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Hulk Hogan is one of the greatest professional wrestlers to ever grace the TV screen. He had generations of children eating out of the palm of his hand. It's no wonder why, he was larger than life, extremely charismatic and easy to get behind.
Not to mention his endearing patriotic attitude. Hogan fought dozens of Superstars on behalf of the Red, White, and Blue. From The Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff to fighting off Muhammad Hassan at WrestleMania 21, Hogan was as American as they came.
Hulk Hogan's also been at the peak of different decades in wrestling. His slamming of Andre the Giant shocked the world and brought professional wrestling into pop culture. The formation of NWO reinvigorated the sport, becoming the driving force behind the Attitude Era and the Monday Night Wars.
The Hulkster is a pop culture icon, but there may still be a few things fans don't know about him.
#5 Hogan once streaked naked across a football field
He's a Real American alright, and as is tradition for most American high school students, he decided to do something quite shocking.
Hogan was a role model for children around the world, making sure they said their prayers and ate their vitamins so they could grow big and strong just like him. However, this may be something he didn't want the little Hulkamaniacs to know about. When he was a junior in high school, he streaked naked across the Robinson High football field where seniors were receiving their diplomas.
Hogan didn't face any punishment for the act, apparently. He wasn't a troubling student, and was genuinely well liked by both staff and students alike, so he got a light slap on the wrist.
#4 Hogan's last match was in 2012
Hulk Hogan is officially retired. The WWE Hall of Famer hasn't participated in a WWE ring in over a decade when he battled Randy Orton at SummerSlam 2007. After a falling out with the company, Hogan left for the third time, and eventually found his way to TNA.
Hogan spent four years there, working mainly as an authority figure. Starting out as a business partner with Dixie Carter, he wound up bonding with Abyss, teaming with the monster to take out AJ Styles and Ric Flair. He soon found himself forming Immortal with "Easy E" Eric Bischoff and several of TNA's brightest young stars, though, turning heel in the process.
This led to his second match, a PPV bout with Sting at Bound For Glory 2011. However, his final two matches, not just with TNA but in his entire wrestling career, took place off-screen at back-to-back house shows.
Hogan teamed with James Storm and Sting during the TNA Maximum IMPACT Tour in 2012, defeating Bobby Roode, Bully Ray, and Kurt Angle on both nights.
#3 He wasn't the original 3rd man of the NWO
In one of the most infamous moments in professional wrestling history, Hulk Hogan betrayed WCW and aligned himself with Scott Hall and Kevin Nash, forming the NWO. It was considered the greatest heel turn of all time, and forever changed the world of pro wrestling as we know it.
So it's kind of surprising to know that it almost didn't happen. At least, not with Hogan in the group. It turns out there was another star lined up to be the third man. Scott Hall and Kevin Nash had apparently been talking to Bret Hart at the time, according to Hall in an interview with Inside the Ropes.
We had no idea who it was going to be. The whole third guy thing came up by accident. I remember Kev and I called Bret and I spoke to him, Kev spoke to him and we told him it was really fun working at WCW. It was really laid back, guaranteed money, it was easy. We were so used to being in a shark tank in New York. Coming to Atlanta was like being in a country club. We told Bret he should come down. Bischoff was interested, he was offering him a pretty sweet deal but Bret wasn't interested.
Hall later revealed that Hogan was the man Bischoff was trying to bring in, but no one knew if he'd make it for Bash at the Beach 96. Even if he did, he had creative control and they didn't know if he'd be willing to turn heel after all this time.
Because of that, there was also a back up plan. The man called Sting was going to join the Outsiders at the end of the night. Whether or not it would've worked out, it's hard to believe that it could've gone any better.
#2 The Richard Belzer incident
For the longest time, professional wrestlers and fans alike have had to endure the same question over and over again. "You know it's fake, right"? It's plagued the WWE Universe for decades now, and throughout the years we've seen various performers attempt to explain their profession to reporters, talk show hosts, and the like.
There are various notorious encounters and conversations that have been broadcast across the airwaves. The infamous episode of "Politically Incorrect" with Bill Maher and WCW stars definitely comes to mind. However, a much earlier interview involving Hulk Hogan got a bit...physical.
On an episode of "Hot Properties" hosted by 80's comedian Richard Belzer, who in all fairness was actually being a pretty good sport, had Hulk Hogan and Mr. T on to promote WrestleMania. During the interview, he asked Hogan to show him some wrestling moves.
Unfortunately, Hogan had him in a front chin lock for just a little too long, causing him to pass out. When Hogan let go, Belzer cracked his skull open on the floor. Luckily, Belzer recovered. He would later sue the WWF and Hogan, with the two parties settling out in court.
#1 He'll be portrayed by Chris Hemsworth in an upcoming biopic
Hulk Hogan has led an absolutely incredible life. We've gone through just a few lesser-known details in his time, and that's only barely scratching the tip of the iceberg.
Not only is the Hulkster an icon in the pro wrestling world, but he's one of the most recognizable names in pop culture history. Due to that, it's no surprise that there's a movie in the works highlighting his life.
It was reported in early 2019 that we'd be getting a biopic about the WWE Hall of Famer in the very near future. Not only that but Thor himself, Chris Hemsworth, will be portraying the legendary Superstar.
Not only that, but it will be directed by Todd Phillips and written by Phillips and Scott Silver, the duo that brought us the incredible film The Joker last year. It's set to be a Netflix original, which Hemsworth and Eric Bischoff will also help produce.
No official word yet on when work will begin on the project, but for wrestling fans around the world, this is a can't miss.
