When Hogan first started wrestling, McMahon Sr. saw great potential in the young athlete but however, McMahon Sr. wanted Hogan
Hulk Hogan is known around the world for his larger than life charisma and iconic blond hairstyle and moustache. However there was a fascinating revelation emerged about WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan’s early days in the business. In a recent episode of “The Stakscast with Erick Stakelbeck,” Hogan shared a surprising request made by Vince McMahon Sr. – the former head of WWE. McMahon Sr. had a unique vision of transforming Hogan into an Irish-American superstar with completely red hair. Let’s take a closer look at the story behind McMahon Sr.’s peculiar proposition and Hogan’s decision that ultimately shaped his wrestling persona and legacy.
When Hogan first started wrestling, McMahon Sr. saw great potential in the young athlete but however, McMahon Sr. wanted Hogan to take on a different character than what he envisioned for himself. With his size and strength, McMahon Sr. thought Hogan would make the perfect Irish tough guy. He pitched the idea of Hogan changing his name and dyeing his hair red but Hogan was intrigued and was also hesitant about fully committing to such a drastic image change. In the end, Hogan decided to stay true to his vision and kept his blond hair and real name that fans knew. This decision allowed Hogan to develop his iconic Hulk Hogan character and connect with the audiences as himself. It was a risk that paid off and defined Hogan’s illustrious career over the following decades.
In the podcast chat, Hogan shared a talk with Vince McMahon Sr. as the boss of wrestling talked about adding variety to his team and McMahon Sr. said he had top wrestlers from different cultures. Like Pedro Morales for Puerto Rican-Americans, Chief Jay Strongbow for Native-Americans, and Bruno Sammartino for Italian-Americans. McMahon Sr. thought Hogan could be “Hulk Hogan” for Irish Americans. For this change, he gave Hogan two bottles of red dye. He said Hogan might want to colour his hair red.
Hogan saw the chance in the new role, but he was in a tough spot. He confessed he was losing hair and going bald. Colouring his hair red could make it worse. He understood that accepting McMahon Sr.’s idea means saying goodbye to his natural hair. Thinking about what to do, Hogan turned to his manager and guide, “Classy” Freddie Blassie.
Hogan chatted with Blassie then made a gutsy choice. He chose to ignore McMahon Sr.’s order and keep his real hair colour. He recalled that, instead of applying the red dye he got rid of it down a Holiday Inn drain. Blassie was worried. He thought McMahon Sr. might fire Hogan because of his defiance. But, luck stepped in on Hogan’s side.
The next day, Hogan met McMahon Sr. again for TV recordings. His hair is still not dyed red. Hogan couldn’t believe when McMahon Sr. brushed off the hair colour matter. He assured Hogan, “Your hair colour doesn’t matter” and this surprised response from McMahon Sr. eased Hogan’s worry about his hair colour choice. Turns out, this critical point helped Hogan stay true to his look. More importantly, it opened doors to his wrestling career ahead.
When Hogan didn’t listen to McMahon Sr., his career took a vital turn. By keeping his natural hair colour, he cemented his character as Hulk Hogan. People grew to like him. As his career moved ahead, Hogan found lots of success. He became a famous name in wrestling. Still, we mustn’t forget the damage to his body from his long career in WWE. Hogan agrees, he paid a physical price for his time there.
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