Whatcha Gonna Do?
July 4, 2005

With this being the 5th and last column in my series of greatest World Champions, I want to go back all the way to the very beginning of where my passion for wrestling first started. About 18 years ago I remember my grandma putting me on her knees as I sat around a crowd of my family Wrestlemania III was on the tube. That’s where I first really saw, Hulk Hogan.

That is who this column will be about, and being he always has, and always been my true favorite wrestler, I will do my best to make this the best column I ever have, and ever will write.

So let’s get in with it.

The man we all know as |Hulk Hogan was born Terry Gene Bollea August 11th 1953, in Venice Beach, California.

Having the passion for music before he knew what wrestling was, Hogan began touring the Hogan was traveling in a rock band on the East Coast of America playing at nightclubs as a bass guitarist. Hogan started to play at clubs and venues where wrestlers would hang out, guys such as Jack and Gerry Brisco.

This is where Hogan was discovered.

Hogan was then put in the direction of trainer Hiro Matsuda, although the training was rough and Hogan eventually even thought about calling it quits after breaking his leg, he would return to Hiro Matsuda after his leg healed with a new found love and respect for the business, by this time Hogan was ready to make his professional wrestling debut.

In 1979 under the persona “Super Destroyer” Hogan made his debut in a small Independent Promotion in Florida. During the early days of his career he would work for many Independent Promotions under personas like Super Destroyer, Terry Boulder, and Sterling Golden.

It was in the NWA territories where he made his first big mark capturing the NWA South Eastern Heavyweight Championship thus defeating “Dirty” Dick Slater. Although he seemed to light the small territories on fire, he had yet to make a large mark on the wrestling business, he would even think about quitting on more than one occasion.

On one of these occasions however, Jack and Gerry Brisco informed Hogan they would peak with Vince Sr. about joining the New Your based World Wide Wrestling Federation.

After agreeing to sign Hogan to the WWWF, Vince Sr. would give Terry Bollea the household name that everyone knows, Hulk Hogan. The Hulk part came from Hogan’s resemblance of Lou Ferringo, “The Original Incredible Hulk” and the Hogan part came from the McMahon’s family Irish heritage, and since this was one ethnic background the WWWF didn’t represent at the time, Hogan was supposed to be Irish this gimmick quickly died.

After being brought in as a heel, Hogan was aligned with manager Freddie Blassie, and would go on to have a few successful feuds, one of which was with Andre the Giant. It was during heir feud the two would form a life long friendship.

On the other hand Hogan’s relationship with Vince Sr. was fading fast, after being offered a movie spot with Sylvester Stallone, Hogan as given the option of either continuing to wrestler, or go for the spot and have his contract terminated, Hogan chose the movie spot and left the WWWF.

After the movie spot Hogan wanted to return to wrestling so the Minnesota based AWA was the new place he would call home. He was initially brought in as a heel, but after the success of his “Thunderlips” character from Rocky III he was turned face and thrown right into the main even scene where he would go up having many great matches with the champion at the time Nick Bockwinkel. Hogan would always come up short however, one night in 1983 Hogan would finally defeat Nick Bockwinkle after using a foreign object brought in by Bobby Heenan which was intended to be used on Hogan. After AWA officials ruled the match a dq, and striped Hogan of the belt, he left the AWA.

Hogan wrestled for New Japan Pro Wrestling in 1983 where he would find large success. On June 2nd, Hulk Hogan was crowned the first ever IWGP Heavyweight Champion. Hogan had wrestled in a tournament where he defeated Killer Khan, Canek, Enrique Vera, Akira Maeda, Rusher Kimura, Big John Studd, and Otto Wanz. Hogan advanced to the finals where he and Antonio Inoki were equal on points and they would have to face one another. After an unplanned finish, Hogan won the match and became the first ever IWGP Heavyweight Champion.

Meanwhile, back in the USA things where starting to change within Hogan’s old company the WWWF. It was now known as the WWF and Vince Sr.’s own son Vince Jr. had bought the company from his father and changed it’s name. He was intending to bring wrestling out of the small arenas and bring it right into the mainstream, and Hogan as going to be the man who marched the troops in.

Hogan would sign with the WWF and be brought in as help for Bob Backlund in defeating the Iron Sheik.

By 1984 Hogan had become the company’s top star, now being a face, and on January 23rd at Madison Square Garden Hulk Hogan would go on to defeat the Iron Sheik and become the WWF Champion, for the first time.

And with that being said and done, Hulkamania was born.

