July 24, 2025, a day that left wrestling fans in shock. Hulk Hogan died, of a heart attack no less. But his health was declining before that, and wrestling fans were not ready for this type of news about a legend.

Hogan was larger than life, a superhero, a wrestler who had the fans in the palm of his hand and brought wrestling into stadiums and mainstream popularity. He could not be beat. Several bad guy wrestlers tried to defeat him and just could not. He could always count on his ‘Hulkamaniacs’ to cheer him on just at the right moment and he would rally to win the day.

 Man, I wanted him beaten!

I was not a Hulkamaniac. Sure I said my prayers and took vitamins, but not because he told me to. I just couldn’t bring myself to cheer for him. The wrestlers I liked where guys like Chavo Guerrero, Sr., Bert Hart, ‘Mr. Perfect’ Curt Henning and of course ‘The Nature Boy’ Ric Flair, the wrestling wrestlers who knew how to do a headlock and arm bar and could go 60-minutes. Hulk Hogan was a brawler and just not that guy I wanted to cheer for.

What he was, was the guy who brought Pro Wrestling to new heights. Non-wrestling fans knew his name, and he opened the door for a more mainstream fanbase for wrestling. I know how important to wrestling he is, and his impact cannot be denied.

In the end, Hogan did have many faults, rants and failings which hurt his legacy. It brought him down a long way, because he rose so high. He was not the best technical wrestler, but he was a hero. I will admit that.

RIP Terry ‘Hulk Hogan’ Bollea (1953-2025)