Rob Ford beats Hulk Hogan at arm wrestling

Toronto Mayor Rob Ford beat Hulk Hogan at arm wrestling on Friday, immediately taking to Twitter to proclaim his victory.

“I own this town! Thanks for being such a great sport,” he wrote.

The bout, held at the Intercontinental Hotel, was a promotional event for Fan Expo.

Hogan couldn’t help himself from trash-talking Ford during the match and Ford clearly loved the friendly banter.

“Oh, big man! That’s all you got?” Hogan said to a laughing Ford.

“Not only am I going to rip this arm off, I’m going to take your gob off with it!”

After a brief battle – both men fought left-handed – Ford “bested” the wrestler.

“That was a set-up!” Hogan said. He then raised Ford’s hand to signal he was the champion.

Hogan, 60, is in Toronto for Fan Expo Canada. He’s a big fan of the city and praised his local fans, saying “these maniacs have been following me for 30-plus years.”

“This town has been so good to me,” he said on Breakfast Television Friday.

Dozens of fans had waited outside the studio for a glimpse of the 80s wrestler – and some CityNews employees came in early for the same reason.

“It’s a love affair with Toronto,” Hogan said, who will hold an “uncensored” question-and-answer session on Friday evening.

The publicity stunt offered a reprieve to the controversial mayor, who in recent months has been dogged by allegations of drug use.

The Toronto Star and U.S.-based website Gawker reported in May that reporters had seen an alleged video of Ford smoking what appeared to be crack cocaine. Ford has denied using cocaine and has said the alleged video doesn’t exist.

As Hogan left the hotel Friday, a man shouted questions at the wrestler about the alleged “crack tape.” Hogan didn’t respond, but instead gamely played up his defeat.

“I may have to go straight to the hospital after that,” he said, clutching his shoulder for effect. “He’s got a good arm on him.”

The mayor later revealed his “winning” strategy.

“I never back down and I never will,” Ford said, adding a technical pointer. “It’s all in the wrist.”

Hogan is a really nice guy, Ford said, but the legendary wrestler is still an intimidating presence.

“He’s a pretty burly guy, let me tell you,” the mayor said. “He’s got arms the size of my legs.”

Hogan, whose real name is Terry Bollea, also met Ford’s brother, Doug, a Toronto city councillor, and said he thought they were twins.

“I didn’t know who was who,” Hogan said. “I thought I was going to get sneak attacked.”

With files from The Canadian Press

CityNews reporter Tammie Sutherland sent this photo from the scene:

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