Before he was the idol of millions before his name was synonymous with wrestling before he was Hulk Hogan, Terry Bollea was a fan with a dream.
But he could not of imagined where that dream would lead.
The Road of Immortality He arrived on the scene just as the industry was changing. Previously serious technicle wrestlers had ruled the game like Jim Londos, Lou Thez, and verne gagne.
Clad in plain boots and tights they paid little attention to the fans who Clammored around them, Focusing instead on hammerlocks and headlocks and step over toe holds.
But when Hulk Hogan arrived he added a flash of colour to what some regarded as a black and white colour canvas: dazzling audiences behind a micophone he told his hulkamaniacs to train say their prays and take there vitamins; captivating viewers when he cupped his hands to his ear and tore of his shirt in the middle of the ring; and muscling into hollywood the same way he dominated his adverts.
It was Hogan who led the charge when wrestlers started appearing on MTV as the movie industry trolled the world wreslting federation dressing room fornew faces and as the organisation defined an infant medium called paperview to some experts, the history of the mat wars can only be devided into 2 periods: before Hulkamania and after it.
Perhaps wielded the influence he did in his heart, because of the hulkster loves the sport of kings as any fan cheering him.
As a young man, Terry Bollea would show up at Wrestling matches near his florida home, towering over other spectators he cheered the likes of jack brisco, Dusty Roads, and Superstar Billy Graham.
In fact the young man was so huge and so vocal that sometimes the competition in the ring actually paused from their skirmishes to take note of his antics.
But Bollea was a long way from being ready to share the ring with any of these gladiators. He tried his hand a number of specailties, playing bass guitar, body building and studying business admistration.
In between, he supplemented his income by bounceing at tampa area bars.
When he tossed a couple of wrestlers throught the saloon doors and onto the pavement he concluded he was capable of locking horns with them in front of huge crowds.
He ended up in a gym run by Hiro Mmatsuda, a japanesse great who had held the national wrestling alliance (NWA) southern title, among other championships but that was the main one.
Matsuda was not intimidated by his student's size and during one training session he broke Bolleas Knee. The youngster at the time healed and returned, begining his career on the florida independent circuit.
By 1978, Bollea was in Alabama and Tenessee, wrestling against Ox Baker, the wrestling Proand others.
In 1979, he was brought to the World Wrestling Federation by Vincent J Mc Mahon, father of current WWE Chairman Vincent k Mc Mahon and the man who first dubbed Bollea (Hulk Hogan).
In December of that year Bollea debuted as Hulk Hogan at New York's Maddison Sqaure Garden, pinning Ted DiBiase-who would later be known as the million dollar man.
Under the tutelage of manager Classy Freddy Blassie, Hogan learned the devious secrets to the trade.
Using the backbreaker ass the finisher, he challenged then WWE Champion Bob Backlund for the title.
He also managed to bloody the massive Andre The Giant with a loaded elbo pad, loading to a memorable encounter between the two at the New York Shea Stadium on August 9 1980, years before their historic bout at wrestlemania 3.
Although Hogan lost, he managed to lift and bodyslam his 500-pounds foe-solidifying a reputation as one of the strongest Warriors ever to step through the ropes.
From the world Wrestling Federation Hogan drifted to the old american wrestling association (AWA), based in Minneapolis.
The AWA was headed by Verne Gagne, and many of its top stars mirrored a Gagne vision of a clean cut, serious wrestling champion.
Hogan offered a sharp contrast to the other AWA stars, stunning viewers with his charisma and highly changed Interview style.
In 1982, he challenged Nick Bockwinkel managed by the Brain Bobby Heanon who hurled a foreign object to his charge.
Hogan gained possession of the weapon, clocked Bonkwinkel with it and covered him for the pin. The fans exploded when their hero had one the AWA title, but the AWA voided the victory, citing Hogans use of a foreign object.
Frustrated, he loooked for fame elsewhere.
