Thread: Hulk Hogan Claims He Was Offered Lead Role In "The Wrestler"

Hulk Hogan Claims He Was Offered Lead Role In "The Wrestler"
By Daniel Pena

In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Hulk Hogan reveals that he was asked to play the lead character in The Wrestler. Hogan claims he was sent the script and considered for the part of Randy "The Ram" Robinson. He read it a few times when it crossed his agent's desk, but passed on the movie. Nonetheless, Hogan believes Mickey Rourke did a great job in the film.

"The movie got made and they cast Mickey Rourke," Hogan said. "I thought he did a great job."

While Hogan was complimentary of Rourke, he wishes Rourke could have had 30 years of wrestling experience to tell a more accurate story.

"I don't think the public could have handled it, though," Hogan told the Los Angeles Times. "Just made me realize after seeing the movie with Mickey Rourke that if someone does the real Hulk Hogan movie, you better hang on for the ride, brother."

In his eyes, Hogan believes the whole movie is shock value. He fears the public perception of professional wrestling will be tainted by the film's view of the business.

"Made me realize how shock value - that just the drop of reality - can have an effect on the public," Hogan said. "It was wrestling light. Very light version of wrestling."

When talking about blading, Hogan said there are wrestlers who blade 25 to 30 times per week. He also said he has friends who do staple gun matches similar to the one in The Wrestler 300 nights per year.

When asked if Rourke should accept WWE's offer to make an appearance at WrestleMania and cross-promote the movie, Hogan said the actor should be careful based on his own experience.

"You don't want to jade your performance or have the Hollywood community look at you like, 'you sold out,'" Hogan said.

Hogan also said he talked to Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson about distancing himself from professional wrestling if wanted to be a successful actor. Hogan said he was held back in Hollywood, doing B-movies because he kept going back to wrestling. As a result, the Hollywood community didn't accept him.

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Originally Posted by Mudge

Haven't seen it but it sure is getting strong reviews. I remember hearing about blading and such when I was a youngin, didn't know anyone still did that. Must be some hole in the wall outfits.

not sure, but in the movie he had broken pieces of razor blades hidden in his wrist wraps, when he was "down for the count" he would pull one out and slice his forehead.