Introduction
A Beer, a Bench Press, and the Brotherhood of the Ring: Hulk Hogan Reflects on Old Rituals and New Legends
At first glance, cracking open a beer before a workout sounds like a wild idea—but for wrestling icon Hulk Hogan, it was once part of a deeply rooted tradition. Reflecting on his earlier days in the locker room, Hogan shared that before hitting the ring, he’d always keep a case of beer handy—not just for himself, but for the “boys.” It wasn’t about partying. It was about camaraderie, easing nerves, and honoring a sense of unity in the wrestling brotherhood. “Made the matches much better,” Hogan chuckled. “But that was then and this is now.”
Among his favorite traditions was the legendary John Matuszak Memorial Workout, an intense, beer-fueled training session held once a year in honor of his late friend—the towering NFL player and actor known for both his grit and heart. “We’d start training at midnight,” Hogan reminisced, “go until the sun came up, hit every body part… and yeah, drank beer the whole time.” Though they weren’t always sipping American beer back then, he jokes that now he’s got the real stuff—and the memories that come with it.
When asked about today’s rising stars, Hogan was quick to acknowledge the landscape of talent. From Logan Paul’s meteoric rise to Roman Reigns’ magnetic dominance and Seth Rollins’ solid presence, Hogan believes WWE is packed with potential—but he makes a clear distinction between being a “superstar” and being an “attraction.” Superstars come and go. Attractions, he says, are rare—they’re the game-changers, the ones that shift the tide of the industry. “You’ve got to make your own breaks,” he advised. “Outthink the office, outthink the business.”
And what of his own legacy? Hogan’s presence still echoes in Clearwater, Florida, where his retail store, Hogan’s Wrestling Shop, and his bar, Hogan’s Hangout, preserve the legend. In nearby storage units rest treasures of wrestling lore—from blood-stained yellow boots to vintage pinball machines. “If they ever want to clone Andre the Giant,” he laughs, “I’ve got the blood, brother.”
It’s not just nostalgia—it’s a window into a bygone era of grit, glory, and unforgettable stories.