The Hulkster had been traveling to japan since freddie blassie, an expert on far eastern culture, introduced him to the land of the riseing sun. With each tour, the Hulks knowledge of the challenging Japanese style increased.
Hogan then went to the New Japan tournament to enter the IWPG tournament.
It was a 10 man tournament to declare a new IWPG Heavyweight Champion.
Hogan defeated Killer Khan, Big John Studd, Rusher Kimura, Canek, Enrique Vera, Otto Wanz, and Akira Maeda, Hulk fought to a draw with Antonio Inoki and Andre the Giant.
Many Years later Hogan revealed the IGWP belt was the main belt that ment the most to him and it was the last belt he won without the aid of his image.
Hogan and Inoki ended up with the same points so they clashed in a final.
Inoki was scheduled to win, but during the bout he knocked himself silly, so Hogan had no choice than to pin him and win the tournament and the IWPG Heavyweight Title, June
The Japanese fans dubbed the blonde American Ichiban, or number one. His image was everywhere in the country.
Hogan responded to his increasing surge in popularity by recording an album of Rock 'n' roll songs-a forerunner to the Worlds Wrestling Federation's rock 'n' wrestlin Connection of the mid 1980's.
Away from the arena, Hogan injoyed a touch of celebritty, appearing in the film Rocky 3, as Thunderlips," a buffled brawler who clashes with the movie's protagonist, Rocky Balboa in a boxer vs wrestler confrontation.
While makeing the movie Hogan befreinded another star to hit the screens Mr T, the man who would become Hogans partner at wrestlemania 1.
But in order for Hogan to make it to Wrestlemania 1 Hogan had to return to the WWF.
He saw his opportunity when the Hulkster saw the Iron Shiek defeat Bob Backlund for the WWF World Title in December 26, 1983.
The Iranian-born Shiek openly scorned the united states and prommised to take the title back to his own country.
Waving the red, white, and blue, returned to the place where he had first international attention, calling upon his Hulkamaniacs to fire him up and guide him to greatness.
From 1984 to 1993 had a run at the top of the federation that is unparalled in the anals of sports entertainment history it was truly a goldern age that will never be forgotten.
Hogan made his re-debut in the WWF on January 7, 1984, where he helped Bob Backlund from the Samoans.
On January 23, Hogan clashed with then WWF World Champion the Iron Sheik, during the bout Hulk was trapped in the Camel Clutch, but he then did his trademark Hulk up routine and then quickly nailed the Sheik with the Big Legdrop to capture the WWF World Title, and Hulkamania was born with the phrase Say your prayers, eat your vitamins and stay in shape.
While workhouses like Bob Backlund would always be valued, to the 1980s glitzier than prior decades, and mat watchers demanded more from their champions. On January 23, 1984 Hulk Hogan-who along with Rowdy Piper, Paul Wonderfull Orndorff, anouncer Mean Gean Okerlund, and other national names had recently joined the rampidy expanding World Wrestling Federation --- rampaged into Madison Sqaure Garden to challenge the iron shiek for his World Wrestling Federation Championship.
Hogan over whelmed his rival before the Iron Shiek even had a chance to remove his ring gear, pinning him with a leg drop in five and a half minutes.
The resounding victory would have long-rageing effects.
Over the nexts several years, as the World Wrestling Federation would spread its influence around the world-and the older regional wrestling circuits died out. Hogan became a new idol to the new generation of fans.
The world Wrestling Federation promtly went Hollywood. Music celebrities turned up at card's to basc in the Hulkster glow.
Cindi Lauper began getting involed in World Wrestling Federation rivalries, first warring then reconciling with manager Captain Lou Albano, who'd appeard in her Girls just wanna have fun video.
Lauper brought Hogan her to the grammy awards ceremony, Hogan the first wrestler ever to make such an appearance and MTV, the new network devoted to Rock N Roll covered the hulkster matches.
The Rock N Wrestling connection was born.
Hogan as its most visible figure, the World Wrestling Federation was entering the main stream.
