The Good, the Bad & the Ugly of Hulk Hogan: Wrestling Most’s Polarizing Icon

On Thursday, (July 24), pro wrestling legend Hulk Hogan died. He was 71.

Processing The Hulkster’s legacy in real-time is tough — not just because of his greatness, but because of the blemishes that marred his career inside and outside the ring. Hogan undoubtedly revolutionized the wrestling industry in the 1980s and 1990s. He was the cornerstone and QB1 for Vince McMahon’s World Wrestling Federation. He headlined seven out of the first eight WrestleManias. He grappled against Mr. T and body-slammed Andre the Giant.

During his prime, he was a burly locomotive with superhero intentions, encouraging kids to say their prayers and eat their vitamins while proving to be a magnetic crossover star, squaring off with Sylvester Stallone in Rocky III. He was The Rock before Dwayne, Cena before John. And when he crossed over to the dark side, going heel in 1996, it was the most significant role reversal ever in pro-wrestling history. Gone was the illusion of red and yellow, and the self-proclaimed “Real American.” In came Hollywood Hogan, the villainous leader of the New World Order. The dastardly invaders didn’t just plant their flag on WCW; they marked their territory and dominated the pro-wrestling scene, demolishing the WWF during their heated Monday Night Wars. Hogan did that. 

But in his later years, his political alignment became part of his persona — one that Trump sorely valued. “We lost a great friend today, the ‘Hulkster,” Trump posted shortly following Hogan’s passing. “Hulk Hogan was MAGA all the way — Strong, tough, smart, but with the biggest heart. He gave an absolutely electric speech at the Republican National Convention. That was one of the highlights of the entire week. He entertained fans from all over the World, and the cultural impact he had was massive. To his wife, Sky, and family, we give our warmest best wishes and love. Hulk Hogan will be greatly missed!”

Hogan’s heelish persona bled outside the ring, and that’s why it’s hard to ignore that when remembering his life and career today. In 2015, leaked recordings revealed Hogan using the N-word while discussing his daughter’s dating life. Though Hogan sued Gawker and won over $100 million, his image was cooked. WWE terminated his contract and scrubbed him from TV for three years. Disdain for Hogan continued when he aligned himself with President Trump during last year’s Republican National Convention. In August, he sparked backlash again after making a racially charged joke about former Vice President Kamala Harris — capping it off by saying he’d give her a leg drop. Those strikes against Hogan not only alienated the Black and Brown communities but also sullied his legacy amongst wrestling fans and purists.

“He just doesn’t see, he doesn’t understand how what he does affects people around him,” said WWE superstar Seth Rollins in an interview last year with Outta Pocket. “I think he just lives in this space that he’s created for himself. He shaped his worldview, and he’s just this is how he’s going to see things. And I think if you’re going to be like that, people are going to treat you accordingly.”

Earlier this year, during WWE’s Monday Night Raw Netflix debut, fans greeted Hogan with a sea of boos as he haplessly tried promoting his Real American Beer. Distraught by the negative response, Hogan retreated to the back and never appeared again on WWE TV. That’s only a small fraction of the controversies he’s courted and faced significant backlash for over the years. 

Though Hogan will be remembered for his in-ring classics, thunderous legdrops and spine-chilling mic drops, The Hulkster’s greatest opponent was always himself — and that match never got the standing ovation he always craved.