Hulk Hogan was one of the top wrestlers of the 1980s and 1990s and is credited for revitalising professional wrestling following many years of decline.
Known by his professional name ‘Hulk Hogan’, or the more endearing ‘The Hulkster’, he was born Terry Bollea in 1953. It was when he took up wrestling that he chose the instantly appealing name ‘Hulk Hogan’.
His wrestling debut was in 1977. Following a three year ‘apprenticeship’ his first professional match was for New Japan Pro Wrestling in 1980. Hulk soon became a favourite. During his career he won a whole host of titles in World Championship Wrestling and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling. He was six-times WWF/E Champion (World Wrestling Federation) and six-times WCW World Heavyweight Champion. In 2005, Hogan was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame by Sylvester Stallone.
Following Jesus
Hogan was a Christian believer from his youth, but he and his wife Sky Daily Hogan were baptised more recently at Indian Rocks Baptist Church, Florida in 2023. His spiritual journey may have begun many years earlier, but it was in later life that his Christian faith became his greatest passion. Couched in wrestling talk he said,
“I accepted Christ as my Saviour at 14 years old, and the training, prayers, and vitamins kept me in the [wrestling] game. But now that I am one with God, the main event theme of surrender, service, and love makes me the real main event that can slam any giant of any size through the power of my Lord and Saviour. And so it is, even now brother, AMEN!”
Natural evangelist
Hogan was a ‘natural’ at sharing his faith and when social media became popular he would regularly share Bible verses and comments with his fans. He posted,
“Total surrender and dedication to Jesus is the greatest day of my life. No worries, no hate, no judgement… only love!”
In another post he wrote,
“The only thing that is real is what will last forever — everlasting life. Faith in God — once you’ve accepted Christ as your saviour — that’s what’s real to me.”
Continuing with pro wrestling into his mid fifties, Hogan eventually retired in 2011. Although mostly known as ‘Hulk Hogan’, he was also billed under a number of pseudonyms including: The Super Destroyer, Sterling Golden, Terry Boulder, and Mr. America.
Illness
In his later years, Hulk suffered from serious illness. He had chronic lymphocytic leukemia and atrial fibrillation but he didn’t let that hold him back and he was still speaking at public events up until his final days.
The Hulkster passed away at his home in Clearwater, Florida on 24 July 2025 from a heart attack.
Awesome legacy
Hulk will of course be remembered for his very successful professional wrestling career. But, more importantly, he is immortalised by his confident, unapologetic personal faith in Jesus Christ. He leaves an awesome legacy. In a 2009 interview Hogan quipped:
“I’ve leaned on my religion… I accepted Christ as my Saviour. He died on the cross and paid for my sins. I found some very good friends who told me about being positive and the power of positive thinking. I could have gone the wrong way. I could have self-destructed, but I took the high road!”
Story by Ralph Burden
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ztSQ_mR-qU
Photo: ‘Hulk Hogan’, taken in 2005 by US Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Kristin Fitzsimmons. The photo is in the Public Domain
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