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The business of professional wrestling is hard-hitting and unforgiving with every athlete's time being limited inside the ring. Once every wrestling star wraps up their in-ring career and hangs up their boots, they set on to pursue other ventures, sometimes inside the industry and many times, outside of it. One such wrestling-related venture after retirement was initiated by one of the most legendary performers in the business, The Immortal Hulk Hogan.
In the world of professional wrestling, Hulk Hogan is one of the biggest names. His career spanned over four decades, and he became a household name among wrestling fans all around the world. Moreover, Hogan's non-wrestling involvement in the business through sporadic appearances and his social media presence make him almost as relevant as he was during his heyday.
With his larger-than-life personality and in-ring skills, it's no surprise that Hogan wanted to extend his reach into the world of television. Unfortunately, his attempt at doing so with the Celebrity Championship Wrestling TV show proved to be a massive failure. So let's explore the subject of The Hulkster's TV show stint that did not meet expectations.
What Was 'Celebrity Championship Wrestling'?
The Celebrity Championship Wrestling TV show aired on CMT in October 2008 and was co-produced by Hulk Hogan and Bischoff-Hervey Entertainment. The premise of the show was to take a group of celebrities, who had little to no wrestling experience, and train them to become professional wrestlers. The celebrities featured on the show included Todd Bridges, Trishelle Cannatella, Dustin Diamond, Danny Bonaduce, Eric Esch, Erin Murphy, Dennis Rodman, Frank Stallone, Tiffany Darwish, and Nikki Ziering.
Hulk Hogan would serve as a mentor to celebrities, guiding them through the process of learning how to wrestle and ultimately helping them to create their own wrestling personas. Along with his duties as a mentor, Hulk Hogan was also on the judging panel alongside fellow wrestling legends Eric Bischoff and Jimmy Hart. Furthermore, the show also saw guest appearances from stars like Rob Van Dam, Brutus Beefcake, and Bill Goldberg.
Hulk Hogan Failed With 'Celebrity Championship Wrestling'
The show was met with poor ratings, and the celebrity wrestlers were criticized for their lack of skill and athleticism in the ring. Many wrestling fans felt that the show was a slap in the face to the hardworking men and women who had spent years honing their craft in the ring. One of the biggest problems with the show was the lack of actual wrestling. The celebrities were given very little time to actually perform in the ring, and when they did, it was clear that they had not been given enough time to learn the necessary skills. Many of the matches were sloppy and uncoordinated, which left the audience feeling underwhelmed.
Another problem with the show was the choice of celebrities. While some of the contestants were recognizable names, like Dennis Rodman and Frank Stallone, many of them were unknowns. This made it difficult for the audience to become invested in their storylines, and it also made it harder for the show to generate buzz.
Perhaps the biggest issue with the show was Hulk Hogan himself. While he was meant to be the mentor to the celebrity wrestlers, he often came across as arrogant and self-centered. He would frequently talk about his own wrestling accomplishments and would often overshadow the celebrities he was supposed to be helping. This made it difficult for the audience to root for the contestants, as they were constantly being overshadowed by Hogan's larger-than-life personality.
Despite these problems, the show did manage to generate some buzz, but not for the reasons that the producers had hoped. One of the most memorable moments of the show came when one of the contestants, Dustin Diamond, got into a physical altercation with another contestant, Ron Jeremy. The fight quickly became the talk of the internet, with many people tuning in just to see what would happen next.
Ultimately, the Celebrity Championship Wrestling TV show was a failure. It only lasted for one season before being canceled, and it left a bad taste in the mouths of many wrestling fans.
Therefore, the show was little more than a vanity project for Hulk Hogan, who was trying to extend his reach into the world of television. However, his lack of focus on the actual wrestling, combined with his overbearing personality, ultimately led to the show's downfall. While Hogan remains one of the biggest names in wrestling, the Celebrity Championship Wrestling TV show serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of trying to extend one's reach too far.