60 Jaw-dropping facts you never knew about late WWE Icon Hulk Hogan

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

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.

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.

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.