Suddenly, Areana shows were no longer enough for the public.
They demanded a Wrestling event that would be seen from coast to coast around the world, not just titans from the sqaured circle but Lauper and other main stars.
Hulk Hogan was featured on the main card, people were willing to watch.
The inaugural Wrestlemania was held at Maddison Sqaure Garden, on March 31, 1985.
The Main Event, Hogan teamed up with Mr T - His co star in Rocky 3 and also the hero of the NBC Hit Program The A Team - against Rowdy Rowdy Piper and Orndorf.
Boxing legend Muhammad Ali was the special Guest refere.
Liberace, a flameboat pianist who preformed in long furs and glittering jewallery, danced in the ring with the music city Radio Rockettes.
Fans all over North America crammed into Arenas and theaters to whatch closed - circuit telecasts of the extravaganza.
Viewers that day saw Mr T lift the manic Piper and twirl him around in an airoplane spin, and the Hulkster wrap up the match by pinning Orndorff.
After the bell, Piper and his cohort, Cowboy Bob Orton, vented their frustration by attacking paul orndorf promting Hogan to forge an alliance with his former foe.
As Piper, Magnificent Murroco, Big John Stud, others mounted challenges to the Hulkster's World Wrestling Federation Crown.
Hogan found himself followed everywhere paparazzi.
He was the first wrestleing superstar to appear on Sports Wrestling Illistrated.
The NBC network began running a regular program called Satardays Main Event, with the Hulkster generally dominating the action in the ring, and amuseing the masses with high-octane interviews, paying tribute to his hulkamaniacs and his 24 inch pythons.
Whtcha gonna do, he would spout, referring to an upcomeing opponent, when Hulkamania runs wild over you? But in some ways it was lonely at the top.
Managers like Freddie Blassie, Jimmy Hart, and Bobby the Brain Heenen scoured the world to find treacherouse men capable of dealing with Hulkamania.
King Kong Bundy was one such terror. During one confrontation he trapped Hogan in a corner, injureing his ribs by repeatedly rushing across the ring and advalanching the champion.
Despite his condition, Hogan agreed to meet the behemoth in a steel cage at Wrestlemania 2.
The card was broadcasted from 3 different locations: At New York Nassau Coliseum, Piper was disqaulified in a specially sanctioned boxing matchagainst Mr T at the Rosemount Horison outside Chicago, Andre the Giant won a battle royal which featured superstars such as, NFL stars William Perry (The Refrigerator), Harvey Martin and Russ Francis and also Hulk Hogan retained the WWF Title against King Kong Bundy, and pulled Bobby the brain heenen, King Kong Bundy's, manager into the cage for extra trashing.
Hogan understood that, as Sports-Entertainment's King-pin he had few allies.
One man he'd grown to depend on since his return to the World Wrestling Federation was Andre the Giant.
Over the time, the two had become very close freinds, battleing mutual enimies and empathizing about the difficulties of life in the linelight.
Andre became jelouse that Hogan possessed the one prize he had never captured which was the World Wrestling Federation Championship.
Slowly, the Giant began exhibiting more signs of jealousy, untill he aligned himself with heanan and demanded a title shot at Wrestlemania 3.
Since their first confrontation several years earlier, Hogan had evolved into the most infuential wrestler in history.
But at seven-foot-four, Andre appeared to be the one superstar powerfull enough to deththrowne the titlelist.
A record 93 173 fans at the Michigan pontiack Silverdome were set to view the dream match.
At one point in the bout, Hogan lifted his 500 pounds rival for a body slam, But the massive Andre shifted his weight and fell on top of the Hulkster.
Referee Joey Merella got down on the canvas and began the count, One-two-three.
Although Hogan lifted his shoulder, Marella slapped the mat a third time.
As the crowd buzzed, Marella indicated to the timekeeper a mistake had been made and the match would continue.
Realizing how close he had come to looseing the WWF Title Hogan rallied, countering Andre's prodigiouse arsenal.