The following year Hulk Hogan would go on to main even the very first Wrestlemania, Hogan with Mr. T were successful in defeating Paul Orndorff and Rowdy Roddy Piper in the main event of the Wrestlemania at Madison Square Garden, an event which revolutionized the wrestling business. The following year, Hogan embarked in a bitter feud with King Kong Bundy, a feud that culminated a cage match at Wrestlemania II, where Hogan successfully defended his belt.

By 1987, “Hulkamania” was at its peak, and the WWF decided it was time to have Hulk Hogan take on. Andre The Giant. The match came about after Andre turned on Hogan and demanded a title match, at first Hogan refused, but eventually the match was made. Hogan managed to defeat Andre and retain his WWF Championship.

However, Hogan’s title reign came to an end in February 1988 when Andre defeated Hogan for the WWF Championship after a controversial finish, Andre then gave the belt to Ted Dibiase. After this controversy, WWF President - Jack Tunney declared the WWF Championship vacant, and announced the belt would be decided at Wrestlemania IV in a tournament. Hogan fought with Andre at WretleMania IV in a first round match of the tournament, but he and Andre got a double DQ, ending their hopes of regaining the belt, however, later that night Hogan got a little revenge when he assisted Randy Savage in the final match of the tournament against Ted Dibiase, helping Savage win the belt.

It was around this time Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage formed one of wrestling’s most famous tag memorable tag teams “The Mega Powers”, not as much for their matches but for what it all lead to.

During the mid 1980’s Hogan would even go on to host Saturday Night Live, and have his own Saturday morning cartoon show, Hulk Hogan’s Rock n’ |Wrestling, due to his largely growing popularity.

Randy Savage’s then wife Miss Elizabeth was the manager of the Mega Powers, but Randy’s jealousy was starting to get the best of him, and during a match Hogan saw Elizabeth get knocked to the ground and Hogan carried her to the back to seek medical help. It was there Randy turned on Hogan splitting the Mega Powers up, sticking Elizabeth right between the two men.

Wrestlemania V was the place, “The Mega Powers Explode” was the theme, Hulk Hogan would go on to beat Macho Man and become the WWE champion yet again, after a very nice match.

Despite being beat, Randy was seeking revenge, it was around this time Hulk Hogan and Vince McMahon had finished producing a wrestling movie “No Holds Barred”, starring Hulk Hogan himself as the World Champion. In this movie Hogan was constantly asked to join a networks programming to help them raise ratings after refusing a man named Tiny “Zeus” Lister was brought in as their champion. Although the movie was given harsh criticism and suffered in the theaters, Vinnie Mac used it for his WWE storylines.

So at Summerslam 1989 Hulk Hogan teamed with long time friend Brutus “The Barber” Beefcake to take on Zeus, and Randy Savage. Hogan and Brutus would prevail, with Elizabeth by their sides.

As Hogan was filming No Holds Barred, a new face was rising the ranks in WWE, we all knew him as Ultimate Warrior Hogan would go on to win the 1990 Royal Rumble, this was just a few years before the winner of the Rumble would receive title shots like we all know today, so Hogan was the champion, and he won the Royal Rumble, pretty impressive, even though WWE would go on teasing us with the thought of a Hogan and Warrior match.

At Wrestlemania VI, at the Toronto Sky Dome, WWF Intercontinental Champion The Ultimate Warrior took on the WWF Champion Hulk Hogan, The Ultimate Warrior defeated Hogan to capture the WWF Championship. Hogan would show us one of the reasons why he is still well respected to this day by handing the Warrior the title and shaking his hand.

Even though the Warrior was now the champion, WWE had expectations for him he could never quite reach, so Hogan would return to wrestling/WWE in 1991 just in time to win his second straight Royal Rumble match, which lead him into a bitter feud with an Iraqi Sympathizer Sgt. Slaughter.

Before this time Sgt. Slaughter was in a role of an American hero, much like Hogan was then and still is today, but now he was the bad guy and Hulk Hogan was “The Real American.” This wasn’t the first or won’t be the last Vince would use the surrounding world to his advantage, because Sgt. Slaughter had won the WWE Title leading into Wrestlemania VII and it was during the Gulf War, it had gotten so heated with the public, Vince actually feared a sniper might try and kill Sgt. Slaughter during their match, so he had to change venues just to insure Sgt. Slaughter’s safety.

After a great match Hogan would defeat Sgt. Slaughter and hold old glory and the WWE title in the ring. He would spend most of the summer of that year feuding with Slaughter and his allies, General Adnan, and Colonel Mustafa, one of whom was “The Iron Sheik under a new persona.

