Hulk Hogan
When you think of the world of professional wrestling and the WWE, one of the first names that come to mind is Hulk Hogan. He was born Terry Gene Bollea on August 11, 1953, and he got his start in wrestling in 1979. It was the owner of the WWE, Vince McMahon Sr. who discovered him. After being discovered, he became one of the greatest wrestlers of all time. If you are a fan of Hulk Hogan, there is a good chance that you don’t know everything. Here are 19 things no one knows about Hulk Hogan.
A Broken Leg
Hulk Hogan was very dedicated to his craft, which is why he was one of the best. He was so dedicated that his leg was broken intentionally during training. He was training with Hiro Matsuda, a legend in the wrestling world. On his first day of training, he worked so hard that he became faint. Soon, he broke his leg. Hulk returned a few months later after his leg healed.
He Had Other Names
Hulk Hogan wasn’t the only name that he went by in the ring. He went by several other stage names first. He was Sterling Gordon, Terry Boulder, and when he would enter the ring wearing a mask, he was Super Destroyer. When he started being called Hulk Hogan, it stuck, and the rest is history.
Where Did Hulk Hogan Come From?
Hulk’s nickname came after he appeared on a local talk show with Lou Ferrigno. Back then, Lou was starring as the Incredible Hulk. During the appearance, the show’s host pointed out that Terry was bigger than Lou, and somehow, this became part of his nickname. Vince McMahon wanted him to adopt an Irish persona, which is how he became Hulk Hogan.
Trouble With Marvel Comics
When Terry started using the name, Hulk Hogan, Marvel Comics wasn’t too happy about it. They didn’t want him using a name that they had trademarked. Things got worse when the announcers were calling him, “The Incredible Hulk Hogan.” Eventually, Vince McMahon struck a deal with Marvel allowing Terry to use the name Hulk Hogan for 25 years. They just had to leave, “The Incredible,” out of the title. In 2005, Hulk Hogan purchased the rights for the name from Marvel Comics.
Make-A-Wish Foundation
The Make-A-Wish Foundation helps children with terminal illnesses by making their dreams come true. One popular wish from terminal children was to meet Hulk Hogan. Over the years, he has granted over 200 wishes for children. He is one of the most active celebrities with the charity.
He Was a Musician
Before Terry entered the ring as Hulk Hogan, he was a musician in a band called Ruckus. He was on the road with his band before becoming a studio musician in Atlanta. He started playing the guitar in junior high because, unlike many of his classmates, he wasn’t into sports. Those who didn’t like sports took up music. He says that he liked baseball and was good at it, but he needed something to do for the rest of the year. Hulk says that back then, he was really into music and long hair, so being in a band just fit.
Auditioning For Metallica
Hulk says that when he heard that Metallica was looking for a new bass player, that he wanted to join the band. He got plenty of tapes together to send to them. He used a couple of tapes from his old band and a couple of tapes that he produced with Simon Cowell. Years earlier, Simon produced an old Gary Glitter song for him called Leader of the Gang. After getting everything together, he sent the tapes to Metallica but never got a response.
He Almost Played With One Direction
Hulk Hogan was asked by NBC to interview the band, One Direction. He agreed, and then One Direction’s management team asked if he would perform a song with them. Hulk told them that if they had a song with a standard chord progression, and he could hear it really quick, he would do it. He thought that performing with them would be fun. Hulk says that the reason he needed a standard chord progression was that he didn’t know any of One Direction’s songs.
He Once Worked As a Bank Teller
Before becoming a wrestling icon, Hulk Hogan had a regular job. Back then, he was going by his real name, Terry Bollea, and he worked as a bank teller. He realized rather quickly that it wasn’t for him, and he quit after two days.
He Was Considered For a Role in Batman and Robin
While the film, Batman and Robin was being cast, Hulk Hogan was considered for a role. The film’s director, Joel Schumacher, considered him for the part of Mr. Freeze. He was the third in line after Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone. Since Arnold Schwarzenegger accepted the role, they rescinded Hulk’s offer.
He Almost Became a Pro Baseball Player
Early in his career, Hulk Hogan was a bank teller, a musician, and almost starred in Batman and Robin. What many people don’t know is that he was nearly a pro baseball player. In high school, he played baseball, and he was very good. He was so good that the Cincinnati Reds and the New York Yankees as a pitcher.
He’s Superstitious When He Flies
Many athletes are superstitious, but their superstitions often revolve around the game. Hulk Hogan is superstitious but in a strange way. When he flies, he will only wear red underwear. He has never explained the reason for this peculiar superstition, but he has been doing it for many years.
Being Sued By a Comedian
Hulk Hogan appeared on the talk show, Hot Properties, to promote the upcoming Wrestle Mania event. While onstage, Hulk demonstrated his moves on comedian, Richard Belzer, who was also a guest on the show. Hulk ended up knocking Belzer unconscious, which resulted in a $5 million lawsuit. The case was eventually settled out of court.
He Has An Arrest Record In New Jersey
When Hulk Hogan was in New Jersey, the police were called to his home. He ended up being arrested for possessing a firearm. He entered a pretrial intervention program, and he ended up serving six months probation without getting into any trouble. When the six months were up, the felony charge was dropped.
He Was Devastated Over “Mean” Gene Okerlund’s Death
When Hulk Hogan found out that Mean Gene Okerlund died, he was devastated. He says that it felt as though his Adam’s apple went backward in his throat. At first, his wife, Linda, thought he was having a heart attack. Hulk told People Magazine that he had just talked to Gene a couple of weeks before his death. The two men planned to get together the weekend after he returned home from a New Year’s trip.
He Is Three-Inches Shorter
Wrestling does a lot to a person’s body. During his career, Hulk Hogan has had several surgeries, including procedures on his back, hip, and knee. This has caused him to lose at least three inches in height.
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated has an athlete on every cover. Most are baseball players, football players, hockey players, golfers, and tennis players. Hulk Hogan is the only professional wrestler to make the cover. He was on the cover of the April 26, 1985 issue, wearing a band on his head that read, “Hulkster.” On the cover, the magazine referred to him as “Pro Wrestling’s Top Banana.”
His Daughter Tried To Follow In His Footsteps
Hulk Hogan’s daughter, Brooke Hogan, wanted to follow in her father’s footsteps. When she was old enough, she tried to become a professional wrestler. Unfortunately, things didn’t go as well for her in the industry as they did for her father. She joined TNA, but she was seen as more of a personality than a professional wrestler. Like her father, she also tried her hand in music.
He Found Out About His Divorce During An Interview
Hulk Hogan’s wife of many years, Linda, was planning to file for divorce. At the time, she was dating a friend of the couple’s teenage son. Hulk had no idea of his wife’s plans until he was being interviewed in 2007. A reporter for the St. Petersburg Times asked for a comment about the divorce. Hulk was shocked. Hulk told the reporter that he caught him off-guard because he didn’t know anything about it. He told the reporter that his wife had been in California for the last three weeks. He had to pull over for a few minutes to make some calls to find out what was going on. According to Hulk, there were no problems in the marriage, and he had no idea that this was coming.
