Latest news with #WrestleMania3
Times of Oman
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Times of Oman
WWE legend Hulk Hogan passes away at 71, wrestling world pays tributes
Clearwater: The world of professional wrestling has lost one of its biggest icons. Hulk Hogan, the headscarf-wearing superstar with a unique moustache who defined an era of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), passed away at the age of 71, Florida police and WWE confirmed on Thursday, according to ESPN. Hulk Hogan had a cardiac arrest on Thursday morning in Clearwater, Florida, and he was pronounced dead at the hospital. His real name was Terry Bollea. He was the face of WWE's early global success and headlined the very first WrestleMania in 1985. From memorable feuds with Andre The Giant and Randy Savage to sharing the ring with The Rock and even then WWE Chairman Vince McMahon, Hogan was always at the centre of the action. Over the years, Hogan won at least six WWE championships and was rightfully inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005. WWE shared a heartfelt message on X paying tribute to the legend, "WWE is saddened to learn WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan has passed away. One of pop culture's most recognizable figures, Hogan helped WWE achieve global recognition in the 1980s. WWE extends its condolences to Hogan's family, friends, and fans." The wrestling fraternity has been pouring out their tributes since the news broke, and one of the most emotional messages came from his longtime friend and rival, Ric Flair. "I Am Absolutely Shocked To Hear About The Passing Of My Close Friend @HulkHogan! Hulk Has Been By My Side Since We Started In The Wrestling Business. An Incredible Athlete, Talent, Friend, And Father! Our Friendship Has Meant The World To Me. He Was Always There For Me Even When I Didn't Ask For Him To Be. He Was One Of The First To Visit Me When I Was In The Hospital With A 2% Chance Of Living, And He Prayed By My Bedside. Hulk Also Lent Me Money When Reid Was Sick. Hulkster, No One Will Ever Compare To You! Rest In Peace My Friend!" WWE superstar Charlotte Flair also remembered Hogan's support during one of the toughest moments in her life. "When I nearly lost my dad 8 years ago, one of the few people who was there for all of it was Hulk Hogan. My heart breaks for Nick and Brooke. Rest in peace, brother." John Cena, another WWE legend, paid tribute by sharing an iconic photo from WrestleMania 3, a moment etched in wrestling history, where Hogan bodyslammed the 500-plus pound Andre the Giant in front of a roaring crowd. With his charisma, iconic catchphrases, and unmatched presence, Hulk Hogan helped turn professional wrestling into a global spectacle. For fans across generations, he wasn't just a performer, he was larger than life.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Hulk Hogan's legacy: 5 hidden-gem matches from his long wrestling career
The legacy of Hulk Hogan is certainly a complicated one, and there will be numerous pieces trying to balance his influence on pop culture and pro wrestling with his appalling racism and personal behavior. His in-ring legacy is similarly complicated. He has long been considered a punching bag for work-rate wrestling fans, serving as the dark side of the coin compared wrestlers like Ric Flair or Bret Hart. There was a 'Hulk Hogan in Japan' meme with the idea Hogan was only good in Japan, where he would break out a drop-toe hold or a hammerlock, crapping on his U.S. in-ring performances. There is a reason, however, Hogan became such a phenomenon in a way similarly muscled-up peers never did. He was a master of timing, knowing exactly what a crowd needed and when to give it to it. There is value in both a gritty, independent film and a huge, flashy summer movie, and Hulk Hogan was the James Cameron of pro wrestling. No one did blockbusters better. But here are some of the lesser-known Hogan bangers, the kind of kick-ass matches that got fans to return to arenas month after month. Hulk Hogan vs. Andre The Giant, WWF, March 21, 1981 A battle of titans years before their epic WrestleMania 3 match. This is a younger and more agile Andre as a babyface and a heel Hogan in a heavy-hitting, super-duper heavyweight match. Lots of impressive huge power spots between a pair of human kaiju. Andre hits one of the largest vertical suplexes in wrestling history, and Hulk hoists Andre out of the air with a bear hug and bodyslams Andre (years before he became 'the first