It was at Survivor Series 1991 when Hogan lost the WWF Championship to The Undertaker, after Ric Flair interfered and helped ‘Taker win the belt, Hogan recaptured the WWF Championship at the Tuesday in Texas event. However, WWF officials declared the title vacant due to a number of controversial decisions, this led to the 1992 Royal Rumble where the WWF Championship would be decided in the 30 Man Battle Royal, with the winner getting the belt. Hogan, Sid Justice and Ric Flair were the final 3 men in the match, Sid Justice eliminated Hogan, and then Hogan pulled Justice out leading to Flair winning the WWF Title.

Following this, Hogan teamed with Sid to take on Flair and The Undertaker, but the match ended in a double DQ, after Justice turned on Hogan, setting up their match at Wrestlemania VIII A match where Papa Shango (The Godfather) came out to attack Hogan and the Ultimate warrior came to Hogan’s aid. This would be Hogan’s last match in WWE for almost a year.

Hogan’s next appearance in the WWF occurred when he made his return in spring 1993 before Wrestlemania IX. Hogan’s long time friend Brutus Beefcake was being attacked by IRS and Ted Dibiase, so Hogan came to his assistance, setting up a match at Wrestlemania, where Hogan and Beefcake would take on Ted and IRS for the Tag Team titles.

Even though they lost the match, later in the night when Yokozuna had defeated Bret Hart, Hogan came out to help Bret hart, Yokozuna then challenged Hogan and Hogan would win the WWE title yet again.

A few months later Hogan would drop the title back to Yokozuna at King of The Ring due to the fact WWE was now heading in a different direction, although this would not be the last time Hulk and Vince would cross paths the US federal government were compiling a case against Vince McMahon for supplying steroids to his wrestlers, the trial was in July 1994, and Hogan was called as a witness. Hogan was asked if McMahon ever supplied wrestlers with steroids, Hogan denied that. McMahon was eventually cleared of all charges, but the dent in both the WWF’s and Hogan’s reputation was huge.

During the years 1990 to 1993, Hogan took substantial amounts of time out of his WWF Schedule to wok of his acting career. During this time, he took the lead roles in movies such as Suburban Commando and Mr. Nanny. Hogan then had plans to dominate the small screens once again, but not as a wrestler.

During Hogan’s departure from the wrestling world, he embarked on a new project, Thunder in Paradise, Hogan portrayed an Ex-Navy SEAL turned mercenary with a boat that had all the gadgets of Michael Knight’s K.I.T.T, but unfortunately the boat never spoke. The series was fairly successful for Hogan, but it was while he was filming at Universal Studios Hogan met Eric Bischoff. Bischoff had started filming WCW events from the Disney MGM studios in Florida, and he decided to approach Hogan, the pair got talking and Hogan eventually signed a very lucrative deal with Ted Turner’s World Championship Wrestling.

After a lot of hype by WCW, Hogan’s first match occurred at WCW Bash at the Beach 1994, Hogan fought then World Champion Ric Flair, Hogan defeated Flair and won the WCW Championship for the first ever time.

He would go on to have great matches and feuds with people and factions all over WCW. One of the men in the Dungeon of Doom faction known as The Butcher would turn out to be Hogan’s long time friend Ed Leslie, Brutus Beefcake.)

It seemed as though everyone wanted Hogan taken out.

After Hogan dropped the World Title to start appearing on WCW television less and less, he would gather more boo’s with each appearance.

But by July 1996 WCW was seeking a fresh storyline to reenergize their television shows. Right around this time Scott Hall and Kevin Nash had left their roles in WWE and joined the WCW ranks as “The Outsiders.” Attacking WCW’s top favorites at random it was at the July PPV Bash at tHe beach where their third man aligned himself with them during a Randy Savage match. Hulk Hogan came down and turned heel attacking Macho Man and cut one of the best promos of his career. After joining with the Outsiders the faction known as the New World Order was formed and Hogan dropped his red and yellow gear and most of his loyal fans with it.

He would now drop the famous yellow and red colors and return to WCW full time, as a heel.

After defeating The Giant at Hog Wild in August 1996, Hogan held the WCW title (with the now logo sprayed on it) for most of 1997. During this period he grappled with Roddy Piper, Randy Savage and many more. The ever-expanding nWo gang concurrently became the hottest concept in wrestling too, helping WCW to 83 straight Monday night ratings victories over the WWE. The black-and-white nWo t-shirt also became one of the highest-selling pieces of wrestling merchandise ever during 1997.

He would go on to lose the belt to Sting in an anticipated match at Starrcade 1997.

Ratings would begin to decline, as WCW would welcome celebrities as wrestlers such as, Dennis Rodman, and Jay Leno. Hogan would announce his retirement and run a fake run for U.S. Presidency in November 1997, only to reunite with the now a few weeks later.

