Early Wrestling Career
Terry Gene Bollea was born on August 11, 1953, in Augusta, Georgia. As a young man, Bollea pursued a career in music as a bass guitar player. His physique caught the eye of pro wrestlers Jack and Gerald Briscoe, who introduced him to the wrestling business.
Bollea made his wrestling debut on August 10, 1977, in Championship Wrestling from Florida. He gradually made his way around the country, wrestling for promotions like Verne Gagne’s AWA. He even wrestled overseas in NJPW.
In 1979, Bollea made his first appearance for the WWE and picked up the ring name Hulk Hogan. However, it wasn’t until a few years later that Hogan’s wrestling career would take off.
Hulkamania Runs Wild
Hogan made his return to WWE on December 27, 1983. He quickly became a fan favorite, propped up by WWE owner Vincent K. McMahon, who chose Hogan to be the company’s central figure.
On January 23, 1984, Hulk Hogan defeated the villainous Iron Sheik to become WWE World Heavyweight Champion. Upon his victory, WWE commentator exclaimed “Hulkamania is here!” and consequently ushered in one of the most iconic eras in wrestling history.
Hogan remained the most popular star in wrestling for the rest of his first WWE run. He feuded with stars like Andre the Giant, Ted Dibiase, Sgt. Slaughter, and his tag team partner Randy Savage.
Hogan also began a moderately successful acting career that began with a cameo in Rocky III. His in-ring success and international celebrity launched Hogan into bonafide superstardom. His success in Hollywood led Hogan to take a step back from the wrestling world.
Hogan Jumps Ship To WCW
After months of hype, Hogan signed with WCW on June 11, 1994. He won the WCW World Heavyweight Championship in his debut match by defeating Ric Flair, with whom he then began a feud.
At Bash at the Beach in 1996, Hogan shocked the wrestling world when he turned heel for the first time in over 15 years. He teamed up with Scott Hall and Kevin Nash and formed one of the most infamous factions in wrestling history, the nWo.
Hogan remained with WCW until 2001. By that time, his relationship with the company had turned rotten; backstage disputes began to boil over as Hogan refused the creative direction given by the company’s head writer, Vince Russo. At one point, Hogan even filed a defamation lawsuit against Russo, though it was dismissed in 2002.
WWE Return, TNA Run
At No Way Out on February 17, 2002, Hogan made his return to WWE. He went on to feud with megastars like The Rock, The Undertaker, and Brock Lesnar. It was also during this run that Hogan debuted the Mr. America character, a masked, patriotic luchador. Hogan was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005.
From 2009 to 2013, Horgan signed a full-time contract with TNA. Hogan’s tenure with the company was widely criticized and is considered to have been largely detrimental to TNA as a whole. He returned to WWE after his contract with the company expired.
Retirement And Scandal
In July 2015, National Enquirer publicized a leaked, racist rant by Hogan. In it, he is heard using the n-word multiple times and expresses disgust at the notion that his daughter might date a Black man.
As a consequence of the rant coming to light, WWE severed all ties with Hogan, going so far as to remove him from the WWE Hall of Fame and ceasing production of Hulk Hogan action figures. Hogan went on a publicity tour and sought forgiveness and good graces from the public.
Three years after the rant was publicized, WWE reinstated Hogan into their Hall of Fame and welcomed him back to make occasional appearances for the company. He most notably co-hosted WrestleMania 37, though WWE had to pipe in crowd noise to drown out the audience’s boos.