Hulking Up: How Hulkamania Shaped My Wrestling Journey

By: Gangsta B.I.G., Indy Pro-Wrestler

I can still smell the cheap popcorn and feel the protective plastic fabric of my parent's couch like it was yesterday. There I was, maybe eight years old, eyes glued to the static-filled television screen as the yellow and red erupted.

The music hit, and my world changed forever. Hulk Hogan was making his way to the ring, and even through that grainy broadcast, I could feel the electricity.

Hulk wasn't just another wrestler to me and my friends. He was a force of nature. A real-life superhero who told us that we could be anything we wanted to be if we just believed. "Train, say your prayers, and eat your vitamins" wasn't just a catchphrase to us—it was a way of life.

I remember tearing the knees out of my jeans while trying to imitate his leg drops on my poor, unsuspecting pillows. I cupped my hand to my ear, pretending to hear thousands of roaring fans as I posed in front of the mirror. What I didn't realize at the time was that Hogan was planting seeds of self-belief in my young mind—seeds that would sustain me through some of the toughest moments of my life.

When the bullies at school pushed me around, I'd think about Hulk overcoming Andre the Giant. When I felt like I wasn't good enough at anything, I'd remember him telling Hulkamaniacs everywhere that believing in yourself was the first step to achieving your dreams. That man made me feel invincible. The bullying changed really fast!

Fast forward a couple of decades, and I'm lacing up my boots in locker rooms across the country. I'm not mainlining WrestleMania or headlining Madison Square Garden, but I'm living my dream because a guy in yellow tights told me I could. Every time I step into the ring, I carry a little piece of that Hulkamania spirit with me.

I need to pause here and address something important. There's been some confusion circulating, and I want to set the record straight. Hulk Hogan is still with us as I write this. But recently, I found myself thinking about what the wrestling world would look like when that day eventually comes—the day we lose the man who put professional wrestling on the map in so many ways.

Now that he has passed away, the world has lost more than just a wrestler; we have lost an icon who inspired millions to believe in themselves. My heart goes out to his loving wife, his children, and his entire family during this unimaginably difficult time. They supported him throughout his incredible journey, and my deepest condolences are with them as they mourn the loss of the Immortal One. I also extend my thoughts to the millions of fans who are grieving. His legacy will live on forever in the hearts of everyone he touched.

To his family: Your husband, your father, your relative meant the world to so many of us. He was the hero of our childhood stories, the champion we cheered for, and the voice that told us we could overcome any obstacle. The comfort you can take is knowing his legacy extends far beyond the ring—it lives in every person who ever heard his message and believed they could be more.

To the wrestling fans: We were part of something special. We were Hulkamaniacs. We witnessed the rise of an industry icon. We experienced the power of believing in ourselves because a man in a bandana told us to. When that day comes, let's not mourn the loss of a wrestler, but celebrate the incredible impact of a man who made us all feel like we could accomplish anything.

Hulk Hogan may eventually leave this world, but Hulkamania will live forever in the hearts of everyone who ever heard the words "Brother!" and felt like they could conquer the world.

Until then, keep saying your prayers, taking your vitamins, and believing in yourself. That's what the Hulkster would want.

🙏❤️✨

Your friend in the ring, and in life.

Gangsta B.I.G.