Paul Wight Reveals How Impersonating Hulk Hogan Launched His Wrestling Career

Paul Wight owes a lot to Hulk Hogan for helping him launch his wrestling career and he has now revealed how he got his big break in wrestling thanks to Hogan.

While speaking on Going Ringside, Paul Wight shared how he met Hulk Hogan, did an impression of him and got his first big break in wrestling. At the time, Paul was working for a karaoke company, helping load equipment. He ran into Danny Bonaduce, who was doing a morning radio show.

Danny was surprised by how big Paul was and asked what he did. Paul said he recognized Danny from The Partridge Family, and they started talking. Wight noted that Danny was planning a charity basketball game against Hulk Hogan and Mr. T.

Since Paul Wight had played college basketball at Wichita State, Danny invited him to join the team and said it would be a good chance to meet Hogan.

“Danny Bonaduce was doing a thing on the morning drive where we had people coming in and sing karaoke through Jimmy’s company. So, I’m loading equipment. I run into Danny Bonaduce. Danny’s like, ‘Oh my God, you’re huge, man. What do you do?’ I’m like, ‘Hey, you’re the guy from The Partridge Family.’

So Danny was doing a charity basketball game against Hulk Hogan and Mr. T and wanted to bring me as a ringer because I used to play basketball for Wichita State. He said, ‘Hey, you can meet Hulk. Maybe something will happen.’”

At the game, Paul met Hogan briefly before it started. Later, Paul Wight told his friend Jimmy that Hogan seemed bigger than him. Jimmy laughed and said Paul was actually much taller but Hogan just had a huge presence.

After the game, Jimmy told Paul Wight to do his Hulk Hogan impression. Paul was nervous at first since he knew that impersonating another wrestler could go badly if it wasn’t good. But he gave it a shot anyway. He went all in with the voice and energy, saying lines like, “What are you gonna do when the largest arms in the world come for you, brother?”

“So, I went to the game. I met Hulk. We said hi before, talked a little bit. Then we were gonna do the game halftime thing and meet after. So I’m talking to Jimmy and I go, ‘Dude, I didn’t know Hulk Hogan was taller than me.’ Because he had so much presence, man. I’m like, ‘My God, Hulk Hogan’s bigger than me.’

Jimmy looks at me and goes, ‘What are you, nuts? You’re like a foot taller than him.’ I go, ‘Really? I thought he was bigger than me.’

So we do the basketball game. Hogan was fun to work with. I met him afterward. And Jimmy goes, ‘Hey, do that thing you do.’ I said, ‘What thing?’ He says, ‘Do the impersonation.’

Now, as a guy trying to get in the business, I didn’t know how risky it is to impersonate another wrestler. If you’re not very good at it, it could end your trajectory very early — some guys don’t like to be impersonated. But Hulk was very receptive.

So I did it. I went full into it: ‘Well, let me tell you something, dude! I’ve been to the top of the mountain, brother. So what are you gonna do when the largest arms in the world come for you, man?’”

The Hulkster was surprised in a good way. He told Paul Wight that he had a dollar sign on his forehead. Paul joked that he wished he could see it because he was broke. From that moment, Hogan started supporting Paul.

Hogan made phone calls and helped get Paul booked for an autograph signing in Illinois, even though Paul hadn’t started wrestling yet. Hogan told people Paul was going to be a star. At that time, if Hogan gave his support, people listened. That one moment with the impersonation helped start Paul’s wrestling career.

“Hogan’s eyes got real big. He says, ‘Brother, you got a dollar sign on your forehead.’ I said, ‘Well, please show it to me, ‘cause I is broke.’ And from that moment, Hulk kind of took me under his wing. He started making calls. He believed in me. Next thing I know, I’m doing an autograph signing in Illinois before I’d ever even laced up a pair of wrestling boots. He got me booked.

Hogan told people, ‘This kid’s gonna be something.’ And they listened. Because if Hulk Hogan puts his stamp on you back then? Doors opened. That impersonation — that one moment — it changed everything for me.”

Paul Wight’s story shows that one brave choice can change your whole life in a big way. Therefore, fans are just glad Wight decided to take the risk and impersonate Hogan since it obviously paid off in the best way possible.

What do you think about Paul Wight’s origin story? Have you ever had a life-changing moment sparked by a bold decision? Sound off in the comments.

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