Hulk Hogan was a pop culture icon who brought wrestling to the masses but also became embroiled in public scandal. Gareth Thompson reflects on a legacy marked by fame, failure and a late-in-life surrender to faith
Hulk Hogan’s legacy in professional wrestling and broader entertainment is complex, marked by immense popularity and significant controversy.
While he is celebrated as a pivotal figure in bringing wrestling into the mainstream, his later years were marred by scandals that have led to a complicated reckoning for fans.
The “Hulkamania” Era
Terry Gene Bollea became a global phenomenon in the 1980s, transforming from a heel (villain) to a heroic figure with the persona of Hulk Hogan. His charisma and larger-than-life presence captivated audiences, particularly children, and made him a pop culture icon.
Hogan’s “Hulkamania” era saw wrestling transcend its niche audience and become a mainstream spectacle, drawing huge crowds and high television ratings.
He headlined numerous WrestleMania events, including the inaugural show in 1985, and became synonymous with the World Wrestling Federation (now World Wrestling Entertainment.
Hogan’s signature moves, such as the leg drop, and his ability to overcome seemingly insurmountable odds resonated with fans, creating a connection that fuelled his popularity. Beyond the ring, Hogan leveraged his fame to venture into other areas of entertainment.
He starred in films including Rocky III, No Holds Barred and Suburban Commando, and even had his own reality show, Hogan Knows Best, which further solidified his presence in popular culture.
One of my favourite Hogan moments was the incredible performance between him and Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson at Wrestlemania X8 in 2002. A match that completely flipped the intended script and changed on the fly in response to the audience’s overwhelming support of Hogan, who was supposed to be the villain in the story. It was a master class on “calling it in the ring”.
The Dark Side of “Hulkamania”
However, Hogan’s legacy is not without blemish. In later years, Hogan became embroiled in several controversies that tarnished his image.
The most damaging was the leak of a sex tape featuring Hogan using racial slurs that surfaced as part of a lawsuit against the media company Gawker. This incident, along with others, led to a significant backlash and forced a reckoning for fans, who had to grapple with the disconnect between the heroic character of Hulk Hogan and the man behind the persona.
Dr Steve Granelli, professor of communication studies at Northeastern University, said: “If you were to stop somebody on the street and say ‘name a professional wrestler,’ they would probably say Hulk Hogan. But then there was the man who was portraying the character and, over time, fans have tried to figure out how to separate the character from the person.”
Why Did Hulk Hogan Become a Christian?
Hogan had a spiritual awakening just a few years before his passing. It started with an invitation from professional boxer Laila Ali to go to church. That sparked a desire in Hogan to figure out what he truly believed in.
He ended up accepting Christ, and it wasn’t long before he and his wife Sky Daily became devout attendees at Indian Rocks Church in Largo, Florida. The couple were baptised there in December of 2023.
“Total surrender and dedication to Jesus is the greatest day of my life,” Hogan wrote on social media at the time. “No worries, no hate, no judgement… only love!” He also shared a video of the moment which has reached millions around the world.
Hogan talked about his faith in several interviews before his passing.
Although he believed in God at a younger age, it wasn’t until he came to the end of himself that he turned back to the faith he once knew. “I was sick and tired of myself, you know what I mean?” he told journalists. “Just the two people in here: my real self and the ego. And I decided to turn back to my faith.”
He also explained that this moment of surrender inspired him to get a tattoo on his back that read “Immortal.” Hogan said that because he accepted Jesus Christ as his saviour and received eternal life, he wanted to put that message on his back.
That idea of eternity became the message he wanted to proclaim to the world. “[What’s] gonna be important to me moving forward, is being the vessel to spread this message because it’s the only truth there is. Everything else is just temporary. Everything. The fame, the money, the ego, the physical look — everything is just temporary.
Speaking on ‘The Joe Rogan Experience’ podcast in 2023, Hogan said: “Being a messenger for my Lord and Saviour, that’s gonna take me to where I need to go.”
Hogan’s lasting legacy
Despite the controversies, Hogan’s impact on professional wrestling and popular culture remains undeniable. His story serves as a reminder of the duality of fame, where larger-than-life personas can be both a source of inspiration and of disappointment. His legacy is a complicated tapestry woven with threads of both triumph and turmoil.
Ultimately, he is a person who, despite his flaws, was a hero to many; a man who surrendered his life to Christ; a man who is not beyond grace.
I will always remember his iconic phrase: “To all my little Hulkamaniacs, train, eat your vitamins and say your prayers.” And so I pray for the world of wrestling, that the transforming power of Jesus runs wild in locker rooms and we see more lives changed and surrendered to Christ.
