‘He was the catalyst': Toronto referee remembers Hulk Hogan, the man behind the myth
When Korderas joined what was then called the WWF in 1985, one of his first jobs was picking up wrestlers from the airport and driving them to Toronto's Maple Leaf Gardens.
'Hulk was one of the first guys I had to pick up, and right away, he made me feel comfortable and at home, like I belonged,' says Korderas, a Toronto native.
On one occasion, while giving Hogan and his then-wife Linda a ride, Korderas caught Hogan's eyes in the rear-view mirror as Linda gushed about Toronto.
'The entire time Linda was talking about how beautiful the city is, this is her first time, oh my goodness. I could see Hulk's eyes going, 'Oh boy,'' he laughs.
Story continues below advertisement
'When we got to the building, he pulled me aside and said, 'Brother, I'm sorry.' I said, 'For what?' He said, 'She kept going on and on.' I got a chuckle out of it and so did he. That's the nature he had … Here's this megastar and he's concerned about my needs.'
Hogan, born Terry Gene Bollea, died Thursday at 71.
Known for his stars-and-stripes swagger, handlebar moustache and chest-thumping catchphrases, Hogan was the face of professional wrestling's golden era and one of the most recognizable pop culture figures of the 1980s.
Korderas would referee many of Hogan's matches over the years and says he felt 'like a kid in a candy store' doing so.
1:15
Hulk Hogan died in hospital after police responded to 'medical-related issue'
'You're trying to curb your emotions while you're out there trying to do your job, but at the same time you're thinking, 'Oh my God, I'm in here with Hulk Hogan,'' says the 63-year-old, reached by phone Thursday in Toronto.
Story continues below advertisement
'He was the guy. He was the catalyst. If it wasn't for him, I don't think wrestling would have taken off the way it did, hit the mainstream the way it did and become the global juggernaut it is today.'
Get daily National news
Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up
By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy
Korderas vividly recalls officiating several hard-hitting bouts between Hogan and Mr. Perfect, but one that looms especially large is the inaugural Survivor Series in 1987, when Hogan's team battled André the Giant's in a stacked main event.
'I have this picture of myself and (referee) Joey Marella in the ring trying to keep André the Giant and Hulk Hogan separated,' he says.
'Other guys got a great reaction from the crowd, whether it was cheering or booing, but it was different when Hogan entered the ring … He would flex for the crowd, he'd put his hand to his ear, he would pose and that got incredible reactions. He knew it was more about the entertainment aspects as opposed to the actual technical aspect of pro wrestling.'
Years later, Hogan reminded the world of his unmatched ability to command a crowd at WrestleMania X8 in Toronto in 2002, when he faced Dwayne (The Rock) Johnson in a blockbuster showdown. Hogan was firmly in his villainous 'Hollywood' persona, while The Rock was WWE's top babyface — but the Toronto crowd flipped the script and threw its support behind Hogan.
While Korderas didn't referee the match, he snuck out to watch it live and says several wrestlers did the same.
Story continues below advertisement
'The crowd literally got them to call an audible and switch roles. They were backing Hogan because they remember him as their superhero from the past,' he recalls.
1:52
Wrestling legend Hulk Hogan dead at 71
'Ask anybody who was there, whether they were in the crowd or in the locker room, that building was literally shaking on its foundations when those two were staring off across the ring.'
Behind the scenes, Korderas says Hogan treated him like 'part of the locker room' — ribbing included.
During the '80s, then-CEO Vince McMahon enforced a strict no-smoking policy in WWE. Korderas remembers sneaking a cigarette before stepping into an elevator — only to find McMahon, Hogan, Brutus (The Barber) Beefcake and several other wrestlers already inside.
'The entire ride down, Vince is reading me the riot act about how bad smoking is,' Korderas says.
Story continues below advertisement
'While he's doing that, Hulk was giving me little elbow shots in the back, so I'm jerking forward. Vince is like, 'Are you all right? What's wrong with you?' I said, 'No, I am good.' And the whole time, they're all laughing. So Hulk was a bit of a prankster at times.'
But Hogan was also a controversial figure at times. In 2015, WWE terminated his contract after leaked audio captured him using a racial slur and describing himself as 'a racist, to a point.' He later issued a public apology.
Korderas says the news 'disappointed' him, and that he had 'never witnessed that side' of Hogan.
'It's hard when you hear that stuff about people who you consider friends,' he says.
'It makes me feel sad to see that side.'
Still, he says it's tough to deny Hogan's role in reshaping the wrestling industry.
'The business of wrestling may not be as hot and as popular as it is today if it wasn't for him, because he is arguably the main reason why it is so,' Korderas says.
