Whatcha Gonna Do? Hulk Hogan’s Legacy & the End of an Era: A Gen X Perspective

Send us Fan Mail his week on Gen X Resistance, host Paul Stevens takes a heartfelt look back at the life and legacy of Hulk Hogan — the man who turned wrestling into a cultural phenomenon. From the moment Hogan dropped that atomic leg drop on The Iron Sheik in 1984 to create Hulkamania, to his shocking heel turn as Hollywood Hogan and leader of the nWo, we walk through every major milestone of his career. Paul shares personal stories of being 10 years old in 1985, flexing in the mirror, ripping up old T-shirts, and living by Hogan’s commandments: say your prayers, train hard, and eat your vitamins. This episode isn’t just about wrestling — it’s about what Hulk Hogan meant to an entire generation. How his matches mirrored real-life events like the Iran crisis and the Gulf War. How he transformed from the ultimate American hero to one of wrestling’s greatest villains. And how, decades later, losing him feels like losing a piece of our childhood. Whether you were a lifelong wrestling fan or just someone who grew up knowing the name Hulk Hogan, this tribute is for you.  💥 In This Episode: The birth of Hulkamania and Hogan’s victory over The Iron Sheik (1984)WrestleMania I and how Hogan made wrestling mainstream (1985)The Mega Powers, The Ultimate Warrior, and cracks in the red-and-yellow imageThe nWo heel turn that changed wrestling forever (1996)Hogan’s comeback, his match with The Rock at WrestleMania X8, and his Hall of Fame inductionWhy Hulk Hogan’s story isn’t just wrestling history — it’s Gen X history