How did the king of Hulkamania feel about his daughter getting involved?

“My dad had no idea,” Hogan said. “Dixie said, ‘Hey, let’s not tell your dad yet. Let’s try to break it to him when you show up at Impact Wrestling [in Orlando].’ My poor dad. I’ve probably gave him about 16 heart attacks. He didn’t know, and I knew not to tell him because I knew he would probably shoot it down immediately. I know he didn’t want me in the wrestling world because of how crazy it is.

“I’ve been raised in it though. I’ve been dealing with the music business for the past 10 years, so how bad could it be? I think he lightened up to it because I get to see him every Thursday. We told him backstage. He was like, ‘Are you here to watch the show?’ I said, ‘No.’ ‘He asked, ’Are you here to visit me and come back to Tampa tonight?’”

The blond bombshell’s arrival was good news to her fans but has drawn criticism from others. Hogan takes both the good and bad critiques in stride. After all, it’s part of the game.

“There is always going to be haters and people that support you,” she said. “Trust me, I learned that when I was a chubby 13-year-old and breaking into the music business. It doesn’t really bother me anymore. If there is anybody questioning my role in TNA right now, the proof is in the pudding. I was raised around Hulk Hogan and Vince McMahon. I had the two best mentors in wrestling.

“I watched how business went down. I watched how matches were decided. I watched the performance side of things and the business side of things. I watched the politics. I stay humble, but I really do know a lot about this business. I’m Curious George, so if anything is going on I want to ask my dad, ‘Why are you doing this?’ or ‘Why does this happen?’ I’ve really learned the ins and outs over the years naturally by being around it. I’m confident that I know what I’m doing with the girls. My next thing is I’m probably going to have to take a few bumps.”

The driven performer doesn’t rule out getting physical in the ring if needed.

“I’ve been raised in it, so you can’t get raised in it without learning a few tricks of the trade,” Hogan said. “If one of the girls starts talking back too much, I may have to lay the smackdown on them…When I first got there, I was really intimidated. I’m very privy to how people talk and the criticism I was going to get. Then it comes down to where there is business that needs to be done and things that need to be managed…All of TNA is so widespread. We have so much talent between the men and women that when I came in I saw that women weren’t getting as much attention. They weren’t having their concerns heard.

“They didn’t have anybody to talk to…I had to kind of go in there, get through all the dirt and craziness and clean house. I got to know every girl. Once they got to know me, they kind of got comfortable with me. They saw that I had their very best interests at hand. You then start to forget about people who talk. It’s like any work environment. There is going to be people who like you and don’t. I just got to the point where I didn’t want to deal with this drama and had to do my job. That’s where I’m at now, strictly business.”