RIP Hulk Hogan: The Immortal Icon Who Defined a Wrestling Generation

Story by Mitchell Smith

Another icon has fallen. Hulk Hogan was born Terry Gene Bollea in 1953 in Augusta, GA. Bollea grew up in the Tampa Bay area where he played bass guitar and was actually in a band in the Tampa area. While doing a gig 1 night Jack and Gerald Brisco approached Bollea about joining the wrestling league they were in. After bouncing around and meeting many future wrestling stars Bollea was dubbed The Hulk after Lou Ferrigno’s TV character the Incredible Hulk.

In 1979 Hulk met World Wrestling Federation owner Vince McMahon who gave him the last name Hogan. From there a star was born. The 1980’s were about to ignite one of the biggest bombs ever in entertainment history. Hulk Hogan became the face of the franchise and allowed so many great wrestlers to be created. Jessy The Body Ventura, Brett The Hitman Heart, and Brutus The Barber Beefcake are just a few of the incredible wrestlers to fight for and against Hogan. When we were kids we always would reenact Hogan being beat down to a bloody pulp and getting punched in the face and suddenly all the life and adrenaline was pumped back into his body and he would come back to win the fight.

Who can forget when he body slammed Andrea the Giant. Even at 6’7” 300 lbs it was a feat to hoist 7’4” 520 lb Andrea up over his head with or without Andreas help. Hogan had the look, he had the style, and became one of the most iconic figures of the eighties, highlighting many events such as Wrestlemania, and those glorious days of Monday night wrestling. Hulk Joins many of all time greats like George The Animal Steel, Rowdy Roddy Piper, and the beloved friend he picked up over his head. Hogan’s most recent moment was at a Trump rally right before the past election. Hogan is an icon and a pioneer and will forever be remembered by the wrestling community and many more. RIP Mr Hulk Hogan.