10 Wrestlers Who Transcended The Business
6. Hulk Hogan
For a lot of people, fans and non-fans alike, Hulk Hogan is wrestling.
Rising to fame in the early 1980s, The Hulkster led the WWF into one of its most successful periods, competing in high profile matches - usually the main event - at the first nine WrestleManias.
It was his appearance as Thunderlips in 1982's Rocky III that put him on the map in a big way and soon more and more non-wrestling fans were beginning to hear the name "Hulk Hogan".
In the build up to the first WrestleMania, he became the first wrestler in history to host Saturday Night Live, alongside his 'Mania I tag partner, Mr. T. He was also the face of Hulk Hogan's Rock 'n' Wrestling, a Saturday morning cartoon show featuring animated versions of the top WWF stars of the day. Hogan's iconic red and yellow look and over-the-top characterisation was practically made for kids TV and his likeness was soon known up and down America by viewers of all ages.
Sadly, not all of Hogan's forays in the mainstream have ended well. His filmography leaves much to be desired and he's probably best known now for the racist and homophobic tirade that got him blacklisted from the WWE for three years.
However, he remains one of the best-known wrestlers of all time. Whether you like it or not.