Sports

60 things you never knew about late WWE icon Hulk Hogan

Published

4 months ago

July 25, 2025

Hulk Hogan

60 things you never knew about late WWE icon Hulk Hogan

Hulk Hogan, born Terry Gene Bollea, was a towering figure in professional wrestling and a global pop culture icon whose larger-than-life persona defined an era. From his record-breaking wrestling championships to his Hollywood ventures and reality TV stardom, Hogan’s journey as the flamboyant “Hulkster” captivated millions.

Here are 60 jaw-dropping facts that highlight the remarkable life and career of Hulk Hogan, from his early days in Florida to his lasting impact on entertainment.

1. Real Name: Hulk Hogan was born Terry Gene Bollea on August 11, 1953, in Augusta, Georgia.

2. Ethnic Background: Hogan was of Italian, Panamanian, Scottish, and French descent, reflecting a diverse heritage.

3. Early Career: He began his professional wrestling career in 1977, initially trained by Hiro Matsuda in the Championship Wrestling from Florida (CWF).

4. WrestleMania Icon: Hogan headlined eight of the first nine WrestleMania events, a record that underscored his central role in WWE’s flagship event.

5. WWF Champion: He was a five-time WWF Champion during his initial run, with his 1,474-day reign being the longest of the WrestleMania era.

6. Royal Rumble Record: Hogan was the first wrestler to win consecutive Royal Rumble matches in 1990 and 1991.

7. Historic Viewership: His 1988 match against André the Giant on WWF The Main Event drew a 15.2 Nielsen rating and 33 million viewers, a U.S. wrestling television record.

8. WCW Dominance: Hogan won the WCW World Heavyweight Championship six times, holding the record for the longest reign at 469 days.

9. nWo Leader: In 1996, he transformed into “Hollywood” Hulk Hogan, leading the New World Order (nWo), sparking the Monday Night War wrestling boom.

10. Starrcade Headliner: He headlined WCW’s Starrcade in 1994, 1996, and 1997, with the 1997 event being WCW’s most profitable pay-per-view.

11. WWE Hall of Fame: Hogan was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005 as an individual and in 2020 as part of the nWo.

12. AWA Beginnings: He headlined the American Wrestling Association’s first closed-circuit supercard, Super Sunday, in 1983.

13. IWGP Champion: Hogan was the inaugural winner of the original IWGP Heavyweight Championship in New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) in 1983.

14. Acting Debut: His first major acting role was as Thunderlips in Rocky III (1982), which boosted his mainstream fame.

15. Film Career: Hogan starred in films like No Holds Barred (1989), Suburban Commando (1991), and Mr. Nanny (1993).

16. TV Star: He starred in Thunder in Paradise (1994) and appeared in shows like The A-Team and Walker, Texas Ranger.

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17. Reality TV: Hogan’s reality show Hogan Knows Best (2005–2007) on VH1 focused on his family life with wife Linda and children Brooke and Nick.

18. Music Career: He was the frontman for The Wrestling Boot Band, whose album Hulk Rules reached No. 12 on the Billboard Top Kid Audio chart in 1995.

19. Little League Pitcher: As a child, Hogan was a pitcher in Little League Baseball in Port Tampa, Florida.

20. Musical Roots: Before wrestling, he played fretless bass guitar in Florida rock bands for a decade, including the popular band Ruckus.

21. Gym Ventures: Hogan co-owned Whitey and Terry’s Olympic Gym in Florida with friend Whitey Bridges.

22. Super Destroyer: Early in his career, he wrestled under a mask as “The Super Destroyer” in CWF.

23. Boulder Brothers: He teamed with Ed Leslie (Brutus Beefcake) as the Boulder Brothers in Alabama, sparking rumors they were actual brothers.

24. NWA Title: Hogan won his first championship, the NWA Southeastern Heavyweight Championship, in 1979.

25. WWF Debut: He debuted in the WWF in 1979 as a heel under the management of “Classy” Freddie Blassie.

26. Japanese Nickname: In NJPW, fans called him “Ichiban” (Number One) for his popularity and unique wrestling style.

27. Axe Bomber: In Japan, Hogan used the Axe Bomber (a crooked arm lariat) as his finisher instead of the leg drop.

28. MSG Tag Team Success: He won the MSG Tag League tournament with Antonio Inoki in 1982 and 1983.

29. AWA Fan Favourite: Despite starting as a heel in the AWA, Hogan quickly became a fan favorite, feuding with the Heenan Family.

30. Hulkamania Birth: The term “Hulkamania” was coined by Gorilla Monsoon after Hogan’s first WWF Championship win in 1984.

31. Demandments: Hogan’s three “demandments” were training, saying prayers, and eating vitamins, with a fourth (believing in oneself) added in 1990.

