Wrestling icon Hulk Hogan has passed away at the age of 71. Ever wondered how he got his famous nickname? Did the American wrestler take inspiration from the Marvel superhero?
The wrestling world is mourning the loss of the legendary Hulk Hogan this Thursday, with tributes pouring in, including one from Sylvester Stallone, whom he faced in Rocky 3. This brings us to a question some might have: why did Terry Gene Bollea choose the ring name Hulk?
Is the nickname Hulk a nod to Marvel’s green giant with incredible power? The answer is yes! However, it wasn’t the wrestler who came up with the idea. To uncover the fascinating story behind the nickname Hulk, let’s take a deep dive back to 1979. Let’s explain…
In 1979, Hulk Hogan was not yet the globally renowned wrestler thrilling millions of fans. He had started his wrestling career two years earlier, not under that name (he fought as The Super Destroyer among others). However, the character of Hulk existed for sure! Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, the Marvel superhero first appeared in comic book pages in 1962 and became the star of a hit TV show fifteen years later, The Incredible Hulk, featuring Lou Ferrigno in the titular role.
“You’re Even Bigger Than Hulk!”
The pivotal moment? It was Terry Gene Bollea’s meeting with Lou Ferrigno. In 1979, while visiting Memphis, the wrestler was invited to a local talk show where he appeared alongside the actor. The host exclaimed, looking at the athlete’s impressive physique, “You’re even bigger than Hulk!”, as Hogan later recalled in an interview with the website Bloodyslam.
Following this show, the nickname Hulk stuck with the wrestler, who began to fight as Terry “The Hulk” Boulder or sometimes Sterling Golden. Soon noticed by the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), he was mentored by promoter Vincent J. McMahon who, wanting to appeal to the Irish population in New York, settled on the surname Hogan.
A legend was born, and the wrestler won his first match under the name Hulk Hogan on November 17, 1979, defeating Harry Valdez on the Championship Wrestling show. Over the ring loomed the shadow of an imposing Marvel superhero, also known worldwide.
Trailer for the “Hulk” series featuring Lou Ferrigno:
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A passionate journalist, Iris Lennox covers social and cultural news across the U.S.