Hulkamania will truly live forever (R.I.P. Hulk Hogan)

I wasn’t supposed to write a column for the next few weeks—I’m on vacation and had taken a break from following the news. But I couldn’t escape this news. Hulk Hogan wasn’t just a wrestling star, he was a mainstream cultural icon, and everyone—from every wrestling website to every major media outlet—covered his death.

Let’s face it: we lost one of the biggest names in pro wrestling history. Hogan was the reason a lot of fans from my generation became wrestling fans in the first place. While I know I won’t be the only one writing a tribute column, I don’t want to bore you with a full recap of his career. Instead, I want to reflect on some of the biggest moments of his career—moments that impacted my life—and also share the story of when I met him at Montreal Comiccon.

1. I Became a Wrestling Fan Because of Hogan

I started watching wrestling just before WrestleMania IV. My dad was watching WWE (then WWF) wrestling in French, and I happened to walk into the living room. Hogan was on The Brother Love Show, hyping up his match with André and cementing his alliance with Macho Man. His over-the-top persona hooked me instantly—and 37 years later, I’m still watching wrestling.

2. The Mega Powers Explode

From ’88 to ’89, Hogan and Savage were an awesome tag team. I couldn’t get enough of them taking out all the top heels in WWF. Then came the breakup on Saturday Night’s Main Event. I used to tape those shows on VHS because I was way too young to stay up until midnight, so I’d watch them in the morning.

When I saw Savage attack Hogan backstage, I was devastated. I couldn’t believe my second favorite wrestler would turn on my hero. I wanted Hogan to get revenge—and as we all know, he did at WrestleMania V. Since we didn’t have PPV in Montreal at the time, I found out what happened the following Saturday on Superstars and only got to see the match months later when the VHS came out.

3. WrestleMania VI: The Ultimate Challenge

This was the first time I got to see WrestleMania live, thanks to the event being broadcast on short circuit. It was the first time a main event featured face vs. face.

While I still liked Hogan, I was a bigger Warrior fan, so for the first time, I was rooting against Hogan. The match was incredible, and it still holds sentimental value—I revisit it every year.

Even though I wanted Warrior to win, I didn’t think Hogan would actually lose clean. When he did, I jumped out of my seat at the old Montreal Forum. And that post-match handshake? It made me cry—and I became a Hulkamaniac all over again.

4. Earthquake Takes Out Hogan on The Brother Love Show

We all remember this. Hogan appeared on The Brother Love Show, did his usual promo, and threatened Brother Love—until Earthquake jumped him from behind and hit multiple Earthquake Splashes. They stretchered Hogan out.

We didn’t know at the time it was just a storyline to give Hogan time off to film Suburban Commando. WWF aired a dramatic video package afterward, encouraging fans to send Hogan get-well cards. But it had the opposite effect on me—it gave me nightmares for days.

Needless to say, I was overjoyed when Hogan came back and got his revenge.

5. WrestleMania IX

The infamous moment: Yoko beat Bret Hart for the WWF Title, only for Hogan to run in and take the belt from Yoko in seconds.

I admit it—I popped huge for that. I was still a Hulkamaniac, and when Hogan came to check on Bret, only to accept Yoko’s challenge, I cheered like crazy. Hogan winning the title felt like justice for Bret.

Sadly, this was the last time we saw Hogan in WWF until his return in 2002.

6. The Birth of the NWO

Hogan jumped to WCW in 1994, and while I was still a Hulkamaniac, it was clear his act was losing steam—especially after his feuds with Flair and Vader.

In 1996, he took a few months off. When he returned, I thought for sure he was coming back to save WCW from The Outsiders. But instead, Hogan shocked the world and turned heel. The NWO was born.

Like many fans, I was heartbroken—but I’ll admit it was the best move of his career. It made him relevant again, allowed him to lose clean, and helped WCW reach new heights. Without Hogan turning heel, the NWO wouldn’t have become what it was, and wrestling history would’ve played out very differently.

7. The RAW After WrestleMania 18

In 2002, Hogan returned to WWE, and we all remember WrestleMania 18—how the Toronto crowd turned him face again, forcing Rock to adapt and work heel.

But what I really want to highlight is the next night in Montreal. Hogan hadn’t wrestled in Montreal since losing to Jacques Rougeau at a WCW house show at the Bell Centre. Fans gave him a 15-minute standing ovation.

I was there, and I had goosebumps. Hogan broke character and showed real emotion. That night kicked off his nostalgia run, and it was unforgettable.

8. Hogan vs. Rock II at No Way Out 2003

I was at this show, and it brought me back to the glory days of Hulkamania. Rock had become Hollywood Rock and was aligned with Vince McMahon. Vince put Hogan in a match to soften him up ahead of their planned WrestleMania match.

The bout wasn’t as good as their Mania classic, but it was still strong. We all wanted Hogan to get revenge. Unfortunately, the lights went out mid-match, and when they came back on, Hogan was down and Rock got the win—thanks to Sylvain Grenier, Vince’s personal referee.

9. Meeting Hogan at Montreal Comiccon (2014)

In 2014, Hogan was a guest of honor at Montreal Comiccon. I was thrilled to finally meet my hero. He was originally only scheduled for Saturday, but when Jake “The Snake” Roberts had to cancel, Hogan stepped in and came Friday too.

I’d heard plenty of bad stories about Hogan over the years, so I was expecting him to be detached and just there for the money. But to my surprise, that wasn’t the case. His line was huge—which is rare for wrestlers at these events. I paid my $60 CAD for an autograph, got to talk to him, and told him how much of a fan I was.

He was incredibly kind—not just to me but to everyone. It was a complete 180 from the horror stories I’d heard. I also got my photo taken with him, and I cherish it to this day. It was one of the best moments of my life: meeting and talking to one of my childhood heroes.

Conclusion

In the end, we might not have loved the man Hulk Hogan became near the end of his life—especially after exposing so much of his private life—but we can’t deny the impact he had.

Without Hogan, wrestling wouldn’t be where it is today. He was a driving force behind both of wrestling’s biggest boom periods. His influence shaped not only the business, but an entire generation of fans and future wrestlers who grew up as Hulkamaniacs.

His legacy speaks for itself. While it’s unfortunate that his last TV appearance was marred by controversy and people’s inability to separate the man from the character, he still left an indelible mark on the business.

Today, we lost the biggest name in pro wrestling—possibly only rivaled by Ric Flair or Vince McMahon. He will be sorely missed.

Now that Hogan is in wrestling heaven, I’ve got just one thing left to write:

Whatcha gonna do… when the 24-inch pythons and Hulkamania run wild on you?

R.I.P. Hulk Hogan.