Posted in: Movies, TV | Tagged: Hulk Hogan, pro wrestling, wrestling, wwe
Pro Wrestler Hulk Hogan In Commercial For Dutch Insurance Company
Hulk Hogan's appearance in a Centraal Beheer commercial, where he humorously enacts his wrestling moves, is in line with the Dutch insurance company's quirky ads.
Article Summary
- Hulk Hogan stars in a comedic Dutch commercial, pulling off wrestling moves.
- The ad for Centraal Beheer features a "Real American" soundalike tune.
- Hogan's wrestling antics humorously fail to stop a purse snatcher in the spot.
- Centraal Beheer's ads are known for quirky scenarios and an iconic catchphrase.
Wrestling legend Hulk Hogan may be persona non grata with American wrestling fans thanks to a racist tirade filmed during a sex tape, but over in The Netherlands, the Hulkster is still a hero, it seems. Hogan appeared in a commercial for Dutch insurance company Centraal Beheer, in which he stops a purse snatcher from getting away as a "Real American" soundalike song, "I Wanna Be Your Hero," begins to play – and it's not even the Def Leppard song.
As the bloodthirsty Dutch cheer him on, Hogan performs a piledriver, his signature leg drop, several punches, and a frog splash on his purse snatching opponent, which is impressive considering Hogan has had both of his hips surgically removed. ***1/2. However, as the camera closes in, Hogan's ringwork is not nearly stiff enough, and it's clear that he's not damaging his opponent at all. After the punches miss by several inches and Hogan's frog splash doesn't connect at all, kayfabe is totally destroyed for the purse snatcher, who escapes, purse in hand, while the marks in the crowd go wild for the Orange Goblin.
We expect this kind of flagrant disrespect for tradition from today's fanboy stars, but a true professional like Hogan should know better than to let his Hulkamania run wild on the business in this way.
Centraal Beheer, an insurance firm based in Apeldoorn, Netherlands, became a subsidiary of Achmea in 2001. Since 1985, the company's advertising campaign has featured the slogan "Even Apeldoorn bellen" (Just call Apeldoorn), known for its humorous TV commercials where people find themselves in outlandish predicaments, leading to the memorable catchphrase. This approach has been successful, with some ads winning the Gouden Loeki award in 2001, 2004, and 2006. In 2011, the slogan was voted as the most iconic advertising catchphrase in the Netherlands at the ReclameKlassiekers exhibition. Hogan's entry appears to be in keeping with this tradition.