8 Wrestlers With Gimmicks Ripped Off From Comics

5. Hulk Hogan (The Incredible Hulk)

Hulk Hogan The Incredible Hulk
WWE.com/Marvel

Marvel have a sweet, sweet deal going when it comes to one Hulk Hogan.

To this day, the comic book institution own the rights to that name. They did during Hulk's hey day too. Check any Hogan WWF merchandise for proof, and you'll see some Marvel branding on there. That's because they believed Hulk's famous characterisation was too close to The Incredible Hulk character they'd created.

They were right.

Hulk, a placid, easy-going man away from the ring who "Hulks Up" when provoked inside it by the bad guys, is more similar to Marvel's idea for mild-mannered Bruce Banner than a first glance reveals. No, Hogan was never green, and yet the way he'd bubble over when angry or tear his clothes off in a fit of rage has always been similar to the comic.

The name, Hulk, is also not coincidental. Marvel spotted what Hogan was trying to pull here, and (as they'd come up with the Hulk brand first) they wanted a slice of the pie.

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Peyton Royce
 
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Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.