Andy Baker Wrestling Journey: From WWF Fan to Meeting Hulk Hogan- A full circle moment.
A personal memory from Andy Baker, wrestler and lifelong Hulkamaniac
This past week, the wrestling world lost a legend. Hulk Hogan has passed away, and it’s hit me harder than I expected. Like so many kids growing up in the 80s and 90s, Hulk was my hero. But unlike most, I actually got the chance to meet him — and that moment has stayed with me ever since.
Back in 2012, I was living in Florida and working in the wrestling business. I’d spent years wrestling and coaching, and during that time I had the privilege of being backstage at a TNA Wrestling event in Orlando. That’s where it happened. Al Snow — who I knew from my time at OVW Ohio Valley Wrestling— introduced me to the man himself: Hulk Hogan.
Even after everything I’d seen in wrestling, I’ll admit it — I was starstruck. One of the few times that’s ever happened to me. But Hogan wasn’t just polite, he was genuinely interested. He spent around ten minutes chatting with us, asking questions, not rushing the moment. He even offered to take a photo with us without being asked. That little gesture might seem simple, but it spoke volumes.
Some people have tried to tarnish his name over the years or give him hate for past mistakes — mistakes he publicly owned and apologised for. The truth is, no one is perfect. We’ve all made decisions or said things we wish we could take back. Especially in a world like pro wrestling, where the lines between character and person often blur, it’s easy to judge from the outside.
But what stands out to me isn't the headlines. It’s the man I met in person — someone who showed humility, respect, and kindness. People are quick to throw stones, forgetting they live in glass houses themselves. And honestly, if you’re constantly judging others, especially online, it usually says more about you than the person you’re judging.
Hogan took responsibility, made peace with his past, and kept showing love to the fans who never stopped believing in him. That’s the version of Hulk Hogan I’ll always remember.
When I told my brother Jon about it, he was absolutely made up. We’d grown up watching WWF together. I was the Hulkamaniac in the house, and Jon was all about the Ultimate Warrior.
We’d argue over who was better, but at the end of the day we both loved every second of it. Wrestling was our thing as kids. Sadly, Jon passed away just a year later — and knowing I got to share that Hogan story with him before he died means more to me than I can put into words.
Looking back, that moment backstage was more than just meeting a famous wrestler. It was a full-circle kind of moment. Hulk Hogan wasn’t just a name on a poster. He was the reason I got into wrestling in the first place. The reason I trained. The reason I stepped in the ring. For me, Andy Baker the wrestler, it all started with that larger-than-life energy Hogan brought into every arena.
I’ll always be grateful for those ten minutes in Orlando. I’ll always be proud to say I met my childhood hero. And I’ll always remember the way my brother smiled when I told him the story.
Rest in peace, Hulkster. Thanks for the memories — and for inspiring a generation of us to dream big, train hard, and never give up.
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