How Good Was Hulk Hogan Actually?

As discussed at length here, Hogan’s legacy is one of the most complicated and confusing in the history of wrestling.

His charismatic personality, zeitgeist-capturing heroics, iconic look, and unforgettable catchphrases form the nucleus of what we still judge babyface superstars on. Conversely, he is also used as a punchline by fans and the industry alike, as the Hulk-coded line of “that doesn’t work for me, brother” is wrestling jargon for sleazy backstage politicking. His greed and stroke with McMahon meant that he didn't even let Bret Hart have the opportunity to carry the torch for the next generation by hijacking the main event of WrestleMania IX in nauseating fashion.

The contradictions continue, as Hogan’s matches are flabby and bloated, but he is also responsible for a string of the greatest moments in wrestling history. His promos are predictable, but he has a greater list of feuds, catchphrases, and storylines than 85% of main event talent to ever do it.

These juxtapositions are best summarised by how one of the most aspirational heroes of the 1980s became a real-life villain by the end of his life. Hulk Hogan made his fame and fortune by portraying a hero whom children could look up to, whilst going on to say abhorrent and racist things when he didn’t think the cameras were rolling.

Hogan could have attempted to make amends for this by serving his time out of the limelight and apologizing for his behavior. Instead of being the 'Real American' who fought for the rights of every man, he chose to stand with political figures who profit from dividing us like never before.

This disappointing final period of his life makes it much harder to look past how poorly his matches and promos have aged. Nobody can dilute Hulk contribution to wrestling or his star power, but very few are willing to acknowledge those things in the wake of his public disgrace.

The evidence stacked against Terry Bollea makes Hulk Hogan look like a cynical construct that conned us all into thinking he was better than he was by being something that...he wasn’t.

7.5/10