07/24/2025
RIP to The Hulkster — forever a legend.
Before he was body-slamming giants and tearing his shirt in front of screaming crowds, Hulk Hogan was just a bass-playing kid from Tampa named Terry Bollea. In fact, he played bass guitar in a Florida rock band before stepping into the wrestling ring — a fact that surprises even hardcore fans. But once he traded strings for suplexes, there was no turning back.
Hulk Hogan didn’t just become a wrestler — he became the wrestler. With his trademark mustache, 24-inch pythons, and “Real American” anthem blaring through the arena, Hogan defined an era. He was the first pro wrestler to transcend the sport, landing on the cover of Sports Illustrated, starring in Rocky III as Thunderlips, and later headlining his own cartoon, Hulk Hogan’s Rock ‘n’ Wrestling. He was a merchandising machine and the face of WrestleMania during the golden age of the WWF.
Then came the 1990s. Hogan reinvented himself as Hollywood Hogan, forming the NWO and breathing new life into WCW. He proved he wasn’t just a one-note act — he could play the hero or the villain and still command the crowd. From Hulkamania to Hollywood, from red and yellow to black and white, he remained a draw for decades.
Love him or hate him, you couldn’t ignore him. Hulk Hogan wasn’t just part of wrestling — he was wrestling. And now that he’s gone, one thing’s for sure: the ring will never feel the same without The Hulkster. RIP Brother.
