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Terrence Gene Bollea  | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | (1953-08-11) August 11, 1953 (age 71) Augusta, Georgia |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | The Super Destroyer Sterling Golden Terry Boulder Hulk Hogan Hulk Machine Hollywood Hulk Hogan Hollywood Hogan Mr. America |
| Billed height | 6 ft 7 in (201 cm) |
| Billed from | Venice Beach, California |
| Trained by | Hiro Matsuda |
| Debut | August 19, 1977 |
Terrence "Terry" Gene Bollea (born on August 11 1953) is an American actor and semi-retired professional wrestler better known by his ring name Hulk Hogan. He currently stars on the VH1 reality show Hogan Knows Best, but before that he wrestled now legendary stints with both the World Wresting Federation, where he had six World Championship reigns, and World Championship Wrestling, where he had another six World Championship reigns. He is also a two time AWA Champion while wrestling in the AWA. He is often referred to as one of the most recognizable professional wrestlers in the history of the business and was the top man in the top professional wrestling company throughout the 1980s (the World Wrestling Federation) and one of the top men in another for parts of the 1990s (World Championship Wrestling).
Personal information
Born in Augusta, Georgia, Hogan was the third child of Italian American Pete Bollea, and Ruth Bollea, who is of French, Italian and Panamanian descent. He had an older brother, Allan, and an older half brother from Ruth's first marriage, Kenneth Wheeler. Hogan attended T.R. Robinson Senior High School, and attended college at the University of South Florida and St. Petersburg Junior College in Tampa, dropping out of both. He met his wife, Linda, in a restaurant in Los Angeles, and they married in 1983. They have two children, Brooke and Nick. In April, 2006, the family bought a new $12 million bayfront estate in Miami Beach, Florida.
Main article: Hogan Knows BestHogan currently stars in an American reality television show, which is centered around his family life, in the spirit of such shows as The Osbournes. The show follows the lives of the Hogan family and Hogan's efforts to help his children establish show business careers of their own. Former professional wrestler "Nasty Boy" Brian Knobbs, a longtime friend of Hogan's, has appeared on several episodes.
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Television and movie roles
Hulk Hogan's crossover popularity led to several television and movie roles. Along with 1982's Rocky III, he starred, as mentioned above, in No Holds Barred (1989), as well as Suburban Commando (1991), Mr. Nanny (1993), Santa with Muscles (1996), and 3 Ninjas: High Noon at Mega Mountain (1998). A few of these are infamous for being featured in the Internet Movie Database Bottom 100. He made two appearances on The A-Team (in 1985 and 1986), and starred in his own TV series, Thunder in Paradise, in 1994. He also appeared in Walker Texas Ranger. Along with Roddy Piper, Hogan lent his voice for a stop motion animation skit on an episode of Robot Chicken based on the TV show Hogan's Heroes. "Hulk Hogan, Thespian" was ranked No. 101 overall in the book "Glow Pucks & 10-Cent Beer: The 101 Worst Ideas in Sports History" by author Greg Wyshynski. (Taylor Trade 2006)
Hollywood Hulk Hogan made cameo appearances in Muppets from Space as "Man in Black" and in Gremlins 2: The New Batch (Theatrical version) as himself. Hogan also appears in Spy Hard, gets tagged in when Leslie Nielsen's character is getting beaten up, and then rips his shirt off and throws a few punches. Hogan guest starred in a two part episode of "Suddenly Susan" in 1999. In 2001, Hogan guest stared on an episode of Walker, Texas Ranger, playing a reformed criminal now operating a Christian Community Center and helping Walker steer teenagers away from gangs . Hogan was offered the role of Zeus in Little Hercules in 3D on an episode of Hogan Knows Best and was shown during the filming of the movie.
Other media
Hogan released a music CD, Hulk Rules, as Hulk Hogan and The Wrestling Boot Band.
The music video for Dolly Parton's wrestling-themed love song Headlock on my Heart features Hogan as "Starlight Starbright."