to do it' at Mania 3). In this match it was Andre who delivered the big babyface comeback, splitting Hogan open and bouncing him around the ring to delight of the crowd. It doesn't reach the transcendent heights of Mania 3, but it is fun to see the work-rate version of such a legendary match. Hulk Hogan vs. Randy Savage, WWF, May 24, 1986 Hogan and Savage are tied together historically because of multiple iconic feuds. This is from their first series against each other at the Boston Garden and was a great example of what made them such special dance partners. It started with Savage building heat by refusing to lock up and bailing every time Hogan tried to get him. This eventually led to Hogan's frustration giving Savage an opening, and Randy hit him with various dives off the ropes, both in the ring and to the floor. When Randy got cooking in the '80s, he would rain down on you like a missile barrage, his athleticism jumped off the page like watching Bo Jackson hit the open field. Hogan had one of his big crowd-pleasing comebacks, hulking up and wagging the finger, but before he could put Savage away, a ref bump allowed Savage to hit a top-rope axehandle to the floor with the title belt, opening up Hogan and allowing Savage to get a count-out win. Of course, Hogan gets his heat back by dragging Randy from the back and kicking his ass, but this was a rare Hogan loss and a hell of performance by both. Hulk Hogan, Roddy Piper, Billy Jack Haynes vs. Paul Orndorff, Adrian Adonis, Hercules, WWF, March 7, 1987 An elimination six-man tag leading up to WrestleMania 3, and a great example of star-power wrestling. This match was billed as Piper's final one in the Boston Garden (his match against Adonis at Mania 3 was booked as a retirement match), and the crowd was clearly amped to see the legendary rivals Piper and Hogan teaming up. In addition, the Hogan and Orndorff feud had been a huge draw the previous summer and still had a lot of juice left in it. Piper and Adonis were the focus of the first fall, and their interactions were electric, as were all of the times Hogan and Piper teamed up to foil the villains. After Piper and Adonis eliminated themselves, Hogan and Orndorff had a bunch of heated interactions before ending with Hogan running through Hercules. Mid-'80s Hogan was the peak of his superhero, larger-than-life persona, and that charisma could make even the simplest interactions seem monumental. Hulk Hogan vs. Sgt. Slaughter, WWF, June 3, 1991 This was a battle of two of the great jingoistic wrestlers of all time in a Desert Storm match. Slaughter had previously played the role of the flag waving American hero (his boot camp match against the Iron Shiek is one of the best WWF matches ever), but in 1991 he had turned on the flag and proclaimed his loyalty to Iraq. As a feud overall this wasn't a big success, and the WWF famously needed to move WrestleMania 7 to smaller arena because of slow ticket sales. This was the highlight of that feud though, with an enthusiastic Madison Square Garden crowd hyped to see Slaughter taken down. It was a Desert Storm match, with no rules and the loser needing to surrender. Hogan brutalized Slaughter at the start, throwing powder in his eyes and splitting him open with a metal gas mask. Slaughter was able to get some advantages, but this was mostly the Hulkster convincingly ending a feud by laying on a triumphant ass-kicking, even tossing fire at Slaughter's face before making General Adnan throw in the towel. Hulk Hogan vs. Sting, WCW, July 10, 1998 This is a house-show cage main event that would be a legendary all-time match if it had happened on PPV or Nitro. It's a match that should have run at Starrcade, with a super over Sting and Hogan going after each other with tremendous pace. Full of impressive spots, including Sting hanging Hogan upside down by his hamstrings on the cage and hitting him with a Stinger splash, Sting flying on the floor and smashing his ribs on the guardrail, and Hogan tapping clean to the Scorpion death lock in the middle of the ring. NWO Hogan could coast through his matches with cheap heel-heat spots, but for some reason he was on one here. He looked like he hadn't lost anything off his athletic fastball. The post-match was nuts with an NWO attack, and Goldberg coming out to clean house while the fans pelted the ring with garbage and nearly rioted. This was days after Goldberg defeated Hogan in Atlanta, and it was still the peak of WCW. This was one of Hogan's greatest WCW heel performances.
