Hulk Hogan is an American retired professional wrestler who is celebrated as one of the most iconic figures in wrestling history. He is best known for his successful stint with WCW as he managed to become a 6-time WCW World Heavyweight Champion. Rising to prominence in the 1980s, he became the face of professional wrestling and headlined numerous WrestleMania events, achieving five WWF Championship reigns and consecutive Royal Rumble victories in 1990 and 1991. Hogan's career spanned multiple wrestling promotions, including WCW, where he held the record for the longest WCW World Heavyweight Championship reign and led the New World Order (nWo) faction. His contributions during the "Monday Night Wars" era cemented his status as a wrestling legend.
Hogan's return to WWE in 2002 saw him capture the Undisputed WWF Championship for a record-tying sixth time. Beyond wrestling, he pursued a successful acting career and even ventured into music with The Wrestling Boot Band. Hogan's impact on the wrestling world led to his induction into the WWE Hall of Fame twice, in 2005 and 2020 as a member of the nWo. During and after wrestling, Hogan had an extensive acting career starting with a cameo in Rocky III in 1982. He starred in various films like No Holds Barred, Suburban Commando, and Mr. Nanny, and featured in TV shows including Hogan Knows Best, Thunder in Paradise, and China, IL. Additionally, he appeared in Right Guard commercials and even had his video game, Hulk Hogan's Main Event.
Hulk Hogan, an iconic wrestler, is renowned as one of the greatest in history, notably during the 1980s wrestling boom. He excelled in WWF, headlining WrestleMania and winning the WWF Championship five times. Hogan also shone in WCW, securing the WCW World Heavyweight Championship six times and leading the nWo. His career spanned AWA, NJPW, and TNA, and he pursued acting, music, and commercials. He's a two-time WWE Hall of Fame inductee, in 2005 and 2020 as part of the nWo. In 1982, Hulk made his theatrical film debut in the sports drama movie, Rocky III.
Hulk Hogan, born on August 11, 1953, in Augusta, Georgia, USA, belongs to a diverse ethnic heritage with Italian, French, Scottish, and English roots. He is American by nationality and his real name is Terry Gene Bollea. As the youngest son in his family, he grew up under the guidance of his father Pete Bollea, a construction foreman, and his mother Ruth Bollea, a dance instructor, alongside his two brothers, Alan Bollea and Kenneth Wheeler. While pursuing his education, he attended Hillsborough Community College for high school and furthered his studies at the University of South Florida. Originally, Hogan embarked on a baseball career, participating in Little League Baseball, until his fascination with wrestling took center stage after witnessing its captivating shows. Notably, he also displayed musical talent as a skilled guitarist. Despite his wrestling passion, he didn't earn a degree due to his unwavering dedication to the sport. Encouraged by his brother, he ventured into wrestling on the smaller southern circuits, marking the beginning of his iconic journey in the wrestling world.
Hulk Hogan's wrestling career began in 1977 when he debuted against Brian Blair after a year of training with Matsuda. He later teamed up with Ed Leslie, becoming the Boulder Brothers and wrestling in 'Louie Tillet’s Alabama Territory.' In 1979, he secured his first major win by claiming the Southeastern Heavyweight Championship, and in 1980, he joined WWF, winning his debut but facing defeat against Andre the Giant. Hogan's global wrestling footprint expanded in the 1980s with 'New Japan Pro Wrestling,' where he showcased traditional and technical moves and introduced the 'Axe Bomber' as his finisher. He skyrocketed to fame in 1984 by winning his first 'WWF Heavyweight Championship' and went on to hold the title until 1988. Over his career, he achieved remarkable success, including multiple WCW championships, a Royal Rumble victory, and memorable moments like facing Brock Lesnar and adopting the persona of Mr. America.
Mr. America's WWE journey had its last hurrah on the June 26 episode of SmackDown!, where he teamed up with Big Show and The World's Greatest Tag Team to face Brock Lesnar, Kurt Angle, and himself, resulting in a six-man tag team match loss. Subsequently, he ventured back to NJPW in October 2003, triumphing over Masahiro Chono at Ultimate Crush II in the Tokyo Dome. The pinnacle of his WWE career arrived when he was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame class of 2005 on April 2, 2005, with actor Sylvester Stallone doing the honors. Over the years, he made sporadic appearances, from guesting on Carlito's Cabana in 2005 to taking on Jerry Lawler in Memphis Wrestling in 2007. Hogan's career took an international turn with the "Hulkamania: Let the Battle Begin" tour across Australia in 2009, and he joined TNA in 2010. His career also saw a return to WWE in 2014, honorary recognition at Madison Square Garden in 2015, followed by a contract termination, and subsequent reinstatement in 2018. Hogan continued to make WWE appearances, inducting colleagues into the Hall of Fame and participating in special events like "Raw Reunion." In 2019, he was announced as part of the WWE Hall of Fame for a second time as a member of the New World Order.
In 2020, Hogan made his sole appearance on WWE's non-WWE Network programming on the February 14 episode of SmackDown via satellite, discussing the Hall of Fame and being interrupted by Bray Wyatt; the 2020 Hall of Fame ceremony was postponed due to the pandemic and aired on April 6, 2021. In 2021, he appeared on the January 4 episode of Raw for Legends Night, introducing the 'H-Phone' and participating in backstage segments with Drew McIntyre and Sheamus. Hogan co-hosted WrestleMania 37 with Titus O'Neil, appearing in various segments, including one with Bayley and the return of the Bella Twins. On January 23, 2023, he celebrated the 30th Anniversary of Raw, appearing live alongside Jimmy Hart on WWE Raw is XXX. Beyond wrestling, Hogan pursued a successful acting career with roles in movies like Rocky III, No Holds Barred, and Spy Hard, along with voice acting gigs and TV appearances. He also served as a judge on Tough Enough and remained a beloved figure in the wrestling world, earning numerous awards and accolades throughout his career.
