Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Hulk Hogan
How Hulk Hogan built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.
Hulk Hogan, born Terry Gene Bollea, is a retired American professional wrestler recognized globally for his iconic status. Renowned for his flamboyant personality, imposing physique, horseshoe moustache, and signature bandanas, Hogan achieved immense popularity in the 1980s and is considered one of wrestling's greatest. Currently serving as commissioner for Real American Freestyle and a brand ambassador for WWE, Hogan remains a significant figure in the wrestling world.
1976: Beginning of Wrestling Training
In 1976, Hulk Hogan began his wrestling training after being scouted by the Brisco brothers, marking a pivotal step in his wrestling career, under Hiro Matsuda.
August 10, 1977: Professional Wrestling Debut Match
On August 10, 1977, Hulk Hogan made his professional wrestling debut against Brian Blair in Fort Myers, Florida, marking the official start of his wrestling career.
1977: Professional Wrestling Debut
In 1977, Hulk Hogan started his professional wrestling career. This marked the beginning of his journey towards becoming a wrestling icon.
December 1, 1979: Wins NWA Southeastern Heavyweight Championship
On December 1, 1979, Hulk Hogan won his first professional wrestling championship, the NWA Southeastern Heavyweight Championship (Northern Division), defeating Bob Roop in Knoxville, Tennessee.
December 1979: Briefly Wrestles in GCW
From September through December 1979, Hulk Hogan briefly wrestled in the Georgia Championship Wrestling (GCW) territory under the name Sterling Golden.
December 17, 1979: Madison Square Garden Debut
On December 17, 1979, Hulk Hogan made his first appearance at Madison Square Garden, defeating Ted DiBiase, marking a significant milestone in his WWF career.
January 1980: Loses NWA Southeastern Heavyweight Championship
In January 1980, Hulk Hogan lost the NWA Southeastern Heavyweight Championship to Bob Armstrong, ending his first title reign.
May 13, 1980: NJPW Debut
On May 13, 1980, Hulk Hogan made his first appearance in New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), while still with the WWF, marking the start of his international wrestling career.
August 1980: Match with André the Giant at Shea Stadium
In August 1980, Hulk Hogan had a match with André the Giant at Shea Stadium, marking the culmination of their first major feud in the WWF.
March 26, 1981: Unsuccessful Intercontinental Championship Challenge
On March 26, 1981, Hulk Hogan unsuccessfully challenged Pedro Morales for the Intercontinental Championship, during his appearances for the WWF.
July 1981: Hogan Becomes a Fan Favorite
In July 1981, during a television taping, Hulk Hogan came to the rescue of Brad Rheingans after Jerry Blackwell attacked him, marking the beginning of Hogan's run as a fan favorite.
August 1981: AWA Debut
In August 1981, Hulk Hogan debuted in the American Wrestling Association (AWA), initially as a villain managed by "Luscious" Johnny Valiant, before becoming a fan favorite.
1981: Late 1981 Babyface Turn
In late 1981 Hulk Hogan had a babyface turn where he became a fan favorite
April 1982: Hogan's AWA Championship Win Overturned
In April 1982, Hulk Hogan defeated Nick Bockwinkel and was initially declared the AWA World Heavyweight Champion, but the decision was overturned by AWA President Stanley Blackburn due to the use of a foreign object during the match.
1982: Hogan Plays Thunderlips in Rocky III
In 1982, Hogan played the part of Thunderlips in Rocky III.
1982: Wins MSG Tag League Tournament
In 1982, Hulk Hogan and Antonio Inoki won the MSG (Madison Square Garden) Tag League tournament in Japan, showcasing their tag team partnership.
1982: Acting Debut in Rocky III
In 1982, Hulk Hogan began his acting career with a role in the film Rocky III, marking his entry into the entertainment industry outside of wrestling.
1982: Vincent K. McMahon Purchases WWF
In 1982, Vincent K. McMahon purchased the WWF from his father and began planning to expand the promotion nationwide. He selected Hulk Hogan as the company's centerpiece attraction due to his charisma and name recognition.
June 2, 1983: Wins IWGP Heavyweight Championship
On June 2, 1983, Hulk Hogan won the International Wrestling Grand Prix (IWGP) tournament and became the first holder of an early version of the IWGP Heavyweight Championship, defeating Antonio Inoki in Japan.
