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01
Hulk Hogan was once close friends with fellow wrestler and former Minnesota governor Jesse Ventura. Ventura ended their friendship in the 1990s after he learned during his lawsuit against WWE owner Vince McMahon that Hogan had informed McMahon about Ventura’s attempt to form a labor union in 1984, which McMahon prevented.
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02
As a high school baseball player, Hogan was considered the best pitcher in the state of Florida and was a hot pro prospect.
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03
His original theme song was Eye of the Tiger, which was the theme song of Rocky III 1982, in which he made an appearance.
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04
Hogan was the first professional wrestler to appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated.
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05
He was originally called Hulk because it was noted at a match that he was taller than Lou Ferrigno, who played the Incredible Hulk.
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06
Spent ten years as a professional guitarist before becoming a wrestler.
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07
Majored in business management at the University of South Florida before becoming a professional wrestler.
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08
His family has more than 30 pets, including dogs, cats, birds, chinchillas, ferrets, turtles, iguanas, rabbits, fish, and a frog.
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09
Has three movies in the IMDb bottom 100 list.
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10
His first WWF title reign lasted from January 1984 to February 1988, when he lost to Andre the Giant.
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11
He was one of the wrestlers featured in the cartoon series Hulk Hogan’s Rock n Wrestling 1985-1986, though he did not provide his own voice. Brad Garrett voiced the animated Hulkster.
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12
He is the son of Ruth V. Moody and Peter Bollea. His paternal grandfather was Italian, born in Cigliano, Vercelli, Italy. The rest of his ancestry includes Irish, English, Scottish, and French roots.
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13
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, but Vince Russo decided to have Jarrett lie down and allow Hogan to win and then send Hogan home. Hogan was never seen in WCW again.
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14
During his 1980s WWF heyday, he lived next door to WWF owner Vince McMahon for almost ten years.
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15
Until recently, neither he nor the WWF/WCW owned the full rights to his Hulk name. Marvel Comics owned Hulkamania, Hulk Hogan, and Hulkster. Hogan later acquired the rights from Marvel.
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16
Is an accomplished bass player and played bass in several local rock bands in Tampa, Florida.
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17
Was good friends with Andre the Giant.
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18
Awarded $112 million from a lawsuit filed against Gawker Media when they leaked a sex tape featuring Hogan.
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19
On an episode of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, it was revealed that he was initially offered the chance to endorse the Lean, Mean, Grilling Machine that later made George Foreman millions.
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20
Considered running for president of the United States.
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21
His theme song Real American was initially written for the WWF tag-team champions Barry Windham and Mike Rotunda.
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22
Sustained a lifelong back injury after lifting Andre the Giant for a body-slam at WrestleMania III.
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23
Was Joel Schumacher’s third choice to play Mr. Freeze in Batman & Robin 1997.
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24
Only once did he win a tag-team championship, with Edge in July 2002. He was the direct inspiration for Edge to enter wrestling.
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25
Was considered for the role of Little John in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves 1991.
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26
Won the WWF Championship six times. The last time was in May 2002.
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27
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.
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28
Inducted into the International Mustache Hall of Fame in 2015 in the Sports category.
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29
Admitted to steroid use in 1994.
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30
Early in his career he wrestled as Terry The Hulk Boulder.
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31
Only wrestler in history to be on the cover of Sports Illustrated.
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32
Filmed Thunder in Paradise 1994 at Disney-MGM Studios in Orlando, Florida.
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33
Was named Wrestler of the Year in 1987, 1991, and 1994.
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34
He is the third person to be a six-time WWF World Champion, after Dwayne Johnson and Stone Cold Steve Austin.
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35
Hulk is a first cousin, once removed, of actress Elisabeth R��hm. His paternal grandparents were also her maternal great-grandparents.
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36
According to Hogan, fellow wrestler Randy Savage intensely disliked him.
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37
All of his WWF title reigns combined amount to more than 2,000 days.
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38
Participated in WCW Nitro’s infamous Fingerpoke of Doom match, considered the start of WCW’s decline.
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39
At age 49, he wrestled 25-year-old Brock Lesnar.
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40
Won his first WWF World Heavyweight title on January 23, 1984, defeating the Iron Sheik in 5 minutes 40 seconds with a leg drop.
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41
He joined the WWF in 1979 as an Irish villain.
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42
He body-slammed and defeated Andre the Giant at WrestleMania III 1987. He was not the first to body-slam Andre; Harley Race did so years earlier.
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43
Claimed on The Howard Stern Show in 2012 that he was offered the role of Randy The Ram Robinson in The Wrestler 2008, but director Darren Aronofsky disputed this.
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44
A jury awarded Hogan an additional $25 million in punitive damages from Gawker Media for the sex tape leak.
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45
One of the first wrestlers to defeat Andre the Giant. Others included Ronnie Garvin, Antonio Inoki, and the Iron Sheik.
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46
Is an avid fan of the Tampa Bay Lightning of the NHL.
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47
Daughter Brooke Hogan sang the national anthems at the 2004 Stanley Cup Finals in Tampa.
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48
Ranked #1 in the PWI 500 of the PWI Years 1979-1999.
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49
Is a staunch Republican and one of Donald Trump’s biggest supporters.
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50
Has only lost three times at WrestleMania: to the Ultimate Warrior at WrestleMania VI, as part of a tag team at WrestleMania IX, and to Dwayne Johnson at WrestleMania X8.
