Andre the Giant, Stone Cold Steve Austin, Ric Flair, The Rock, and John Cena are among the most recognizable professional wrestlers of today. However, Hulk Hogan is by far the superstar most responsible for propelling professional wrestling into the mainstream and creating sports entertainment.
As a global icon, Hulk Hogan undeniably and single-handedly transformed the world of wrestling. Following the news of his death on July 24, 2025, Vince McMahon and WWE stars are remembering and paying tribute to the wrestling legend. McMahon summed it up, stating,
“Hulk Hogan was the greatest WWE superstar of all time. Someone who was loved and admired around the world. He was a trailblazer, the first performer who transitioned from being a wrestler star into a global phenomenon.”
Following his death, Friday Night SmackDown and Monday Night Raw both presented poignant tributes to the late Hulk Hogan. All the wrestlers took to the stage and gave a ten-bell salute with their fans to bid farewell to Hulk Hogan, who sadly died of cardiac arrest at his home in Clearwater, Florida, on July 24, 2025, at the age of 71. Survived by his wife, Sky Daily, his first wife, Linda Hogan, and their children, Brooke Hogan and Nick Hogan, the loss is a significant one for many.
The life and legacy of Terry “Hulk Hogan” Bollea is one for the history books in both entertainment and wrestling. Hulk Hogan’s “Hulkamania” catapulted him into fame in the 1980s and 1990s and beyond. His charismatic persona and perfectly bronzed physique will remain one of the most famous in professional wrestling history.
A six-time WWE Champion, which he held for 1,474 days (third longest all time), a six-time WCW World Heavyweight champion, and a two-time WWE Hall of Fame inductee, both as Hulk Hogan and as nWo. Hulk Hogan’s career also involved music and Hollywood roles in movies like 1982’s Rocky III, transitioning into starring roles, such as those in 1989’s No Holds Barred and 1993’s Mr. Nanny.
Just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Hulkamania, there was also animated television series entitled Hulk Hogan’s Rock ‘n’ Wrestling (which aired in 1985), tons of merchandise and toys (including the beloved Hulkamania Workout Set from 1985, complete with a 40-minute workout cassette narrated by Hulk Hogan that every boy loved), a reality television show called Hogan Knows Best (which premiered in 2005 and aired for four seasons), his own Real American beer, and his own restaurant in Clearwater, called Hogan’s Hangout.
A true American legend, his larger-than-life persona stood at 6’7″, weighing 302 lbs, with long platinum blond hair held in a signature bandana, a trademark thick horseshoe mustache, and a tight sleeveless tank top that would be ripped to shreds before each match. His infamous catchphrases, “Whatcha gonna do, brother, when Hulkamania runs wild on you?” or “Train, say your prayers and take your vitamins,” were widely known and thrilled fans for decades.
Looking back deeper into history, Hulk Hogan rose to fame as the face of the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), now known as WWE. He made his WWF debut in 1979 before winning his first WWF Championship from The Iron Sheik at Madison Square Garden in 1984, and the cultural phenomenon known as “Hulkamania” ensued. He was featured in the first eight WrestleManias and fought the best: Andre the Giant, Macho Man Randy Savage, The Ultimate Warrior, and later The Rock.
His most pivotal career moment was in 1987 at WrestleMania III, when he faced Andre the Giant and his iconic bodyslam. Many of us can still remember watching Hulk Hogan on WrestleMania III on television as kids. This was a turning point for both Hulk Hogan and the WWE. Some of us can still hear Gorilla Monsoon and Jesse the Body Ventura calling that match. And as Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant faced each other, we were both stunned and elated to witness Hulk Hogan lift Andre the Giant over his head and body slam the world’s largest athlete, who stood 7’4” and weighed 520lbs. What an iconic and memorable moment it was for so many Hulkamaniacs worldwide. Hulk Hogan had cemented his legacy then and there.
Moving forward, during the 1990s, he was a key figure in the Monday Night Wars. In 1994, Hulk Hogan joined World Championship Wrestling (WCW). At WCW’s 1996 Bash at the Beach, Hulk Hogan turned heel and joined the New World Order (nWo), another pivotal moment in wrestling history. This event marked the moment when Hogan betrayed his fans and WCW. It is widely regarded as one of the most excellent heel turns in wrestling history, and it had a profound impact on the wrestling landscape.
At WrestleMania X8 in 2002, Hulk Hogan returned to the WWE and faced The Rock in a match that became one of the most iconic in WWE history. This match, dubbed “Icon vs. Icon,” was arguably the most anticipated match on the card. The Rock won the match, but both wrestlers were cheered by the crowd, showcasing the mutual respect between the two legends. In 2002, Hulk Hogan won the WWE Undisputed Championship. In 2005, he was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. However, Hogan would leave the WWE amid controversies surrounding leaked audio containing racial slurs. He publicly apologized and was reinstated to the WWE Hall of Fame and then re-inducted in 2020 as a member of the nWo.
Interestingly enough, before Hulk Hogan’s rise to fame in the wrestling world, the real-life Terry Bollea had a passion for music. “I used to be a session musician before I was a wrestler,” Hulk Hogan once said. He began playing the guitar in junior high school, then transitioned to playing the bass. Eventually, Hulk Hogan and two local musicians formed a band called Ruckus in 1976. The band soon became popular in the Tampa Bay region. Many of the wrestlers who were competing in the Florida region visited the bars where Ruckus was performing. Hulk Hogan also played bass on his entrance theme song called “Real American.” The song was one of ten tracks included on the WWF’s wrestling album, The Wrestling Album, released in 1985 by Epic Records.
Even more compelling is that Rick Derringer (famous for McCoys’ No. 1 hit “Hang On, Sloopy” and his solo song, “Rock and Roll, Hoochie Coo”) wrote “Real American.” A massive success, it encapsulated Hogan’s character as a man who fought for what was right with lyrics such as –
“I am a real American. Fight for the rights of every man. I am a real American. And fight for what’s right, fight for your life!”
Hogan would use the song for the remainder of his WWE career. He also recorded and released an album called Hulk Hogan and the Wrestling Boot Band in 1995, which featured songs written by Hogan and his friends.
Simply put, Hulk Hogan’s charisma and connection to the audience will never be forgotten. And as he said at his own Hall of Fame induction,
“Character is a law for this business that will never die.”
The immortal Hulk Hogan was abundant with character, and he, along with the phenomenon of Hulkamania, will live on forever. RIP Brother!
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