Source: Justin Barrasso of WEEI 93.7FM in Boston
Recently, Justin Barrasso of WEEI talked with TNA General Manager Hulk Hogan. The topics covered during the interview span from his run in professional wrestling to how he broke into the business to wrestling during the Golden Era of the 1980s. He ended the interview with some praise for Boston, too. You can read highlights below, but I encourage you to click here to read the entire interview including quotes about Hulk Hogan from Sting, Earl Hebner, Jeff Hardy, Kurt Angle, and Taz.
On His Current “Run” in Professional Wrestling
Everything in life is a run. You could be wrestling for two years, or married for two years and have a two-year-run, or you wrestle for 10 years or be in the business 10 days and have a run. I’ve had a 35-year run.
On Breaking Into the Wrestling Business
Every generation in wrestling has its style. The generation nowadays is a cross from getting wrestling boots from Santa Claus and getting to wrestling school and playing video games. When I broke in, and this was 35 years ago, you’d go down and try to become a wrestler, they broke my leg the first day. They beat me up for two years, then they sent me to Japan to learn submissions and hooks and all kinds of craziness. It’s just so different now.
On Wrestling During the 1980s
The mindset back when I started was that it was a big man’s game. When I started, I was about 320 pounds and I was considered a medium-sized guy. The whole business has changed. It moves much faster. There’s so many different choices for entertainment between cable and reality TV that the business had to reinvent itself. It’s so different now, and that’s why our company is on track. We’re keeping up with the times, plus we’re keeping it real as far as what wrestling should be like. All of our guys that are wrestling have an old-school mindset, but they can move quick and keep up with everything entertainment-wise.
On Boston as a Wrestling Hotbed
There are city places in the world, especially in the United States, that are hotbeds of professional wrestling. There’s Madison Square Garden, Boston and, believe it or not, Tampa, Florida. So to come here to Boston and be accepted early on in my career, I fell in love with Boston. The Boston-maniacs have been loyal through thick and thin throughout the last 35 years.