'Take the other stuff away from it, the controversies — you can't deny that he was the catalyst for this.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Global News
2 hours ago
- Global News
When moose took over Toronto: Artists reflect on city art project, 25 years later
As people around the world welcomed a new millennium, Torontonians in the year 2000 were welcoming something even bigger – a herd of hundreds of life-size moose statues. Twenty-five years ago, Toronto launched its Moose in the City campaign, a project featuring 326 colourful moose statues decorated by artists and placed all over the city in an effort to usher in the new year with a boost for local tourism and art sectors. The project came at no cost to the city, according to council minutes from April 2000, and the statues were sponsored by various companies. The public could stumble upon the hoofed, herbivore masterpieces at locations including the CN Tower, Pearson Airport and city hall. Some of the artists involved say the project was emblematic of the city's culture and shows how municipalities can step up to support the art scene — even as some of the famed sculpted creatures have disappeared in the years since. Story continues below advertisement Moose in the City was a 'great collaboration with the city' for artists, said Kelly Borgers, who was commissioned to do three of the statues. There was even a launch party for the project, with music and a sculpture parade. 'All the moose were all together. We pushed them on wheels down the street like a stampede,' she recalled. Borgers said she produced three statues: Park Moose, Driving Moose Daisy and Florence Moosingale. She's not sure what happened to the first two – decorated with nature scenes and granny glasses, respectively – but Florence lives in the city's midtown outside the headquarters of a home care agency. Lee Grunberg, the president and CEO of Integracare, said Florence used to get Valentine's Day cards addressed from another moose that's perched on the roof of a house in nearby Mount Pleasant neighbourhood. 'The people that bought these moose, they love the camaraderie of owning these moose,' Grunberg said. Borgers likes to drive by and see Florence once in a while, she said, and knowing her art is still out there 25 years later brings her joy. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'She's always dressed up in all different costumes, for Valentine's Day, for Easter, for Christmas, for Canada Day,' Borgers said with a laugh. 'It's awesome. I'm proud of my moose. She has a better wardrobe than I have.' Story continues below advertisement Borgers said the project was symbolic of the fun to be had in the city, and it 'lightened things up.' 'I just think it had a good sense of humour, that was nice,' she said. 'Nobody saw moose and frowned.' Lindsay Davies, who is based in Aurora, Ont., said the project gave her and other artists a chance to 'show their thing.' Davies was commissioned by Belinda Stronach, daughter of billionaire businessman Frank Stronach, to paint a moose statue to look like former Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Curtis Joseph. The statue was complete with a jersey, hockey socks and a detailed goalie mask covering the moose's snout. It was placed in front of the Hockey Hall of Fame. 'I just felt totally honoured and absolutely thrilled where it ended up downtown on Front Street,' said Davies. Despite reports at the time of moose vandalism — including alleged antler thefts — Davies said she'd love to see the city do a similar project again, especially given the participants' diverse art styles. 'It's just wonderful, and it's very inspirational,' said Davies. 'I think the public in general really benefits from something like that.' Davies said her moose was auctioned for $25,000 that went to charity shortly after the project. Though she said she doesn't know where Curtis Joseph Moose is today, she theorizes he's somewhere in Little Britain, Ont., after a local bakery took ownership years ago. Story continues below advertisement Toronto-based artist Teri Donovan said George Cohon, the founder of McDonald's Canada, brought up the public art idea with then-mayor Mel Lastman, who became very interested in the project and stood behind it. Donovan said she got involved after a friend sent her a brochure about the campaign and she ended up creating two sculptures: the Bay Street Moose and the Strawberry Moose with Whipped Cream. 'It was really an interesting thing to do. It had its challenges, of course, but in the end, it was a lot of fun,' she said. She isn't sure about the fate of her two moose, although she discovered through online research that the Bay Street sculpture was missing. There were controversies surrounding the project, she recalled. The quality of some sculptures was not very good, she said, and critics complained that the statues were not actually art. 'But it wasn't supposed to be high art, it was supposed to be a fun project for the city,' she said. Donovan remembers her neighbours and their kids routinely checking on the progress of one of her moose creations as she painted it in her driveway. 'I live in a quiet neighbourhood in the east end of Toronto and there isn't a lot of that kind of thing that happens here,' she said. Story continues below advertisement Donovan said Moose in the City was a draw for tourists and it also helped raise money for charities as some of the moose were auctioned off. Laurel Brooks still has the moose her family purchased at auction and moved to their Muskoka cottage, where it stayed until 2012. She said her daughter and ex-husband initially wanted to get Tourist Moose, with a hat and a camera around her neck, but the bidding for that one was 'pretty competitive.' They ended up getting a moose built by Toronto District School Board students, she said. After separating from her ex-husband, Brooks brought the moose back to Toronto where it now sits on an elevated platform in her backyard. The sculpture, too big to fit through the garage or the side of the house, had to be hoisted and moved with ropes, she said. It's made of paper-mache, with layers coming off over the years, and has been repainted with red flowers that look like poppies. 'I just really liked it,' Brooks said with a laugh when asked if the hustle of moving the moose back and forth was worth it. 'It's just a cool thing to have.' — With files from Fatima Raza.
