60 things you never knew about late WWE icon 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.

60 things you never knew about late WWE icon Hulk Hogan