It was on a July episode of Nitro when Hogan began his shift back towards becoming a face. It was Hogan, Sting and against members of the nWo. Hogan was in his room getting ready to put on his now colors on, when his son brought in his old yellow and red colors and asked him to wear that. Hogan came out to his old music wearing he old yellow and red now Hulkamina was back.

Injuries were starting to affect Hogan leaving him absent from television from October of 1999 to February of 2000.

Shortly after his return at Bash at The Beach 2000 Hogan and Vince Russo were both involved in a real life accident. Hogan was scheduled to take on Jeff Jarrett for the WCW Title. Hogan felt that he should win so he used the clause in his contract that gave him creative control over all the finishes of his matches. Russo was furious at Hogan because he didn't think that Hogan should be the champion.

Russo told Jarrett to lay down in the middle of the ring and asked Hogan to pin him straight away. An obviously confused Hogan then got on the microphone and told Russo that "The company is in the damn shape that it is in now because of bullshit like this!" Russo responded by coming out and saying that he wanted to get rid of all the "old guys" and that since Hogan did not want to do the job to Jarrett a "new" WCW world title would be made. So the stage was set for Booker T and Jeff Jarrett to wrestle for the title later that night. Hogan was never seen or mentioned on WCW television after the event and he filed an unresolved lawsuit against WCW and Vince Russo soon after.

WCW would be bought out by WWE in March 2001, WWE would acquire all of WCW’s workers along with it, including Hulk Hogan and the original nWo members. Vince would briefly bring back the nWo and Hogan would bridge the generation gap taking on The Rock at Wrestlemania 17.

Even though Hogan lost the match the Toronto crowd loved and cheered for Hogan and while posing for them Hogan was attacked by the nWo. On a following Raw Hogan came out to cut a promo wearing his nWo colors, when The Rock came down and asked him why he still wore those colors, much to the crowds delight Hogan tore off the nWo shirt.

Hogan would bridge the generation gap two more times while taking on guys like Chris Jericho and then beating Triple H to become the Undisputed Champion. He is one of only six men to ever hold the honor.

He would even capture the WWE Tag Team Titles for the first time in the history of his career with Edge during this run in the company.

He would lose the title to The Undertaker and go on hiatus after a bloody match with Brock Lesnar in August of 2002.

He would return to WWE yet again to defeat Vince at Wrestlemania XIX and have a short run as Mr. America.

He would stay absent from wrestling for some time. Then it was announced he would be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame the night before Wresltemania 21. He would even make an appearance on the show helping Eugene from a Muhammad Hassan attack.

Hogan would return two more times helping Shawn Michaels defeat Muhammad Hassan and Daivari at Backlash, and again helping out Shawn Michaels and John Cena in a recent match on Raw.

Hulk Hogan is the father of modern sports entertainment, if it hadn’t been for what Hogan did for the business, his methods of train, say your prayers, and take your vitamins, he may have never reached the kids the way he did.

Many people say he was never truly known for great wrestling ability, and he may not of been, but not many people can get a room full of people to keep a man from talking by simply chanting his name for twenty minutes like Hogan can.

He gave us a future of wrestling by bringing it into the mainstream.

For those who wish to know all here is a brief history of Hogan’s title reigns.

Early Days

December 1979 – NWA South Eastern Heavyweight Title

Defeated Dick Slater (as Sterling Golden) – Knoxville, TN

Lost to Bob Armstrong during January 1980.

March 1982 – AWA Title

Defeated Nick Bockwinkel (as “Incredible” Hulk Hogan)

The decision was reversed by AWA President Stanley Blackburn the next day for "hitting the champ with an illegal object" Changed on April 4th, 2005 by the AWA, along with recognition of a previous win over Bockwinkel to make Hogan a two-time champion.

June 2nd 1983 – IWGP Heavyweight Title

Defeated Antonio Inoki in tournament final – Tokyo, Japan

Lost to Antonio Inoki on June 14th, 1984

WWF Days

January 23rd, 1984 – WWF Title

Defeated Iron Sheik – New York, NY

Lost to Andre The Giant on February 5th 1988 (@ The Main Event)

April 2nd, 1989 - WWF Title (2)

Defeated Randy Savage – Atlantic City, NJ (@Wrestlemania V)

Lost to the Ultimate Warrior on April 1st, 1990 (@ Wrestlemania VI)

March 24th, 1991 - WWF Title (3)

Defeated Sgt. Slaughter – Los Angeles, CA (@Wrestlemania VII)

Lost to The Undertaker on November 27th, 1991 (@ Survivor Series 1991)

December 3rd, 1991 - WWF Title (4)

Defeated The Undertaker – San Antonio, TX

Title is declared vacant due to disputed finish

April 4th, 1993 - WWF Title (5)

Defeated Yokozuna – Las Vegas, NV (@ Wrestlemania IX)

Lost to Yokozuna on June 13th, 1993 (@ King of the Ring 1993)

WCW

July 17th, 1994 – WCW Title

Defeated Ric Flair – Orlando, FL

Lost to The Giant on October 29th 1995 by disqualification

NOTE: The match with The Giant had a stipulation that allowed the title to change hands despite disqualification.

