Recapping a day with Hogan, American Gladiators

'American Gladiators' returns to television on Sunday, Jan. 6. Tony Duffy/Getty Images

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There is something inherently wrong with this picture. I've been told to expect some surprises as I walk onto the set of American Gladiators, but this is bordering on the ridiculous. With a neon lit obstacle course serving as his backdrop, Hulk Hogan is quietly sitting down in front of makeshift bleachers with a book and a highlighter, totally oblivious to the whirlwind of action around him. He finally looks up when questioned on his reading material.

"It's the Science of Success by James Arthur Ray," says Hogan. "This guy was part of The Secret. It's a smart fun read. It's the third time I've read it. You should read it, but if you're going to read anything, you got to read that Secret book first. The words just jump up at you. I'm a reading freak."

Suddenly American Gladiators has turned into Hogan's book club and I am officially surprised before I've met a single Gladiator.

Hogan, dressed in a black tank top, bandana and jeans, is speaking softly and almost philosophically about life the day after American Gladiators, which will debut next month on NBC, taped its season finale. This is a calmer gentler Hogan than the one that used to yell at me through the rabbit-eared television in my room on Saturday mornings to "train, say your prayers and eat your vitamins."

"This is a logical extension of where I should go," says Hogan about his new role as a host rather than an active competitor for the first time in his career. "I've gone from being this bald-headed, screaming, crazy, one-dimensional wrestler to a father and a husband, and people got to see that on Hogan Knows Best. They realized that I have problems with the kids and my wife and I don't always get along and it made me more tangible. It at least made people realize I wasn't this cartoon character."

If the show didn't do that already, Hogan's personal situation -- his wife has filed for divorce and his son is facing charges of reckless driving -- at the moment have wiped away the last remnants of his "indestructible" wrestling persona.

"I've had some crazy days and some things that caught me off guard," says Hogan. "I'm riding the highs, surviving the lows and leaning into the wind. It's all an attitude thing for me and being positive and knowing things are going to get better. I have no other choice. I can't crawl into a hole or jump off a bridge, that's not an option for me."

Seeing as how Hogan knows best, it only makes sense to ask him for some advice on taking down some of the Gladiators in a couple of events, specifically the Joust and the Pyramid, since I'm scheduled to try my hand in both today. Oh yes, the surprises never end.

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