News18
27-04-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
From Title Bouts To Iconic Feuds: Top Ten WrestleMania Encounters Of All Time
WWE's biggest apay-per-view event, WrestleMania, has given fans several iconic clashes featuring multiple iconic names in the history of sports entertainment. WWE is set to host its biggest annual wrestling event, WrestleMania, this weekend. It will be the 41st edition of the flagship wrestling show, scheduled to premiere live at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on April 19 and 20 (April 20 and 21 in India). Over the years, WrestleMania has given fans several iconic clashes among the company's biggest superstars. From title bouts to heated feuds, the WWE Universe has been treated to memorable fights on the grand stage. Today, let's delve into some of the best matches WrestleMania has hosted in its 40-year history. These moments, fights and rivalries have defined the Showcase of the Immortals. The Undertaker vs Shawn Michaels – WrestleMania 25 Two of WWE's biggest legends, The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels competed in a Streak vs Career match at WrestleMania 25. The fight ended with the Dead Man beating his rival after an hour-long battle to extend his streak to 17-0. Hulk Hogan vs Andre the Giant – WrestleMania 3 The legendary Hulk Hogan faced Andre the Giant in one of the company's most iconic clashes at WrestleMania 3. The Hulkster successfully defended his WWF World Heavyweight Championship while bodyslamming his opponent, a moment still cherished by fans. The Rock vs Stone Cold Steve Austin – WrestleMania 17 WrestleMania 17 saw Stone Cold Steve Austin challenge The Rock for the WWF Championship. The Texas Rattlesnake eventually won the fight after a brutal match. He pinned The Rock after a series of chair shots. The Heartbreak Kid Shawn Michaels faced Bret 'The Hitman' Hart in an iconic Iron Man match at WrestleMania 10. Michaels won the bout by pinning Hart, who attempted to win his legendary submission manoeuvre, The Sharpshooter. At WrestleMania 6, The Ultimate Warrior and Hulk Hogan faced off in an epic Champion vs Champion fight. Warrior beat the Hulkster by pinfall to mark a significant moment in the WWE. It was the first time Hogan was beaten by a clean pinfall in years. John Cena vs Shawn Michaels – WrestleMania 23 Competing at Detroit's Ford Field, John Cena and Shawn Michaels put up arguably one of the most iconic performances in WWE history. An up-and-coming Cena beat the WWE veteran for the WWE World Championship. Roman Reigns vs Cody Rhodes – WrestleMania 40 Having failed to win the title in 2023, Cody Rhodes had one last shot to complete his story at WrestleMania 40. Rhodes eventually beat the Tribal Chief to win the Universal Title after an epic battle interrupted by stars like The Undertaker, John Cena, The Rock and Seth Rollins. Roman Reigns vs Brock Lesnar – WrestleMania 31 The WWE Universe witnessed the 'Heist of the Century' when Roman Reigns went toe-to-toe with Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 31 for the WWE Championship. Amid a close fight, Seth Rollins cashed in his Money in the Bank Contract to steal the title under Reigns and Lesnar's noses. Ronda Rousey vs Charlotte Flair vs Becky Lynch – WrestleMania 35 WrestleMania 35 saw Becky Lynch, Charlotte Flair and Ronda Rousey compete in the first-ever all-women's main event. Lynch escaped with the title after a controversial pin on Rousey. John Cena vs The Rock – WrestleMania 29 John Cena found himself on the road to WrestleMania after winning the Royal Rumble in 2013. He faced The Rock for the second successive time at the flagship show's main event, beating him for the WWE title.
