The Hulkster tags with Wal-Mart

By Tracy M. Neal Staff Writer

Thanks to Mike Informer: 

NWAnews.com :: Northwest Arkansas' News Source

Posted on Sunday, May 20, 2007

BENTONVILLE — There was a different energy in the air Saturday morning at the Bentonville Wal-Mart Supercenter.

Many people know the feeling as HULKAMANIA.

Many Hulkamaniacs lined up to greet Hogan.

The immortal one, Hulk Hogan, dressed in his familiar yellow and red, was at the store signing autographs while promoting his new energy drink.

Hogan Energy powered by Socko is one of the products offered by Bliss Beverage.

Trevor Morrison, who was first in line, arrived almost two hours before Hogan’s scheduled 10: 30 a. m. arrival.

“ He’s the man, ” Morrison said while holding a Hulk Hogan mug and 1981 magazine featuring the legendary wrestler on the cover. “ He made wrestling. If there was no Hogan then there would be no charismatic characters in wrestling. ”

Alex Roberts, 10, was in line with his mother, Lisa Hunt, who was a little more anxious to see Hogan than her son. “ I’ve watched him wrestling since I was a kid, ” Hunt said.

Rand Pearcy, 19, stayed up all night so he wouldn’t miss Hogan’s appearance.

“ He’s a classic, ” Pearcy said about Hogan. “ I knew if I fell asleep I wouldn’t come. ”

Steve Witt brought his two sons — Brandon and Brice — to see the wrestling superstar. Hogan signed his photographs for the two.

“ He’s one of the best wrestlers, ” 11-year-old Brandon said.

Hogan signed about 200 autographs during the appearance. As fans shook his hand they were met with “ Brother, ” which is one of Hogan’s familiar catch phrases.

“ It will make you run fast and jump high, ” Hogan told one fan about his energy drink. “ Be careful. ”

“ You’re the greatest, ” another fan said as Hogan autographed a photograph.

Hogan was pleased with the turnout. He was told that he had attracted twice as many people as a Garth Brooks’ appearance.

Hogan does not have any plans to return to a WWE ring.

Jimmy “ The Mouth of the South” Hart, who was Hogan’s manager for several years in the WWE, was also on hand. Hart dressed one of his famous suits had his familiar megaphone on hand.

“ This is tremendous, ” Hart said. “ Wal-Mart is America and Hulk is America. We are new tag-team partners. ”

A VH-1 camera crew was filming the event for the former wrestler’s reality show — “ Hogan’s Knows Best” — featuring his wife and two children.

Jordan Harwood, one of the founders of Bliss Beverage, said Hogan Energy is one of 12 different products offered by the company.

Harwood said going into business with Hogan was as easy decision.

“ Hulk Hogan is about America and we are about America, ” Harwood said. “ Hulk has a 92 percent approval rating. No one else can touch that. Not even the president. ”

Harwood said a national commercial for the energy drink will air in June during WWE’s “ Monday Night Raw. ”

Former World Championship Wrestling president and WWE personality Eric Bischoff and former “ Wonder Years” star Jason Hervey were also at the event.