The Story Of Hiro Matsuda Breaking His Student Hulk Hogan's Leg, Explained

Early on in Hulk Hogan's wrestling training, the future WWE and WCW Champion had his leg broken by his teacher, Hiro Matsuda.

The world of professional wrestling is known for its larger-than-life characters and thrilling, high-flying action, but behind the glitz and glamor, there are also tales of hardship and struggle. One such story is that of Hiro Matsuda, a legendary wrestling trainer who is perhaps best known for the role he played in breaking Hulk Hogan's leg.

Hulk Hogan decided to pursue a career in wrestling despite also being involved in a band and attending college. To achieve this, he enrolled in Hiro Matsuda's gym called "The Snake Pit" for training. According to Hogan's book, Hollywood Hulk Hogan, Matsuda had a strict six-day training schedule and was not pleasant on his only day off. However, in Matsuda's book, The Hiro Matsuda Stories: Samurai Spirit, written after his death by his daughter, Stephanie Kojima, Matsuda had a different perspective. He claimed to have only been wrestling part-time at that point and trained Hogan, Paul Orndorff, and Brian Blair five mornings a week.

Matsuda held the belief that only some students, approximately one out of every twenty, would persist with his rigorous training regime. Despite this, he did not charge his students any money because he did not view his gym as a business venture. Matsuda trained his students strenuously because he believed that the demanding workout regimen could potentially transform them into exceptional wrestlers. In his writing, Matsuda discussed Hogan's group of wrestlers and provided further insight into their training. "In order to make the determination, you have to go through the grinding mill to build endurance. Also, your mind has to be very strong. I gave those boys a great opportunity, not just the physical training but the mental training, too. After four months of intensive training, they passed my test. I started showing them wrestling moves in the ring." And just at the start of his real training, Hogan's leg was broken.

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Matsuda's workout routine was so intense that it left Hogan feeling like his legs were made of rubber and that he was close to passing out. It was common knowledge that Matsuda's training involved thousands of push-ups, squats, and sit-ups. After the grueling workout, it was Hulk Hogan's turn to begin wrestling. In his biograph, the WWE Hall of Famer claimed, "Before I knew it, Matsuda was sitting down between my legs and putting his elbow in the middle of my shin. Then he grabbed the end of my toe and twisted my foot until crack!-my shinbone broke in half. The whole thing took about two seconds. I was hurt and confused. I didn't know why Matsuda had done that to me. I had a lot to learn."

According to Hogan, he felt that Matsuda's rigorous training was necessary at a time when few were given the opportunity to enter the sport of wrestling. Matsuda, like other trainers, acted as gatekeepers for wrestling and selectively weeded out those who he believed did not deserve to be in the industry. Hogan believed that, as someone without wrestling credentials, he needed to prove his dedication to the sport by enduring the grueling training. He felt that if he had been a former amateur wrestler, he would have been beaten down and worn out. It's interesting to note that Matsuda did not address the incident he's now known most for in his own autobiography. After his leg was in a cast for around ten weeks, Hogan did not give up on his aspirations to become a wrestler but instead returned to Matsuda's gym with a new look and attitude. He endured months of rigorous training, which he believed was necessary to succeed in the wrestling business.

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While Matsuda did not mention the incident for which he is most famous, he did write about Hogan in his autobiography. He said, "His name was Terry Bollea when I first met him. He was playing in a musical band in Tampa. He was a nice-looking, big boy. He came to the wrestling office. He said he wanted to become a professional wrestler. I told him, ‘I will give you the opportunity if you can keep up with me.’ He agreed, ‘Yes, I will keep up with you, Mr. Matsuda.’ He was one of my protégés and became the most famous wrestler in the U.S".

It seems like Matsuda was proud of his student, and why wouldn't he be? Wrestling became synonymous with his student, Hulk Hogan.

Tony Parker is a lifelong WWE fan. He has worked as a writer, producer, and content strategist in the wrestling industry.