Hulk Hogan: 10 Reasons He Needs To Retire Now
Hulk Hogan, one of the legends in the WWE, was hospitalized late Monday with excruciating back pain.
Hogan, who has been a wrestling staple more or less since his debut in 1979, has long been contemplating a complete retirement from the sport that made him famous. Here are 10 reasons why that might be a good idea.
10. It's a Different Ballgame Now
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When Hulk started in the professional wrestling business, it was populated with men who had protruding bellies, hairy backs, and little to no muscle tone.
Back then, the toned and tanned Hulkster was the exception to the rule, and he used that athleticism to his advantage.
Now? Just about everyone in the WWE and TNA have 12-packs, and arms that look like tree trunks. The rest of the wrestling world has caught up to and passed Hogan in terms of size and strength, meaning it's probably a good idea to hang it up.
9. The Undertaker
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The Undertaker was a contemporary of Hogan's during his period of superstardom in the early to mid 90s. He's a mountain of a man, who stands 6'10" tall and weighs 299 pounds. He most recently held the WWE world heavyweight title in 2009.
Despite his recent success, The Undertaker is a good reason why it's time for Hulkamania to come to an end. In recent years, Undertaker has started to look a little long in the tooth. While he still has the best entrance in the business, he's not the dominant force he once was; but he stays at it, occasionally scoring a big victory, at the expense of his body.
Hulk's also got three years of wrestling and 12 years of life on The Undertaker. With that much more mileage on his body, he can't hope to keep up with his former rival.
8. Ric Flair
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Flair, much like Hogan, ascended to wrestling stardom in the late 80's and early 90's. While he is older than Hulk by 3 years, he also retired from the sport in 2009. The last few years, Flair found himself as a secondary character, who either rushed in to save the day, or needed saving from others.
After his retirement from the WWE, Flair and Hogan went on a world tour, fighting one another at every stop along the way. For anyone who watched the fights, it was one of the most painful things a wrestling fan could see: two flabby, out-of-shape, old men exchanging arthritic kicks and punches. It was time for both of them to hang it up then; unfortunately, only one got the message.
7. His Gut
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Yes, that's right. Despite still being in great shape, Hulkamania barely fits into his tights. While there have been fantastic pudgy wrestlers over the years, one of Hulk's big selling points was his physique. He's still in shape, but at 57, everyone turns a little chubby, especially when they pack on as much muscle mass as Hogan has over the years.
When he fought Ric Flair on the Hulkamania tour, it was clear that he was past his prime. It's time for him to hang up the boots.
6. He Has Kids
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Two of them, actually. Brooke and Nick are the most important thing to Hulk outside the ring, as evidenced by his reality show. If he cares about them, he'll take the hint and retire from wrestling.
Scary things happen in the ring, and Hulk's not a spring chicken anymore. All it takes is one slip, one mistake, and he could be in a world of trouble. Why would someone who loves his kids do that to them?
5. He's Still One Of The Most Famous Wrestlers Ever
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If Hogan retires tomorrow, he will be a legend that will withstand the test of time. Andre the Giant, Brett Hart, The Undertaker, John Cena, Rey Misterio, Bautista, Triple H; none of these guys could touch Hulk at the pinnacle of his fame.
Hogan made the leap from WWF superstar to legitimate star outside the ring. He was recognizable, beloved, and appeared in numerous (if poor quality) Hollywood movies. He still sets the standard for a successful non-wrestling career, the kind of life many WWE superstars aspire to have.
Even in retirement, Hulk can be assured that he will be one of the most recognized wrestlers in the world, a legend who spanned multiple genres.
4. He Has a Girlfriend
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Hogan divorced longtime wife Linda in 2007, after it was alleged he had been having an affair with Christiane Plant.
He then began dating 34-year old Jennifer McDaniel, to whom he is now engaged. Hogan owes it to his new fiance to retire. At 57, his body is breaking down. He needs to hang it up to salvage what is left of it, so that there is still something left for the rest of his life. Whether he loves the sport or not, if he wants to give McDaniel a chance to have him intact, he needs to walk away.
3. He's Not In The WWE Anymore
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Yes, the onetime king of the WWF is no longer wrestling in the highest division of professional wrestling. Instead, Hogan plies his trade in TNA, or Total Nonstop Action, which is a home for washed up wrestlers (Kurt Angle, Flair, Hogan).
So, he's not wrestling the best of the best and is stuck on the junior circuit, or the legend's tour, depending on how you choose to look at it. That should be a pretty strong indicator to Hulk that it's time to go.
2. His Back
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Hogan's back has him in the hospital once again, but it's not the first time he's had issues with it. On "Hogan Knows Best", we saw him battling back pain on an almost daily basis. He was never moving very fast, and his knees were also going pretty quickly.
Back injuries are nothing to mess around with. They can cause serious and irreparable damage. Hulk's body won't heal the way it used to; if he's not careful, he could find himself in serous trouble.
1. He's 57
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Hulk Hogan is old. He's been wrestling since 1979. He has a ton of miles on his tires, and is still doing it at an age where businessmen who sit behind desks all day for 25 years decide to go play golf.
Hulk has been getting physically abused for over 30 years, and is still doing it. I'm amazed at his stamina, but it's time. We'll never forget Hulkamania; he was a red and gold whirlwind of strength and cunning. He will always have a place in our hearts.
But, for the love of Vince McMahon, it's time to ride off into the sunset. For good, this time.
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