Ultimately, Hogan hoisted his huge rival for a devastating slam, Then leg dropped him before pinning him infront of the ecstatic crowd.
Andre was convinced he had been robbed of the victory and become even more bitter.
For more than a year, as Hogan defended the WWF title against contenders like One Man Gang, Hercules Hernandez, Macho Man, and the Natural Butch Reed, Andre potted revenge.
During a 1988 broadcast on The Main Event, a friday night program which marked the first time Sports-Entertainment had aired on national prime time television since the 1950s.
In a rematch of their Wrestlemania 3 match, Andre covered Hogan for the pin.
The Hulkster clearly raised his shoulder before the 3 count, but the ref slapped the ground 3 times anyway.
Andre was declared champion, and immediately surrendered the title to the Million Dollor Man.
It turned out that DiBiase had been frustrated by Hogan's refusal to sell him the championship - who had used his fortune to procure Andre's services, as well as thoes as the referee.
This became apparent when Dave hebner - the arbiter scheduled to officiate the contest, stormed the ring to confront his identical twin, Earl who had been paod of by dibiase to act against Hogan.
The title could not be returned to Hogan, because the federation rules stipulated that the referee decision is final at all times, But the WWF also refused to recognize Andre's presetation of the title to Dibiase.
So for the first time in history, the Federation Championsip was declared vacant.
To fill the vacancy, The President of the WWF Jack Tunney called for a tournament at Wrestlemania 4.
Shockingly, Hogan and Andre were alliminated in an early round of the tournament, after both were disqaulified for bashing each other with chairs.
When Randy Savage faced dibiase in the final, the Hulkster had no moral qualms about aiding the Macho Man to victory by smashing the Million Dollar Man with a chair.
Savage and Hogan formed a partnership, dubbed the Meaga Powers, managed by the Macho Man's love interest, Miss Elizebeth. At Summerslam 88, the two was magnificent, plowing over Andre the Giant and dibiase, while future minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura served as specail guest referee.
Hogan and Savage had been adversaries of the past, and some distrust lingered.
In a televised clash, while the Meaga Powers were battleing Akeem and Bigg Boss Man, Elizebeth was inadvertently knocked out.
Hogan carried the alluring advisor to the back for emergency attention, Savage finished of the match.
Savage secured the win, he returned to the dressing room to accuse Hogan of abandoning him and lusting after Elizebeth.
Hogan tried to explain himself, but Savage seemed determined to have a battle with Hogan at Wrestlemania 5, he recieved his wish, but lost the World Wrestling Championship to the Hulkster.
Once again, Hogan was the man to beat. But his next significent apponent come not from the ranks of Supertars, but from the backlots of Hollywood.
In the 1989 film No Holds Barred, Hogan played a wrestling champion forced to defend himself against a crazed behemouth named zeus.
Interstingly, when the film was first released, the man who portrayed Zues fully believed he could demolish Hulkamania, and soon entered the Federation to just do that at Summerslam 89.
Hogan teamed with his long old good freind Brutas the Barber Beefcake, to conquer both Macho Man and zues.
On the same card, the mighty Ultimate Warrior snarred the World Wrestling Federation Intercontinental Chamionship from the Ravishing Rick Rude!
Hogan and Warrior respected each other, and teamed up on a numerous occations, some experts touted The Ultimate Warrior as the main guy to lead the WWF into the 1990s.
At Wrestlemania 6, the Ultimate Warrior journeyed to Toronto's Sky Dome to take what he thought was rightfully his.
His match with Hogan was resembled 12 years later with the Rock at the same location.
Fans were torn who to cheer for, cheering for Hogan when he was ahead, then applauding the Warrior when he battled back.
On several occasions, the Hulkster come back with an hair of victory.
In the end, the stars aligned behind the upstart challenger, and the Warrior upended the champion by bouncing of the ropes by splashing a warrior splash onto Hogan to take the pin and take the WWF Title.
