Hulk Hogan may be setting his sights on Hooters—not to run the restaurants, but to own the brand.
According to Business Insider, Hogan's beer brand, Real American Beer, is preparing to make a bid for the Hooters intellectual property. If the deal goes through, it would give the company rights to use the Hooters name and branding for merchandise, food, and beverage products sold in restaurants, stores, and entertainment venues across the country.
Interestingly, the report notes that Hogan’s company isn’t looking to take over Hooters' actual restaurants. Instead, they’d likely license the brand name back to the restaurant chain while focusing on expanding its presence in retail and other channels.
Hooters of America filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in March, burdened by around $370 million in debt. Despite the filing, Hooters locations have remained open during the restructuring process. Real American Beer, which launched distribution last year, was one of the products carried early on by Hooters restaurants.
This isn’t the only headline Hogan has made lately. He and longtime wrestling figure Eric Bischoff recently announced the launch of Real American Freestyle Wrestling, a new amateur wrestling promotion. Their first event is scheduled for August 30 in Cleveland.
