Hulk Hogan

**Terry Eugene Bollea** (/bəˈleɪə/, born August 11, 1953), better known by his ring name as **Hulk Hogan**, is an American retired professional wrestler, actor, television personality, entrepreneur, and musician. According to IGN, Hogan is "the most recognized wrestling star worldwide and the most popular wrestler of the 1980s".

Hogan began his professional wrestling career in 1977, but gained worldwide recognition after signing for World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE) in 1983. There, his persona as a heroic all-American helped usher in the 1980s professional wrestling boom, where he headlined the first nine editions of WWF's flagship annual event, WrestleMania. During his initial run, Hogan also won the WWF Championship five times, with his first reign holding the record for the second-longest in company history. Additionally, he is the first wrestler to win consecutive Royal Rumble matches, winning in 1990 and 1991.

In 1994, he departed the WWF to sign for rival promotion World Championship Wrestling (WCW). Hogan subsequently won the WCW World Heavyweight Championship six times, and also holds the record for the longest reign in company history. In 1996, he adopted the villainous persona of "Hollywood" Hulk Hogan, leading the popular New World Order (NWO) stable. As a result, he became a major figure during the "Monday Night Wars", another boom of mainstream professional wrestling. Hogan also headlined WCW's annual flagship event Starrcade three times, including the most profitable WCW pay-per-view ever at the event's 1997 edition.

He returned to WWE from WCW in 2002, and won the WWE championship for a sixth time, before departing in 2003. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005, and will be inducted a second time in 2020 as a member of the NWO.

Aside from those promotions, Hogan also performed for the American Wrestling Association (AWA), New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA). He notably won the original IWGP Heavyweight Championship, and the northern and southern iterations of the NWA Southeastern Heavyweight Championship outside WWE.

During and after wrestling, Hogan had an extensive acting career, beginning with his 1982 antagonist role in *Rocky III*. He has starred in several movies (including *No Holds Barred*, *Suburban Commando* and *Mr. Nanny*) and three television shows (*Hogan Knows Best*, *Thunder in Paradise*, and *China, IL*), as well as in Right Guard commercials and the video game, *Hulk Hogan's Main Event*. He was the frontman for The Wrestling Boot Band, whose sole record, *Hulk Rules*, reached #12 on the *Billboard* Top Kid Audio chart in 1995.

## In wrestling

* **Finishing moves**
	+ *Axe Bomber* / *Hogan Hammer* (Crooked arm lariat)
	+ Running leg drop

* **Signature moves**
	+ Atomic drop
	+ Back / eye rake
	+ Biel throw
	+ Big boot
	+ Body slam
	+ Elbow drop
	+ Multiple punch variations
		- Alternating hooks and backhand chops to a cornered opponent
		- Back fist
		- Crosses to the opponent's head, sometimes followed by a wind-up punch
		- Mounted punches, often ending with a bite to the opponent's forehead
	+ Multiple suplex variations
		- High-angle belly-to-back
		- Snap
		- Superplex
		- Vertical
	+ Shoulder block

* **Managers**
	+ Freddie Blassie
	+ Jimmy Hart
	+ Johnny Valiant
	+ Lou Albano
	+ Miss Elizabeth

* **Nicknames**
	+ "The Fabulous"
	+ "Ichiban"
	+ **"The Immortal"**
	+ "The Incredible"
	+ "Hollywood"
	+ **"The Hulkster"**
	+ "The Unstoppable Force"

* **Entrance themes**
	+ **American Wrestling Association**
		- "Eye of the Tiger" by Survivor
	+ **New Japan Pro-Wrestling**
		- "Battlestar Galactica Theme" by Maynard Ferguson
		- "Eye of the Tiger" by Survivor
		- "Real American" by Rick Derringer
		- "I'm the Leader of the Gang" by Green Jellÿ Feat. Hulk Hogan
		- "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)" by The Jimi Hendrix Experience
	+ **World Wrestling Federation / Entertainment**
		- "Eye of the Tiger" by Survivor
		- "Ravishing" (Instrumental) by Bonnie Tyler
		- "Real American" by Rick Derringer
		- "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)" by The Jimi Hendrix Experience
		- "Rockhouse" by Frank Shelley (used as a member of the New World Order)
	+ **World Championship Wrestling**
		- "American Made" by The Wrestling Boot Band
		- "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)" by The Jimi Hendrix Experience
		- "Rockhouse" by Frank Shelley (used as a member of the New World Order)
		- "Wolfpac (nWo Wolfpac)" by C-Murder (used as a member of the nWo Elite)
	+ **Total Nonstop Action Wrestling**
		- "Our House" by Dale Oliver
		- "Immortal Theme" by Dale Oliver (used as a member of Immortal)

