PODCAST:The Big Flop
TITLE:Hulk Hogan: HucksterMania with Ron Funches and Brian Posehn | 19
DATE:2024-01-29 00:00:00
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MODEL:gpt-4-gizmo
In this episode of "The Big Flop" from Wondery, titled "Hulk Hogan HucksterMania," hosts Misha Brown, alongside guests Ron Funches and Brian Posehn, delve into the myriad of business ventures attempted by the legendary wrestler Hulk Hogan. Hogan, born Terry Gene Bollea, is renowned for his iconic status in the wrestling world during the 1980s and 1990s, turning wrestling from a regional entertainment into an international sensation. Beyond his wrestling fame, Hogan tried to capitalize on his Hulkster persona through various business endeavors, including music, acting, restaurants, and product endorsements, with varying degrees of failure.
Hogan's attempt to launch a music career with the album "Hulk Rules" in 1994, featuring his rap and music skills, was met with ridicule rather than acclaim. His forays into acting led to roles in movies and TV shows like "Thunder in Paradise" and "Santa with Muscles," neither of which achieved significant success or critical acclaim, often being panned for poor quality and Hogan's lackluster acting.
One of Hogan's more memorable business ventures was the restaurant "PastaMania," which opened in the Mall of America in 1995. Despite Hogan's enthusiastic promotion, including a memorable plug during a WCW Monday Nitro event, "PastaMania" quickly failed due to poor reception and closed within a few months. Hogan didn't give up on the restaurant industry, later opening "Hogan's Beach" in Tampa, which also eventually closed, followed by "Hogan's Hangout."
Hogan also endorsed a wide array of products, often of dubious quality, from a plastic blender that couldn't crush ice to an electric grill recalled for catching fire, and even a website hosting company called Hostamania. Despite these ventures often ending in failure, Hogan's brand remained strong among his fans.
The episode also touches on Hogan's legal battle with Gawker over the publication of a sex tape, which resulted in a $31 million settlement in Hogan's favor, marking one of his few successful financial outcomes outside wrestling. Despite the many flops and failures in his business career, Hogan's enduring popularity as a wrestling icon remains unblemished for many of his fans.
Throughout the episode, Brown, Funches, and Posehn offer humorous and insightful commentary on Hogan's business ventures, reflecting on the challenges of translating fame into successful business ventures. They conclude that while Hogan's attempts at expanding his brand beyond wrestling were often unsuccessful, his efforts exemplify the trials and tribulations of celebrity entrepreneurship.
