after he bought the company outright from his father. Hogan, now a 'face', was a great box-office success in the AWA, and was lured back to the WWF in late 1983 by Vince McMahon, Jr. refused and ended up firing Hogan as a result.Īfter the huge success of Rocky III in 1982, Hogan became a national celebrity, and keen to cash in, he joined the AWA based in Minnesota, shortly after the movie's release. Hogan wanted to use this opportunity for a potential movie career.

In 1981, he was personally offered by Sylvester Stallone the role of Thunderlips in the movie Rocky III. Hogan started out as a light-hearted heel. A deal was later struck with Marvel Comics to use the 'Hulk' name. McMahon also wanted him to be a tough, working-man brawler with a possible Irish background at the same time, thus the name 'Hogan'. The later, official explanation for the chosen name was that many considered Bollea to be physically bigger than Lou Ferrigno, who at the time was starring in the critically acclaimed TV series The Incredible Hulk. In 1980 he joined the World-Wide Wrestling Federation and was given the name Hulk Hogan by Vince McMahon Sr., then the majority owner of the then-WWWF. His loyal fans are referred to as 'Hulkamaniacs'.Īfter stints in various jobs, including rock musician and dock worker, muscle-bound Terry Bollea fell into bouncing work and amateur wrestling, turing professional in 1978 and using such ringnames as Sterling Golden, the Super Destroyer, and Terry Boulder.

Hogan is now officially recognised a fourteen-time World Heavyweight Champion, since his two AWA title reigns were recently validated. During his long career, he appeared and starred in several movies and TV shows, and now busies himself with occasional WWE promotional appearances and the management of the music career of his daughter, Brooke Hogan. He later turned 'heel' and became the sneering bad guy in July 1996, re-energizing and redefining his career as the greedy and manipulative villain Hollywood Hogan. After flagging popularity, 'retirements' and lawsuits damaged his momentum in the 1990s, he jumped ship to the WWF's then-rival, WCW.

Terrence Gene Bollea, best known as Hulk Hogan and Hollywood Hogan (born Augin Augusta, Georgia), is an American professional wrestler and actor.ĭuring his 1980s heyday performing and wrestling for the then- WWF as the wholesome Hulk Hogan, Terry Bollea became the highest-drawing, most popular 'athlete' in the history of the business.

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