Terry Gene Bollea(August 11, 1953),better known by his ring name Hulk Hogan, is an American professional wrestler, actor, television personality and musician currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA).He is widely regarded as the most successful and famous professional wrestler of all time as well as the biggest draw in the history of professional wrestling.
Beginning his career wrestling for various promotions in the National Wrestling Alliance and Japan, Bollea first gained mainstream popularity when he adopted the name of Hulk Hogan and worked for promoter Verne Gagne's American Wrestling Association (AWA) in the early 1980s. In 1983, he departed the AWA for the World Wrestling Federation (WWF - now WWE), where he immediately won the WWF Championship for the first time when he defeated The Iron Sheik. In the WWF, he expanded the Hulk Hogan persona as an all-American hero who invoked American patriotism and called upon his loyal fans, known as Hulkamaniacs to take their vitamins and say their prayers.
Hogan was promoted by the WWF as the face of Rock 'n Wrestling, and led the expansion of the popularity of professional wrestling across North America and other parts of the world - a time now referred to as the Hulkamania Era. In his first run in the WWF, Hogan headlined almost all major WWF pay per view events, including the first nine of the WrestleMania franchise and won five WWF Championships. His popularity recognized in mainstream media, Hogan featured in several films and television programs, including Rocky III. At WrestleMania III, Hogan became the first man to bodyslam Andre The Giant before an audience of more than 90,000 fans. He also had famous feuds and matches with other major villianous "heel" wrestlers such as King Kong Bundy, Randy Savage and Ted DiBiase. At WrestleMania VI, Hogan was cleanly pinned for the first time by The Ultimate Warrior, who won the WWF title. Hogan regained the WWF title at WrestleMania VII from Sgt. Slaughter in a controversial storyline that ran concurrent with the 1990-91 Gulf War and where Slaughter openly wrestled as an anti-American, Iraqi sympathizer. However, the exposure of scandals in pro-wrestling about the rampant usage of steroids and growth hormones by famous wrestlers, including Hogan, reduced his popularity and led to a brief hiatus from the WWF. After returning briefly in 1993 to win the WWF Championship for the fifth time at WrestleMania IX, Hogan lost the title to Yokozuna at King Of The Ring 1993 before leaving the WWF to pursue acting full-time with the TV series, Thunder in Paradise.
In 1994, Hogan returned to professional wrestling when he signed with Ted Turner's World Championship Wrestling (WCW). Returning to his character as the all-American hero, Hogan had famous feuds with WCW star Ric Flair and WWF alumnus Randy Savage. In 1996, Hogan stunned wrestling audiences by turning "heel", announcing he was fed up of being the good guy and formed the New World Order stable with Kevin Nash and Scott Hall. Now known as Hollywood Hogan, his heel turn and the NWO storyline propelled WCW's television ratings and it surpassed the WWF as the largest wrestling company in the United States. In his time in WCW, Hogan would go on to win the WCW World Heavyweight Championship six times and have famous feuds with WCW stars Sting and Bill Goldberg. He would later head the nWo Hollywood faction and return to play a heroic character before departing WCW in July 2000 after differences with WCW writer and booker Vince Russo led to a controversial ending at the WCW Bash at the Beach event that saw the defending WCW World Champion Jeff Jarrett lie down for Hogan without a fight, and Russo denouncing and firing Hogan before the live audience.
Hogan would take a hiatus from wrestling until 2002, when he returned to the WWF reprising his villianous Hollywood Hogan character. Sentiments of nostalgia for the Hulk Hogan of the 1980s led to fans cheering Hogan even as he worked as a heel. At WrestleMania XVIII, Hogan finally accepted being the fan favorite again after losing a match to The Rock, and steadily returned to his 1980s persona. He would win his sixth and final WWF Championship a month later, and was the reigning champion when the WWF was renamed WWE. At WrestleMania XIX, Hogan won a match against WWE owner Vince McMahon. Hogan left the WWE again before returning to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005 by long-time friend Sylvester Stallone. He made a cameo appearance at WrestleMania XXI and defeated Shawn Michaels at SummerSlam 2005. In his last WWE match, Hogan defeated Randy Orton at SummerSlam 2006. Hogan expanded his television career with the reality show Hogan Knows Best and hosting Celebrity Championship Wrestling, but both endeavors declined owing to the controversies surrounding his son Nick Bollea's car accident and his stormy divorce from his wife Linda Bollea. In 2010, Hogan once again returned to wrestling when he debuted for Total Nonstop Action (TNA), playing the role of the new management of TNA along with former WCW executive Eric Bischoff.
