Hulk Hogan, probably the most well-known skilled wrestler in historical past, died Thursday of cardiac arrest at age 71. Although Hogan’s recognition waned later in his life because of quite a few controversies outdoors the ring, there isn’t a denying the influence he had on wrestling’s ascension into popular culture, making it a worldwide phenomenon.
Hogan was the principle occasion staple for many years. He helped to construct and solidify the WWE’s standing as the largest promotion within the sport and later left to assist make WCW the highest promotion within the Monday Evening Wars. A two-time WWE Corridor of Famer — individually in 2005 and as a part of the nWo in 2020 — Hogan was the largest title within the business for 3 a long time.
Throughout his 35-year profession, Hogan had hundreds of matches and was a part of a number of the largest and most vital moments in skilled wrestling historical past. Beneath we have highlighted 5 of his biggest in-ring moments and matches that outlined his profession.
Hulk Hogan slams Andre the Big at Wrestlemania III
In probably the most vital matches in WWE historical past, Hogan defeated Andre the Big at WrestleMania III. Hogan picked Andre the Big up and threw him down in what could be known as “the bodyslam heard around the globe.” It was a real landmark second, one which helped cement Hogan because the face of not simply WWE, however professional wrestling as an entire. It is place on a listing of the “biggest” WrestleMania matches is debatable, however by way of significance, there are few which have a case to be above it.
Hulk Hogan vs. The Macho Man at WrestleMania V
Within the end result of the Tremendous Powers breakup, Hogan battled Randy Savage for the world title in the principle occasion of WrestleMania V. Thought-about certainly one of Hogan’s greatest matches, he finally beat Savage after kicking out of a pin following an elbow drop, hulking as much as finally give The Macho Man the large boot and a leg drop to win the title.
Hulk Hogan vs. The Final Warrior at WrestleMania VI
The following yr, Hogan confronted one other icon of the period — intercontinental champion The Final Warrior — in the principle occasion of WrestleMania VI. In a 30-minute battle, the 2 legends put collectively among the best matches of their respective careers. It featured a ref bump from the good Earl Hebner, false finishes and the Warrior overcoming Hogan hulking as much as stun him with a giant splash after dodging a leg drop.
Hulk Hogan joins the nWo at WCW Bash on the Seaside
Very like his WrestleMania III match in opposition to Andre the Big, that is a simple choice to the listing due to what it meant to skilled wrestling. Hogan becoming a member of the nWo and teaming with Scott Corridor and Kevin Nash was unthinkable, and it set the usual for stunning heel turns. Hogan had been the face {of professional} wrestling for the reason that mid-Eighties, and his flip to the nWo was a large second for WCW and ushered in one of many biggest factions in wrestling historical past.
Hulk Hogan vs. The Rock at WrestleMania X8
Considered one of Hogan’s final in-ring masterpieces got here in opposition to The Rock in among the best matches between stars of various eras the WWE’s ever had. The match billed as Icon vs. Icon lived as much as the hype. The pop when Hogan hulked up after kicking out from a Rock Backside was actually spectacular, and the 2 performed the hits simply as you’d hoped. Ultimately, The Rock hit Hogan with a pair of Rock Bottoms and the Folks’s Elbow to pin Hogan in a passing of the torch second for WWE. After the match, Hogan bought jumped by his fellow nWo members Kevin Nash and Scott Corridor earlier than The Rock jumped in to assist Hogan to finish his run as Hollywood Hulk Hogan.