Trivia

Was at one point close friends with fellow wrestler and former Minnesota governor Jesse Ventura. However, Ventura ended his friendship with Hogan in the 1990s after Ventura learned in his lawsuit against the owner of World Wrestling Entertainment Vince McMahon that Hogan had informed McMahon about Ventura's attempt to form a labor union in 1984, which McMahon prevented.

As a high school baseball player, Hogan was a hot pro prospect and was considered the best pitcher in the state.

Spent 10 years as a professional guitarist before becoming a wrestler.

First pro wrestler on the cover of "Sports Illustrated."

His original theme song was "Eye of the Tiger," which was the theme song of Rocky III (1982), in which he made an appearance.

Has three movies in the IMDb bottom 100.

He was originally called "Hulk" because it was noted at a match that he was taller than the actor who played the "The Incredible Hulk", Lou Ferrigno.

Majored in business management at the University of South Florida, Tampa, before becoming a professional wrestler.

In what was one of the biggest slaps to the face of his career, Hogan was scheduled to face Jeff Jarrett for the WCW Heavyweight title. Hogan was supposed to win the title; however, Vince Russo (who was the head booker at the time) decided to have Jarrett lie down and allow Hogan to win and then send Hogan home. Russo created another title and proceeded to carry on without Hogan. Hogan was never seen in WCW again. He still has the belt.

His family has more than 30 pets, including dogs, cats, birds, chinchillas, ferrets, turtles, iguanas, rabbits, fish, and a frog.

He was the son of Ruth V. (Moody) and Peter Bollea. Hulk's paternal grandfather, Peter Bollea, was Italian, born in Cigliano, Vercelli, Piemonte. The rest of Hulk's ancestry was Irish, English, Scottish, and French, with some roots in Canada. Hulk's mother was born in Panama, while some of her family members were working on the Panama Canal there. Hulk's maternal grandfather, Henry Clinton Moody, was from Maryland, and Hulk's maternal grandmother, Vernice Caroline Violette, was from Old Town, Maine.

His first WWF title reign lasted from January 1984 to February 1988, when he lost to André René Roussimoff.

He was one of the wrestlers featured in the cartoon series Hulk Hogan's Rock 'n' Wrestling (1985) (1985-1986), though he did not provide his own voice. Brad Garrett of Everybody Loves Raymond (1996) was the voice of the animated Hulkster.

During his 1980s heyday in the WWE, he lived next door to WWF owner Vince McMahon for almost 10 years.

Is an accomplished bass player and played bass in several local rock bands in Tampa, Florida.

Until recently, neither he nor the WWF/WCW (titan Sports) owned the full rights to his "Hulk" name. "Hulkamania," "Hulk Hogan," and "Hulkster" were all owned by Marvel Comics. The WWF/WWE made a deal with Marvel to use the name "Hulk." This was also done with WCW when Hogan went to WCW. Also, WCW used "Hollywood Hogan" to cancel the Marvel deal, but the deal was still alive. However, before the 2006 release of his multidisk anthology, Hogan acquired the rights to the name Hulk Hogan from Marvel. The trademark citation "Hulk Hogan is a trademark of Terry Bollea" can be found on the DVD-set credits.

Was Joel Schumacher's third choice to play Mr. Freeze/Dr. Victor Fries in Batman & Robin (1997).

His theme song, "Real American," was initially written for the then-WWF tag- team champions Barry Windham and Mike Rotunda.

Considered running for president.

Particapated in WCW Nitro's infamous Fingerpoke of Doom match. In which he was going to wrestle WCW Champion Kevin Nash. When the match began he poked Nash in the chest and he fell down and Hogan pinned him. The match is considered to be the start of the downfall of WCW and its ratings.

Early in his career wrestled as Terry "The Hulk" Boulder.

Filmed the show Thunder in Paradise (1994) at Disney-MGM Studios at Walt Disney World, in Orlando, Florida.