Forbes
16-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
WrestleMania 41: A Profitable History For Wrestling's Biggest Event
WrestleMania competitors John Cena and Cody Rhodes face off during Monday Night RAW at The OVO Hydro ... More on March 24, 2025 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Joe Maher/WWE via Getty Images) In a couple of days, WrestleMania 41 will take place at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada. The two-night extravaganza showcases a variety of feuds, including two main event matches: a triple threat match on night one featuring CM Punk, Roman Reigns, and Seth Rollins, and a championship match on night two between defending champion 'The American Nightmare' Cody Rhodes and John Cena. WrestleMania weekend has become an international event, drawing thousands of fans from around the world. From a financial standpoint, WrestleMania has attracted massive viewership and generated substantial revenue. Historically, which WrestleMania events have been the most successful? The concept of WrestleMania was created by Vince McMahon, a second-generation wrestling promoter who served as the CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) for four decades before resigning from his role with the company in 2024. In 1985, the inaugural WrestleMania was launched, marking the first pay-per-view wrestling event in history. It was a smash hit, featuring a main event in which Hulk Hogan teamed up with Mr. T to face Roddy Piper and Paul Orndorff in front of nearly 20,000 people at Madison Square Garden. WrestleMania's success was partly attributed to its connection with mainstream music, television, and pop culture, featuring notable celebrity guests in meaningful roles such as Muhammad Ali, Cyndi Lauper, Billy Martin, Mr. T, Bob, and Liberace. In 1987, WrestleMania 3, held at the Pontiac Silverdome in Michigan, set an indoor attendance record for a sporting event with 93,173 fans in attendance and generated $10.3 million in pay-per-view revenue, a record that stood for nearly 30 years. WrestleMania 3 was highlighted by two standout matches: a technically sound marathon between Randy 'The Macho Man' Savage and Ricky 'The Dragon' Steamboat, and Hulk Hogan's victory over André the Giant in the main event. Two years later, WrestleMania 5 featured a compelling a main event match between rivals Hulk Hogan and Randy 'The Macho Man' Savage. This match presented a storyline involving manager Miss Elizabeth and jealousy between both competitors. Although overall viewership for professional wrestling declined during the early to mid-1990s, business picked up by the end of the decade, largely due to the Monday Night War between WWE and its rival WCW, as well as WWE's Attitude Era—a period characterized by a significant shift from programming designed for a younger audience to a more edgy, adult-oriented product. At the time, pay-per-views were one of the biggest revenue generators for WWE. In 2001, WrestleMania 17 achieved a then record buy rate of over one million buys (1,040,000), providing a monumental main event match between rivals 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin and Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson. Both superstars have since become two of the wealthiest wrestlers of all time, according to The following year, WrestleMania 18 showcased a dream match between Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson and 'Hollywood' Hulk Hogan, setting a record for attendance at the Toronto SkyDome. President Donald Trump, wrestling legend Stone Cold Steve Austin, and former WWE Chairman Vince ... More McMahon at the WWE New Conference for WrestleMania 23 on March 28, 2007. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/WireImage) In 2007, WrestleMania 23 made history by grossing $5.38 million in ticket sales and achieving 1.2 million pay-per-view buys, records that have since been broken. This WrestleMania featured a main event between John Cena and Shawn Michaels, as well as a Battle of the Billionaires match between Donald Trump and Vince McMahon. In victory, Trump won the right to shave McMahon's head, which was a stipulation for the match. John Cena and Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson headlined back-to-back WrestleMania shows in 2011 and 2012, drawing large crowds and breaking previous earnings records. In 2019, WrestleMania 35 featured the first all female main event when Becky Lynch defeated Ronda Rousey and Charlotte Flair in a triple threat match, which broke the previous revenue record from 2012 by grossing $16.9 million at Met Life Stadium. A year later, WrestleMania was transformed into a two-night format and has continued to thrive. WrestleMania 39, held at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles in 2023, generated over $20 million in sponsorship revenue and made $21.6 million in gate revenue in 2023, both of which were records. ABC7 Los Angeles reported that the 39th annual event helped produce $215 million for the Los Angeles economy. The main events featured Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens winning over The Usos for the WWE Undisputed Tag Team Championship on Night 1 and Roman Reigns defeating Cody Rhodes in the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship match on Night 2. WrestleMania 40, held at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia last April, became the most profitable show in the event's history setting a record with 145,298 fans in attendance. The event attracted fans from all 50 states and 64 different countries, while breaking viewership records. In addition, WWE World at WrestleMania is now the highest-grossing and most attended fan event in sport entertainment history. The recent WWE deal with Netflix is projected to significantly boost revenue for this year's WrestleMania. WrestleMania 41 is expected to be a major attraction once again. Based on its history, wrestling's biggest event has evolved into a highly profitable global success and shows no signs of slowing down, even after former owner Vince McMahon left the company in 2024.
