His real name was Terry Gene Bollea, but he continued to be called Hulk Hogan during his entire career. He passed away at the age of 71 on July 24, 2025....
IN MEMORIAM
There will never be a wrestler or an in-ring performer quite like Hulk Hogan. His long hair, horseshoe moustache, and bandanas gave him a look that remained constant during his career as an active wrestler in the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) (previously the WWF) and the World Championship Wrestling (WCW). His physique and energy when conversing with his opponents or when giving interviews added so much depth to his character and set the mood before his matches. Some argue that Hulk Hogan redefined wrestling during the 1970s and 1980s, with his name and charisma transcending borders across the world.
His real name was Terry Gene Bollea, but he continued to be called Hulk Hogan during his entire career. He passed away at the age of 71 on July 24, 2025.
During his career, Hogan won 12 World Championships and was inducted into the Hall of Fame on two occasions. He was inducted as an individual member in 2005 and was later inducted as a part of the New World Order (nWo) in 2020. His accomplishments include becoming IWGP Heavyweight Champion (1), NWA Southeastern Heavyweight Champion (1), WCW World Heavyweight Champion (6), WWF/WWE Champion (6), WWE Tag Team Champion (1), and Royal Rumble winner in 1990 and 1991.
With his charm and in-ring persona, Hogan entered professional wrestling with a contract with the WWF, present-day WWE or the World Wrestling Entertainment, in 1979. During the first couple of years, Hogan did not make much of an impact and left to pursue a career at the New Japan Pro-Wrestling (1980 -1985) and the American Wrestling Association (1981-1983). He returned to the WWF/WWE in 1983 and won his first WWF World Heavyweight Championship by defeating The Iron Sheik. During these days, the commentator Gorilla Monsoon said that "Hulkamania is here," and thus the term and the movement called Hulkamania was born.
A notable trait that Hogan displayed during his matches was getting back up after a fall by becoming pumped up, often ripping his shirt, violently shaking his fists, and attacking the opponent with punches, a big boot (boot to the face), followed by a leg drop. This moment was called "Hulking Up" and remained a key instance in all of his matches. He would also Hulk Up during interviews or when talking to opponents and would ask them, “Whatcha gonna do brother when Hulkamania runs wild on you?”, which became his catchphrase.
A major part of Hogan's professional career was him becoming a part of the New World Order – the nWo – where he formed a stable with Scott Hall and Kevin Nash. This gimmick was about unsanctioned wrestlers who were taking over the WCW. When the WWE bought WCW in March 2001, the nWo made its way to the WWE, and thus began a rivalry between The Rock and Hulk Hogan, who at that time was known as Hollywood Hogan. No one thought they were going to see this match, but it did happen at WrestleMania 18 in March 2002. The match was said to be "Icon vs. Icon," where The Rock was the face (good guy) and Hogan was the heel (bad guy), as he was a part of the nWo at that time. The Rock won the match, but Hogan too had a face turn (heel turning face) by the end of the night as he joined forces with The Rock to beat Hall and Nash when they attacked Hogan.
During his career, Hogan had several memorable matches. They were against Terry Funk (1986, WWE), Andre the Giant (WrestleMania 3, 1987, WWE), "King" Harley Race (1988, WWE), The Big Boss Man (Steel Cage, 1989, WWE), Randy Savage (WrestleMania 5, 1989, WWE), The Ultimate Warrior (WrestleMania 6, WWE, 1990), and Vince McMahon (Street Fight, WrestleMania 19, 2003).
Hogan also began a feud with Triple H, with an Undisputed WWF Championship match being held at Backlash in 2002, followed by a rivalry against The Undertaker. At that time, Edge was a face who teamed up with his childhood hero, Hogan, to form a tag team. They became the WWE Tag Team Champions at SmackDown! on July 4, 2002, by defeating Billy and Chuck. Another key moment in Hogan's career was when he teamed up with Shawn Michaels in various matches. However, a major twist occurred on July 4, 2005, on WWE RAW, when after winning their match against Carlito and Kurt Angle, Michaels hit Hogan with his signature move, the Sweet Chin Music, signalling his heel turn. Hogan and Michaels had a memorable match at SummerSlam (2005), which Hogan won.
During his career, after acquiring the status of a legend and leaving behind his in-ring career, Hogan returned to the WWE on several occasions to entertain the audience. He was the host of WrestleMania 30 (April 2014). The show opened with Hogan talking to the crowd and he was later joined by Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Rock. What followed was an unforgettable segment as these three icons of WWE talked about their WrestleMania moments. They roasted heel characters, pumped up the crowd by talking about the face characters, and chanted their signature catchphrases to give WrestleMania 30 a memorable opening.