November 1983: Hogan Leaves AWA
In November 1983, Hulk Hogan officially departed from the American Wrestling Association (AWA).
December 1983: Signs with WWF
In December 1983, Hulk Hogan signed with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), now WWE, gaining worldwide recognition and popularizing his heroic all-American persona.
December 27, 1983: Hogan Returns to WWF, Defeats Bill Dixon
On December 27, 1983, Hulk Hogan made his return to the WWF at a television taping in St. Louis, Missouri, where he defeated Bill Dixon.
1983: Wins MSG Tag League Tournament
In 1983, Hulk Hogan and Antonio Inoki won the MSG (Madison Square Garden) Tag League tournament for the second consecutive year in Japan.
1983: Headlines AWA Super Sunday
In 1983, Hulk Hogan headlined the inaugural AWA closed circuit supercard, Super Sunday, marking a significant event in his AWA career.
January 7, 1984: Hogan Saves Bob Backlund, Solidifies Fan Favorite Status
On January 7, 1984, during an episode of Championship Wrestling, Hulk Hogan solidified his fan favorite status by saving Bob Backlund from an assault by the Wild Samoans.
1984: Loses IWGP Title to Antonio Inoki
In 1984, Hulk Hogan lost the early version of the IWGP Heavyweight Championship to Antonio Inoki in Japan, marking the end of his title reign.
March 30, 1985: Hulk Hogan Co-Hosts Saturday Night Live
On March 30, 1985, Hulk Hogan co-hosted Saturday Night Live during his successful run with the WWF.
March 31, 1985: Hogan and Mr. T Win at WrestleMania I
On March 31, 1985, at the first WrestleMania, Hulk Hogan teamed with Mr. T to defeat "Rowdy" Roddy Piper and "Mr Wonderful" Paul Orndorff after Bob Orton accidentally knocked out Orndorff.
1986: Hogan Appears on The A-Team Again
In 1986, Hogan made another appearance on The A-Team.
1986: Hogan Wrestles as Hulk Machine
In the fall of 1986, Hulk Hogan occasionally wrestled in tag team matches with The Machines as Hulk Machine, wearing a mask copied from NJPW's "Super Strong Machine" gimmick.
1986: Hogan's Title Defenses in 1986
Throughout 1986, Hulk Hogan successfully defended his WWF World Heavyweight Championship against challengers such as Terry Funk, Don Muraco, King Kong Bundy at WrestleMania 2, Paul Orndorff, and Hercules Hernandez.
1987: Hogan Defends Title Against André the Giant at WrestleMania III
In 1987, Hulk Hogan defended the WWF World Heavyweight Championship against André the Giant at WrestleMania III. Hogan successfully defended the title against André the Giant.
February 5, 1988: Record-Breaking WWF Match
On February 5, 1988, Hulk Hogan's match with André the Giant on WWF The Main Event achieved a 15.2 Nielsen rating and 33 million viewers, setting an American television viewership record for wrestling.
March 7, 1989: Hogan vs Big Boss Man at El Paso Civic Center
On March 7, 1989, Hulk Hogan faced Big Boss Man at the El Paso Civic Center during a taping of a WWF "Superstars of Wrestling" event.
1989: Hogan Appears in No Holds Barred
In 1989, Hogan appeared in No Holds Barred.
1989: Hogan's Second Run and Movie Debut
In 1989, Hulk Hogan's second run as champion included matches against Savage, The Big Boss Man, and The Honky Tonk Man, with the WWF World Heavyweight Championship being renamed to WWF Championship. Hogan also starred in the movie "No Holds Barred", leading to a feud with Tom Lister, Jr. who played Zeus.
1989: Mega Powers Implode, Hogan Wins WWF Championship
In 1989, the Mega Powers began to implode due to Randy Savage's jealousy. Hulk Hogan defeated Savage for his second WWF World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania V.
April 1, 1990: Hogan Loses Title to The Ultimate Warrior
On April 1, 1990, Hulk Hogan lost to Intercontinental Champion The Ultimate Warrior in a title versus title match at WrestleMania VI.
May 1990: Earthquake Attacks Hogan
In May 1990, Earthquake attacked Hulk Hogan on The Brother Love Show, crushing his ribs, which led to Hogan wanting to retire.
1990: Royal Rumble Win
In 1990, Hulk Hogan won his first Royal Rumble match, showcasing his dominance in the WWF.
