Hulk Hogan was once the embodiment of the American hero in wrestling, captivating audiences with his charisma and power. However, the image fans admired was built on a carefully crafted illusion. Vince McMahon, the man behind WWE, witnessed firsthand the complexities of Hogan’s character and the reality behind the scenes. According to insiders, Hogan’s legendary physique was not as natural as it appeared. Behind the muscle was a cocktail of steroids and performance-enhancing drugs, a well-known secret in the wrestling world before the Anabolic Steroid Control Act of 1990 was enacted. The law changed the game, turning what was once a legal practice into a federal crime.
The investigation into steroid use in wrestling was no fluke. It was a carefully planned operation targeting Vince McMahon and the WWF, with Hogan as its face. Federal prosecutor Shawn O’Shea set out to dismantle a systematic steroid distribution network that reached the highest levels of the wrestling industry. Dr. George Zahorian III, the WWF’s surgeon, played a key role in the steroid scandal. His conviction for illegal steroid distribution set off a chain reaction that led to a federal investigation into not only Hogan, but McMahon himself.
In 1992, facing the threat of jail time, Hogan struck a deal with federal reporters to receive immunity in exchange for his cooperation. However, the fallout from his denial of steroid use on the Arsenio Hall show still haunted him. Hogan’s public denials were in contrast to his final testimony, in which he admitted to using steroids for over a decade. Vince McMahon’s frustration was evident as he recounted advising Hogan to come clean about his steroid use. While McMahon took a responsible approach, Hogan’s denials only deepened the rift between the two, leading to a rift that would forever change their relationship.