## Championships and accomplishments

* **New Japan Pro-Wrestling**
	+ IWGP Heavyweight Championship (original version) (1 time)
	+ IWGP League Tournament (1983)
	+ MSG Tag League Tournament (1982, 1983) – with Antonio Inoki
	+ Greatest 18 Club
* **Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum**
	+ Class of 2003
* ***Pro Wrestling Illustrated***
	+ Ranked **#1** of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the *PWI 500* in 1991
	+ Ranked **#1** of the top 500 singles wrestlers of the "PWI Years" in 2003
	+ Ranked **#44** and **#57** of the top 100 tag teams of the "PWI Years" – with Antonio Inoki and Randy Savage in 2003
	+ Comeback of the Year (1994, 2002)
	+ Feud of the Year (1986) vs. Paul Orndorff
	+ Inspirational Wrestler of the Year (1983, 1999)
	+ Match of the Year (1985) – with Mr. T vs. Roddy Piper and Paul Orndorff (WrestleMania I)
	+ Match of the Year (1988) vs. André the Giant (The Main Event I)
	+ Match of the Year (1990) vs. The Ultimate Warrior (WrestleMania VI)
	+ Match of the Year (2002) vs. The Rock (WrestleMania X8)
	+ Most Hated Wrestler of the Year (1996, 1998)
	+ Most Popular Wrestler of the Year (1985, 1989, 1990)
	+ Wrestler of the Year (1987, 1991, 1994)
* **Southeastern Championship Wrestling**
	+ NWA Southeastern Heavyweight Championship (Northern Division) (1 time)
	+ NWA Southeastern Heavyweight Championship (Southern Division) (2 times)
* ***Tokyo Sports***
	+ Best Foreigner Award (1983)
	+ Match of the Year (1991) vs. Genichiro Tenryu on December 12, 1991
* **World Championship Wrestling**
	+ WCW World Heavyweight Championship (6 times)
* **World Wrestling Federation / Entertainment**
	+ WWF/E (Undisputed) World Heavyweight Championship (6 times)
	+ WWE Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Edge
	+ Royal Rumble (1990, 1991)
	+ WWE Hall of Fame
		- Class of 2005
		- Class of 2020 (New World Order)
* ***Wrestling Observer Newsletter***
	+ Strongest Wrestler (1983)
	+ Best Babyface (1982–1991)
	+ Best Box Office Draw (1997)
	+ Best Gimmick (1996) – as a member of New World Order
	+ Feud of the Year (1986) – vs. Paul Orndorff
	+ Most Charismatic (1985–1987, 1989–1991)
	+ Most Embarrassing Wrestler (1995, 1996, 1999, 2000)
	+ Most Obnoxious (1994, 1995)
	+ Most Overrated (1985–1987, 1994–1998)
	+ Most Unimproved (1994, 1995)
	+ Readers' Least Favorite Wrestler (1985, 1986, 1991, 1994–1999)
	+ Worst Feud of the Year (1991) – vs. Sgt. Slaughter
	+ Worst Feud of the Year (1995) – vs. The Dungeon of Doom
	+ Worst Feud of the Year (1998) – vs. The Warrior
	+ Worst Feud of the Year (2000) – vs. Billy Kidman
	+ Worst on Interviews (1995)
	+ Worst Wrestler (1997)
	+ Worst Worked Match of the Year (1987) – vs. André the Giant (WrestleMania III)
	+ Worst Worked Match of the Year (1996) – with Randy Savage vs. Arn Anderson, Meng, The Barbarian, Ric Flair, Kevin Sullivan, Z-Gangsta, and The Ultimate Solution (Towers of Doom match at Uncensored)
	+ Worst Worked Match of the Year (1997) – vs. Roddy Piper (SuperBrawl VII)
	+ Worst Worked Match of the Year (1998) – vs. The Warrior (Halloween Havoc)
	+ Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame
		- Class of 1996