In the fall of 1986, Hogan occasionally wrestled in tag matches with The Machines as Hulk Machine under a mask copied from New Japan Pro Wrestling gimmick "Super Strong Machine."At WrestleMania III in 1987, Hogan was booked to defend the title against André the Giant, who had been the sport's premier star and was pushed as undefeated for the previous two decades. A new storyline was introduced in early 1987; Hogan was presented a trophy for being the WWF Champion for three consecutive years. André the Giant, a good friend came out to congratulate him.Shortly afterward, André was presented a slightly smaller trophy for being "undefeated in the WWF for 15 years."Hogan came out to congratulate André, who walked out in the midst of Hogan's speech. Then, on an edition of Piper's Pit, Hogan was confronted by Bobby Heenan, who announced that André was his new protégé, and Andre challenged Hogan to a title match at WrestleMania III.At WrestleMania III, Hogan successfully defended the WWF World Heavyweight Championship against André the Giant. During the match, Hogan bodyslammed the 520-pound Frenchman and won the match after a leg drop.
After Hogan left the WWF in the summer of 1993, he split his time working on movies, television, wrestling in Japan, and spending time with his family. In June 1994, Hogan signed with Ted Turner's World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and began appearing on television the next month. Hogan won the WCW World Heavyweight Championship in his debut match, defeating Ric Flair in a 'dream' match at Bash at the Beach. After overcoming the likes of Flair, The Butcher (former partner Brutus Beefcake),Vader,and the Dungeon of Doom for the next fifteen months (the longest reign of all time for this championship), Hogan dropped the belt to The Giant at Halloween Havoc 1995 via DQ.Following the controversial loss (which was due to a "contract clause"), the WCW title became vacant.
Terry Gene Bollea(August 11, 1953),better known by his ring name Hulk Hogan, is an American professional wrestler, actor, television personality and musician currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA).He is widely regarded as the most successful and famous professional wrestler of all time as well as the biggest draw in the history of professional wrestling.
Beginning his career wrestling for various promotions in the National Wrestling Alliance and Japan, Bollea first gained mainstream popularity when he adopted the name of Hulk Hogan and worked for promoter Verne Gagne's American Wrestling Association (AWA) in the early 1980s. In 1983, he departed the AWA for the World Wrestling Federation (WWF - now WWE), where he immediately won the WWF Championship for the first time when he defeated The Iron Sheik. In the WWF, he expanded the Hulk Hogan persona as an all-American hero who invoked American patriotism and called upon his loyal fans, known as Hulkamaniacs to take their vitamins and say their prayers.
Hogan was promoted by the WWF as the face of Rock 'n Wrestling, and led the expansion of the popularity of professional wrestling across North America and other parts of the world - a time now referred to as the Hulkamania Era. In his first run in the WWF, Hogan headlined almost all major WWF pay per view events, including the first nine of the WrestleMania franchise and won five WWF Championships. His popularity recognized in mainstream media, Hogan featured in several films and television programs, including Rocky III. At WrestleMania III, Hogan became the first man to bodyslam Andre The Giant before an audience of more than 90,000 fans. He also had famous feuds and matches with other major villianous "heel" wrestlers such as King Kong Bundy, Randy Savage and Ted DiBiase. At WrestleMania VI, Hogan was cleanly pinned for the first time by The Ultimate Warrior, who won the WWF title. Hogan regained the WWF title at WrestleMania VII from Sgt. Slaughter in a controversial storyline that ran concurrent with the 1990-91 Gulf War and where Slaughter openly wrestled as an anti-American, Iraqi sympathizer. However, the exposure of scandals in pro-wrestling about the rampant usage of steroids and growth hormones by famous wrestlers, including Hogan, reduced his popularity and led to a brief hiatus from the WWF. After returning briefly in 1993 to win the WWF Championship for the fifth time at WrestleMania IX, Hogan lost the title to Yokozuna at King Of The Ring 1993 before leaving the WWF to pursue acting full-time with the TV series, Thunder in Paradise.