Hulk Hogan has experienced two marriages in his life and is currently in a relationship with his girlfriend, Sky Daily. Hogan's romantic journey took a new turn when he began dating yoga instructor Sky Daily in early 2022. Their love story blossomed, culminating in an engagement in July 2023, marking over a year of their relationship. The couple is relishing their time together, savoring the joys of companionship.
Hogan's first marriage was to Linda Claridge, whom he met in 1981 at a Los Angeles restaurant, sparking a romance that led to their marriage on December 18, 1983. The couple welcomed their daughter, Brooke Hogan, in May 1988 and their son, Nick, in July 1990. Unfortunately, their marital journey faced challenges, and in November 2007, Linda Claridge filed for divorce. Hogan's second marriage was to makeup artist Jennifer McDaniel, with whom he started a relationship in 2008. Their engagement followed in November 2009, and they tied the knot in December 2010 in Clearwater, Florida. However, their relationship eventually encountered difficulties, leading to their separation and the filing of divorce papers in October 2021.
Hulk Hogan, the renowned wrestler, has amassed a substantial net worth exceeding $35 million as of 2023, complemented by an annual salary surpassing $5 million. His primary source of wealth is attributed to his illustrious wrestling career, while his secondary income streams stem from lucrative endorsement deals with brands such as Legends of Wrestling, Trivial Pursuit, 10-10-220 (including print advertisements), Arby’s, Harris Teeter Supermarket Store Brands, Hitachi, Rent-A-Center Stores, Honey Nut Cheerios, Super Beta Prostate Tablets, Ageless Male Supplements, LoanMart.com, and Right Guard’s Sports Sticks Antiperspirant and Deodorant (also involving print ads). Hulk Hogan's opulent lifestyle is further reflected in his impressive car collection, which includes notable vehicles like the Dodge Charger SRT-8, Chevrolet Tahoe, Nissan GT-R, Rolls-Royce Phantom VI, 2005 Dodge Ram SRT-10 Yellow Fever, and the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat, among others.
Hulk Hogan is a handsome wrestler with a towering height of 6 feet 7 inches and maintaining a robust body weight of 137 kg or 302 lbs. His body type is bodybuilder. His impressive physical stats include 24-inch biceps, a 37-inch waist, and a broad 58-inch chest. He is recognized for his iconic blonde hair and piercing blue eyes, although his hair has taken on a silver hue with age. Hogan sports a distinctive handlebar mustache and is rarely seen without his trademark bandanna. Despite enduring various health challenges, notably related to his back due to the rigors of his wrestling career, Hogan remains committed to his fitness, frequently hitting the gym to sustain his overall health and physique.
Baseball held his initial passion. Growing up in Tampa Bay, Hogan aspired to be a major league pitcher, even leading his Interbay Little League team to the national regional finals in 1966. Though they narrowly missed the Little League World Series due to a game-winning home run, MLB scouts noticed him. Unfortunately, a throwing elbow injury during his final high school year halted his baseball trajectory. Reflecting on this, Hogan expressed, “It was the best thing that ever happened to me because I segued into wrestling." He shared that while his arm's limitations redirected him towards wrestling, baseball remained his first love.
Before becoming Hulk Hogan, his ring name underwent transformations. In his 1977 debut, he appeared as "The Super Destroyer" under a mask, a name shared by various wrestlers. He then shed the mask to become "Sterling Golden" and "Terry 'The Hulk' Boulder," wrestling in smaller circuits. Upon joining Vince McMahon Sr.'s World Wide Wrestling Federation (predecessor to WWF/WWE) in 1979, McMahon sought a name appealing to Northeast Irish fans, leading to the adoption of "Hulk Hogan." Although concerned it sounded akin to "Hulk Hoagie," Bollea embraced the change.
Hulk Hogan's participation in the movie "Rocky III" led to his departure from WWF, reflecting the traditional belief that wrestlers should avoid TV and film to preserve the illusion of wrestling's authenticity. Hogan's portrayal of Thunder Lips in the film was considered taboo, leading to his dismissal from WWF by Vince McMahon Sr. Subsequently, Hogan briefly wrestled for the American Wrestling Association (AWA) before being brought back into WWF by Vince McMahon Jr., who had taken control of the company, positioning Hogan as the centerpiece of the organization.
Marvel held the copyright for his name due to concerns that it clashed with a certain iconic green character. As Hulk Hogan rose to prominence in WWF and began his acting career, Marvel's legal team believed the name infringed on their character. In 1984, a resolution was reached where Marvel licensed the name to WWF and Hogan for 20 years in exchange for compensation, including a small percentage of merchandise sales and payment for each of Hogan's matches. This arrangement was particularly significant given Hogan's extensive match schedule. Eric Bischoff, the former president of WCW, later clarified that Hogan obtained the trademark rights and could use "Hulk" as long as it pertained to his wrestling persona, without any financial obligations to Marvel, a deal brokered before Hogan joined WCW.
In a memorable live TV incident, Hulk Hogan inadvertently knocked out Richard Belzer during a cable talk show appearance to promote the first WrestleMania. While demonstrating a headlock, Hogan unintentionally rendered Belzer unconscious, causing him to fall and sustain a concussion. Belzer later sued Hogan, Mr. T, and Titan Sports for $5 million, leading to an undisclosed settlement between the parties.