CBC
17 hours ago
- CBC
Hulk Hogan was a heel — both in the ring, and in real life
Social Sharing Last week, Hulk Hogan, one of the most famous American professional wrestlers and a cultural icon of the '80s and '90s, died at the age of 71. He's being remembered for the way he raised the profile of the sport, and his unforgettable crossover into mainstream culture at large. But he also left behind a history of hateful behaviour too vast to ignore. Today on Commotion, wrestling fans Pablo the Don and Damian Abraham join host Elamin Abdelmahmoud to unpack Hogan's complicated legacy. We've included some highlights below, edited for length and clarity. For the full discussion, listen and follow Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud on your favourite podcast player. WATCH | Today's episode on YouTube: Elamin: There's an inherent limitation to this all-American-ness idea that he tried to sell. It's a good door-opener; it helps the WWF at the time (WWE now) become this mainstream, gigantic thing. Because if you've never been engaged with that project, maybe Hulk Hogan becomes an invitation to it. But then once you're in, you're like, "Whoa, these characters are much deeper, much richer than Hulk Hogan is." You referenced him going heel. I think that's an important period of time to talk about because Hulk Hogan goes from the all-American boy who was the face of WWF at the time, and then as the WWF is sort of cresting its incredibly high '90s era, Hulk Hogan jumps ship to the WCW. And there, he goes from playing the good guy to he turns heel — a.k.a. the crowd is now mad at you. The crowd is against you. And he actually, to me, does OK in that mode, which is not a mode that I would have thought he would succeed in. But maybe it's worth talking about this, Pablo. What was this period of Hulk Hogan's career like to witness? Pablo: I feel like that was probably him in his truest form. He's a heel in real life, and now he gets to play one on television. Like, it's tried and true. That's very much Hulk Hogan. I think at the time, we have to realize that as a country in America, we were so different. He turns heel after Nirvana. He turns heel once, like, Cops is one of the biggest shows. Trash daytime TV is a thing. So they started infusing a lot of reality elements into wrestling. And at this time, this is right after the big steroid trial, which Hulk Hogan was supposed to be the star witness of. He notoriously says that he's taken steroids, but doesn't give any blame to Vince McMahon, which at that time pretty much gets Vince McMahon off. But also at that same time, it kind of shatters this fourth wall of wrestling, where people find out his real name is not Hulk Hogan. It's actually Terry Bollea. And him and Vince were actually friends behind the scenes. And Vince isn't just the commentator; he owns WWF. It really broke down that fourth wall. And so when Hogan goes heel, he's embracing who he truly is in real life. But at the same time, it brings wrestling to another level. You see him go heel, and then you have the rise of Stone Cold Steve Austin, who is exactly who he says he is, in '96, '97, '98. You have the rise of The Rock, who notoriously says The Rock is Dwayne Johnson dialed up to 10. You have these people infusing who they actually are into the character, which makes this thing just explode even more and have another big boom period. Damian: I think it's important to mention that he kind of looked at what was happening with two other guys that had jumped ship more recently than him from WWF at the time, which was Diesel (Kevin Nash) and Razor Ramon (Scott Hall). Both these guys showed up in WCW, started using their real names and, like Pablo said, embodied a reality and embodied a cool. I think Hulk Hogan … kind of looked at that and was able to at least ride that wave, borrow that. And it was never as inherently cool as either of those guys.
Global News
18 hours ago
- Global News
MAGA singer: Religious group denounces Montreal for fining church after concert
A Quebec religious group is accusing the City of Montreal of censorship for fining a local church after it hosted a concert over the weekend by a Christian singer. Ministerios Restauración Church is facing a $2,500 fine for hosting singer Sean Feucht, a rising star in the MAGA political movement tied to U.S. President Donald Trump. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy The city says it warned the church it didn't have a permit to host Feucht — who has spoken out against abortion and LGBTQ+ people — but says the show went ahead anyway. The religious group — Réseau évangélique du Québec — represents roughly 500 evangelical Protestant churches in the province, and says the city tried to shut the show down because it didn't like the singer's religious views. Spokesperson Jean-Christophe Jasmin says the event should not have required a permit because it was part of a routine religious gathering. Story continues below advertisement Complaints about Feucht have led officials to cancel his concerts scheduled in Eastern Canada — decisions that free speech advocates in the country say were violations of the Charter. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 28, 2025.
