By Kim I. Hartman
May 22, 2010
Tampa — Hulk Hogan is back in federal court in Florida, this time over a cartoon commercial. Hogan claims his reputation was harmed in a Cocoa Pebbles ad featuring Bamm-Bamm tossing "Hulk Boulder" into the air and winning the match. Hogan, whose real name is Terry Bollea, is suing the maker of the cereal, Post Foods. In the "Cocoa Smashdown" spot, a cartoon character resembling Hogan easily beats Fred and Barney inside the ring. But then Bamm-Bamm steps in and pounds the blond-haired, mustachioed wrestler to bits. The federal lawsuit states Hogan "is shown humiliated and cracked into pieces with broken teeth, with the closing banner, 'Little Pieces…BIG TASTE!'" The commercial character goes by the name "Hulk Boulder," which Hogan's lawsuit says is a name he used early in his career until wrestling promoter Vince McMahon decided he should have an Irish name. The lawsuit says Post Foods never sought or received Hogan's permission to use his likeness to promote the cereal. Hogan says he raised his objections with Post in August, but the ads continued. The wrestler contends he has been harmed by, among other things, "the unauthorized and degrading depictions in the Cocoa Smashdown advertisements." Hogan has recently been in the news for other matters, and now he is going to the mat against The Flintstones, reports Tampa Bay Online. Hogan, whose real name is Terry Bollea, is suing the maker of Cocoa Pebbles, Post Foods, accusing the company of appropriating his image in commercials for the cereal.

In the "Cocoa Smashdown" commercial, a cartoon character resembling Hogan easily beats Fred and Barney inside the ring. But then Bamm-Bamm steps in and pounds the blond-haired, mustachioed wrestler to bits.

The federal lawsuit states that "Hulk is shown humiliated and cracked into pieces with broken teeth, with the closing banner, 'Little Pieces... BIG TASTE!'"

The commercial character goes by the name "Hulk Boulder," which Hogan's lawsuit says is a name he used early in his career until wrestling promoter Vince McMahon decided he should have an Irish name.

The lawsuit says Post Foods never sought or received Hogan's permission to use his likeness to promote the cereal. Hogan says he raised his objections with Post in August, but the ads continued.

The wrestler contends he has been harmed by, among other things, "the unauthorized and degrading depictions in the Cocoa Smashdown advertisements."

Hogan recently made news when he filed suit in state court — later moved to federal court — against Wells Fargo Insurance for failing to upgrade his coverage as his exposure to risk grew. Hogan blames Wells Fargo and claims he was inadequately insured when his teenage son, Nick Bollea, got into a wreck that grievously injured passenger John Graziano. Hogan settled a lawsuit with the seriously injured victim Graziano in February.

Hulk Hogan files suit against Cocoa Pebbles maker

Tampa — Hulk Hogan, whose real name is Terry Bollea, is suing the maker of Cocoa Pebbles, accusing the company of appropriating his image in commercials for the cereal. In the "Cocoa Smashdown" commercial, a cartoon character resembling Hogan easily beats Fred and Barney inside the ring, but then Bamm-Bamm steps in and pounds the blond-haired, mustachioed wrestler to bits. Hogan's federal lawsuit states he "is shown humiliated and cracked into pieces with broken teeth, with the closing banner, 'Little Pieces...BIG TASTE!'"

The commercial character goes by the name "Hulk Boulder," which the lawsuit says was a name Hogan used early in his career until wrestling promoter Vince McMahon decided he should have an Irish name. The suit says Post Foods never sought or received Hogan's permission to use his likeness to promote the cereal. Hogan says he raised his objections with the Post in August, but the ads continued. He is marketing his own products, including Hogan Energy drink and Hulkster Burgers, a line of microwaveable hamburgers and chicken sandwiches sold at Walmart. The wrestler contends he has been harmed by, among other things, the unauthorized and degrading depictions in the Cocoa Smashdown advertisements. A Post spokesperson could not immediately be reached for comment.