WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan makes several stops in Omaha to promote new beer
That long line at the Hy-Vee grocery store in northwest Omaha on Wednesday had nothing to do with shopping.
It had everything to do with an appearance by Hulk Hogan, perhaps the most recognizable professional wrestler in the world.
Hogan is in Nebraska this week to promote his "Real American Beer," an American-made light lager co-founded by the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) Hall of Famer. A line estimated at 300 snaked around the outside of the Hy-Vee building at noon.
That line would have undoubtedly been much longer if the younger "Hulkamaniacs," as his devoted fans are called, weren't in school.
The tie to "Real American Beer" is a natural for the 71-year-old Hogan, who has immersed himself over the years in patriotism. His "Real American" entrance music to wrestling matches was immediately identifiable to his legion of fans.
Hogan, who retired in 2012, said the beer started out as just an idea when he had a chance meeting with a beer executive.
"He asked me if I had ever entertained the idea of any sort of alcohol promotion," the wrestler said. "It didn't fit me at the time but since I'm not wrestling anymore, I had an idea for a beer for all of America."
Many of the drinking-age fans in line Wednesday had signed up to buy two cases of the beer, one autographed by Hogan. One of those fans was Garrett Petersen of Avoca, Iowa, who said he showed up almost four hours before Hogan's arrival.
"Ever since I can remember, I've been a huge fan," he said. "My dad took me to the (Omaha) Civic Auditorium to watch Hulk wrestle."
Petersen had a less-than-pleasant memory from one of those arena visits when he tried to shake hands with "The Hulkster" near the wrestling ring.
"I was 12 and I went up to high-five him," Petersen said. "Some guy punched me in the stomach for some reason, so I missed that chance."
Petersen said when he learned Hogan would be in Omaha this week, he asked for the day off from work.
"My basement is filled with all sorts of wrestling memorabilia," he said. "They say you never want to meet your idol, but I'm really excited to meet Hulk today."
The heavy wrestling presence caught some by surprise who were at Hy-Vee to simply do some grocery shopping. One woman asked a reporter, "What the heck is going on?"
Born Terry Bollea in 1953, Hogan grew up in Florida. He began watching pro wrestling as a teen-ager and later befriended wrestlers who frequented the gym where Hogan worked.
During his first training session to become a professional, Hogan had his leg broken. After 10 weeks of rehab, he returned to training.
He wrestled from 1977 to 2012, gaining worldwide recognition. He headlined eight of the first nine editions of Wrestlemania, the sport's annual flagship event.
During and after wrestling, Hogan had an extensive acting career that began with a cameo in the movie "Rocky III."
Hogan said he remembered his early wrestling days in Omaha, taking part in matches lined up by local promoter Joe Dusek. He also reminisced about a long-closed restaurant, believed to be The Smoke Pit.
"There was this crazy barbecue place that we all laughed at," he said. "They'd take a chicken, stick a paint brush in a paint bucket full of barbecue sauce and slap the chicken with it."
Hogan addressed one other question, that being why he traditionally calls everyone he meets "brother."
"When I was the world champion and I was meeting 200 to 300 people per day, I couldn't remember so many names," he said. "The word just kind of stuck."
Hogan was scheduled to make two other Omaha stops on Wednesday before making three stops Thursday, two of those in Lincoln. He'll be at the Papillion Hy-Vee at 11650 S. 73rd St. from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., the Lincoln Hy-Vee at 50th & O from 3-4:30 and the Lincoln SouthPointe Old Chicago restaurant from 7-8.
, 402-444-1350, twitter.com/MPattersonOWH
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