In relation to associating a game with an iconic athlete, Hulk Hogan and professional wrestling pass in combination like Michael Jordan and basketball, Muhummad Ali and boxing, Tom Brady and soccer, or Arnold Schwarzenegger and bodybuilding. So, information that Netflix is ready to air a brand new docuseries, telling the tale of ways Terry Bollea went from humble beginnings to develop into the superhero-like Hulk Hogan, has come as welcome information for wrestling fanatics. Now not least for the reason that venture will function the Hulkster’s ultimate interview prior to his premature demise in the summertime of 2025. So, as we get ready to revisit Hulk Hogan’s unbelievable existence and occupation, M&F names his most sensible ten largest fits, brother!
Fast facet observe on how we compiled this record: After all, most sensible 10 scores are continuously subjective, so we’ve taken a variety of things under consideration, accounting for critics ratings, fan response, and the full affect that each and every fit has had at the professional wrestling industry.
10. ‘Hollywood’ Hulk Hogan vs. Goldberg (WCW Monday NITRO)
A seismic shift within the professional wrestling panorama used to be felt on July 6, 1998, when Hulk Hogan defended the WCW International Heavyweight name in opposition to Invoice Goldberg in entrance of round 40,000 fanatics at The Georgia Dome in Atlanta.
Why is it so nice? “Hollywood” Hulk Hogan, who via this time had won a name for monopolizing the primary match scene, took crucial loss to increase the more youthful Invoice Goldberg on this bout, similar to he had achieved prior to now for The Final Warrior at WrestleMania 6. And, as a result of this fit took place within the generation of the “Monday Evening Wars” in opposition to WWE Uncooked, WCW pros determined to air this bout free of charge, quite than price a rate on pay-per-view. This ended in a whopping target market of round 10 million audience tuning in to look the converting of the guard. Whilst the fit equipped a far wanted quick time period spice up for WCW, and presented Goldberg as a bona fide celebrity, neither WCW or the place of birth hero would be capable of problem the long run legacy of The Hulkster.
9. Hulk Hogan vs. The Giant Boss Guy (‘Saturday Evening’s Primary Tournament’)
On Saturday Evening’s Primary Tournament, Would possibly 27, 1989, Hulk Hogan as soon as once more proved that a few of his largest wars had been in opposition to warring parties that had been a lot heavier than him.
Why is it so nice? Lovers of the film No Holds Barred, launched that very same 12 months, gets a kick out of seeing Tiny “Zeus” Lister Jr. assault The Hulkster prior to the fit starts, leaving The Giant Boss Guy with a hefty benefit. This bout additionally options Hogan suplexing the Giant Boss Guy from the very most sensible of the cage, sending the gang right into a frenzy. The 2 behemoths then give a masterclass in storytelling via mendacity at the flooring for a painstaking two mins till Hogan “Hulks Up,” and will get the win, erasing reminiscences of the plodding Hogan vs. King Kong Good friend snoozefest from WrestleMania 2. Hogan vs The Giant Boss Guy at SNME stays very important viewing, blending violence and storytelling in some way that simplest the most productive professional wrestling motion can.
8. Hulk Hogan vs. Ric Aptitude (WCW Bash on the Seaside 1994)
Hulk Hogan used to be educated via Eastern legend, Hiro Matsuda, and used to be a technically gifted grappler, however he a lot most well-liked to lean into the tale and psychology than submission holds. This restricted moveset ended in critical hypothesis about how Hogan would honest in a fit in opposition to wrestler’s-wrestler, Ric Aptitude after signing with WCW.
Why is it so nice? Whilst the 2 had prior to now battled in most commonly non-televised fits, Hogan’s soar to WCW supposed that his first pay-per-view primary match for the corporate can be pivotal to the group’s long run expansion. Thankfully, all over this fit, held at Bash on the Seaside on July 17, 1994, The Hulkster delivered in spades. Now not simplest did Hogan win his first WCW International Heavyweight Championship on this fit, however he additionally inspired the critics along with his determination to buying and selling strikes and reversals with “The Nature Boy.”
