I was lucky enough to take two weeks and go on vacation to Florida with family. So far my wife and I have gone to universal studios, laid by the pool, took in some sights and have eaten well; however, there is no such thing for this mark as a "wrestling free vacation". I drove over the cosways, past the beautiful landscapes and beach fronts to a dream destination for any true fan of nostalgia and pro wrestling directly to an oversized statue of the immortal Hulk Hogan! We made our way to Hogan's Beach Shop in Clearwater, Florida and walked into a real life shrine to all that is, was and will be Hulk Hogan.
Walking in I heard the voice of Gorilla Monsoon and Jesse Ventura which pushed my focus to two big screen televisions toward the back of the store playing Wrestlemania III in its entirety. Before I could give my full attention to Billy Jack Haynes taking on Hercules Hernandez I was engulfed by Hogan memorabilia and history. Like any beach shop there were a myriad of tee shirts to purchase all in some way related to the hulkster, as a wrestler or beach shop owner, and there were multiple options from Hollywood Hogan to the red and yellow Hulkamania and finally red, white and blue American made Hulk Hogan. Along the back wall hung every replica belt you could imagine, most signed by hogan himself, as well as a specially made all gold one of a kind title belt made specially for the hulk himself. There were dvds of "no holds barred" and "suburban commando", weight lifting belts from all eras of Hogan, and a slue of bandanas all to purchase; but the neatest part of the shop was all of the nostalgic wrestling artifacts that surround the store.
Inside frames were ripped shirts and red knee pads, Hollywood long trunks complete with airbrushed hogan face and even the yellow trunks themselves. There were autographed personal photos from japan and during Hulk's first huge run in the 80's. Posters of Wrestlemania 2 and 3 as well a small amount of Andre The Giant stuff all for sale. Hulk wasn't there at the time but after talking to a very friendly employee he does come in about once a week and is very interactive with the shoppers, Hogan's Beach Shop also donates portions of sales to local and national charities and had just finished a campaign of raising money to help donate prosthetic legs to those in need.
The absolute coolest thing about Hogan's Beach Shop for this crazy fan was how the worker there, who was very willing to talk about wrestling and the hulkster, was telling me Hogan had just brought in the actual and authentic wwf world heavyweight title used during Hulk's first run as champion, the title that was retired after Wrestlemania 3 when Hogan slammed Andre. The idea was that Hogan had given it to the Beach Shop to have on display as a specialty feature piece for the shop and the gentleman that ran the place was going to find a frame and place to display it, so unfortunately I was not able to see the belt hanging up. However, to any wrestling fan of the 1980's or any era the significance of that title, that title run and the culmination of Hogan versus Andre is a huge deal and a major part of wrestling history. To know that belt will be on display at some point is awesome and really makes Hogan's Beach Shop almost a museum of when professional wrestling changed forever with the cementing of WWF's success and the end of the territory days for good. Of course, I purchased a number of wrestling and beach shop tee shirts, including a hulkamania sweat shirt, hogan beach shop t and an original nWo tee shirt (because when you are nWo, you are nWo for life) my wife even purchased a hogan against breast cancer shirt and we began to check out. Proud of myself for not trying to buy everything in the store, including autographed action figures, we only spent about $100. The very friendly shop worker was very appreciative that we spent $100 next thing I know I am being handed the WWF world heavyweight championship from 1984 to 1987 that Hogan won from the Iron Sheik and last defended against Andre at Wrestlemania 3. This was the real deal authentic title and I was holding it, he asked that I don't unfold the leather belt but excitedly suggested I take photos with the title.
I was standing in an almost empty shrine built to memorialize the most important wrestler possibly in history holding a piece of wrestling history that may be more important than any other title in wrestling existence. Trying my absolute best to not flip out like a kid in a candy store multiplied by a million and I calmly took some photos with the title over my shoulder and around my waist. In 1987 in front of 93,000 fans filling the Pontiac Silverdome Hulk Hogan slammed Andre the Giant, dropped the big leg and pinned the man who had been undefeated for 15 years. Hogan celebrated with the sea of Hulkamaniacs and held up his championship belt to signify victory in the biggest wwf wrestling match in history. That title belt was then "retired" and the "eagle championship" was unveiled.
Twenty-seven and a half years later that same title belt lay upon my shoulder and then held around my waist. Very few people can make that statement and I happened to be in the right place at the right time to be able to do it. The championship belt will now be displayed like an icon of professional wrestling at Hogan's Beach Shop and can be purchased for the retail price of $100,00.00, but for one night I was the WWF world heavyweight champion, at least in my mind and on my cell phone camera.
Hulk Hogan and Hulkamania may very well be the most important wrestler and wrestling phenomenon in the history of sports entertainment. With the backing of Vince McMahon and the WWF Hulk Hogan paved the way and became a hero to youngsters all over the world; he then turned his back on the wrestling fan base and recreated himself as Hollywood Hogan and sparked a wrestling war that revolutionized the business yet again. He then returned to his roots of wwe and challenged The Rock at Wrestlemania 18 and delivered a wrestling experience like no other that brought every wrestling fan back to their nostalgic roots and reignited hulkamania and lead to a final championship run. Now he acts as an ambassador for sports entertainment and reminds everyone with his trademark mustache, red and yellow and his echo of "brother's", "jack's" and "whatcha' gonna do" why they fell in love with an era of wrestling and a real superhero that everyone believed in and was the first mainstream wrestler to transcend the business into pop culture. Hulkamania is still running wild and it will forever, brother! That is just this marks remarks.
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Twenty-seven and a half years later that same title belt lay upon my shoulder and then held around my waist. Very few people can make that statement and I happened to be in the right place at the right time to be able to do it. The championship belt will now be displayed like an icon of professional wrestling at Hogan's Beach Shop and can be purchased for the retail price of $100,00.00, but for one night I was the WWF world heavyweight champion, at least in my mind and on my cell phone camera. 
