Remembering the Hulkster: Iconic Moments of Hulk Hogan’s Career 

Terry Bollea, aka “Hulk Hogan,” was born on August 11, 1953, and left us all on July 24, 2025. Hogan was one of, if not the most influential, personalities in professional wrestling. Hulkster was a pioneer in the wrestling business, which has grown significantly over the years. He was a household name in the 80s and 90s. The wrestling world has lost a legend. In his memory, let’s revisit the Iconic Moments of Hulk Hogan’s Career.  

The Birth of Hulkamania 

Hulk Hogan jumped into stardom in 1984 when he defeated The Iron Sheikh to win his first world championship. The crowd really connected with the Hulkster, and he became a hero to the wrestling fans. The feud was purely an All-American vs foreigner story, and Hogan became the biggest star.  

WrestleMania 1 Headliner 

Vince McMahon introduced WrestleMania, and it became the biggest spectacle of wrestling with its inaugural edition in 1985. Hogan carried the show as he was a part of the main event match. Hogan teamed with Mr. T in a tag team match against “Rowdy” Roddy Piper and Paul Orndorff. Muhammad Ali served as the special guest enforcer, while Cyndi Lauper was also involved in the storyline. It was a perfect blend of wrestling with mainstream, and Hulk Hogan came out as the biggest star on the planet. 

Battling Andre The Giant 

Andre the Giant laced up his shoes for a battle against Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania III. It was a larger-than-life match at the time. Hogan’s charisma met Andre’s strength to give us an iconic and unforgettable match. Hogan’s bodyslam to The Giant was heard around the globe and is considered the greatest moment of Hulk’s career to this day. More than 93k people gathered in the Silverdome for this epic showdown. Hogan was the champion for more than 3 years and retained his title.  

The Mega Powers 

“The Immortal” Hulk Hogan and “Macho Man” Randy Savage joined forces in the years 1987-1989, and the team was named The Mega Powers. It was an emotional roller coaster of friendship and betrayal. The friends turned foes collided at WrestleMania V, where Hogan defeated Savage for the world title. This compelling story was one of a kind at the time and gave birth to what we know now as long-term storytelling.  

Formation of the nWo 

New World Order, the nWo, is considered one of the most iconic factions of all time. In the mid-90s, Hogan seemed to lose his charisma because of more compelling characters getting introduced in the WWE. He left WWE and joined WCW in 1994, but that didn’t work either. However, in 1996, the unthinkable happened when Hulk Hogan turned heel and formed the nWo. The faction served as the revival of WCW and Hogan’s career. Hogan became the Hollywood Hogan and was once again topping the wrestling charts.  

Rivalry with The Great One 

After years running with the WCW, Hulk Hogan returned to WWE in 2002. He came out with his nWo faction members and was still portraying the Hollywood persona. What followed was a dream match between Hulk Hogan and The Rock at WrestleMania X8, which is still considered one of the greatest matches of all time. The electricity and the crowd reaction were beyond anything in this encounter. The crowd cheered Hogan against the babyface Rock. This match displayed the unmatched stardom of the Hulkster.  

Hall of Fame Induction and future appearances for Hulk Hogan 

Hulk Hogan was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005. His induction was briefly removed, surrounding a controversy in 2015, but he was reinstated in 2018. The Hulkster’s career didn’t end there as he continued to make several WWE appearances over the years. Hogan had a 4-year stint with TNA as well, where he played the executive role. Hogan opened WrestleMania XXX alongside “Stone Cold” Steve Austin and The Rock. He hosted the WrestleMania 37 event alongside Titus O’Neil.  

Last Appearance and Lasting Legacy 

Hulk Hogan’s last ever WWE appearance was on January 6th, 2025, on RAW’s debut episode on Netflix. The Hulkster received mixed reviews due to his previous controversial remarks. The fans didn’t receive him well in the later years of his life due to his saying abrupt stuff at times in the interviews. However, that won’t take anything from the legacy of the legend.  

The wrestling business hasn’t seen anyone like Hulk Hogan. His legacy will last forever and will continue to influence generations of wrestlers. It is a major loss to the wrestling community. What we see in the ring right now wouldn’t be possible without the Hulkster. Condolences to his family and friends!