Having just heard about this for the first time this evening, I started Googling about but haven't found anything but the video itself and some very short stories.
Basically, right before Wrestlemania, Hulk Hogan and Mr. T appeared on Richard Belzer's talk show because they were told they were going to see a group of crippled children. (There were some in the crowd) Belzer used the segment to essentially mock the pair, insinuating far too often that wrestling was a joke.
It got to a point Belzer wanted to be taught a move, and Hogan slapped on a front facelock. Belzer wound up passing out and cracking open the back of his head against the floor. When he came to he popped up and said "we'll be right back after a word from you know who" and stumbled towards the back with blood dripping down his back.
I'm looking for more though .... What repercussions came of this. I know there was a lawsuit, but was Hogan in any way disciplined? What kind of spin control did McMahon put on the incident at the time? Did the media have a hayday right before Wrestlemania, or did it fly under the radar? Details from those in the know would be mucho appreciated!!!
Hulk Hogan's view of the situation, from his book:
Richard Belzer was giving him a bad time about wrestling being "real". He even dared Hogan to put him in a Camel Clutch. He then brought Mr. T on and was getting T to say something, using T's catchphrase.
So he calls Hogan a chicken, playing to his audience. Hogen then puts a chinlock on Belzer, put what he called 5 lbs of pressure and made him pass out. Hogan freaked out and lets go, Belzer crashes to the floor. While at commercial, Hogan is apologizing for what happened and then apologizes to the audience.
Then Mr. T spoke up and called him an idiot and that he had that coming to him. The lawsuit comes 2 weeks later and Belzer wanted 5M in damages. The agreement Hogan signed in 1985 keeps him from saying how much was settled upon. Vince, Mr. T and Hogan split the money and paid Belzer.
No more goes into the situation except that Hogan saw an article some fews years back. Apparently Richard Belzer purchased a farmhouse in France with the money won from the lawsuit.
It was 1985, just before WrestleMania, so they probably didn't suspend Hogan or anything like that. Also remember that Belzer's show was on Lifetime, which wasn't exactly high-tier back when a good percentage the homes in the country still didn't even have cable, much less Lifetime.
Belzer appeared on Stern in 1991 and may have been joking when he said he got $350,000:
And since you know that Wikipedia is always correct... (hahaha)
Originally posted by Wikipedia article...In that same year on his cable TV talk show Hot Properties, Belzer said wrestling was fake and insisted Hulk Hogan put a wrestling move on him. Hulk Hogan put Belzer in a front chin lock or sleeper hold, which caused Belzer to pass out. When Hogan released him, Belzer hit his head on the floor, sustaining a laceration to his scalp which required him to be hospitalized briefly. Belzer sued Hogan for $5 million, and it was later settled out of court. Belzer used the settlement (rumored to be $1.5 million) to purchase a cottage in France, where he and his wife Harlee live when he's not working in the U.S. On October 20, 2006 on the Bubba the Love Sponge show it was claimed (with Hogan live on the phone) that the settlement totalled $5 million, half from Hogan and half from Vince McMahon.
Much like anything on Wiki, take it with a grain of salt and some form of disbelief.
(edited by Oliver on 4.2.07 1201) I've seen ONE movie so far this year: Borat - (5*)