Did Hulk Hogan and Ronnie Coleman ever collaborate? Yes, but not in the traditional way.

The WWE legend may not be with us today, but his zeal for fitness will always remain inspiring. Back in 2020, Hulk Hogan shared a video on Instagram of himself performing the seated cable rows and giving a shoutout to the 8-time Mr. Olympia, Ronnie Coleman. He was even shouting Coleman's famous 'Yeah Buddy" catchphrase.

"Ron Coleman, you're my hero, brother! Reaching out, dog! Back surgery number 10, brother! Both hips and both knees replaced! Yeah, buddy! Coming after you, brother! Maybe we can team up and have a Geritol match and win the world titles together!" 

The video immediately caught Coleman’s attention, who responded in the comment section, writing, 

“Yeah, Buddy, let’s make it happen!! The world wouldn’t be ready for our tag team duo.”

Coleman also shared the video on his page a few days later, commending the veteran wrestler for always finding 'a way back to the top' even after going through 10 surgeries. The bodybuilding champion even invited Hogan for a workout session whenever he would be in Florida next.

The video must have deeply resonated with Coleman because, like Hogan, he also had to undergo 13 surgeries for his back and hips to reduce the toll years of heavy lifting took on his body. The impact was such that at one point, he used crutches to walk.

Hogan went through something similar. The WWE star battled multiple injuries requiring multiple surgeries. 

Hulk Hogan's Struggles with Multiple Surgeries

The 10 surgeries mentioned in the video are just for his back, but in reality, the total number is mind-bending. In 2024, during an appearance on Logan Paul's IMPAULSIVE podcast, Hulk Hogan revealed that he had undergone 25 surgeries in the past decade.

“Nobody told me this gimmick stuff was fake. I’ve had 10 back surgeries, both knees and both hips replaced, shoulders — everything.”

Reflecting upon his early wrestling days, Hogan revealed that the equipment during his time was substandard compared to today's time. He specifically mentioned the ring, describing it as '22-foot boxing ring that had lumps in it, boards sticking up.'

In one of his episodes, Joe Rogan even noted that Hulk Hogan's back was compressed, resulting in him losing 4" of his spine due to his multiple back surgeries, and led him to walk with a cane. Hogan blamed the drop move that he performed in the ring for the compression.

These issues often led him to the hospital, with the last visit being for a minor cervical fusion surgery. After nearly 40 years associated with the WWE, Hogan passed away on July 24 at the age of 71, leaving an inspiring legacy behind.

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Written by

Ruwa Javed

Edited by

Zaid Quraishi