1990: Hulk Hogan's Fourth Demandment
In 1990, during his feud with Earthquake, Hulk Hogan added a fourth demandment to his list: believing in oneself.
1991: Hogan Stars in Suburban Commando
In 1991, Hogan starred in the family film Suburban Commando.
1991: Consecutive Royal Rumble Win
In 1991, Hulk Hogan won his second consecutive Royal Rumble match, further solidifying his status as a top wrestler.
1991: Hogan Wins and Loses WWF Championship
In 1991, Hulk Hogan won the Royal Rumble, defeated Sgt. Slaughter for his third WWF Championship at WrestleMania VII, lost the title to The Undertaker at Survivor Series, and then won it back at This Tuesday in Texas.
1992: Hogan Appears in Right Guard Commercials
In 1992, Hogan appeared in commercials for Right Guard deodorant.
1992: Royal Rumble Controversy and Feud with Sid
In 1992, Hulk Hogan failed to regain the WWF Championship at the Royal Rumble and helped eliminate Sid Justice, leading to a feud that culminated at WrestleMania VIII where Hogan defeated Sid.
February 1993: Hogan Returns to WWF and Forms The Mega-Maniacs
In February 1993, Hulk Hogan returned to the WWF, teaming with Brutus Beefcake to form The Mega-Maniacs and feud with Money Inc.
May 3, 1993: Hogan Defeats The Great Muta in NJPW
On May 3, 1993, Hulk Hogan returned to NJPW as WWF Champion and defeated IWGP Heavyweight Champion The Great Muta.
August 1993: Hogan's Last WWF Appearance
In August 1993, Hulk Hogan finished his feud with Yokozuna on the international house show circuit, marking his last WWF appearance until 2002.
September 26, 1993: Hogan Wrestles Keiji Mutoh
On September 26, 1993, Hulk Hogan wrestled against Keiji Mutoh in NJPW.
1993: Hogan Stars in Mr. Nanny
In 1993, Hogan starred in the family film Mr. Nanny.
1993: Departure from WWF
In 1993, Hulk Hogan left the WWF to pursue opportunities in film and television, temporarily stepping away from wrestling.
January 4, 1994: Hogan Defeats Tatsumi Fujinami
On January 4, 1994, Hulk Hogan defeated Tatsumi Fujinami at Battlefield in NJPW, marking his last match in Japan.
May 28, 1994: Hogan Leaves Thunder in Paradise
On May 28, 1994, Hulk Hogan tore up his Thunder in Paradise contract and announced his return to wrestling.
June 11, 1994: Hogan Signs with WCW
On June 11, 1994, Hulk Hogan officially signed with World Championship Wrestling (WCW).
December 1994: Hogan Defeats The Butcher at Starrcade
In December 1994, Hulk Hogan defeated The Butcher for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship at Starrcade.
1994: Hogan Stars in Thunder in Paradise TV Series
In 1994, Hogan starred in his own television series, Thunder in Paradise.
1994: Signs with WCW
In 1994, Hulk Hogan joined World Championship Wrestling (WCW), marking his return to the wrestling ring with a rival promotion.
September 1995: Hogan Retains Title
In September 1995, Hulk Hogan successfully retained the WCW World Heavyweight Championship against Big Bubba Rogers and Lex Luger on Nitro.
October 9, 1995: Hogan's First Appearance in All-Black Attire
On October 9, 1995, Hulk Hogan made his first appearance in all-black attire on WCW Nitro.
1995: Hogan Appears on Kids Against Crime
In 1995, Hogan appeared on TBN's Kids Against Crime.
1995: Release of Hulk Rules Album
In 1995, Hogan released a music CD, Hulk Rules, as Hulk Hogan and the Wrestling Boot Band, which reached No. 12 on the Billboard Top Kid Audio chart.
1996: Hogan Stars in Santa with Muscles
In 1996, Hogan starred in Santa with Muscles.
1996: Adopts "Hollywood" Hulk Hogan Persona
In 1996, Hulk Hogan reinvented himself as the villainous "Hollywood" Hulk Hogan, leading the New World Order (nWo) and becoming a central figure in the "Monday Night War".
1996: Feud with The Alliance to End Hulkamania
In early 1996, Hulk Hogan reformed The Mega Powers with Randy Savage to feud with The Alliance to End Hulkamania.
