Retired Professional Wrestler Hulk Hogan – Wikimedia Commons

10 Amazing Facts About Hulk Hogan


 

Terry Eugene Bollea better known by his ring name Hulk Hogan is an American retired professional wrestler and television personality. He was born on 11th August 1953 in Augusta, Georgia.

A year later the family moved to Port Tampa, Florida. His parents were Pietro Peter Bollea who had Italian roots and Ruth V. Bollea who had Scottish and French ancestry. He went to Hillsborough Community College and the University of South Florida but dropped out before graduation because his interests were elsewhere.

1. Baseball was His First Love

When he was young, he loved and played baseball. He was a pitcher in Little League Baseball and had even attracted Major League Baseball scouts from the New York Yankees and the Cincinnati Reds.

Unfortunately, an elbow injury ended his baseball career prematurely. He began watching professional wrestling while in high school at the local wrestling studios. Though he was a huge fan chasing the wrestling dream around, he wasn’t exactly comfortable with the scene.

2. He Played in Rock Bands

Bass Guitar player in a rock band Photo By Roberta – Wikimedia Commons

Hogan played the Bass Guitar for close to a decade. His love for music had him drop out of school when his gigs started getting in the way. He played in several Florida-based rock bands until 1976 when he formed a band together with two other musicians and called it Ruckus.

The band became very popular in the Tampa Bay region and people- including wrestlers- would flock to the bars where Ruckus was performing. The band mostly played cover songs but had about 5 songs of their own. He tried getting into the Rolling Stones band and Metallica but he did not succeed.

3. He was Scared of Wrestlers

At the age of 12, Hogan was six feet tall and weighed 195 pounds. Though he was huge in stature he was afraid of wrestlers. Back in the day, wrestlers were protective of the game and could easily punch you in the face for calling the sport fake.

Those days there were no lawyers so no lawsuits, no cell phones meaning no one could take pictures or videos and so wrestlers could do whatever they wanted and they got away with it.

4. Hogan’s Leg was Broken Intentionally

When he was performing with the Ruckus, wrestlers often attended their gigs at the bar. He gathered courage and started interacting with them aiming to know how he could get into the sport.

After a while, he had made enough contacts to speak to promoter Eddie Graham’s son Mike who persuaded his father to have Hogan train at Hiro Matsuda’s gym then known as the snake pit.

On the first day of training, Matsuda broke Hogan’s leg intentionally and he was in a cast for about 10weeks after which he went back to the gym and endured more vigorous training for months. That is how dedicated he was.

5. His Parents Did Not Want Him to be a Wrestler

Hogan’s parents were disappointed in him when he dropped out of the University of South Florida where he was studying finance, to pursue his musical “adventures” and later play a “dangerous” sport. He had ruined their hopes and dreams in him.

His parents finally approved of his career in 1984 when he won his first title ‘WWF Heavyweight Champion Belt at the Madison Square Garden. They had been in the audience and later went to find him in the dressing room and they both told him they were proud of him.

6. ‘The Super Destroyer’ was his First Wrestling name

Hulk in the ring during Hulkamania Tour @ Rod Laver Arena. Melbourne, AUS Photo By Matthew Glover – Wikimedia Commons

Hogan entered the ring for the first time as ‘The Super Destroyer’ a hooded character that’s been played by different wrestlers over the years both before and after him. He also went as ‘Sterling Golden’ and after that, he was part of a tag team that was named ‘The Boulder Brothers’ and so he became Terry Boulder.

7. He was Taller than ‘The Incredible Hulk’

Vince McMahon, the Chairman of the Board of the World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. photo by Nicholas Pilch – Wikimedia Commons

Hogan appeared in a local talk show alongside Lou Ferrigno who was known as the ‘The Incredible Hulk’. It was during the show that the host noted that Hogan was taller than Ferrigno by a few inches. Hogan stole the name and began to go by “Terry ‘The Hulk’ Boulder” and a lawsuit by marvel studios followed because marvel owned the copyrights of the name.

Vince McMahon settled the lawsuit and he also wanted the up-and-coming wrestler to have an Irish name for the ring. They settled for Hogan. Officially his ring name became ‘HULK HOGAN’ up to date.

8. Hulk has Lost Height

At the start of his career in wrestling, Hulk stood at an impressive six feet and seven inches. Over the years due to back problems, injuries, and surgeries he has lost about three inches. Being too tall comes with complications.

9. He is an Actor.

Hogan (left) along with Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Rock at WrestleMania XXX in April 2014
By Miguel Discart – Wikimedia

In his lifetime, Hogan has had an extensive acting career. He began with Rocky III during its filming he put three guys in hospital after injuring them.

Other films include No Holds Barred, Suburban Commando, and Mr. Nanny. Other  Hogan shows on television are; Hogan Knows Best, Thunder in Paradise, and China, Illinois. He is also featured in commercials and video games.

The show Hogan Knows Best was a reality show that followed the lives of his family. It ran for four seasons and ended when his wife Linda filed for divorce.

10. A Phone Call Saved His Life

Hulk Hogan. Photo By daysofthundr46 – Wikimedia Commons

Hogan hit rock bottom in 2007. His son Nick was involved in an auto accident that severely injured his son’s friend. As if that wasn’t bad enough, his wife Linda filed for divorce. These traumatizing and life-changing events consumed him.

At the time, Hogan and Laila Ali were hosting the popular television game show “American Gladiators.” which featured amateur athletes competing against each other and the show’s “gladiators” in contests of strength, agility, and endurance.

As Hogan was contemplating ending his life, Miss Ali called to check on him and unknowingly stopped him from executing his plan.

Hulk has reinvented himself despite the many challenges, while still managing to keep his trademark persona intact.