With the passing of Hulk Hogan, the world of professional wrestling has lost a giant, not just in stature, but in spirit, impact, and legacy. Hogan was more than just a wrestling icon. He was a cultural phenomenon who helped shape the golden age of sports entertainment. Whether you cheered him in red and yellow or booed him in black and white, Hogan gave fans unforgettable memories for over four decades.

Here, we celebrate ten defining moments that immortalized the Hulkster.

1. Hogan Slams Andre The Giant – WrestleMania III
The sight of Hogan body-slamming the 520-pound Andre the Giant remains seared into the minds of fans worldwide. Taking place in front of over 93,000 roaring fans inside the Pontiac Silverdome, this moment was more than a wrestling feat , it was an emblem of heroism. Hogan’s victory sent Hulkamania into overdrive and proved that the impossible was possible.

2. Winning His First WWE Championship (1984)
On January 23, 1984, Hulk Hogan dethroned The Iron Sheik inside Madison Square Garden, beginning a title reign that ushered in a new era for the WWF. This win kickstarted Hulkamania and brought professional wrestling into mainstream popularity, attracting new generations of fans and setting the stage for the boom of the 1980s.

3. The Birth of the nWo – Bash at the Beach 1996
For years, Hogan had been the face of righteousness. That changed in 1996 when he shocked the world by turning heel and aligning with Scott Hall and Kevin Nash. His leg drop on Randy Savage sent shockwaves through the industry and helped launch WCW’s most successful period. The New World Order made wrestling feel unpredictable again , and Hogan was at the center of it all.

4. Hogan vs. The Rock – WrestleMania X8
This dream match saw Hulk Hogan take on The Rock in Toronto in front of a split crowd that turned Hogan into a hero once again. Despite entering as the villain, the wave of cheers that erupted throughout the match forced a double turn. The two men embraced after an emotional battle, and the moment became a WrestleMania classic that transcended eras.

5. The Mega Powers Explode – WrestleMania V
The alliance between Hulk Hogan and “Macho Man” Randy Savage was pure magic. But when jealousy, ego, and Miss Elizabeth entered the mix, the Mega Powers eventually imploded. Their feud culminated at WrestleMania V in a match filled with drama and emotion , storytelling at its finest.

6. Winning the Undisputed WWE Championship in 2002
No one expected the 48-year-old Hogan to ever wear WWE gold again, but after returning as Hollywood Hogan, he captured the Undisputed WWE Championship from Triple H at Backlash 2002. It was a full-circle moment that brought nostalgia, tears, and validation that Hulkamania was still alive.

7. Main Eventing the First WrestleMania
In 1985, Hogan partnered with Mr. T to headline the very first WrestleMania , a gamble by Vince McMahon that would either sink or save the company. The event became a blockbuster, and Hogan was at the heart of it. His star power helped draw celebrities like Cyndi Lauper and Muhammad Ali into the spectacle, elevating wrestling’s reach like never before.

8. Royal Rumble Dominance – 1990 & 1991
Winning back-to-back Royal Rumbles placed Hogan in elite company. His 1990 victory set the stage for an epic showdown with The Ultimate Warrior, while his 1991 win helped carry WWF through turbulent times. Both wins showcased Hogan’s resilience and command of the crowd.

9. The WrestleMania VI Showdown with Ultimate Warrior
In a rare face vs. face match, Hogan passed the torch to The Ultimate Warrior in the main event of WrestleMania VI. Despite losing, Hogan’s gesture of raising Warrior’s hand symbolized respect and cemented his role as both a leader and a team player in the locker room.

10. WWE Hall of Fame Induction (2005)
The culmination of a historic career came when Hogan was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. With friends, rivals, and fans honoring his journey, it was a night of celebration for a man who helped build the foundation of modern wrestling. His speech reflected his gratitude, and his legacy was formally etched in wrestling history.

Whether he was telling kids to say their prayers and eat their vitamins, or taking over the world with the nWo, Hulk Hogan defined what it meant to be larger than life.

The bandana. The big boot. The leg drop. The crowd eruptions. The red and yellow. The black and white. It was all Hulk Hogan.

And wrestling was never the same.