TRIBUTE | HULK HOGAN

Wow. I had to double-check social media before writing anything because of how he’s been portrayed lately. When I first saw the RIP image on YouTube, I thought it was a prank. But once I confirmed it was real, my feed was instantly flooded with tributes from guys my age. A lot of them called him a game changer, and in many ways, he was.

It’s hard to leave him out of the conversation when talking about the most iconic personalities in sports entertainment. I can’t say I’m a big Hulk Hogan fan now, but I definitely was when I was younger. My introduction to him was through WWF, though I didn’t get to see him wrestle much on WWE Superstars. Instead, I got to know him first through Hulk Hogan’s Rock ‘n’ Wrestling and later through his acting on Thunder in Paradise. And those classic action figures where he bear hugs other wrestlers? Those were awesome.

But I never really bought into the whole prayers, vitamins, and pythons gimmick—at least not until he traded yellow and red for black, red, and white. Hogan’s heel turn and the creation of the nWo made the John Cena heel buzz feel justified. That was a seismic shift. It slapped every kid in the face who still thought wrestling was completely real. He went from waving the flag against Sgt. Slaughter to winning world titles via fingerpokes. And that feather boa look with the multicolored goatee? That swagger helped WCW outrun WWF in the ratings.

In some ways, Hogan was both the Michael Jordan and LeBron James of wrestling. As MJ, he helped make wrestling a global phenomenon through sheer star power. As LBJ, he stayed on top by choosing the best situations, exercising creative control, and playing the long game. That’s not a knock on either of them. I always view a wrestling company like a basketball team—there are stars, role players, prospects, and even coaching staff.

Hulkamania was one of Vince McMahon’s greatest creations, but it only worked because Hogan was a once-in-a-lifetime character. He was still at the top of the food chain well into his late forties, which was no easy feat back then.

These days, athletes last longer thanks to better conditioning. But during Hogan’s era, most wrestlers started slowing down by 40. Sure, he had help from supplements, but he still looked like a bronze statue right up until he retired from full-time wrestling.

Again, I’m not a huge Hogan fan, and it sucks that his last major WWE appearance was drowned in boos. A lot of that stems from things he said and did, which left a sour taste. But whether you loved or hated him, Hogan was a generational talent. He paved the way for modern wrestlers to break into Hollywood. He helped drag wrestling out of its territorial roots and into the global spotlight.

His merchandise was legendary. The word "Hulkamania" stood toe-to-toe with "Austin 3:16" in terms of branding power. Matches like Hogan vs. Andre the Giant weren’t technical classics, but they were events. Same goes for Hogan vs. Savage, Hogan vs. Slaughter, Hogan vs. Piper, Hogan vs. Yokozuna, and Hogan vs. Warrior.

That’s something modern wrestlers often overlook. It’s the presentation that fills arenas. Hogan mastered that. He protected his image like his career depended on it—and it did. He looked and felt like a superstar every time he stepped into an arena, whether fans cheered or booed.

Hulk Hogan wasn’t just a wrestler. He was a movement. And his impact on wrestling’s global rise is undeniable.