“I Didn’t Know”: Hulk Hogan Had a Major Misconception Before Joining the Pro Wrestling Business

Pro wrestling captivates the attention of people like only a few other sports. The emotion and the drama of wrestling make you forget that it is a scripted sport and have you hooked. And, while growing up if you thought pro wrestling was real, you are not alone. In fact, you have some legendary company. Hulk Hogan, one of the biggest stars in the business, thought that wrestling was real and didn’t know that it was pre-determined.

It is hard to fathom someone like Hogan, whose name is synonymous with the industry, once wasn’t aware of kayfabe. Interestingly, even Hogan’s first day of training all but convinced him to believe that it was the real deal.

Hulk Hogan talked about his pro-wrestling misconception

Hulk Hogan forged one of the most successful wrestling careers of all time, which no one can replicate in both WWE or WCW.

He was a huge wrestling fan growing up and, after dabbling with basketball and music as career options, he finally decided to become a pro wrestler. At that time, Hogan didn’t know it was a scripted sport. In fact, he has said growing up wrestlers scared him to death.

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In an interview on the TV program OBJECTified in 2017, host Harvey Levin asked The Hulkster about his early pro wrestling days. Hogan spoke about how his trainer broke his leg on purpose on his first day of training. Levin also questioned whether he would have pursued pro wrestling if it was not “fake”.

Hogan replied, “At the time, I didn’t know. Oh yeah, I didn’t know it was pre-determined back then.” While it may come as a surprise that Hogan didn’t know wrestling wasn’t real, when you have your leg broken on your first day of training, it is kind of hard to believe the fake part.

Well, the storyline may be predetermined, but the physical aspect of it is as real as it gets. Hogan himself has found it out the hard way.

Wrestling for as long as Hogan did, had an adverse effect on his body. Over the years, the legend has required numerous surgeries to treat his injuries. In 2021, he revealed he has had 17 surgeries in the last 10 years alone and that doctors have replaced many parts of his body, including his knees and hips, while his back has metal inserted into it.

Maybe Hogan’s misconception about wrestling being real was not that off the mark.

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