Paul Heyman Recalls His Positive Experiences With Hulk Hogan

Paul Heyman says late WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan was always a gentleman to him.

Speaking on The Ariel Helwani Show, Paul Heyman shared that he had limited on screen moments with the late Hulk Hogan, including a 2002 segment with Brock Lesnar and another in 2019 when he interrupted Hogan’s opening at WWE WrestleMania 35.

He said, “My on-air exposure to Hulk Hogan was very limited. I didn’t get to work with him behind the scenes that much. Even when I was writing SmackDown in 2002 and he was on the show for a brief period. I knew Hulk in 1980 when he was in WWE and I was—I was a 15-year-old photographer. “

“He was always super cool to me. You know and even cooler to me once he knew that, I was riding with Afa and Sika, the Wild Samoans, ’cause he loved the Wild Samoans and they loved him. Every time I saw him, he was a complete gentleman to me. The best thing he, I know people have both their glowing love of Hulk Hogan and I know people have their behind-the-scenes how much they hated him.”

Heyman recalled starting in WCW in 1988, managing his version of the Midnight Express against Jim Cornette’s team. A few months in during tour in Chicago, Heyman had memorable interaction with Hulk Hogan.

“I pull up, a limousine pulls up behind me. I get out of the car. Hulk Hogan gets out of the limousine. Brother, how you doing, brother? Hey, man. Oh, since you’re doing it right. You’re doing it great. Talk to me for a minute, brother. So, we get into his limo, and we get into his limo, and the first thing he says is he goes, “How long’s your contract for? I’m a big fan of your work.”

Paul Heyman reflects on Hulk Hogan’s respectful nature during Hulkamania era

Paul Heyman was surprised to find that Hulk Hogan then the biggest star in wrestling was his fan. Before Heyman could even express his respect for Hulkster, Hogan began praising him saying, “All he’s doing is, “Brother, I’m only as good as the opponents they bring me. They always need opponents, and you can talk for my opponents. And there’s only so many times I can bounce around Bobby Heenan. Only so many times I can throw Jimmy Hart over the top rope. We got to get you in here.”

Heyman found the moment touching. He said Hulk Hogan treated others the same way and always acted graciously. “And from what I understand with other people, he was gracious with them like that too. So, my experiences with him were all pretty positive. I was never in backstage politics opposed to him. And I don’t know what that was like, so I can’t speak to it. But I can tell you, as far as my personal interactions with him, he was always a gentleman with me.”

Read More: Brooke Hogan Explains Why She Skipped Hulk Hogan’s Funeral

If you use these quotes, please credit the original source and link back to WrestleZone with an h/t for the transcription.