Perhaps the most popular of all time, Hulk Hogan was the face of wrestling throughout the 1980s and following decade.
Here, DAZN looks closely at Hulk Hogan and his achievements in the wrestling ring.
Who is Hulk Hogan?
Real name Terry Bollea, Hulk Hogan had no ambitions to become a wrestler with his initial focus being on music as he played guitar for a band named Ruckus.
After beginning to lift weights, Hogan received a lot of attention from wrestlers in the Florida area due to his size and after being asked by Jack and Gerald Brisco to give wrestling a try, Hogan began training under Hiro Matsuda.
With wrestling still very much a regional sport at the time Hogan burst onto the scene, experience was built in a number of promotions including the WWE at a time it was run by Vince McMahon Sr.
Hogan was an attraction in NJPW and later found success in AWA, but when Vince McMahon bought WWE from his father in 1982, Hogan was about to become the face of his company.
With Vince intent on a national expansion that would change wrestling, and people’s lives, forever, Hogan was handed the task of helping McMahon achieve it.
What followed was incredible.
Hogan became a household name as he captured the WWF title and began a series of memorable feuds throughout the 1980s with Andre the Giant, Roddy Piper, and Macho Man.
A move to WCW in 1994 saw wrestling enjoy a red-hot period as Ted Turner’s company went to battle with Vince McMahon’s WWE.
Hogan was a focal point of the ‘Monday Night Wars’ before he returned to WWE in 2002 after McMahon had bought his competition.
In his latter years, Hogan would make regular appearances for WWE before he signed with TNA in 2009.
Tasked with making Dixie Carter’s company a rival to WWE. Hogan’s influence in wrestling had waned and he was no longer able to have the impact that he once did.
What championships has Hulk Hogan held in wrestling?
New Japan Pro-Wrestling
IWGP Heavyweight Championship (original version) (1 time)
IWGP League Tournament (1983)
MSG Tag League Tournament (1982, 1983) – with Antonio Inoki
Southeastern Championship Wrestling
NWA Southeastern Heavyweight Championship (Northern Division) (1 time)
NWA Southeastern Heavyweight Championship (Southern Division) (2 times)
World Championship Wrestling
WCW World Heavyweight Championship (6 times)
World Wrestling Federation/World Wrestling Entertainment/WWE
WWF/WWE Championship (6 times)
WWE Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Edge
Royal Rumble winner (1990, 1991)