DAILY DIRT: R.I.P., Hulkster … you were the Babe Ruth of pro wrestling

July 25, 2025 | By Steve Eighinger Muddy River News Minister of Culture and Doctor of Love

Terry Bollea as "Hulk Hogan" Photo by: Megan Elice Meadows Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0

Daily Dirt for July 25, 2025

Hogan elevated mayhem inside the squared circle to mainstream entertainment and acceptance … Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 1,353 of The Daily Dirt.

1. The first time I saw Hulk Hogan live was with my son, Geoff, who was in grade school at the time back around the mid-to-late 1980s.

I had always tried to impress upon Geoff the most important things in life: a love for all Cleveland pro sports, the Ohio State Buckeyes, to appreciate all pizza except the atrocity referred to as deep dish, the TV remote control was the important household item … and the beauty of pro wrestling. The two of us have always been kindred spirits.

On this particularly special night, we saw Hulk Hogan when was at the height of his early popularity (he first held the WWF title from 1984-88). We saw him at an arena in Columbus, Ohio, which on that evening was an absolute zoo. When Hogan made his way to the ring, the noise was deafening, louder than any rock concert I have ever attended.

Of course, Hogan won that night. I have no remembrance of which opponent he pummeled, just him waiving the American flag and the 20,000 or so in attendance soaking up every minute. It was fabulous.

I was thinking of that night quite a bit on Wednesday after hearing the news — and getting a number of texts from friends — that Hogan had died. Preliminary reports indicate some sort of cardiac arrest claimed the 71-year-old icon. Hogan had been dealing with a number of health issues in recent years and had not wrestled since 2012.

How big, how popular was Hogan and image he had fostered all these years? One writer called him the “Babe Ruth of Pro Wrestling”. That was probably not much of an exaggeration.

Even President Donald Trump posted a reaction to Hogan’s passing. Hogan had given a speech just a year ago at the Republican National Convention in support of Trump’s campaign.

“He entertained fans from all over the world, and the cultural impact he had was massive,” Trump said.

No argument there.

Vice President J.D. Vance also commented on the death of Hogan, whose real name Terry Bollea.

“Hulk Hogan was a great American icon, one of the first people I ever truly admired as a kid. The last time I saw him we promised we’d get beers together next time we saw each other. The next time will have to be on the other side, my friend! Rest in peace.”

Not that Hogan was perfect, not by a longshot. He found himself embroiled in at least two major controversies in recent years, one dealing some racist remarks and the other involving a sex tape. But I think it’s safe to say we’ll always remember the Hogan we saw inside the ring and his ability to fire up a crowd.

For me, the only negative part of Hogan’s in-ring career was when he turned heel for a number of years, dressed in black and served as the leader of the New World Order (NWO) with the likes of Scott Hall, Kevin Nash, Miss Elizabeth, Lex Luger, Scott Steiner, Buff Bagwell and a handful others. We all knew he would eventually return to “good guy” status, and of course he did.

Here are some other reactions from legendary figures:

Ric Flair: “Hulk has been by my side since we started in the wrestling business. An incredible athlete, talent, friend and father! Our friendship has meant the world to me. He was always there for me even when I didn’t ask for him to be. He was one of the first to visit me when I was in the hospital with a 2 percent chance of living, and he prayed by my bedside. Hulk also lent me money when (my son) Reid was sick. Hulkster, no one will ever compare to you! Rest in peace my friend!”

Triple H (Paul Levesque): “(The)WWE would not be where it is today without the larger-than-life characters that compete in the ring … and few, if any, loomed larger than Terry ‘Hulk Hogan’ Bollea.”

Troy Aikman: “From a fan to a friend — working with Hulk Hogan for a few years was a thrill and a privilege. He was every bit the showman and entertainer we all grew up watching. Rest in peace, Hulk.”

Longest Title Reigns in WWF/WWE History

1. Bruno Sammartino: 2,803 days (and later a 1,237-day reign)

2. Bob Backlund: 2,135 days

3. Hulk Hogan: 1,474 days

Hulk Hogan’s all-time record: 1,042 wins, 177 losses, 24 draws. That’s a winning percentage of .838.

2. Did you know (Part 436)

That Hulk Hogan majored in business management at the University of South Florida before becoming a pro wrestler.
That before Hogan became a full-time wrestler, he played bass guitar in several Florida-based rock bands.
That Hogan’s first pro wrestling match was against B. Brian Blair.
That Hogan won his first of 12 WWF/WWE titles by beating the hated Iron Sheik in January 1984.
That he body-slammed 520-pound Andre the Giant at WrestleMania III in 1987.