Hogan has also influenced a number of video game characters:
- In the Taito Pro Wrestling game Exciting Hour, the champion character BLUES BLOODY is clearly inspired by Bruiser Brody. (Note the wild hair and fur-covered boots, both Brody trademarks.) When the game was licenced for release in the US, various English errors were corrected, and the champion was renamed as GOLDEN HULK, clearly to exploit the recent popular appeal of Hulk Hogan in that market.
- In Capcom's Street Fighter III, the character Alex is loosely based on Hulk Hogan. His pre-fight entrance has him ripping his shirt like the "Hulkster" himself and his special pre-fight entrance with Hugo (who resembles André the Giant) having a stare-down as a reference to the Hogan-André stare-down at Wrestlemania III.
- In SNK's World Heroes, the character Muscle Power was modeled on Hogan's character when he wrestled in Japan. He uses Hogan's "Number One!" catchphrase that he used there as well as his Japan-exclusive finishing move, the Axe Bomber.
- Hulk Hogan was also the spokesperson for the Legends of Wrestling video game.
- The Japanese series Kinnikuman has a British wrestler named Neptuneman who looks similar to Hulk Hogan.
- In the Dead or Alive games, Bass Armstrong is clearly modeled after Hogan.
- In the Japan-exclusive Royal Pro Wrestling for the 3DO, which featured look-alikes of many wrestling stars, Hogan is featured in the game in the "WWA" roster as "Golden Lips", which is a combination of his previous gimmick of "Sterling Golden" and his Rocky III character of "Thunderlips".
- In the music video "Pressure" by Belly ft. Ginuwine, Hulk Hogan and his daughter Brooke were both made cameo appearences.
- Hogan made a cameo in the Leslie Nielsen film "Spy Hard". Neilsen call Hogan with a push of the button during a physical fight.
Endorsements
In an interview on the Tonight Show, Hogan claimed that the George Foreman grill was originally offered to him, but he failed to respond in time, thus allowing Foreman to use his endorsement. This was backed up by an episode of Hogan Knows Best, in which his wife Linda and the family were worried about Hogan's wrestling career (after watching a bloody match between Hulk and Shawn Michaels at SummerSlam 2005) and pleaded with him to take up a career in marketing. Hulk explains about turning down the Foreman grill, and his choice to invest in a shake-mixer instead, saying that whenever he thinks about investing in something "big", he thinks about what happened with the grill and the shake-mixer. However, he has since endorsed a similar product known as "Hulk Hogan's Ultimate Grill".
Hogan made a personal appearance on January 11, 2007 with his son Nick in the Polaroid booth at the 2007 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Wrestling facts
- Finishing and signature moves
- Atomic Leg Drop (Running high impact legdrop)
- Axe Bomber (Crooked arm lariat)
- Big boot
- Hogan Shuffle (Three left handed punches followed by a big right, wind-up punch)
- Back rake
- Face rake
- Bear hug
- Rolling crucifix armbar - in New Japan Pro Wrestling
- Signature taunts
- Hulk Up (taking punches while in a kneeling position and shaking violently as he raises to his feet) usually preceding the Hogan Shuffle, the Big Boot and the Atomic Leg Drop
- Wrist twist to cupping the ear
- Rapidly pointing at his opponent
- Finger wag
- Flexing arms
- Managers
- Theme songs and entrance music
- Hogan's earliest entrance music was Survivor's "Eye of the Tiger," the chart-topping song from Rocky III. It was replaced by the theme song to Hogan's animated series Hulk Hogan's Rock 'n' Wrestling (which was an edited version of Bonnie Tyler's song "Ravishing" from her Secret Dreams and Forbidden Fire album) and later by his best-known entrance theme, a track called "Real American" performed by Rick Derringer, which was originally written & used as an entrance theme for the tag team of The US Express prior to Hogan's use. The accompanying music video for "Real American" featured clips from Hulk Hogan's various WWF matches, Hogan riding his motorcycle, defeating his Soviet enemy Nikolai Volkoff, destroying an image of then-hated Colonel Muammar al-Gaddafi and stock footage of various forms of crashing (i.e. buildings and airplanes) intersecting between footage of Hogan playing guitar in front of various American landscapes and the American flag. It was critiqued on an episode of Beavis and Butt-head.
