Posted on by bdamage1
Some of us were fans, some of us despised him, but clearly Hulk Hogan left an indelible mark on pro wrestling. Today, we look at some of the highs and lows on the career of “The Immortal One.”
In 1984 here in the States…Ronald Reagan was President…Gas was $1.10 a gallon…New York City transit fare was 90 cents…Apple introduced the Macintosh personal computer and Michael Jackson severely burned himself filming a Pepsi commercial. On January 23rd of that year…in Madison Square Garden…Hulk Hogan defeated the Iron Sheik to become WWF champion…thus officially christening the birth of Hulk-A-Mania.
That was years ago, and in that time frame pro wrestling exploded on the mainstream’s consciousness…the territories evaporated…the World Wrestling Federation went from a northeast promotion to a national brand and now a global corporation. Hulk went on to hold that first WWF title until 1988.
What is Hulk-A-Mania? Why should we acknowledge its existence years later? For Hogan fans, he was the one who “made” wrestling what it is today. He introduced people to the sport that normally wouldn’t have taken notice of it. He rubbed elbows with celebrities like Mr T, Cyndi Lauper, Liberace and Muhammad Ali. He inspired countless youngsters to follow in his footsteps and become pro wrestlers themselves.
Critics on the other hand say he was nothing more than a cog in the inevitable WWF/WWE machine. He was arrogant, cocky and a cancer to wrestling. His guaranteed millions and creative control were one of the driving forces that ended WCW.
Personally, I am not, nor ever was a “Hulkamaniac,” I do recognize his influence and his contributions to professional wrestling. He was handed the ball by Vince McMahon and ran with it successfully for many years. Hogan can say he was one of the catalysts to two of the biggest booms in wrestling with the “Rock-n-Wrestling” era and the Monday Night War era.
His heel turn at WCW’s Bash at the Beach in 1996 is regarded by many as the greatest heel turn of all time. It not only revitalized his career which was heavily stagnating in WCW…but also gave the N.W.O. angle instant buzz and credibility.
When WCW folded, Hogan eventually returned home to the WWE and nobody…not Vince McMahon…not The Rock…probably not even Hogan himself anticipated the reaction the Hulkster would receive in Toronto, Canada for Wrestlemania 18.
Of course, it hasn’t been all “Wine and Roses” for the Hulkster in the many years of Hulk-A-Mania. After denying ever using steroids on the Arsenio Hall Show…Hogan would later admit to years of abuse and testified in the steroid trial against Vince McMahon. He was sued by actor/comedian Richard Belzer after choking Belzer unconscious and dropping him to the floor on Belzer’s talk show.
His acting career has been somewhat unsuccessful starring in flops and direct to video fare such as Mr. Nanny…Suburban Commando and Santa with Muscles. He claims that he was the first person chosen to endorse the grill machine that George Foreman eventually agreed to do…(If true, it cost him millions and millions of dollars ) He had a failed restaurant venture called Pastamania.
His son Nick was arrested for driving recklessly and having a blood alcohol level above the legal limit. Hulk was involved in a very nasty and publicized divorce to his first wife Linda. Hogan also was the subject of a controversial sex tape scandal where he was filmed having sex with his friend’s (Radio Jock Bubba the Love Sponge) wife.
He made racist remarks pertaining to the possibility of a black man dating his only daughter. Hulk stated later that that was “the biggest mistake of his life.”
Despite the lows…Hulk-A-Mania has persevered through the years. He sometimes gets positive reactions from fans at events, other times not so much. People line up to meet him, get an autograph or hear him speak. Will Hulk-A-Mania live forever? Well, it may or may not, but after all these years fans and haters can both agree…Hulk Hogan was one of the most polarizing figures in the history of professional wrestling.
Frank Gravagna
Never was much of a wrestling fan but I was drawn to follow Hulk Hogan after he proudly displayed the American Flag to honor these USA . Yes he had good and bad characteristics and ups and downs but he did things his way and it certainly gained him notoriety. In the end he stood for the American dream and MAGA. In the end he was baptized and accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior and is guaranteed everlasting life.
R.I P
tye 5th horseman
I grew up on the hulkster. First seeing him in the awa as an 8 year old kid. There was just his magic and the look that no other wrestler had. In the awa at the time, maybe Jesse Ventura could compare but Hogan was on a different level.
He took pro wrestling mainstream in the 80s, as much as Vince envisioned it, Hogan brought it to him.
His heel turn revitalized his career and produce wrestling a second time.
Like him, love him or hate him, I think the wrestling world would not be what it is today without the hulkster.
Eric
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