32. Marvel Deal: A 1984 deal with Marvel Comics gave them the “Hulk Hogan” trademark for 20 years, preventing WWE from using “Incredible” in his branding.

33. Make-a-Wish Star: He was the most requested celebrity for the Make-a-Wish Foundation in the 1980s.

34. Media Covers: Hogan appeared on the covers of Sports Illustrated, TV Guide, and People during his 1980s peak.

35. Saturday Night Live: He co-hosted Saturday Night Live on March 30, 1985, during his WWF dominance.

36. 900 Number Success: His WWF 900 number was the biggest from 1991 to 1993, per AT&T reports.

37. Mega Powers: Hogan and Randy Savage formed The Mega Powers, a popular tag team, with Miss Elizabeth as their manager.

38. War Bonnet: In 1988, he briefly wore a red and yellow gladiator helmet called the “War Bonnet” at house shows.

39. No Holds Barred Feud: His 1989 film No Holds Barred inspired a WWF feud with co-star Tom Lister Jr. as Zeus.

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40. Mr. America: In 2003, Hogan wrestled as the masked Mr. America in WWE, denying he was Hogan in a comedic storyline.

41. TNA General Manager: He served as TNA’s General Manager in 2012, feuding with Aces & Eights.

42. Racism Controversy: In 2015, Hogan was fired from WWE after a leaked 2007 tape revealed him using racial slurs, though he was reinstated in 2018.

43. WWE Return: He returned to WWE in 2014 to promote the WWE Network and hosted WrestleMania XXX.

44. nWo Reunion: At WrestleMania 31, Hogan reunited with Scott Hall and Kevin Nash to reform the nWo in Sting’s corner.

45. Real American Beer: In 2024, he launched “Real American Beer,” a light beer brand promoted on WWE’s Raw.

46. Restaurant Ventures: Hogan opened Pastamania in 1995 and Hogan’s Beach in 2012, though both later dropped his name.

47. Endorsements: He endorsed products like the Hulk Hogan Thunder Mixer and appeared in Rent-A-Center commercials with Troy Aikman.

48. Hostamania: In 2013, he launched Hostamania, a web hosting service, with a parody commercial mimicking Jean-Claude Van Damme.

49. Political Endorsement: Hogan endorsed Donald Trump at the 2024 Republican National Convention and spoke at a Trump rally.

50. Documentary Feature: In 2025, he appeared in the Peacock documentary Wrestlemania IX: The Spectacle, released posthumously.

51. Health Struggles: Hogan suffered chronic back problems from years of heavy weight-training and the physical toll of wrestling.

52. Medical Malpractice Lawsuit: In 2013, he filed a $50 million lawsuit against the Laser Spine Institute, alleging unnecessary and ineffective spinal surgeries.

53. Spinal Surgeries: He underwent six spinal procedures over 19 months, which provided only short-term relief for his back issues.

54. Spinal Fusion Success: A traditional spinal fusion surgery in December 2010 allowed Hogan to resume professional activities.

55. Unauthorized Use: The Laser Spine Institute used Hogan’s name in advertisements without his permission, contributing to his lawsuit.

56. Injury Impact: His back issues forced him to miss key wrestling events, including a planned match at TNA’s Bound for Glory in 2010.

57. Physical Toll: Hogan’s 6’7”, 295-pound frame and 24-inch biceps contributed to the strain on his body over his career.

58. Post-Retirement Pain: After retiring, Hogan’s health challenges limited his ability to wrestle, though he made occasional in-ring appearances.

59. Death: Hogan passed away on July 24, 2025, at age 71, due to cardiac arrest.

60. Legacy Endure: Despite controversies and health struggles, Hogan’s influence as a wrestling icon and pop culture figure remains unmatched, with fans and peers citing him as a transformative figure in the industry.

60 things you never knew about late WWE icon Hulk Hogan

Sports

Falconets thrash Ghana 3–1 in WAFU-B U-20 cup opener

Published

7 hours ago

November 9, 2025

Trends Admin

Falconets thrash Ghana 3–1 in WAFU-B U-20 cup opener
— Nigeria tops Group A, faces Benin Republic next

Nigeria’s U-20 women’s team, the Falconets, kicked off their campaign at the 2025 WAFU Zone B U-20 Girls’ Cup on a winning note, defeating Ghana’s Black Princesses 3–1 on Saturday in Benin Republic.

Head coach Moses Aduku fielded a strong starting lineup, with Taiwo Afolabi returning to the squad after featuring for the Super Falcons in recent World Cup qualifiers. Janet Akekoromowei and Precious Oscar also made the starting XI, while captain Joy Igbokwe marshalled the midfield.