- However, as the WWF owned "Real American" Hogan could not use it when he made the jump to World Championship Wrestling, instead he used the song "American Made," from the Hulk Rules album until he joined the nWo and began using their theme, and later the Wolfpac theme. During his time in the nWo he also used "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)" by The Jimi Hendrix Experience, and then used it again for his "Hollywood Hulk Hogan" run in WWE.
- Towards the end of his 2003 WWE run, when he wore a mask and was known by the name Mr. America, he once again made his entrance to "Real American". Upon his return in 2005 for the WWE Hall of Fame induction, WrestleMania 21 and subsequent appearances he also uses "Real American".
Championships and accomplishments
- AWA World Heavyweight Championship (2 times) As recognized by the current AWA.
- National Wrestling Alliance
- Regional
Note: One in Southern division and one in North division.
- 1983 International Wrestling Grand Prix tournament winner
- PWI ranked him # 1 of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the "PWI Years" in 2003.
- Hogan was also ranked twice in the best tag teams of the "PWI Years." He was # 44 with Antonio Inoki and # 57 with Randy Savage.
- Hogan has appeared on the cover of Pro Wrestling Illustrated Magazine more times than any other wrestler (a total of 81 times, including the 25th Anniversary issue.)
- PWI ranked him #1 in the 1991 PWI 500.
- PWI Most Inspirational Wrestler 1983, 1999
- PWI Comeback of the Year 1994, 2002
- PWI Most Popular Wrestler of the Year 1985, 1989, 1990
- PWI Wrestler of the Year 1987, 1991, 1994
- PWI Most Hated Wrestler of the Year 1996, 1998
- PWI Match of the Year 1985 (with Mr. T vs. Paul Orndorff & Roddy Piper at WrestleMania),
- PWI Match of the Year 1988 (vs. André the Giant on NBC),
- PWI Match of the Year 1990 (vs. Ultimate Warrior at WrestleMania VI)
- PWI Match of the Year 2002 (vs. the Rock at WrestleMania X8).
- PWI Feud of the Year 1986 (vs. Paul Orndorff).
Note:Sixth WWE reign was as WWE Undisputed Champion
- Hogan is a member of the Hall of Fame (inducted in 1996).
- 1982-1991 Best Babyface
- 1985-1991 Most Charismatic Wrestler
- 1985-86,1994-1998 Most Overrated Wrestler
- 1986 Feud of the Year (vs Paul Orndorff)
- 1997 Best Box Office Draw
See also
References
- "Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum biography". Retrieved 2007-03-17.
- "Yahoo biography". Yahoo!. Retrieved 2007-03-17.
- "Biography.com biography". Retrieved 2007-03-17.
- nndb.com - Profile and Information on Hogan.
- TV.com - Walker, Texas Ranger: Division Street
Books
- Friedman, Michael Jan (2003). Hollywood Hulk Hogans. Pocket Books (WWE Copyright). ISBN 978-0743457699.
- Kaelberer, Angie Peterson (2003). Hulk Hogan: Pro Wrestler Terry Bollea. Capstone. ISBN 978-0736821407.
- Ross, Dan (2000). The Story of the Wrestler They Call "Hollywood" Hulk Hogan. Chelsea House Publishers. ISBN 978-0791055526.
- Zannos, Susan (1999). Hollywood Hulk Hogan (Rl Life)(Oop) (Real-Life Reader Biography). Mitchell Lane Publishers. ISBN 978-1584150213.
DVDs
- nWo: Back In Black (WWE Home Video, 2002)
- Hulk Still Rules (WWE Home Video, 2002)
- Greatest Wrestling Stars of The 80's (WWE Home Video, 2005)
- Hulk Hogan: The Ultimate Anthology. WWE Home Video. 2006. ASIN B000HXDSOU.
External links
Categories:- 1953 births
- American B-movie actors
- American Christians
- American film actors
- American professional wrestlers
- American Wrestling Association alumni
- Italian-American actors
- Italian-American sportspeople
- Living people
- New World Order wrestlers
- Participants in American reality television series
- People from Augusta, Georgia
- People from Tampa
- Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame
- World Champion professional wrestlers
- World Championship Wrestling alumni
- World Wrestling Entertainment alumni
- WWE Hall of Fame