Insight with Chris Van Vliet Eric Bugenhagen (Rick Boogs In WWE): American Gladiators, WWE Release, Bodybuilding, Viral Moments
May 5, 2026
Eric Bugenhagen, former WWE performer known as Rick Boogs and an American Gladiator turned viral bodybuilding personality. He recounts landing Gladiators, becoming "The Bull," learning new events, and adapting wrestling promo skills to TV. Talks about his viral lifting stunts, creative shifts at WWE, his WrestleMania injury, post-WWE brand work, and when he might return to the ring.
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Pitch One Memorable Line And Back It With Promo Work
- Be memorable with a one‑line gimmick and use promo practice to sell it; Eric pitched “the max” (maximum entertainment) to stand out on casting calls and Zooms.
- He credits 20,000 hours of promo practice from WWE Performance Center for helping him perform under pressure in auditions.
Amateur Wrestling Credibility Trumps Pro Credentials
- Eric values his amateur wrestling pedigree more than his WWE tenure; he believes Division‑I, Greco‑Roman background gave him true competitive credibility for Gladiators.
- He learned to lean into entertainment after initially arriving at the WWE Performance Center as a serious athlete.
Switched From Heavy Lifts To Gym‑Class Prep For Tryouts
- Eric built his tryout prep by switching from heavy deadlifts to gym‑class work: push‑ups, planks, sit‑ups and agility drills to match event specificity.
- This focused training let him top push‑up and pull‑up counts at the Gladiators in‑person tryout.