The Wrestling Ropes Couldn't Constrain Hulk Hogan
Hogan, who died Thursday at 71, was instrumental to the rise of professional wrestling in the 1980s, becoming a crossover figure who appeared in movies, late-night talk shows and commercials. His journey laid the blueprint for Dwayne Johnson, John Cena and others to travel the now-familiar pathway between wrestling and Hollywood.
Here are some key moments showcasing how Hogan parlayed athletic success into acting gigs and endorsement deals.
1982
'Rocky III'
Hogan was still early in his wrestling career when he accepted his first acting role, stepping into 'Rocky III' to spar with Sylvester Stallone. The role in a major movie franchise introduced Hogan to a wider audience and presaged his wrestling ascent.
In the movie, Hogan played a wrestler known as Thunderlips who took on Rocky (Stallone) in a match for charity. Thunderlips was not unlike Hogan's wrestling persona: Even in limited screen time, he is bloviating and egocentric, calling himself 'the ultimate male' and praising the size of his muscular arms.
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New York Post
18 hours ago
- New York Post
Hulk Hogan was ‘devastated' by reaction in last WWE appearance
The boos came crashing down and it hurt inside. Hulk Hogan's longtime manager and friend, Jimmy Hart, revealed that the fans viciously booing the late wrestler during his final appearance on WWE television on Jan. 6, 2025 'devastated' Hogan. The larger-than-life superstar — real name Terry Bollea — died on July 24 at the age of 71 after suffering a heart attack at his Clearwater, Fla. home. 'That devastated him,' Hart said of the jeers on an episode of 'Stories with Brisco and Bradshaw' published Thursday, while noting the political undertones. 'That always bothered him, it sure did.' 4 Hulk Hogan ripping his shirt alongside Jimmy Hart during his 'Raw' promo. WWE via Getty Images Hogan often drew massive cheers from the crowd during his career — even at times during his days in the villainous NWO stable — but the fans treated him like a true heel earlier this year. To usher in the new era of 'Raw' on Netflix, WWE turned to Hogan for an appearance at the live taping in Los Angeles. Normally, this would result in a huge pop. But the fans at the Intuit Dome didn't have Hulkamania flowing through their veins and booed Hogan in a development that surely neither WWE nor Hogan expected. WWE is usually not in the business of bringing back storyline heroes to get showered in boos, and it seemed that the fans rebelled against Hogan's off-screen actions. Hogan made racist remarks in 2007 that came to light in 2015, and he championed for President Trump during the Republican National Convention, among other endorsements. Hart said he mentioned to Hogan before the appearance how they would be venturing into a liberal-leaning state, adding that Hogan did publicity wearing a Trump/J.D. Vance t-shirt. 'I'm going, 'Oh, my God. This is going to be good,'' Hart said. Here is the latest on wrestler Hulk Hogan's death Hart noticed 'something didn't feel right' when fans started chirping at Hogan after landing in Los Angeles, mentioning Trump and Vance. While Hart described the reaction as 'mixed,' most would remember the night for the boos. Hogan asked Hart what he think happened upon returning to the bowels of the arena, and his friend told him politics came into play. 4 Hulk Hogan (l) and Jimmy Hart (r) on 'Raw' in January 2025. WWE via Getty Images 'I said, 'Hulk, it's simple. Blue state, red state. Trump, Vance. I mean, really?'' said Hart, who noted Hogan received cheers the next week during an event in Texas. Hogan later said during a Feb. 4 appearance on 'The Pat McAfee Show' that he expected that reaction, acknowledged his politics and unspecified past controversies factored into the reaction. He curiously also believed the crowd booed him because of his time in the NWO. 4 Jimmy Hart (bottom right) speaking about Hogan. @johnlayfieldshow/YouTube 'I think the politics had a whole lot to do with it, as you said,' Hogan said. He added: 'You got to realize, last time I ran hard in L.A. I was a bad guy, I Hollywood Hogan, man. I was riding dirty with the boys, (Kevin) Nash and (Scott) Hall, we were spray-painting people and crotch-shotting everybody and started out the 'Too Sweet' stuff. So, the last time I was there as a heel.' Hogan, though, in contrast to Hart's comment, said he didn't mind the harsh reception since it generated massive internet engagement. 4 Hart and Hogan in 2009. FilmMagic He added that he would have leaned into the jeers and cut a heel — bad guy — promo, but had to be a babyface — good guy — since WWE is a partner for his 'Real American Beer.' 'But anyway, at the end of the day, we kind of looked at it the next day because I had like 11 billion impressions,' Hogan said of a video of his return, 'and some of the other guys, some of the big stars that were on that card that night, only had like 3 billion. Don't want to name names.' WWE honored Hogan on both 'SmackDown' and 'Raw' since his death. Hart, who made countless appearances alongside Hogan throughout the years, spanning multiple promotions, was stunned after learning of his friend's death. 'It just hits so fast,' Hart told People. 'It was like, 'Oh my God.' We thought he was doing so well, you know? We didn't go to see him at the house and didn't go to see him at the hospital, because we wanted to make sure that he didn't get any infections or anything else, like if anybody had a cold or brought anything in. So, that's what we all did.'
