Hulk Hogan is no new name inside the WWE ring. With his forever young personality, Hogan is always ready to leave a mark in the hearts of his fans and the WWE Universe at large. However, his legacy wouldn’t have been created had he backed off after Hiro Matsuda broke his leg.
Hiro Matsuda was one of the greatest Japanese professional wrestlers and trainers. His training was held in extremely high regard by all and Hulk Hogan too wanted to be his student. However, the training wasn’t a cakewalk and Hogan had to undergo intense training, which eventually broke his leg.
Sharing the insides of the story with Joe Rogan on his podcast, Hulk Hogan recalled Hiro making him run around the Tampa stadium two or three times. He then took him to a building and forced him to do push-ups, jumping squats and side straddle hops until he was ready to faint. Hulk was then put with Hiro in the ring. “Matsuda got between my legs. He stuck his elbow in my shin, grabbed my toe and broke my leg,” recalled Hulk Hogan.

Hiro then told Hogan, “Don’t ever come back again” to the ring. Hulk Hogan has had many terrific incidents both inside and outside the squared circle. However, his love for professional wrestling helped him overcome all the struggles and shine out as one of the greatest to ever step inside the ring.
Why did Hiro Matsuda break Hulk Hogan’s leg?
Hiro Matsuda had been an extremely renowned professional wrestling trainer. For him, wrestling was a sport that everyone couldn’t pursue. With his rigorous training, Matsuda ensured that only deserving newbies got their chance in the world of professional wrestling. Hiro’s way was probably the best way to put the passion of the aspirants to the test.
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After thrashing Hulk Hogan in his training years, Hiro Matsuda warned Hogan not to get back to the ring again. However, Hulk Hogan’s dedication was extremely strong. He recovered, rejoined Matsuda’s training centre and eventually became one of the greatest pro wrestlers of all time.
Hulk Hogan’s legendary leg-breaking incident is world-famous. However, it was not an accident but a deliberate attempt by Hiro to ensure that Hulk was genuinely interested in the industry. In his book, The Hiro Matsuda Stories: Samurai Spirit, he holds the Hulkster in high regard. “He was one of my protégés and became the most famous wrestler in the U.S.” reveals the special place that Hulk had in his trainer’s life.
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