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(April 3) -- Hulk Hogan is an absolute force to be reckoned with. Still stronger and cooler than you (or us) at the age of 55, the wrestling legend known to the government as Terry Bollea is being featured in the amazing-looking new video game 'Legends of Wrestlemania,' and as PopEater just learned out, was also supposed to wrestle at Wrestlemania this weekend. Sadly, a back injury is keeping Hulkamania from running wild on John Cena in the ring, but trust us -- Hulk is still as fiesty as ever, as you'll see in PopEater's exclusive chat with him. He chats about everything from what Nick is up to post-jail, who should play Hulk in a biopic, what advice he has for Billy Ray Cyrus about Miley and how he turned down a VH1 dating show. Check It Out:
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So, the 'Legends of Wrestlemania' game looks awesome (see a trailer here). Did you have any input on the character's looks or moves?
"No, I didn't. They pretty much have the Hulk Hogan look down to a science. I'm amazed how good the stuff looks and how lifelike it is."
Will you be at Wrestlemania this weekend?
"You know what, I was supposed to wrestle John Cena for the title, and about four weeks ago I had back surgery. Vince and I were talking about how much involvement I wanted to have in Wrestlemania, and if I wanted to keep wrestling, and out of nowhere my back just got really crazy. I went in for an MRI and I had to have some emergency surgery that threw me out of the game. I was kind of flipped out about it, I thought I'd be the main event this year."
Is everything OK?
"Yeah, they just put a band aid on it. The real surgery, they put the steel rods and the screws and cages in, so I diverted that for now so I can have a little bit of a grace period with this surgery. All that fake wrestling stuff, you know?"
Speaking of fake wrestling, did you think Mickey Rourke's portrayal of the life in 'The Wrestler' was fair?
"I thought it was fair but it was a one-dimensional look at just one area of the wrestling pie. I know a bunch of guys that are past their prime that are wrestling high schools on the weekend. They do the blade jobs and the hardcore stuff ... it's better now since they used to give $25 to do it and now you get $400 or $500, but you know ... it was a very fair snapshot of one teeny tiny segment of the wrestling community. It's pretty realistic."
What do you think the chances of Mickey Rourke making a quick cameo to throw down with Chris Jericho are?
"None if he values his acting career."
Staying on the movies and Hollywood, The Rock and John Cena have made the transition from wrestlers to movie stars. How does it feel to know that you were the pioneer of that thanks to 'Rocky' and other movies?
"Well, what's great is the wrestling family being so cross-promotional friendly. When I did 'Rocky' I got fired for doing it. The people that own it realize that if you do other forms of entertainment such as a TV series or a movie, it makes you a bigger star. When I did a movie or a special, I was almost banned from the wrestling community."
Because they didn't want you doing outside ventures?
"Well that and the mindset of the wrestling business was protect the business at all costs, don't ever break the unwritten code of ethics, silence and morals and lifestyle that they had. For a wrestler to dabble with actors was taboo."
Even though it was essentially part of your job, to be an actor?
"I guess. An actor acts. When I do something, I live it vicariously during that moment. It's almost like an out of body experience for me. I've never done anything except zone into that Hulk Hogan zone and then fly with it. If you told me to act, I probably wouldn't do it very well. I've never had acting lessons in my life, so if I'm acting, you'd have to be the judge."
Should a Hulk Hogan biography film get made, who's your choice to play you?
"Oh boy, if they do a biography, good God. If they ever told the true story I don't think anyone would believe it. Let me think, who could play that part ... I'm not familiar enough with anybody. If it's just an actor portraying a part, cosmetically t hey'd have to get someone a little larger than life."
Maybe Brad Pitt could beef up for it?
"Hey, there you go!"
Do you feel like 'Hogan Knows Best' has opened up a vulnerability to your persona?
"Definitely. Whenever you bring cameras in the house it changes everything. People now know me more as a husband and a father having the same trials and tribulations as everybody. I think it made me more tangible and made people realize this whole thing wasn't a superhero that went into a closet at night and waited for someone to turn the switch back on. I think it made people think 'Oh my gosh.'"
Was there any hesitance to bring Brooke and Nick into the reality world?
"No, Nick was pretty much heading into his precision driving career, and Brooke has been doing music industry work since she was like 13 ... so they were banging on the door on their own already, so when the opportunity arose to do the 1 hour special to help open up the doors on their careers, we were all for it."
How's everything going with Nick and his racing?
"That's all on hold. Nick is regrouping and has moved to Los Angeles and is going to different acting schools and working with a couple companies doing his internship, and getting back in the groove and trying to shake off this lynch mob media assault that's chased him around for a year. He's getting his feet back under him and a lot of positive stuff from a lot of positive people. It's been a crazy year for all of us."
Because of all the drama this past year, have you questioned yourself as to whether 'Hogan Knows Best' and putting your family into the media eye was worth it?
"It's hard to say. There really are no mistakes, everything happens for a reason. It's alright already man, it's in God's hands so I'm not going to question the path. We did what we thought was right at the time. I guess we can second guess your last three girlfriends if we want, but you probably had fun at the time."
That's actually a great segway into my next question. You're one of the bigger stars on VH1 along with Brett Michaels. If they asked, would you do a 'Rock of Love type dating show?
"They already have. I passed on it. That's not my deal brother. It'd have to be 'Hulk Hogan: 55 and Still Alive on Viagra' or something."
Sounds like it would get monster ratings.
"Ha! I'm sure!"
Is there another celebrity dad with famous kids out there that you feel you can really relate with whether you know him or not?
"The only one I can really probably say 'Be careful' and 'Be aware of your surroundings' is Billy Ray Cyrus. They're on such a role right now, and there have been a few stutter steps along the way. Just be reaaaal aware of everything along the way so you don't get caught off guard. Things come at you so fast you don't even see them hit you."
Brooke seems to be using Twitter pretty frequently, talking about recession songs and so forth. Are you familiar with the Twitter world?
"Not really. Brooke kinda showed me what was going on, and to me it's all Greek."
To close things out: Have you ever heard or read a tabloid rumor about yourself or a family member that was so insane it made you laugh?
"Well, I don't read the tabloids or the newspaper because it's all pretty much negative haters. But I do look at the pictures. I love looking at the pictures, looking at my son or my daughter or my ex-wife Linda. I just like to see pictures, who's hanging out with who. Even before I went down this positive road I'm going, many years ago I was in the grocery store pushing a cart down the aisle and I saw The National Enquirer, and it said "Hulk Hogan Has Massive Heart Attack." I looked at the headlines, looked at Linda, looked down at my chest and said "Hmmm, how come I didn't know about that?' Once I saw that, I realized there wasn't any merit to this stuff. Then I decided to take a path different than the one many expected me to go down. I choose not to be a part of that negative stuff, because if you are, you just attract more of it into your life."
Do you think the media does it simply because it gets people interested?
"I think it draws people's attention, they'll do whatever to make a buck in these times. If they were making a lot of money about people saving animals, they'd be writing about that. But I don't think the mindset of the public mentality wants that. They'd rather see the drama and find out if OctoMom has piercings below the waistline because that'll probably sell more copies."
Well, I guess I'm in the minority because I don't want to see that, but maybe I'm in the minority.
"Ha! That's cool brother."
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