In 1994, Hogan returned to professional wrestling when he signed with Ted Turner's World Championship Wrestling (WCW). Returning to his character as the all-American hero, Hogan had famous feuds with WCW star Ric Flair and WWF alumnus Randy Savage. In 1996, Hogan stunned wrestling audiences by turning "heel", announcing he was fed up of being the good guy and formed the New World Order stable with Kevin Nash and Scott Hall. Now known as Hollywood Hogan, his heel turn and the NWO storyline propelled WCW's television ratings and it surpassed the WWF as the largest wrestling company in the United States. In his time in WCW, Hogan would go on to win the WCW World Heavyweight Championship six times and have famous feuds with WCW stars Sting and Bill Goldberg. He would later head the nWo Hollywood faction and return to play a heroic character before departing WCW in July 2000 after differences with WCW writer and booker Vince Russo led to a controversial ending at the WCW Bash at the Beach event that saw the defending WCW World Champion Jeff Jarrett lie down for Hogan without a fight, and Russo denouncing and firing Hogan before the live audience.
Hogan would take a hiatus from wrestling until 2002, when he returned to the WWF reprising his villianous Hollywood Hogan character. Sentiments of nostalgia for the Hulk Hogan of the 1980s led to fans cheering Hogan even as he worked as a heel. At WrestleMania XVIII, Hogan finally accepted being the fan favorite again after losing a match to The Rock, and steadily returned to his 1980s persona. He would win his sixth and final WWF Championship a month later, and was the reigning champion when the WWF was renamed WWE. At WrestleMania XIX, Hogan won a match against WWE owner Vince McMahon. Hogan left the WWE again before returning to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005 by long-time friend Sylvester Stallone. He made a cameo appearance at WrestleMania XXI and defeated Shawn Michaels at SummerSlam 2005. In his last WWE match, Hogan defeated Randy Orton at SummerSlam 2006. Hogan expanded his television career with the reality show Hogan Knows Best and hosting Celebrity Championship Wrestling, but both endeavors declined owing to the controversies surrounding his son Nick Bollea's car accident and his stormy divorce from his wife Linda Bollea. In 2010, Hogan once again returned to wrestling when he debuted for Total Nonstop Action (TNA), playing the role of the new management of TNA along with former WCW executive Eric Bischoff.
In the fall of 1986, Hogan occasionally wrestled in tag matches with The Machines as Hulk Machine under a mask copied from New Japan Pro Wrestling gimmick "Super Strong Machine."At WrestleMania III in 1987, Hogan was booked to defend the title against André the Giant, who had been the sport's premier star and was pushed as undefeated for the previous two decades. A new storyline was introduced in early 1987; Hogan was presented a trophy for being the WWF Champion for three consecutive years. André the Giant, a good friend came out to congratulate him.Shortly afterward, André was presented a slightly smaller trophy for being "undefeated in the WWF for 15 years."Hogan came out to congratulate André, who walked out in the midst of Hogan's speech. Then, on an edition of Piper's Pit, Hogan was confronted by Bobby Heenan, who announced that André was his new protégé, and Andre challenged Hogan to a title match at WrestleMania III.At WrestleMania III, Hogan successfully defended the WWF World Heavyweight Championship against André the Giant. During the match, Hogan bodyslammed the 520-pound Frenchman and won the match after a leg drop.
After Hogan left the WWF in the summer of 1993, he split his time working on movies, television, wrestling in Japan, and spending time with his family. In June 1994, Hogan signed with Ted Turner's World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and began appearing on television the next month. Hogan won the WCW World Heavyweight Championship in his debut match, defeating Ric Flair in a 'dream' match at Bash at the Beach. After overcoming the likes of Flair, The Butcher (former partner Brutus Beefcake),Vader,and the Dungeon of Doom for the next fifteen months (the longest reign of all time for this championship), Hogan dropped the belt to The Giant at Halloween Havoc 1995 via DQ.Following the controversial loss (which was due to a "contract clause"), the WCW title became vacant.
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