Hulk Hogan’s passing at age 71 closed the book on professional wrestling’s most recognizable superstar.
To salute “The Immortal One,” we revisit a dozen career‑defining moments in which Hogan’s red‑and‑yellow (or black‑and‑white) aura reshaped both wrestling and pop‑culture history.
Iron Sheik vs. Hulk Hogan — Birth of Hulkamania
On Jan. 23, 1984, inside a packed Madison Square Garden, 30‑year‑old Hogan steam‑rolled WWF champion The Iron Sheik in just 5:40, finishing with the leg‑drop heard ’round the world. The upset ignited Hulkamania, spiking merchandise sales and proving Vince McMahon’s gamble on a brawny Florida up‑and‑comer could fuel national expansion.
Hogan & Mr. T vs. Roddy Piper & Paul Orndorff at WrestleMania
On March 31, 1985, Hogan teamed with Rocky III co‑star Mr. T to headline the first WrestleMania. Celebrity cameos—Muhammad Ali, Cyndi Lauper, Liberace—fused MTV culture with wrestling pageantry, grossing roughly $12 million and cementing Hogan as America’s pop‑culture superhero.
Hogan vs. André the Giant — The Slam Heard ’Round the World
On March 29, 1987, in front of 93,173 fans at the Pontiac Silverdome, Hogan body‑slammed the 520‑lb André in WrestleMania III’s climax. The image became WWF’s signature highlight and defined the 1980s wrestling boom.
Hogan vs. “Macho Man” Randy Savage — Mega Powers Explode
On April 2, 1989, a year‑long soap opera over Miss Elizabeth peaked at WrestleMania V. Hogan’s leg‑drop ended the friendship‑turned‑feud, reclaiming the WWF title and setting a template for slow‑burn storytelling the company still mines today.
Hogan vs. Ultimate Warrior — The Ultimate Challenge
On April 1, 1990, almost 70,000 SkyDome fans witnessed a rare face‑vs‑face title clash. Warrior’s clean win at WrestleMania VI briefly handed him the torch, yet the post‑match spotlight—Hogan presenting the belt himself—kept the Hulkster center stage.
Hogan vs. Sgt. Slaughter — Patriotism Runs Wild
On Mar. 24, 1991, amid Gulf War headlines, Hogan dethroned the Iraqi‑sympathizer character Sgt. Slaughter at WrestleMania VII in Los Angeles, reminding advertisers that Hulkamania could still drive family‑friendly dollars in tense times.
Hogan’s Heel Turn — Birth of the NWO
On July 7, 1996, at WCW’s Bash at the Beach, Hogan shocked the world by leg‑dropping Randy Savage and joining Scott Hall and Kevin Nash. The New World Order storyline spiked WCW ratings and launched the Monday‑night wrestling wars.
Hollywood Hogan vs. Sting — Starrcade Showdown
On Dec. 28, 1997, 18 months of “Crow Sting” buildup climaxed at Starrcade ’97 which was WCW’s highest‑grossing PPV ever. Finish‑line controversy aside, anticipation proved Hogan (as villain) could still anchor record buys.
Hollywood Hogan vs. Goldberg — Streak Meets Title
On July 6, 1998, 41,000‑plus inside Atlanta’s Georgia Dome roared as hometown hero Goldberg jack‑hammered Hogan on free TV to win the WCW title. Nitro hit one of its all‑time high ratings.
The Rock vs. Hollywood Hogan — Icon vs. Icon
On Mar. 17, 2002, Toronto’s SkyDome erupted while two eras collided at WrestleMania X8. A crowd siding with the ostensible villain flipped the script; post‑match, Hogan’s handshake with The Rock sparked a nostalgia‑fueled baby‑face comeback.
Hogan vs. Triple H — Nostalgia Runs Wild
On Apr. 21, 2002, just five weeks after WrestleMania X8, 48‑year‑old Hogan toppled Triple H at Backlash to capture the Undisputed WWF Championship, making it his sixth and final world title. Merchandise sales quadrupled overnight, proving there was still gold (and green) in nostalgia.
Hogan vs. Shawn Michaels — SummerSlam Spectacle
On Aug. 21, 2005, Hogan’s lone SummerSlam headliner delivered backstage drama and GIF‑worthy overselling, yet still drew a hefty 650,000 PPV buys. A final leg‑drop victory showed that, two decades on, the classic finish remained money.