The Hulkster would have to deal with another set back, when a huge canadian beast who was known as earthqauke-a colossal Canadian who had once been a Sumo Wrestler in japan- dilibrately injured the former titleist.
Although Hogan recovered and routed this threat at Summerslam 90, there was also talk of Hogan's retirement.
Events on the other side of the plannet may have altered thoes plans.
In 1990, the Iraqi army attcaked neighboring kuwait, confiscating its oil fields and declareing the emirate its 19th province.
As an international coalition led by the united states intervened, former U.S drill instructor Sgt. Slaughter proclaimed his allegiance to iraqi leader saddam hussein.
At the 1991 Royal Rumble, Slaughter beat the Warrior for the championship.
Traveling from one military base to another through out the United States, Hogan vowed to recapture the WWF Title for America.
On March 24th, 1991, Hogan thrilled a flag waveing crowd at the Los Angeles Sports Areana by liveing up to his promise at Wrestlemania 7, becoming the first 3 time WWF Champion.
There was no time to rest, Undertaker who was a newcomer to the WWF who then dressed like a 19th corona and claimed to derive his power from a peculiar urn carried by his manager, paul bearer - began stalking the Hulkster.
The man who had one day go by the moniker assaulted Hulk Hogan during a segment of the Funeral Parlour, a Interview show hosted by Paul Bearer on the World Wrestling Programs at the time.
When the two fought at the 1991 Survivor series, Ric Flair - a former WCW and a National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) king pin king also lusting for Hogan's gold interfered, slipping a folding chair under the ropes.
Undertaker dilivered a tombstone piledriver to the Hulkster on the chair, and pinned Hogan to take the WWF Title.
World Wrestling Federation officails were outraged and inbarresed about the way they had lost controll of the contest.
The WWF ordered a rematch six days later at a specail paper-view dubbed Tuesday in Texas.
Hogan won back his title in this clash, but under high circumstances.
First Flair knocked out the WWE commissioner Jack Tunney at ringside.
Then, Hogan gained possession of Takers urn from Paul bearer and then tossed the ashes in the urn, into the titlists face, and covered him for the win.
When Tunney was revived, he declared that the title was voided, and the title was once again vacant.
The winnner of the 1992 Royal Rumble would be awarded the wwf Title.
Amazingly Flair emerged from the tussle with the gold, enhancing his reputation in the wrestling fraternittyas a strategic genius.
Hogan was becoming disechanted by all the scheming supertars willing to sink Hulkamania.
This seniment was aggravated when partner Sid Justice - turned on him in a tag team match.
At Wrestlemania 8, Hogan fought not for the title, but for his pride, defeating Sid, then announceing his retirement from the sqaured circle for a far safer existance in hollywood.
His peace was short lived when the Hulkster was forced out of retirement in 1993 when the tandem of Money Inc - Ted Dibiase and Irwin R schyster, beat up his close freind Brutas the Barber Beefcake.
Motivated by loyalty, Hogan formed an allegiance with Beefcake and Jimmy Hart.
The duo come up short at Wrestlemania 9, loseing to Money Inc, Via disqaulification.
Rather than showering and leaving Las Vegas, Hogan stuck around to watch the main event.
Champion Bret Hart the wrestler then ballyhooed as the symbol of the World Wrestling federations new generation - was holding his own against the mamoth Yokozuna, when the contender's manager, Mr Fuji, tossed a handfull of salt into the titleist's face.
Blinded, the Hitman fell victim to Yokozuna's Banzi Drop.
As the title change was anounced, Hogan ran to ringside to protest.
That's when fuji made a fatal mistake by dareing the icon to step into the ring against the new champion.
After conferring with Hart, Hogan complied. Antisapating his rival's tatics, the Hulkster stepped out of the way when Fuji hurled salt again.
This time, Yokozuna lost his vision, and was powerless as Hogan lowered the boom on him to win the Title for the fith time - setting a record untill the Rock broke it last year.
