Hulk Hogan
Interview with Hollywood Hulk Hogan
by Seth Mates
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Hollywood Hulk Hogan's theme music opens with the line, "Well I'm standing next to the mountain." Well, as of tonight, Hogan's not next to the mountain - he's on top of it. After nine long years, Hogan is once again the World Wrestling Federation Champion. WWF.com caught up with Hogan after winning the title at Backlash to talk about his remarkable feat.
WWF.com: What's going through your head right now?
Hogan: Brother, I can't believe that I'm in the World Wrestling Federation, and that in such a short amount of time, Hulkamania is running wilder than ever, and I got my fans back, plus a whole bunch of new ones. I can't believe that the Federation gave me the opportunity to fulfill my dream and complete this journey by becoming the Undisputed Champion, something that I've never accomplished. Triple H could have beaten me at any time out there. I was hanging on for dear life. I just kept listening to the people, and the Maniacs kept saying, "Get up, old man!" I don't know if I want to wrestle Triple H (again), because for sure I wouldn't survive. It was a dream come true, and I'd like to thank the whole Federation for letting an old man play a young man's game. But I'll tell you what - Hulkamania is the game now, and I'm just gonna keep on playing.
WWF.com: Are you thinking about your dad right now?
Hogan: Yeah, brother. As soon as I won the belt, that was my first thought, that he's gotta be watching. He's gotta be watching.
WWF.com: What was it like working with Triple H?
Hogan: Now I know why the people call him "The Game," because he's the best I've ever been in the ring with. Like I said, I was hanging on for dear life. He out-wrestled me, he out-powered me, he outclassed me - I just basically was listening to those people, trying to hang on, just thinking that this was my only shot.
WWF.com: How would you critique the match itself?
Hogan: Brother, I don't know. I just know that the people were with it the whole way, and all I know is I thought we would be out there all night. I just prayed to God that Triple H would make a mistake, quit focusing on me for a minute, give me a chance to get one up on him. Other than that, we'd still be out there fighting for it.
WWF.com: What did you think of the crowd tonight?
Hogan: Oh my God, brother, it was crazy. I don't know how much crazier and louder they're gonna get, but I just can't wait until the next time I step out there. It's a whole new ballgame now. I guess Triple H stands for "Hollywood Hulk Hogan" now.
WWF.com: It's been nine years since you held this title. Did you ever think you'd be back at this level?
Hogan: No. I never dreamed I'd get this far. Even if I'd came back to the Federation and had five years behind me, I would have never dreamed I'd get this far. It's just unbelievable. Once you get momentum and once you get the timing, and you add millions and millions of people that I've got back on my side, it's unbelievable the momentum you get when you get everybody on your side. Timing is everything.
WWF.com: So what can the Hulkamaniacs expect from Hulk Hogan's sixth reign as Federation Champion?
Hogan: Brother, I'm gonna ride this thing off into the sunset. Hopefully I can become the Babe Ruth of the World Wrestling Federation and be the champion at the same time. I know I'm not the greatest wrestler in the Federation right now, after being in the ring with Triple H. But I can tell you one damn thing - I don't think he can beat me when I have that many people rooting for me. These guys better hang on if they want to jump on my back, because it's not my legs carrying Hulkamania, it's the millions and millions of people out there carrying this belt now. They don't have to beat me; they have to beat everybody out there. So I wish them a lot of luck.