But for the 38-year-old Famuyide and other Black wrestling fans and sports commentators, Hogan’s death this week at 71 has resurfaced an irreconcilable contradiction in the iconic wrestler’s legacy: Hogan’s undeniable role in broadening wrestling’s appeal to fans of all backgrounds versus his well-documented racism.

My conversation with Hulk Hogan was longer - close to an hour - and just as pleasant. It was in 1985 and Hogan was in Tampa for a major WWE show at the Sun Dome on the University of South Florida campus. It was the first time he was performing locally since becoming an international superstar with WWE.