Yokozuna's title reign had been one of the shortest in history.
Fuji had come up with a more creative plan to win back the Title.
For Hulk Hogan's first title defence at the inaugural King of The Ring in 1993, Hogan once again locked up with Yokozuna.
Hulkster kept his wary eye on Fuji, a mysterious photographer suddenly climbed onto the ring apron and released a fireball from his camera into the face of the Hulkster.
Grasping at his burned flesh, Hogan was in no condition to fight back, as Yokozuna pounced on him for the win.
Discouraged, Hogan dissapeared from the World Wrestling Federation, apparently never to return.
By 1993, thoes days were over, and the Federation was forging ahead.
For the rest of the decade , Federation would have to do without seeing Hogan vanquishing rivals with his leg drop and delivering sermons urging youngsters to train, say your prayers, and take your vitamins.
Times had changed, Hulkamania was no linger cool.
After nearly a decade, some Hulkamaniacs had grown tired of their hero of their youth.
The Hulkster abruptly dissapeared from the Federation after loseing the title to Yokozuna at the first king of the Ring.
He immediately traveled to japan, where he had experienced success prior to his Federation run.
There, he clashed once more with Japanese mainstays like keiji Muto, a.k.a The Great Muta.
Meanwhile, the Federation appeared to grow far beyond the vanished days of the Rock n Wresliing Connection.
Bret Hart and The Heartbreak Kid shawn Michaels were Vince McMahons main guys to lead WWF into the next generation.
Hogan did not simply vanish.
He re-emerged in rival WCW in the summer of 1994, taking the WCW World Title from archrival Ric Flair in his very first match for the company.
During his WCW tenure, went to war with old faces like Randy Savage, Ric Flair, Ultimate Warrior and became embroiled in a running conflict with future Federation Supertar Paul White.
Before the WCW had faded, Hogan held the wcw title once with his Hulkster persona, and 5 times with his hollywood persona makeing a total of 6 times.
Even more significantly, he affiliated himself with the most desruptive faction of the history of sports entertainment, the New World Order (NWO).
Teaming with Kevin Nash, X Pac, and Scott Hall, among others, Hogan became the lightning rod in a clique that ignored WCW rules, disrupting matches when ever the nWo struck, takeing over TV broadcasts, and humiliating opponents by spray-painting NWO accross their backs.
No longer was Hogan was the clean living role model kids looked up to. As thoes children evolved into rebellious teenagers, Hogan changed with them, discarding his traditional red and yellow colours for nWo colours black and white.
The nWo lost its form when WCW was purchased by Vince McMahon.
The name WCW had faded into History.
From July 2000 to November 2001, Hogan was extremely quiet and out of the public eye. He had been dealing with self-doubt and depression following the Vince Russo incident, wondering if what Russo had said about him was true. The majority of the Internet wrestling community at the time had largely agreed with Russo's sentiments, feeling Hogan was "washed-up" and had been "holding down younger talents" for too long. Hogan wanted to prove his detractors wrong, and show them that he still had another run or two left in him.
In the months following the eventual demise of WCW in March 2001, Hogan underwent surgery on his knees, in order for him to wrestle again. As a test, Hogan worked a match in Orlando, Florida for the XWF promotion run by his longtime handler Jimmy Hart. Hogan defeated Curt Hennig in this match, and felt healthy enough to accept an offer to return to the WWF in February 2002.
Mean while Shane and stephany McMahon sold their World Wrestling Federation stock to Ric Flair.
In a hostile merger, Ric Flair became Vince McMahons 50/50 partner.
Ric Flair had ideas about the way he wanted to see the company run - consepts that contrasted directly with thoes held dear to his co-owner.
McMahon warned Flair to relinquish his share of the company before drastic measures were taken.
When Flair stood firm, McMahon reached into his past and summoned Hogan back to the WWF.
The idea was not to bring Hogan back to rampage through the organization by himself, but with his teamates Scott Hall and Kevin Nash.
