World Championship Titles: 12
“ Whatcha gonna do, brother, when the largest arms in the world and HULKAMANIA run WILD on you?!?!? ”
Finishing Moves: Axe Bomber, Running Leg Drop
Hulk Hogan is one of the most recognizable wrestlers worldwide and the main attraction of the ‘80s wrestling. By his real name, Terry Gene Bollea was born on August 11th, 1953. Throughout his career he has inspired many wrestlers with his in-ring character.
Hogan has 12 World Champion titles to his name, six WWE (former WWF) World Heavyweight Championships and six WCW World Heavyweight Championships. Hogan was inducted to WWE’s Hall of Fame in 2005 by Sylvester Stallone, guest star for the 2005 WWE Hall of Fame Ceremony. The two American heroes go way back, to Rocky III, in which Hogan had the role of Thunderlips. After a few memories about Hogan hurting stunt guys while filming Rocky III, Stallone introduces the one and only Hulk Hogan.
Early Career
Taking a trip back in time brings us to the year 1979, where a young Hulk Hogan first shows his face and power on the ring of WWE:
Hogan, the Real American
Years later, Hogan has earned the crowd’s respect and sympathy, also during his time with World Wrestling Federation (now known as WWE) the role of the American Hero. He always entered on the stage on “Real American” in the chants and applauses of the crowd. This is a tribute to Hulk Hogan, the real american:
Change of heart and allying with rivals
However, after turning to World Championship Wrestling in 1994, Hogan changed his character as well. Hulk Hogan turned heel (turned bad) for the first time in fifteen years, when he attacked Randy Savage and announced the formation of nWo, New World Order, a new stable with Hogan in charge.
Randy Savage, one of Hogan’s longest rival, also joined the nWo pack. However, when the nWo split up into two, Savage chose to be part of the “good guys” called “Face” in wrestling, the nWo Wolfpac. At the same time, Hogan chose to maintain his “bad guy” aspect he created upon joining WCW and created nWo Hollywood.
Apart from his 12 titles as World Champ, Hogan also won the WWE World Tag Team Championship (in 2002 with Edge as his partner) and the Royal Rumble two times, in 1990 and 1991 (making him the first wrestler to win the Royal Rumble two times in a row).
During his time as a wrestler, Hogan had four managers: “Captain” Lou Albano, “Classy” Freddie Blassie, Miss Elizabeth (most known for managing Macho Man Randy Savage) and “The Mouth of the South” Jimmy Hart.
“Hollywood” Hulk Hogan
Hogan took his theatrical prowess and tried his luck with roles in movies. Although he played in several movies, like “Mr. Nanny”, “Spy Hard”, “Santa with Muscles” his true love and the place for his talent to shine was wrestling.
In 2005, VH1 put their faith into “Hollywood” Hulk Hogan (his ring name in World Championship Wrestling) and premiered a show called “Hogan knows best”. The show captured Hogan’s family life, focusing on his children’s dreams and how they will fulfil them. Hogan’s daughter, Brooke dreamt of making it into the music business while her brother, Nick tried to become a professional race car driver followed by an attempt to be a professional wrestler like his father.
Hogan’s family was just like any family, full of troubles. After a scandal about Hogan cheating on his wife, Linda, she filed papers for divorce. Initially it was thought that the divorce was just meant to save them money from the criminal charges against their son, Nick (car accident in 2007 with the right passenger seriously injured). However, Linda later declared that she wanted divorce because of Hogan’s unfaithful nature.
Return of the Hulkster?
At the beginning of 2014, WWE announced the return of Hulk Hogan as the host of Wrestlemania XXX, thirty years after the first edition of Wrestlemania, edition which featured Hogan next to Mr. T. This edition of Wrestlemania was also an homage to André the Giant with a 30-man Battle Royale. The winner of the event would win the André the Giant Memorial Trophy.