New York Post
a day ago
- New York Post
Ron DeSantis declares ‘Hulk Hogan Day' in Florida with flags flown at half-staff
The Hulkster is getting his day in the sunshine. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Thursday that he was declaring Friday 'Hulk Hogan Day' across the state in honor of the WWE megastar, who died at the age of 71 on July 24 at his home in Clearwater, Fla. DeSantis also said that the U.S. and Florida flags would be put at half-staff Friday at the state capitol and in Pinellas County, which includes Clearwater, where Hogan lived for the final 13 years of his life. Advertisement 3 Hulk Hogan on May 13, 2013. MediaPunch/Shutterstock 'Hogan was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame twice, first in 2005 and again in 2020 as a member of the New World Order. His larger-than-life personality will be missed, as the 'Hulkster' was an icon for many who grew up in the 80s and 90s as well as today,' DeSantis wrote in a statement. 'He was a true Floridian through and through.' 'Rest in peace, brother,' the governor added on X. Advertisement Despite being born in Augusta, Ga., Hogan, whose real name is Terry Bollea, moved to Tampa at a young age and grew up there. 3 Florida Governor Ron DeSantis visits a temporary migrant detention center informally known as 'Alligator Alcatraz' in Ochopee, Florida, U.S., July 1, 2025. REUTERS Hogan became the face of wrestling in the 1980s and 90s, inspiring 'Hulkamania' across the nation. Hogan died of a heart attack, according to Pinellas County Forensic Science Center records obtained by Page Six on Thursday. He also dealt with atrial fibrillation, the most common form of an irregular heartbeat. Advertisement 3 A fan mourns Hulk Hogan outside of Hogan's Beach Shop in Clearwater, Fla. Dave Decker/Shutterstock The records also showed that he had a history of chronic lymphotic leukemia, a form of cancer that affects white blood cells. In a speech on July 24, DeSantis said he grew up viewing Hogan as a 'superhero.' 'The fact that he was from the Tampa Bay area when I'm growing up there, it was like 'Oh my gosh,'' DeSantis said. 'I was really sad to see that [he died], and our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and people throughout this region of Florida.'
Axios
a day ago
- Axios
DeSantis directs some flags at half-staff for "Hulk Hogan Day in Florida"
Gov. Ron DeSantis declared Friday "Hulk Hogan Day in Florida" and directed the famed wrestler's home county to fly flags at half-staff. State of play: The memo to state and local leaders comes a week after Hogan's death July 24 at his home on Clearwater Beach. It orders the U.S. and Florida flags to be flown at half-staff at the State Capitol in Tallahassee and at local and state buildings in Pinellas from sunrise to sunset Friday. The latest: The Pinellas-Pasco Medical Examiner's Office determined that Hogan died of a heart attack, NBC News reported. What they're saying:"His larger-than-life personality will be missed, as the 'Hulkster' was an icon for many who grew up in the 80s and 90s as well as today," DeSantis wrote. "He was a true Floridian through and through." Between the lines: Hogan, who grew up in Tampa as Terry Bollea, also had his share of controversy. A recording of Hogan using the n-word surfaced in 2015. In apologizing, he cited his Tampa upbringing, claiming use of the word "was part of the culture and the environment I grew up in." Hogan also successfully sued the media outlet Gawker after the website published a portion of a video of Hogan having sex with the wife of radio personality Bubba the Love Sponge Clem. The lawsuit, backed financially by tech billionaire Peter Thiel, had lasting impacts on privacy and First Amendment rights.