August 10, 1996 - WCW Title (2)

Defeated The Giant (as “Hollywood Hogan”) – Sturgis, SD

Lost to Lex Luger on August 4th, 1997

August 9th. 1997 - WCW Title (3)

Defeated Lex Luger (as “Hollywood Hogan”) - Sturgis, SD

Lost to Sting on December 28th, 1997

April 20th, 1998 - WCW Title (4)

Defeated Randy Savage (as “Hollywood Hogan”) - Colorado Springs, CO

Lost to Goldberg on July 6th, 1998

January 4th, 1999 - WCW Title (5)

Defeated Kevin Nash (as “Hollywood Hogan”) - Atlanta, GA

Lost to Ric Flair on March 14th, 1999

July 12th, 1999 - WCW Title (6)

Defeated Randy Savage (as “Hollywood Hogan”) - Jacksonville, FL

Lost to Sting on September 12th, 1999

NOTE: The following “match” isn’t considered an official title reign.

July 10th, 2000 - World Championship Wrestling World Title

Defeated Jeff Jarrett (as “Hollywood Hogan”) - Daytona Beach, FL

NOTE: In this match, Vince Russo, upset that Hogan had opted to use his creative control clause to win the title, ordered Jarrett to lie down for Hogan. Hogan "won" the title and left the arena. A few minutes later, Russo cut a promo deriding Hogan for being a selfish "son of a bitch", and said that the title Hogan won was now known as the "Hulk Hogan Memorial Title". A new WCW World Title was created and put up in a match between Jarrett and Booker T, which was won by Booker.

WWE

April 21st, 2002 – WWE Undisputed Title (6)

Defeated Triple H (as “Hollywood Hogan”) - Kansas City, MO (@ Backlash 2002)

Lost to The Undertaker on May 20th, 2002 (@ Judgement Day 2002)

July 4th, 2002 – WWE Tag Team Titles

Defeated Billy and Chuck with Edge (as “Hollywood Hogan”) - Boston, MA

Lost to Lance Storm and Christian on July 21st, 2002 (@ Vengeance 2002)

Additional Hogan Information:

Hulk Hogan appeared in the music video “Real American” performed by Rick Derringer. This is his most famous entrance music, he appears in the video playing the guitar all across America, and WWE venues.

The same song was also used for the USA Express Mike Rotundo and Barry Windham, Vince had the song copyrighted preventing anyone else using it outside of WWE.

He won numerous PWI awards including, Most Inspirational Wrestler in 1983 and 1999. He won Comeback of the Year in 1994 and 2002. He won Most Popular Wrestler of the Year in 1985, 1989 and 1990. He won Wrestler of the Year in 1987, 1991 and 1994. He won Most Hated Wrestler of the Year in 1996 and 1998 (during his nWo days.)

PWI also ranked him # 1 of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the "PWI Years" in 2003. He was also ranked twice in the best tag teams of the "PWI Years". He was # 44 with Antonio Inoki and # 57 with Randy Savage.

Due to the fact both of his AWA Title Reigns have been validated he is recognized as a sixteen time World Champion, Six WWE and WCW runs a piece, Two AWA Runs, an IGPW run, and an NWA Southeastern Heavyweight Title.

All in all Hogan has had a truly great career, not many of us will have the chance to see another like him come along in our lifetime, let’s face it we will never see or know of another Hulk Hogan.

He truly is, and was pure greatness for what he does/did for the kids, and the business.

Twenty years ago you see kids going to a WWE show to see Hogan, today you see those kids taking their kids to see Hogan.

He was always my favorite wrestler, and each time I hear that familiar music wrestling is what it should be again.

I hope you all enjoyed these columns I have written on all of these great men, five men from five different parts of wrestling history, each had his own affect on the business.

Thank you Hogan for all that you have done for this business.

I also hope you all learned as much as I have reading them, that I did in writing them.

Once again, this is Josh saying thank you, and goodbye.

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