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Born Terry Gene Bollea, Hogan began bodybuilding at the age of 14. After studying business administration and music, Terry worked as a part time bouncer, and full-time bank clerk.
According to pro-wrestling legend, Hogan met wrestler Jack Brisco while working as a bouncer. Brisco immediately saw his potential, and arranged for him to be trained by the famous Hiro Matsuda.
Hulk Hogan debuted as an amateur in 1978, and six years later he won his first WWF title. He defeated Iron Sheik at Madison Square Garden to capture the crown. Months earlier he had won his first major title in Japan. He developed a hero image, particularly popular with children.
He was highly influential in making wrestling appeal to a mainstream audience. His fight against Roddy Piper in 1985 became a prelude to the extremely popular 'Wrestlemania' TV series.
Hulk Hogan was the star of the early 'Wrestlemania'. In its second year, he routed King Kong Bundy, in a match fought in a cage. A year later, he beat top wrestler Andre the Giant. However, he was defeated in 1990 by the Ultimate Warrior, and decided to concentrate on things other than wrestling.
For the next five years, he threw himself into making movies such as 'Gremlins II', 'Suburban Commando', 'Mr Nanny' and the 'Thunder in Paradise' series and also appearing on TV. He came to be known as Hollywood Hogan and a cartoon series was also produced, in which he was the star.
He returned to wrestling in 1994 and in that same year he became the WCW World Heavyweight Champion. But two years later, he went too far, seriously injuring wrestler Randy Savage. Even Hogan's supporters were disgusted with his behaviour.
By 2000, however, he had regained his hero status, and shortly afterwards he announced his retirement. Despite the announcement of his retirement, it didn't last long as he underwent knee surgery in 2001 so that he could wrestle again. His first test match against Curt Hennig went well as Hogan won so he signed a contract to return to the WWF in February 2002.
He returned at 'No Way Out' in 2002 at which a rivalry with the Rock was established but sorted out by the end of the bout. Hogan became the last-ever WWF champion before the company had to change its name. He beat Triple H in April 2002 to win the title, which he later lost to The Undertaker. Despite making a triumphant return, Hogan's contract with WWE was terminated in 2003.
Since then he has wrestled for the likes of Total Nonstop Action (TNA) between 2003 and 2005 before returning once again to WWE until 2007. Hogan had a contract with Memphis Wrestling in 2007 before returning to TNA in 2009-10. In 2014, he returned to WWE to host 'Wrestlemania XXX'.
During his career, he won seven World Titles. He has appeared in a number of comedy, action and martial arts movies, including 1996 films 'Spy Hard' and 'Santa with Muscles'. Other movies that capitalised on his hard man persona include 1997's 'The Ultimate Weapon' and 'Assault on Devil's Island', as well as '3 Ninjas: High Noon at Mega Mountain' (1998) and 2001's 'Walker, Texas Ranger'.
Despite his macho image, he has also worked hard for charity, supporting the American Diabetes Association alongside the likes of Laila Ali, the daughter of boxer Muhammad Ali, and the Jonas Brothers. Hogan has also dabbled in marketing through endorsement of the Hulk Hogan Thunder Mixer and once opened a restaurant, which did not succeed. In 2005, he was inducted into the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) Hall of Fame.
His marriage to Linda, whom he wedded in 1984 and with whom he has two children, Nick and Brooke, came to an end when she filed for divorce in Pinellas County, Florida, in November 2007. She revealed a year later that the decision to end the marriage was triggered by Hogan's infidelity. The wrestler had had an affair with daughter Brooke's best friend Christiane Plante during the shooting of 'Hogan Knows Best', a television show featuring the family.
Despite revealing that he considered suicide after his wife left him, Hogan has since moved on and married new flame Jennifer McDaniel in December 2010.
Career
After training for a year with Matsuda, Hogan fought Brian Blair on August 10, 1977. When things didn’t work out with Matsuda, he left him and CWF.
Hogan decided to partner up with his friend Ed Leslie (Brutus Beefcake) in a tag-team and joined Louie Tillet’s Alabama Territory. In Alabama they wrestled as the Boulder Brothers.
They quit Tillet’s territory for the Continental Wrestling Association (CWA) in Memphis as the promoter, Jerry Jarrett, offered them $800 a week.
Hogan won his first wrestling championship after defeating Bob Roop for the NWA Southeastern Heavyweight Championship in 1979.
In 1979, Vincent McMahon gave him an opportunity to join WWF and in his first match he defeated Harry Valdez. His first big feud with Andre the Giant happened in 1980 in which Hogan was defeated.
He also participated in the New Japan Pro Wrestling in the 1980s, where he displayed more traditional and technical wrestling maneuvers and adopted the Axe Bomber as his finishing move. The Japanese loved and admired him and gave him the nickname of Ichiban (Number 1).
He won his first WWF Heavyweight Championship belt in 1984 for his memorable defeat of the Iron Sheik and achieved super-stardom. He remained WWF Champion for 1,474 days from 1984–1988.
He won the Royal Rumble matches in 1990 and 1991, becoming the first wrestler to win consecutive rumble matches.
Hogan pinned Sgt Slaughter at WrestleMania VII in 1991 for his third WWF Championship but lost it to The Undertaker at the Survivor Series. After a mere six days, Hogan won it back but due to Rick Flair’s intervention, the title was declared vacant.
He joined Ted Turner’s World Championship Wrestling (WCW) in 1994 and defeated Ric Flair in his debut match to become the WCW World Heavyweight Champion. After 15 months of successfully defending the title, he lost it to The Giant, but the title was later declared vacant on contract clause basis.
He won his second WCW Heavyweight Championship after defeating The Giant in 1996 and after a year, he lost it to Luger by submission. Only five days later he regained the title, before losing it to Sting. The title was declared vacant after several controversies; Sting won it eventually at the Superbrawl VII.
He won his fourth WCW Heavyweight Championship in 1998 by defeating Savage in a much-interrupted ‘no disqualification match’ and eventually lost it to Goldberg later the same year.
He defeated Kevin Nash for his fifth WCW Heavyweight Championship in 1999. ‘Nature Boy’ Ric Flair bested him in a Steel Cage First Blood Match at Uncensored to take the tile in the same year. His final WCW Heavyweight Championship came in 1999 after he defeated Savage.
He returned to WWF in 2002 at their No Way Out event and won his sixth WWF Championship at Backlash, before losing it to The Undertaker at Judgment Day.
He won his first WWE World Tag Team Championship with Edge as his partner in 2002. Shortly after, Brock Lesnar won against Hogan when the latter lost consciousness courtesy a bear hug and Lesnar still thrashed him mercilessly. As a result, Hogan went on a hiatus.
He defeated Vince McMahon in WrestleMania XIX in 2003, which left Vince furious and he made Hogan sit out the remainder of his contract. Hogan adopted the disguise of Mr. America and debuted on SmackDown! after which Vince McMahon made several unsuccessful attempts to reveal his true identity.
After the SmackDown show went off-air, Mr. America took off his mask for his fans and quit the WWE show in 2003.
In addition to being a wrestler he has also acted in several movies including ‘Suburban Commando’, ‘Rocky III’, ‘Mr. Nanny’, ‘No Holds Barred’, ‘Spy Hard’, and ‘Santa with Muscles’.