Maybe it is because I am hungry, or perhaps I just like hotdogs, but I got to thinking about the relationship between pro wrestling and the wiener. Let’s examine the wrestling cliche “hotdog and a handshake.”
What Does “Hotdog & A Handshake” Mean In Wrestling?
An old saying that when you start wrestling, your pay is little more than a “hotdog and a handshake.”
Hotdog and a handshake!! Hahaha if you know, you know. #RhodesWrestlingAcademy #PassionLivesHere
Sign up today at https://t.co/0QG6h3U9qo pic.twitter.com/RidVEj1abS— Dustin Rhodes (@dustinrhodes) August 7, 2021
“Hotdog and a handshake” means that your payment for wrestling in a match will consist of a meal and maybe a gesture of a job well done. This doesn’t literally mean your pay is a hot dog and a handshake. But working for nothing is expected at the start of a wrestling career when you are working on getting your name out there and getting experience and recognition.
When the payday has been upgraded from a hotdog and a handshake to a steakburger and a milkshake pic.twitter.com/gW2HPLjh5L
— Jeremy Wyatt (@jeremywyatt1) August 27, 2018
Often new wrestlers will help set up and break down a wrestling ring in exchange for time. While some people frown on the “paying your dues” aspect of wrestling, I believe that something as difficult as wrestling needs to be earned the hard way.
working for a Hotdog and a handshake tonight fellaz ! pic.twitter.com/cKhILSmDBN
— Rey F’N Fury (@ReyFuryOfficial) June 17, 2021
It isn’t an easy business, and you need to build grit and humility to grow your career. Different countries have different forms of minimum compensation.
JUST GOT A BOOKING IN DENMARK… THEY DONT DO HOTDOG AND A HANDSHAKE, THEY DO DANISH AND A SACK TAP pic.twitter.com/XDbwtW4fcq
— WARHORSE (@JPWARHORSE) January 22, 2022
This means many wrestlers need to be frugal in their early careers. One wrestling cheapness extremeness was documented on Extreme Cheapskates. This master of that mat claims to survive on $300/month.
Hulk Hogan’s Skin
The second thing that comes to mind when wrestling fans think of bratwurst and brawling is Hulk Hogan.
All that mattered in the eighties was how jacked and tanned you were. And no one was more jacked and tanner than The Hulkster.
Watching old wrestling and Hulk Hogan has the skin of a hot dog ? pic.twitter.com/X0Cjwl94pX
— 2Dumb 2Terrible (@TokyoDilf) April 8, 2022
With his yellow trunks and white hair, a lot of fans thought Hogan looked like a hotdog with all the fixins!
Hulk Hogan looks like a hot dog with sauerkraut on his head. Thoughts? pic.twitter.com/eKLfTAUfR0
— ???????? (@haasanbarclay) April 15, 2020
I’m not going to lie. I would love to look like this for a day.
Dream match: Joey Chestnut vs 1985 Hulk Hogan in the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest ??? pic.twitter.com/uKB73AHFtd
— Bob Jenkins (@J3tface) July 2, 2017
A Vienna Dog in Vienna
Seth Rollins gets a Vienna-style hot dog in Vienna, where he recalls his first overseas trip ever was to Austria.
Hotdog Starkes
There is at least one wrestling hot dog in wrestling. Hotdog Starkes is a fixture of the Northeastern indy circuit.
Dreams do come true!
Please give a shout out and huge congratulations to @HotDogStarkes for being the first Independent Professional Wrestler to be voted into “The Wrestling Code” by the fans & community.
Join the official discord https://t.co/MVUdrtipnk pic.twitter.com/VTMGEbypoN
— Virtual Basement® (@VirtualBasement) October 9, 2020
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