The Scourge of the Wrestling World

[DISCLAIMER]

The above photo was taken when I was stationed in Okinawa, Japan (1997-1999). The Marine mimicking a wrestling hold is someone to whom I’ll refer as “D.” In keeping with the tradition of kayfabe (staged performance as genuine), the photo was of course theatrical.

D and I were both fans of professional wrestling, such as the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) that was renamed World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). While I was fond of Hulk Hogan, D like other wrestlers, as friendly disagreement allowed for fascinating conversations.

Although I enjoyed events from World Championship Wrestling (WCW), I’d more or less lost interest in this form of entertainment by the time D shifted his attention to the New World Order (nWo). Still, I found it amusing to hear D discuss various wrestling events.

In a way, professional wrestling bridged sociocultural gaps for a number of the Marines with whom I served. For instance, I’m mixed race (white and black) and from Texas. D was Puerto Rican and from the East Coast. Still, discussions about wrestling allowed for rapport-building.

It didn’t matter how we identified, because professional wrestling served as the conduit for unity of interest. That’s the role Hulk Hogan played in my life from childhood through early adulthood. No matter what new school I attended in my youth, I always found a fan of wrestling.

The same was true of my experience in Okinawa. Nevertheless, as happens to be the case with an impermanent and uncertain existence, everything that lives eventually dies. Hulk Hogan is no exception to this rule, as he recently transitioned from life to death.

Since his passing, I’ve observed many people online self-disturbing with unfavorable assumptions about Hulk Hogan’s past behavior. To better understand what I mean, it may be worthwhile to briefly discuss Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT).

REBT uses the ABC model to illustrate that when an undesirable Action occurs and one Believes an unhelpful narrative about the event, it’s one’s unfavorable assumption, not the occurrence itself, that causes an unpleasant Consequence.

For example, an individual learns of Hogan’s past comments on race (Action) and Believes, “It’s awful that he said such things, because he absolutely shouldn’t have; therefore, I can’t stand that piece of shit racist who deserved death,” and the person then experiences anger (Consequence).

Addressing how people upset themselves with unhelpful attitudes, the ABC model incorporates Disputation of unproductive assumptions in order to explore Effective new beliefs. Still, challenging personal philosophies of life can take longer than I care to demonstrate herein.

Thus, in the interest of time, imagine that after a period of rigorous Disputation the person eventually uses the Effective new belief, “Although Hulk Hogan preferably shouldn’t have behaved as he did; I have no right demand how he should’ve behaved.”

Pressing the self-disturbing narrative further, the individual also concludes, “People who have values others than my own are merely fallible human beings, like me, and I can stand that they exist.” Use of Effective new beliefs such as this is how individuals un-disturb themselves.

In specific, the hypothetical person illustrated herein uses the REBT technique of unconditional acceptance (UA) to relieve suffering. This is accomplished using unconditional self-acceptance (USA), unconditional other-acceptance (UOA), and unconditional life-acceptance (ULA).

For instance, regarding Hulk Hogan, I acknowledge that I’m a flawed individual with limited control and influence in life (USA). Equally, I realize that the late professional wrestler was a fallible human being with limited ability to change circumstances for himself and others (UOA).

As well, I recognize that Terry Gene Bollea (Hulk Hogan) is now dead, and the past is unalterable, as we live in an imperfect world among people with differing opinions which cannot be retracted after death (ULA). Ergo, practice of UA can alleviate unhelpful self-disturbance.

I find that both the ABC model and UA work well in my personal life. Further contemplating this topic, I’m reminded of an outro on the song “Nasty” by rapper Westside Gunn, formerly of hip hop collective Griselda Records, from his 2016 album Hitler Wears Hermes 4.

One may speculate that the rapper ostensibly glorifies Adolf Hitler with the Hitler Wears Hermes series. Admittedly, Hitler, too, was merely a fallible human over whom I have no historic control or influence concerning an unchangeable past. Yet, I’m not excusing his behavior. It was bad.

All the same, I simply acknowledge that suffering is wasted on matters I can’t change. You’re welcome to self-disturb about my perspective on Hitler’s behavior if you choose to do so. In any event, the outro of “Nasty” contains a professional wrestling sample that states:

Oh, here we go!

The Outsiders in the ring, and they are hammering away!

They’re hammering away at Luger, who is all alone in there!

This was a sneak attack.

There’s Hogan. There’s Hollywood Hulk Hogan!

The scourge of the wrestling world!

And notice somethin’ there, there’s no yellow, there’s no red; he’s wearing black!

Using a kayfabe approach, Hulk Hogan was described as the scourge (a cause of wide or great affliction) of the wrestling world. Regarding this matter, one source affirms:

Black is perhaps the most typical color for evil, or at least the antagonists, to wear. Thus in many stories, the villains will wear largely black clothing most of the time, in contrast to the colors worn by neutral and good characters (which will be at least moderately lighter).

Given my approach to REBT, I recognize that Hogan’s kayfabe performance – as he represented the scourge of the wrestling world – was merely pretend. Similarly, it’s a matter of imagination to maintain that his actual human fallibility while alive isn’t shared by all people.

This includes you, me, Hitler, and everyone any of us has ever known, currently knows, or will ever know. We’re all imperfect, as we’re unified in this way. Personally, Hogan was a unifying figure for me from child- to adulthood. For that matter, whether kayfabe or not, I remain grateful.

Rest easy, Hulkamania. You were a real nigga, kayfabe or not. One.

If you’re looking for a provider who tries to work to help you understand how thinking impacts physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral elements of your life, I invite you to reach out today by using the contact widget on my website.

As the world’s foremost hip hop-influenced REBT psychotherapist, I’m pleased to try to help people with an assortment of issues from anger (hostility, rage, and aggression) to relational issues, adjustment matters, trauma experience, justice involvement, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety and depression, and other mood or personality-related matters.

At Hollings Therapy, LLC, serving all of Texas, I aim to treat clients with dignity and respect while offering a multi-lensed approach to the practice of psychotherapy and life coaching. My mission includes: Prioritizing the cognitive and emotive needs of clients, an overall reduction in client suffering, and supporting sustainable growth for the clients I serve. Rather than simply trying to help you to feel better, I want to try to help you get better!

Deric Hollings, LPC, LCSW

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