7. Hulk Hogan vs. Vince McMahon (WrestleMania 19)
It’s arduous to consider what the product of professional wrestling would seem like, for higher or worse, had Vince McMahon and Hulk Hogan no longer joined forces to hype “Hulkamania” within the mid-80s. Nonetheless, because the 90s approached, the 2 titans of business had been torn aside via steroid trials and massive cash gives from Ted Turner’s WCW. Hogan famously left WWE in 1994 or even helped McMahon’s competitors to overhaul WWE within the Monday Evening Wars. That victory can be quick lived, on the other hand, as a result of McMahon sooner or later beat, after which purchased out WCW. However no longer one to let non-public gripes get in the best way of price ticket gross sales, Hogan used to be welcomed house in 2002.
Why is it so nice? Those a long time of very actual non-public historical past between the McMahon circle of relatives and Hulk Hogan set the easiest scene for the Vince McMahon vs. Hulk Hogan Side road battle fit on March 30, 2003, at WrestleMania 19, and whilst The Hulkster used to be 49, and his boss used to be 57, the fit went past what fanatics had anticipated. Positive, the epic tale telling used to be there as anticipated, however so too used to be some brutal physicality. Hogan even lay inclined at the remark desk whilst his getting old antagonist climbed a ladder and blasted him with a leg drop. To most sensible it off, the true American used to be ready to pin the evil Mr McMahon, resulting in probably the most odd and but completely watchable bouts in bone-bending historical past.
6. Hulk Hogan vs. Randy Savage (WrestleMania 5)
Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage wrestled in every single place the arena, together with mythical fits in London and Paris, however their maximum iconic conflict went down on April 2, 1989, at WrestleMania 5, because the tag-team referred to as The Mega-Powers exploded in a grudge fit for the “Macho Guy’s” International name.
Why is it so nice? Tensions had hit a fever pitch weeks prior to, when Savage blamed Hogan for an incident all over a tag-team fit in opposition to The Dual Towers at The Primary Tournament II, the place Akeem had thrown the “Macho” Guy onto his valet, Leave out Elizabeth. As Hulk Hogan picked up a fallen Leave out Elizabeth and took her to protection, Savage used to be left to obtain a beatdown via the opposing group of Akeem and The Giant Boss Guy. This used to be essentially the most complicated and emotional storyline {that a} WrestleMania primary match have been afforded up till this time and ended in a white-hot grudge fit the place Savage blasted The Hulkster with two cast elbow drops prior to lacking a 3rd, thus affording Hogan his 2d WWE name win by the use of pinfall.
5. Hulk Hogan vs. Stan Hansen (All Japan Professional Wrestling)
Hulk Hogan could have battled some cartoonish warring parties all over his iconic occupation, however a stiff bout in opposition to Stan Hensen in Japan earned him a 7.78 rating at the fan/critic web site, cagematch.web. The fit came about on April 13, 1990, in the primary match of a joint display between WWE, All Japan Professional Wrestling, and New Japan Professional Wrestling referred to as the “Wrestling Summit,” and gave fanatics a glimpse of Hogan’s skill to head technical.
Why is it so nice? All through the conflict, Hogan would consume a number of stiff pictures from Hansen, who used to be identified for blasting his warring parties into subsequent week along with his lariat. Moreover, the 2 large males brawled out of doors of the hoop, mixing the most productive of American and Eastern professional wrestling motion, and offering Hogan with a hard earned victory that serves as one of the vital very best performances of his stellar occupation.
4. Hulk Hogan joins Corridor & Nash (WCW Bash on the Seaside 1996)
If ever there used to be an award in professional wrestling for a fit that used to be very best remembered for what went down within the aftermath, then the primary match of Bash on the Seaside, on July 7, 1996, would win the trophy, fingers down.
