Hulk Hogan Credits Dusty Rhodes for Igniting His Passion for Wrestling

Dusty Rhodes is widely regarded as one of the most influential professional wrestlers of all time. He continued to inspire the next generation of wrestlers during his wrestling years as well as after retirement. One of the people he inspired went on to become one of the greatest of all time.

There were few stars who shined as bright as Hulk Hogan during the ’70s and ’80s. He was at the pinnacle of his career and everything in the wrestling world revolved around him. Hogan went on to become one of the all-time greats but he himself was inspired by the American Dream.

During a recent interview with Sports Illustrated, Hulk Hogan spoke about his beginnings as a wrestling fan and how he became hooked on the product by watching Dusty Rhodes.

“It was Dusty Rhodes who was the one who got me hooked on wrestling. If Dusty Rhodes was not on TV on Saturday or Sunday morning here in Tampa, we were pissed off. We lived for Dusty Rhodes. I loved the matches, but the interviews alone, man–those were incredible.”

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“My whole senior year of high school, I lined up my study hall, shop class, and physical ed were classes where I could hide with my friends and wrestle. We’d hide in shop and wrestle, imitating Dusty and Dick Murdoch and the Great Malenko. Those are some of my favorite memories of high school. We all loved Dusty. If it wasn’t for Dusty, none of this happens. He was the main reason I got focused on pro wrestling”

Dusty Rhodes’ influence on this business is still evident today as several WWE Superstars constantly mention how he influenced their careers as well.

What do you make of Hulk Hogan’s comment? What is your favorite Dusty Rhodes memory? Sound off in the comments section.