On an episode of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (1992), it was revealed that he was initially offered the chance to endorse the "Lean, Mean, Grilling Machine" that went on to make former boxer George Foreman millions of dollars.

Was considered for the role of Little John in Robin Hood: El príncipe de los ladrones (1991)).

Only once did he ever win a tag-team championship, that was with Adam Copeland (aka Edge) in July 2002. He was the direct inspiration for Copeland to enter the business 12 years prior.

Admitted to steroid use in 1994.

Awarded $112 million from a lawsuit filed against Gawker Media when they leaked a sex tape featuring Hogan having sex with his best friend's wife.

Was good friends with Andre the giant.

Won the WWF Championship six times. The last time he won it was in May 2002.

Inducted into the International Mustache Hall of Fame in 2015 (inaugural class) in the category Sports.

At a point when his wrestling career was 25 years old, he wrestled Brock Lesnar, who was himself just 25 years old.

In 1978, he made his wrestling debut in Florida using the Super Destroyer gimmick. He later wrestled as Terry Boulder and Sterling Golden before becoming Hulk Hogan.

He is the third person to be a six-time WWF World Champion. The other two are Dwayne Johnson and Stone Cold Steve Austin.

All of his WWF title reigns put together are about 6 years (more than 2,000 days)!.

Won his first WWF World Heavyweight title more than 18 years ago on January 23, 1984, when he defeated the Iron Sheik (Khosrow Vaziri) in one of the shortest heavyweight title matches in history. It took Hogan 5 minutes and 40 seconds to pin the Sheik with a leg drop.

He joined the World Wrestling Entertainment in 1979, cast as an Irish villain.

Hulk is a first cousin, once removed, of actress Elisabeth Röhm. Hulk's paternal grandparents, Peter Bollea and Edith Medora Noonan, were also Elisabeth's maternal great-grandparents.

Sustained a life-long back injury, after lifting Andre the Giant for a body-slam at Wrestlemania III.

Daughter Brooke Hogan sang the national anthems at the 2004 Stanley Cup Finals in Tampa.

Has only lost three times at Wrestlemania. His first loss was to The Ultimate Warrior' James Hellwig' at WrestleMania VI (1990). The second time was as a teammate of Brutus the Barber Beefcake at WrestleMania IX (1993) against Money Inc. (Ted DiBiase and Mike Rotunda (IRS)) as a result of a disqualification. The final time was to Dwayne Johnson at WrestleMania X8 (2002).

A jury awarded Hogan another $25 million in punitive damages from Gawker Media when they leaked the sex tape of Hogan and a friend's wife.

Is a staunch Republican and is one of Donald Trump's biggest supporters.

Ranked #1 in the "PWI 500" of the PWI Years (1979-1999) (Pro Wrestling Illustrated 20th Anniversary Special)

In probably the most historic wrestling match ever, he body-slammed and defeated André René Roussimoff at WrestleMania III (1987). Despite reports to the contrary, he was not the first man to body-slam André. Eight-time National Wrestling Alliance Champion Harley Race did so several years before, and Hogan himself body-slammed André in a match in 1980 (which appears on the Hulk Hogan anthology DVD).

Is an avid fan of the Tampa Bay Lighting of the National Hockey League.

Was best man at the wedding of Bubba the Love Sponge.

Claimed on The Howard Stern Show (1990) in 2012 that he was offered the role of Randy "The Ram" Robinson in El luchador (2008). Hogan claimed he turned down the role because he felt he wasn't the right person to portray the character. However, the film's director Darren Aronofsky disputed Hogan's claims, saying he was never considered, much less offered, the role of the main character, and the part was written specifically for Mickey Rourke.

Wrestler of the Year (1987, 1991, 1994).

One of the first wrestlers to defeat André René Roussimoff. Others before him included Rugged Ronnie Garvin (Roger Barnes), Antonio Inoki, El Canek, and the Iron Sheik (Khosrow Vaziri).

According to Hogan, fellow wrestler Randy Savage intensely disliked him.