The pink and yellow, “Say Your Prayer’s” shtick that helped Hogan to proceed his occupation with an outstanding WCW appearing in 1994, had grown drained by the point Bash on the Seaside ’96 rolled round. Thankfully, The Hulkster noticed the box-office returns which may be made via turning his again on Hulkamania and changing into “Hollywood” Hulk Hogan as an alternative. The historical fit itself used to be bought round the concept that Scott Corridor and Kevin Nash would convey a thriller spouse into their primary match bout in opposition to Randy Savage, Sting, and Lex Luger. Revealing himself as that dastardly thriller spouse, Hogan would ship simply two strikes, blasting Savage with two leg drops to overwhelm the great guys, and his lengthy serving fanatics within the procedure.
Why is it so nice? After all, this fit served because the platform for the authentic starting of the N.W.O motion because of Hogan’s unbelievable personality paintings, the place he proclaimed a “New International Order” in skilled wrestling, WCW become the most up to date professional wrestling program between 1996 and 1998 and industry sensible, the affect of this fit remains to be being felt lately.
3. Hulk Hogan vs. The Final Warrior (WrestleMania 6)
“The Final Problem” came about on the Skydome in Toronto, Canada, on April 1, 1990, the place greater than 60,000 fanatics converged to witness two of professional wrestling’s most well liked stars pitted in opposition to each and every different, for the suitable to be referred to as king of the WWE mountain. James “The Final Warrior” Hellwig used to be the younger lion and the Intercontinental Champion when he took on Hulk Hogan for his WWE Championship at WrestleMania 6.
Why is it so nice? Whilst the tempo of primary occasions used to be so much slower, on the subject of strikes in keeping with minute, again within the early 90s, the psychology at the back of the bout labored completely. Each males had been carefully matched on the subject of measurement and charisma, however Hogan’s task used to be to lend a hand bring in a brand new celebrity for his then boss and WWE proprietor, Vince McMahon. Regardless of the Warrior’s restricted skillset, The Hulkster used to be ready to get the most productive out of the emerging superstar, similar to he would do years later with Invoice Goldberg, shedding the WWE name with dignity. In a nail-biting end, fanatics had been left in need of extra from their established hero, as The Hulkster made the sluggish adventure behind the scenes following his defeat.
2. Hulk Hogan vs. The Rock (WrestleMania 18)
The goodwill that Hulk Hogan had constructed up all over his WrestleMania 6 fit with the Final Warrior can’t be underestimated right here, as “Hollywood” Hulk Hogan become the surprising fan favourite on the Skydome in opposition to Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, 12 years later at WrestleMania 18.
Why is it so nice? Correctly dubbed “Icon vs. Icon,” the bout pitted old-school in opposition to the most productive of WWE’s “Angle Technology,” however in spite of Hogan’s standing as a heel, the fanatics rejected The Rock and cheered for the person who lead the way as an alternative. The Rock gave the impression visibly surprised via the surprising response to start with, however then cleverly leant into the boos in an effort to lend a hand convey Hogan certainly one of his maximum memorable fits, in spite of a virtually 20-year age hole. Now and again, the small main points in a wrestling fit subject essentially the most, like the serious stare down that the opponents had as the gang boiled over. Some other masterclass in crowd manipulation and cinematic storytelling, this can be a fit for the ages.
1. Hulk Hogan vs, Andre the Massive (WrestleMania 3)
Whether or not it used to be the giant (however debated) crowd of 93,173 fanatics on the Pontiac Silverdome in Detroit or the truth that Hulk Hogan vs. Andre the Massive is among the maximum visually interesting fits of all time, there’s no strategy to downplay the significance in their WrestleMania III disagreement on March 29, 1987.
Why is it so nice? Whilst the 7’4” large used to be previous his height, he nonetheless greater than delivered, proudly owning his function because the intimidating, apparently unstoppable power that might indisputably derail Hulkamania. Finally, on the other hand, The Hulkster didn’t simply pin his larger foe, he additionally performed essentially the most well-known bodyslam in historical past and set the usual for the way WrestleMania primary occasions will have to be introduced to the mat loving lots.
In case you are hungry to be informed extra concerning the existence and occasions of the Hulkster, Netflix’s docuseries “Hulk Hogan: Actual American” is ready to premier on April 22, 2026, and can inform the tale of Terry Bollea’s distinctive ascent to professional wrestling immortality. You’ll be able to view the trailer beneath.
