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Wake-Up Call Helps Hulkster Bounce Back

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By WALT BELCHER

The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 15, 2008

Despite all the turmoil in the personal life of Terry Bollea, his Hulk Hogan franchise keeps on going.

With his hosting duties on "American Gladiators" on hold until NBC decides whether to cancel it or overhaul it, Hogan is staying in the public eye with "Hulk Hogan's Celebrity Championship Wrestling," which debuts at 8 p.m. Saturday on CMT.

He is host and co-creator of the series on which celebrities such as Danny Bonaduce, Todd Bridges and Dennis Rodman are trained in "the art" of wrestling. He says he came up with the concept after being bored by the current lack of stars and style in professional wrestling.

Known for his bluster and bravado in the ring, a humbled and more spiritual Hulkster spoke with the media Tuesday in a telephone news conference about the series and recent events in his life.

The former pro-wrestling superstar says the past year has led to a spiritual awakening that is going to shape the rest of his life.

"There are no accidents in life; everything happens for a reason. ... And what happens is in God's hands now," he says, referring to the problems he and his family have faced.

He sees their troubles as "a wake-up call" that has shown him what is really important in life.

"I've always been pushing and pushing," he says. "Pushing so hard I didn't realize I had everything I needed, and once everything's stripped away from you, it's almost like someone on their deathbed. I finally woke up."

His 18-year-old son, Nick, is in jail. His wife, Linda, has filed for divorce after 24 years of marriage. And a former close family friend, John Graziano, has suffered a life-altering brain injury.

Graziano was a passenger in the Toyota Supra that Nick Bollea was driving when it went out of control and slammed into a tree in August 2007.

Hogan's son is expected to be released from the Pinellas County Jail on Oct. 21. He's getting out early for good behavior, after serving five months of an eight-month sentence after pleading no contest to a charge of reckless driving involving serious bodily injury.

What's important now, Hogan says, is for him to keep moving forward "being aware in the spirit of Christ," he says. "I have played the first half of my life, and it's halftime now. Things have changed, and I'm ready to play the second half."

He's also trying to keep his career as Hulk Hogan going without having to get back into the ring.

"I've got a fake knee and a fake hip, and I understand these replacements come in pairs," he jokes. "When I get a matching pair of fake knees and hips, I may crank up the walker and head back."

He joked that his most formidable "last match" would be a no-holds barred, lights-out, steel-cage one with Linda Hogan - and he would probably lose.

Other celebrities on his new series include former "Saved by the Bell" geek Dustin "Screech" Diamond; singer Tiffany; Sylvester Stallone's brother, Frank; Playboy playmate Nikki Ziering; "Bewitched" actor Erin Murphy (Tabitha); heavyweight boxer Butterbean; and Trishelle Cannatella from "The Real World."

Tampa-based radio personality Bubba the Love Sponge Clem provides the play-by-play analysis.

TIME WARP: Debuting at 8 tonight on the Discovery Channel is "Time Warp,"a series designed to make viewers say, "Whoa! Did You See That?"

The first episode uses high tech cameras to show things in really slow motion such as a punch to the jaw. Then we learn how to make a Diet Coke and Mentos geyser. A second episode at 9 shows slow-motion chainsaw juggling; what happens when you put a butane lighter in a blender and how to break a beer bottle with your bare hands.

TUNE IN TONIGHT

Presidential Debate, 9 p.m., PBS, NBC, CBS, ABC, Fox News Channel, CNN, MSNBC

The candidates square off for the last debate before the election.

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