No Phony Love: Examining the Life and Death of Hulk Hogan | Ep. 44

“Hulk Hogan” is undoubtedly the most world-renowned and recognizable name in wrestling history. In the 1980s, he put the sport on his back and carried it to the promised land. Hogan wasn’t just the face of WWF—he was the face of professional wrestling itself. The industry soared to unprecedented heights through the rise of “Hulkamania,” with Hogan headlining the inaugural WrestleMania and, a few years later, co-starring in the most iconic match of the era: Hogan vs. Andre the Giant at WrestleMania III.

For many of us who grew up in the ’80s—especially die-hard wrestling fans—The Hulkster was a larger-than-life hero. Our parents bought us his action figures, we watched his Saturday morning cartoon, and we cried when, on rare occasions, he lost a match. He represented strength, loyalty, and everything good, he even told us to listen to our parents and pray every night before going to bed

But nearly a decade ago, everything changed.

 In a disturbing turn of events, Hogan was secretly recorded repeatedly using the N-word during a bedroom rant. In that same recording, he openly admitted to harboring racist views. The leak of the footage left fans shocked, angry, and heartbroken. While Hogan has since issued multiple apologies, the damage was deep. He lost a legion of fans and, more importantly, a significant part of the public trust.

The lasting impact of that scandal was evident earlier this year, when Hogan made what is now his final WWE appearance. Instead of a hero’s welcome, he was met with jeers and booed out of the building by fans in the Crypto.com Arena in LA on Monday Night Raw.

The love and disdain for Hulk Hogan—and the man behind the persona, Terry Bollea—remain complicated. The ROWP Family unpack their feelings about the fallen and controversial icon who once was a pristine pillar of virtue in the eyes of fans everywhere across the globe.