You better get me to the Imperial Room before it closes’, I’d haul butt to get him there in time.”
Hogan is currently in a familiar spot–back on the road. This week, he has been promoting his Real American Beer throughout New York, continuing a grassroots campaign that has helped make the beverage very popular in its infancy.
“This is only the beginning,” said Hogan, whose beer signed a multi-year partnership with WWE. “We have a lot of big plans. It’s amazing, brother–it’s a great beer, and people are loving it.”
As WWE builds toward WrestleMania, Hogan will be keeping a close eye on the main event. He is well-versed in headlining the show as a babyface, especially against a friend who turned his back on him–yet he is also an expert at entering the biggest show of the year as the top villain.
With the chemistry between Cena and Rhodes, Hogan is optimistic that we could be on the verge of an extremely memorable angle.
“It’s going to work as long as John wants to stay plugged in,” said Hogan. “I don’t know his schedule or how many days he’ll work, but he definitely has everyone’s attention. Plus, The Rock is involved, too. This could heat up more than anyone is expecting. It could be so hot that it’s crazy, which will lead to a WrestleMania match you’ll never forget.”