The first half lived up to the billing of a fierce West African derby, with both sides battling for control. Nigeria, however, broke the deadlock in the 37th minute after a Ghanaian defender handled the ball inside the box.

Akekoromowei calmly converted from the penalty spot to hand the Falconets the lead. The midfielder doubled Nigeria’s advantage immediately after the restart, showing fine composure to chip over Ghana’s goalkeeper Grace Andoh from close range.

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Ghana reduced the deficit four minutes later through Sarah Nyarko, who finished from close range to make it 2–1. Despite Ghana’s pressure, the Falconets’ defence stood firm to repel several attacks.

Nigeria sealed victory in the 88th minute when Favour Chiamaka’s in-swinging corner deceived the Ghanaian goalkeeper and sailed into the net for a third goal.

The 3–1 win puts Nigeria at the top of Group A. The Falconets will face hosts Benin Republic next before meeting Ghana again on Tuesday at 10:00 a.m.

The 2025 WAFU Zone B U-20 Girls’ Cup, which began on Friday, features only three teams — Nigeria, Ghana, and hosts Benin Republic — and will conclude on Wednesday.

The tournament serves as a vital platform for identifying emerging talents and preparing national youth squads for future CAF and FIFA competitions.

Falconets thrash Ghana 3–1 in WAFU-B U-20 cup opener

Sports

De Ligt’s late strike earns Manchester United dramatic draw at Tottenham

Published

22 hours ago

November 8, 2025

Trends Admin

De Ligt’s late strike earns Manchester United dramatic draw at Tottenham

Manchester United snatched a dramatic 2–2 draw against Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday, thanks to a last-gasp equaliser from defender Matthijs de Ligt deep into stoppage time.

In a pulsating Premier League encounter at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, United looked set to return to winning ways after Bryan Mbeumo’s first-half header gave them control. The winger met Amad Diallo’s precise cross to nod past Spurs goalkeeper and silence the home crowd.

United goalkeeper Senne Lammens produced a string of fine saves to keep out efforts from Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven, as Tottenham pushed hard after the break.

The hosts eventually levelled six minutes from time when substitute Mathys Tel, who was earlier booed upon his introduction for Xavi Simons, turned sharply inside the box and fired past Lammens to make it 1–1.

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Moments later, the stadium erupted again when Richarlison flicked in Wilson Odobert’s long-range effort to give Tottenham a 2–1 lead, seemingly sealing a comeback victory.

However, in the final minute of added time, United threw everyone forward for a corner — including goalkeeper Lammens. The ball fell kindly to De Ligt, who fired home from a tight angle to secure a valuable point for Ruben Amorim’s men.

The dramatic equaliser left both sets of players stunned. Richarlison was visibly distraught, having thought his late strike would deliver victory, while Amorim expressed relief after seeing his side salvage something from a game they nearly lost control of.

The result denied Tottenham their first home win in three games and extended United’s unbeaten run under Amorim, in what was one of the most thrilling finishes of the Premier League season so far.

De Ligt’s late strike earns Manchester United dramatic draw at Tottenham

Sports

Super Falcons star Chiamaka Nnadozie nominated for 2025 FIFA best goalkeeper award

Published

2 days ago

November 7, 2025

Trends Admin

Super Falcons star Chiamaka Nnadozie nominated for 2025 FIFA best goalkeeper award

Zurich — Nigeria’s Super Falcons goalkeeper, Chiamaka Nnadozie, has been shortlisted for the 2025 Best FIFA Women’s Goalkeeper Award, following an outstanding season for both club and country.

FIFA announced the nominees on Thursday while opening the global voting process for The Best FIFA Football Awards 2025. Fans worldwide can now cast their votes via the official FIFA app to decide the winners in various categories, including Best Player, Coach, and Goalkeeper.

Nnadozie joins a competitive shortlist that includes Ann-Katrin Berger (Germany), Cata Coll (Spain), Christiane Endler (Chile), Hannah Hampton (England), Anna Moorhouse (England), and Phallon Tullis-Joyce (USA).

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The 24-year-old earned her place among the elite after an exceptional 2024/25 campaign, during which she captained her former club Paris FC to victory in the Coupe de France Féminine — the club’s first major title in nearly two decades.

Nnadozie also played a crucial role in Nigeria’s 10th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) triumph in Morocco earlier this year, where she was named Goalkeeper of the Tournament.

Since joining Brighton & Hove Albion Women in England, the shot-stopper has maintained top form, further earning recognition with a fourth-place finish in the 2025 Women’s Yachine Trophy rankings at the Ballon d’Or ceremony.

She is also among the leading contenders for the CAF Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year award, which would mark her third continental title in that category.

Voting for The Best FIFA Football Awards closes on November 28, with the winners set to be unveiled during an official ceremony early next year.