Hulk Hogan – long considered to be THE greatest Professional Wrestler in history, is a Promoter of the
Body By Vi Challenge, and the next round of Challenge Winners will have the opportunity to hang with the Hulkster in Hollywood!
Suppose that depends on what their definition of "THE greatest Professional Wrestler in history" is. Putting people in the seats, likely. But as a pure wrestler, not a chance. The guy probably knew three holds tops.
Wonder also what exactly "Promoter of the Body By Vi Challenge" means.
ViSalus goes to lengths to make it
clear that:
"ViSalus management and Hulk Hogan both deny any payments were made for celebrity endorsements".
So we're to believe the Hulkster is helping promote ViSalus out of the goodness of his heart? Or maybe he's out trying to build a downline?
Some people might not be aware who actually controls ViSalus.
GREENWICH, Conn., April 15, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Blyth, Inc. (NYSE: BTH), a leading multi-channel designer and marketer of home fragrance products, home decor products and household convenience items, today announced that it has closed on the second phase of its acquisition of ViSalus Sciences and now owns 57.5% of the company.
Regarding Blyth gaining controlling interest of Visalus, Ryan Blair, a Founder and Chief Executive Officer of ViSalus, had
this to say:
"The Blyth partnership has been an enormous benefit to ViSalus, with financial and management resources supporting our significant growth in 2010 and our strategic growth objectives for 2011."
What that means is that not only does Blythe Inc. really decides what happens with ViSalus and what changes that they want to make to the company in the future, but it also means that ViSalus has been given a significant capital injection for marketing and awareness, like paying for celebrity endorsements.
So why don't they just come out and admit the Hulkster is a paid spokesperson instead of denying it?
Maybe
this explanation helps:
The coolest thing is ALL of our celebrity promoters are not getting paid to say things nice about the challenge, they are getting paid JUST LIKE US – as promoters of the Body by Vi Challenge!! It should definitely say something that celebrities are CHOOSING VISALUS rather than ViSalus having to go out and pay for them!
Huh?
No doubt, Hulk Hogan is focused on nutrition, weight and fitness, and by looking at recent photographs at close to age 60, is in tip top physical shape. He dons a muscular physique with washboard abs. Hulk Hogan is just one of MANY pro athletes to see and feel the results of the phenomenal Visalus protein shakes and the Body By Vi Challenge products.
Tip top physical shape? The guy's a physical wreck from his years in the ring and steroid abuse. Hulk has admitted himself that
"I used to be 6ft 7, but after knee, neck and back surgeries I'm now about 6ft 4".
The time line is interesting here. We're told...
On March 16, 2011 In Orlando Visalus CMO Blake Mallen had a great dinner meeting with Hulk Hogan & his partners Eric Bischoff and Jason Hervey (of the Wonder Years, who else used to watch that show as a kid?) talking strategy concerning taking Body By Vi Challenge to a whole new level.
But if you listen to Hogan's Jul 22, 2011 edition of
Ask Hogan on YouTube, he answers a question about his diet.
Basically what he says is that he weighs 285 lbs. nowadays, down from his 330 lb steroid era physique. He also says he eats just about everything and doesn't diet. Only he doesn't eat too much at night. Nothing in there about ViSalus, which would have been a great place to put a commercial if it was true.
He's likely off script and speaking the truth in that segment of
"Ask Hogan" - no kayfabe here.