Hulk Hogan Bares All As Wrestlemania XXX Approches

Hulk Hogan has been the face of Professional Wrestling for over 30 years.

Now at 60 years-old, he’s still going strong, crisscrossing the country to promote Professional Wrestling’s Super Bowl, World Series and America’s Toughest Bouncer all rolled into one: Wrestlemania XXX (XXX = 30 for anyone unfamiliar with Roman Numerals).

HuffPost Live‘s Marc Lamont Hill caught up with the Hulkster on his whirlwind tour, getting Hogan to open up about life, wrestling and… a sex tape? Yep. While expecting to discuss Wrestlemania XXX, the legendary wrestler ended up having to discuss his own XXX movie.

Even having suffered beatings from the likes of Andre the Giant, Rowdy Roddy Piper, and The Rock, the leakage of the sex tape was one of the most painful things to ever happen to Hulk Hogan.

“It was a tough situation. It’s probably the hardest I’ve ever been kicked, bar none,” Hogan told Hill, reflecting on the emotional pain wreaked when a “close friend” leaked the tape. “But at the end of the day it’s all about choices.”

Being sold down the river by a friend, combined with the betrayal involved, and the obviously personal and sensitive nature of the material, it’s easy to see why the incident had such an impact on Hogan.

TMZ reportedly got a hold of the tape in 2010 and let it fly, the footage showcasing the Hulkster in all his glory with Helen Clem, the wife of well-known radio talent, Bubba the Love Sponge. Hogan claims he had no idea he was being taped during the interlude, and that Clem’s bounce with the Hulkster was both endorsed and actually filmed by Bubba the Love Sponge himself. Once again, proof that Truth is often stranger than Fiction.

While being interviewed by Hill, however, Hogan refused to figuratively bodyslam Bubba, saying, he’d rather put it behind him and let it go.

“It is what it is,” said Hulk. “At the end of the day, the pros are handling it, and no matter what it is, I understand people. And for whatever reason, I forgive him. I forgive myself for the choices we’ve made. I can’t hate, brother,” Hogan concluded, “That’s not my deal. Can’t do it.”

According to Den of Geek, Hulk Hogan has been associated with Wrestlemania since its inception in 1985 with Wrestlemania I, which featured Hogan and Mr. T vs. “Rowdy” Roddy Piper and “Mr. Wonderful” Paul Orndorff.

In that match, Piper wacked Hogan over the head with a chair and the Hulkster continued getting pummeled until Mr. T provided some relief by tagging in. But Piper’s team refused to Pity The Fool and Mr. T got beat up as well.

Finally the Hulkster got tagged back in and “all hell broke loose”, Hogan taking over, pinning dudes and finally making Piper so mad that he punched the ref and left the ring. Mr. T returned to help wrap things up and another piece of Hulk Hogan history was in the books!

With Hogan hosting Wrestlemania XXX, the old Hulkamania Magic will be there too, promising a show worthy of the wrestling legend that is “Hollywood” Hulk Hogan.

Images via Bing and Den of Geek