July 13, 1997: Tag Team Match at Bash at the Beach
On July 13, 1997, Lex Luger and The Giant defeated Hulk Hogan and Dennis Rodman in a tag team match at Bash at the Beach. Hogan then started a feud with Lex Luger.
1997: Hogan Stars in Assault on Devil's Island
In 1997, Hogan starred in the TNT original movie Assault on Devil's Island.
1997: Headlines Starrcade
In 1997, Hulk Hogan headlined Starrcade, WCW's flagship event, which became the most profitable pay-per-view in WCW history.
February 22, 1998: Hogan Loses to Sting at SuperBrawl VIII
On February 22, 1998, Sting defeated Hulk Hogan for the vacant WCW World Heavyweight Championship at SuperBrawl VIII.
1998: Hogan Stars in 3 Ninjas: High Noon at Mega Mountain
In 1998, Hogan starred in 3 Ninjas: High Noon at Mega Mountain.
January 4, 1999: Hogan wins WCW World Heavyweight Championship
On January 4, 1999, Hogan returned to WCW and defeated Kevin Nash for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship for the fifth time. Many found this title change scandalous and the warring factions of the nWo reunited.
August 9, 1999: Hogan retains WCW World Heavyweight Championship
On August 9, 1999, Hogan started the night dressed in black and white, but came out in the traditional red and yellow for his six-man tag team match after a backstage scene with his son. Hogan then defeated Nash in a retirement match at Road Wild to retain the WCW World Heavyweight Championship.
1999: Hogan Appears on Suddenly Susan
In 1999, Hogan appeared on Suddenly Susan.
February 2000: Hogan's controversial work with Vince Russo
In February 2000, Hogan was involved in a controversial work with Vince Russo. He was scheduled to challenge Jeff Jarrett for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship. Before the match, Hogan and Russo had a dispute over the title outcome. Hogan won the match, but the events led to a new WCW World Heavyweight Championship being created.
2001: Hogan Guest-Stars on Walker, Texas Ranger
In 2001, Hogan guest-starred on an episode of Walker, Texas Ranger.
February 2002: Hogan returns to WWF
In February 2002, Hogan returned to the WWF as a heel at No Way Out, leading the original nWo with Scott Hall and Kevin Nash, confronting The Rock and costing Stone Cold Steve Austin a title opportunity.
February 17, 2002: Hogan returns to the WWF at No Way Out
On February 17, 2002, Hogan returned to the WWF as a heel, leading the original nWo with Scott Hall and Kevin Nash. They confronted The Rock and cost Stone Cold Steve Austin a chance at becoming the Undisputed WWF Champion.
2003: Leaves WWF Again
In 2003, Hulk Hogan departed from the WWF again, marking another transition in his wrestling career.
July 10, 2005: Premiere of Hogan Knows Best
On July 10, 2005, VH1 premiered Hogan Knows Best, a reality show centered around Hogan, his then-wife Linda, and their children Brooke and Nick.
April 27, 2007: Hogan defeats Paul Wight
On April 27, 2007, Hogan defeated Paul Wight at Memphis Wrestling's PMG Clash of Legends.
October 2007: Hogan Transfers Trademarks to Hogan Holdings Limited
In October 2007, Hogan transferred all trademarks referring to himself to his liability company named "Hogan Holdings Limited". The trademarks included Hulk Hogan, "Hollywood" Hulk Hogan, Hulkster, Hogan Knows Grillin, Hulkamania.com, and Hulkapedia.com.
April 2008: Hogan Licenses His Name to Gameloft
In April 2008, Hogan announced that he would lend his license to video game developer Gameloft to create "Hulkamania Wrestling" for mobile phones.
July 2008: Premiere of Brooke Knows Best
In July 2008, a spin-off entitled Brooke Knows Best premiered, which focused primarily on Hogan's daughter Brooke.
2008: Hogan Hosts American Gladiators Comeback
In 2008, Hogan hosted the comeback series of American Gladiators on NBC.
2008: Hulk Hogan Honored as King of the Krewe of Bacchus
In 2008, Hulk Hogan was honored as the King of the Krewe of Bacchus, a New Orleans carnival organization, where he visited the Children's Hospital of New Orleans and participated in a parade.
