Terry Bollea (1953–2025) was a flawed man, with scandals and lawsuits. But Hulk Hogan — the character — was larger than life.
[…]Hogan helped Vince McMahon transform WWF from a regional promotion into a global empire. That cultural moment may have helped the political rise of President Trump.
WrestleManias IV and V were held at Trump Plaza in 1988 and 1989. And I’ve often wondered: did spending time among wrestling fans give Trump insights into America that most elite politicians missed?
Unlike poll-tested, consultant-reliant candidates, Trump saw how crowds cheered for unapologetic patriotism (Hogan) and later for the rebellious anti-hero (Stone Cold Steve Austin vs. Vince McMahon).
Ronald Reagan once traveled the country as a spokesman for General Electric, using those speeches to understand and connect with the American people.
Trump, it could be argued, got his version of that education in the arena — where “Hulkamania” was running wild.
If the professional wrestling boom of the 1980s sharpened Trump’s political instincts, then professional wrestlers can take some of the credit for how the MAGA movement irrevocably changed American politics.
For that reason alone, “Hulkamania” will live forever.
It should be noted that Linda McMahon, who helped build WWE alongside Vince McMahon, is the current Secretary of Education.
— Robert Zapesochny, July 29 Newsmax column
(Newsmax previously tried to make a little money off Hogan’s death.)