How Good Was Hulk Hogan Actually?

Hulk Hogan leaves behind a legacy that is complicated, to put it mildly. Arguably the biggest star that wrestling has ever produced (for at least one WWE generation and possibly more), he defines the art that we all love. For many other lifelong fans, he is the definition of overrated, and his controversies away from the ring are the moments that truly summarise who he is and what he stands for.

This feature delves into his years as a red and yellow-clad babyface. It leaves aside his Hollywood heel turn and TNA years, as there'd simply be too much ground to cover when it comes to a man who spent the majority of his life in the wrestling business. Oh yes, this is purely about the shirt ripping, heel conquering, leg dropping WWE and WCW reigns of Hulkamania.

So strap in, 'Maniacs', for you're about to behold the single most polarizing and contradictory legacy in the history of professional wrestling. For every treasured moment, there just might be an argument that what you're looking at is fool's gold. Haters and 'Hulkamaniacs', whatcha gonna do when the consequences of your actions run wild on you?!

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It’s not hyperbolic to say that Hulk has the most iconic look in wrestling history. The red and yellow attire, the Hulkamania logo, the 'Fu Manchu' blonde facial hair, the skullet - literally everything about Hogan’s classic babyface look is so instantly recognizable that people will still be wearing it as a Halloween costume in the 2080s.

As for presence, Hogan was wrestling in the 1980s. There has never been a bigger babyface in the history of the business than Hulk across that decade. In many ways, the Hulkster was bigger than WWE itself. To rubber stamp that, think of this: Only WrestleMania IV wasn’t centred around Hogan in the first 9 outings for wrestling’s Super Bowl.

At a time when Reagan’s America was pushing hard for a return to “traditional values”, Hogan was the perfect embodiment of that era. Encouraging kids to say their prayers and take their vitamins whilst clutching the cross on his chain, he was built to stand next to Stallone or Schwarzenegger and body slam bad guys. The 24-inch pythons, ripping his t-shirt, his post-match poses that every fan can do in perfect sequential order, and the hand-twirling, building shaking, cup to the ear that made people lose their minds. It’s all literally perfect.

In the same way that Rocky had ‘Eye Of The Tiger’, Rick Derringer’s unforgettable ‘Real American’ is the perfect song for Hogan’s heroic escapades. Again, it is one of the most iconic wrestling theme songs of all time. His WCW theme, ‘American Made’ (with Hogan himself allegedly laying down the song’s bass guitar), also captured the perfect vibe for Hulk's over-the-top heroism.

Even the concept of Hulkamania and calling fans Hulkamaniacs is marketing used across fandoms to this day. Lady Gaga and Taylor Swift have Little Monsters and Swifties. Your sports team will have a name for you as a fanbase that follows the same Hulkamania branding concept. Trekkies, the Beyhive, Deadheads, Beliebers. The list is endless.

Wrestling has never had a brand identity as strong as those employed to fuel the Hulk Hogan machine. There was literally no hole in the presentation Vince McMahon built around Hulk (until he undid it all himself later in life).

10/10