October 27, 2009: Hogan signs with TNA
On October 27, 2009, it was announced that Hogan had signed a contract to join TNA on a full-time basis.
January 4, 2010: Hogan's TNA Debut
On January 4, 2010, Hogan made his official TNA debut on a special live three-hour Monday night episode of Impact! to compete with WWE's Raw.
March 12, 2010: Hogan Hosts Hogan Uncensored on Sirius Satellite Radio
On March 12, 2010, Hogan hosted his own radio show titled Hogan Uncensored, on Sirius Satellite Radio's Howard 101.
October 15, 2010: Partnership for Hulk Hogan's Hulkamania Online Gambling Game
On October 15, 2010, Endemol Games UK announced a partnership with Bischoff Hervey Entertainment to produce "Hulk Hogan's Hulkamania", an online gambling game featuring video footage of Hogan.
November 17, 2010: Hogan's Special Finding Hulk Hogan on A&E
On November 17, 2010, Hogan had a special titled Finding Hulk Hogan on A&E.
March 3, 2011: Hogan Returns to TNA as New Owner
On March 3, 2011, Hulk Hogan returned to TNA on Impact!, declaring himself the new owner of TNA after winning a court battle against Dixie Carter.
March 24, 2011: Hogan's Appearance on American Idol
On March 24, 2011, Hogan made a special appearance on American Idol, giving a big surprise to wrestling fans Paul McDonald and James Durbin.
October 2011: Release of Hulk Hogan's Main Event Video Game
In October 2011, Hogan released a video game called Hulk Hogan's Main Event.
January 3, 2013: Hogan Suspends Bully Ray
On January 3, 2013, Hulk Hogan suspended Bully Ray indefinitely on Impact Wrestling after seeing him kissing Hogan's daughter Brooke in a parking garage on the December 20, 2012 episode of Impact Wrestling.
October 2013: Hogan Partners with Tech Assets, Inc. to Open Hostamania
In October 2013, Hogan partnered with Tech Assets, Inc. to open a web hosting service called "Hostamania".
November 21, 2013: Hulk Hogan and GoDaddy.com Appear on Google Plus Hangout
On November 21, 2013, Hulk Hogan and GoDaddy.com appeared together on a live Hangout On Air on Google Plus, where Hulk Hogan had a casual conversation about Hostamania, fans, and business.
February 24, 2014: Hogan Returns to WWE to Promote WWE Network
On February 24, 2014, Hulk Hogan made his first WWE in-ring appearance since December 2007 on Raw to hype the WWE Network.
February 27, 2015: Hogan Honored at Madison Square Garden
On February 27, 2015, Hulk Hogan was honored at Madison Square Garden during a WWE live event dubbed "Hulk Hogan Appreciation Night" with a special commemorative banner hanging from the rafters, honoring his wrestling career and historic matches he had in the arena.
October 2015: Hogan's Beach Restaurant Drops Hogan's Name
In October 2015, Hogan's beachfront restaurant called "Hogan's Beach" located in Tampa dropped Hogan's name.
2015: Hogan Judges Tough Enough Season 6
In 2015, Hogan was a judge on the sixth season of Tough Enough, alongside Paige and Daniel Bryan.
March 19, 2021: Hogan to Co-Host WrestleMania 37
On the March 19, 2021, episode of WWE SmackDown, it was announced that Hulk Hogan would co-host WrestleMania 37 with Titus O'Neil.
January 23, 2023: Hogan Opens WWE Raw is XXX Show
On January 23, 2023, Hulk Hogan appeared live alongside Jimmy Hart to open the WWE Raw is XXX show, celebrating the 30th Anniversary of Raw.
January 22, 2024: WWE Celebrates 40th Anniversary of Hulkamania
On January 22, 2024, WWE celebrated the 40th anniversary of 'Hulkamania' with Hulk Hogan appearing in pre-taped footage.
2024: Launch of Real American Beer
In 2024, Hogan launched "Real American Beer", a light beer brand.
January 6, 2025: Hogan Makes Live Appearance at Raw Debut on Netflix
On January 6, 2025, Hulk Hogan made a live appearance during the Raw debut on Netflix, accompanied by Jimmy Hart, advertising his Real American Beer.
April 2025: Hogan Co-founds Real American Freestyle
In April 2025, Hogan co-founded Real American Freestyle and serves as the promotion's commissioner.
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