Immediately, the Federation dressing room was in caos.
Superstars who remembered the atmosphere the nWo created in WCW were desperate for McMahon to reconsider.
The weels were already in motion.
The nWo blazed into the Federation earler in 2002, hammering their adversaries and sending them into emergency rooms nationwide.
Stone Cold Steve Austin was assaulted in a three-on-one attack, sprawled on the canvasand difiled with a spray-painted nWo logo.
After the rock was beaten up and placed into an ambulance, Hogan crashed a lorry into the vehicle.
The encounter between the Rock and Hogan at Wrestlemania 18 should have been a classic good vs evil match.
Something strange accured when Hogan walked the lengthy ramp to the ring at the Toronto SkyDome.
Even fans who had hated Hogans actions could not bring themselves to hate him.
When ever he took controll of the match, they exploded into cheers, whether he was exacuteing a wristlock or biteing the Peoples champ on the head.
The Rock won the match Hulk Hogan and the Rock were applauded by the fans, and Hulkamania was back.
In the SkyDome ring, Hogangrasped his ribs, and took in the ovation and had an epiphany: Hulkamania still lived.
He had taken his fans in the past for granted in the past, he realized.
Hulk had the opportunity to make up for lost time.
Noticing the transformation of their nWo ally, Hall Nash attacked the icon.
But now, Hogan had the Rock on his side.
Together they ran of intruders, vowing to defend each other again in the future.
The next week, the Federation was severed into two seperate units, and Hogan and the Rock once again ended up together on the smackdown brand.
The immortal one had won his hulkamaniacs back but not the wwe title.
Hogan needed to win the WWE title to finish his legacy.
A few weeks after Hogans awsome match with the rock Hogan got title shot at triple h at backlash.
The evening came down to Hollywood Hogan stepping into the ring to attempt to take the Undisputed Championship away from Triple H.
The two superstars glared each other down and locked up in the ring.
The Game tossed Hogan into the corner and stared down the icon.
Moments later, Hogan returned the favor and flexed his pythons while Triple H regained his feet.
The match worked to a virtual stalemate early on.
Hogan took the edge by flipping The Game over the top rope to the outside.
Hogan delivered a crushing suplex onto the hard ground.
Hogan maintained control from there, until Triple H zeroed in on a weakness to exploit.
The Cerebral Assassin directed his blows to Hogan's left knee, which wore a knee brace.
Hollywood tried to get some offense going, but each time Triple H stopped the rally with a shot to the knee.
Triple H applied a leg lock and used the ropes to get some leverage.
Hogan screamed in pain, and after several moments he was able to squirm out of the hold.
Triple H put Hogan in a sleeper hold, but then Hollywood used all his energy to get out of it and began to get things rolling.
Hulk hit Triple H with a boot to the face and followed with a leg drop!
Hogan covered Triple H, but the ref was busy fending off Chris Jericho, who ran to ringside with a steel chair!
Y2J shoved the ref down then clocked Hogan in the skull with the chair!
Triple H came over and planted a facebuster on Y2J, forcing him from the ring!
Hogan got back up and took down The Game with a boot once again.
Triple H got up and subdued Hogan and landed a Pedigree!
The ref came over to make the count, but the Undertaker raced down and clocked the ref!
Taker than smashed The Game with the steel chair!
Hogan got to his feet and punched Taker out of the ring.
Hollywood bounced off the ropes, hit Triple H with the leg drop and covered him for the win!
Hollywood captured his sixth World Wrestling Federation Championship!
After a short celebration, a bloody Triple H faced Hogan with a menacing look.
Finally, The Game extended his right hand and congratulated Hogan on the win.
The Game then turned toward the entrance ramp and directed his hatred toward the locker room.
Meanwhile, Hogan celebrated with his new championship as Backlash drew to a close!
After Backlash the WWF changed it's name to WWE, World Wrestling Entertainment.
At Judgment Day Hogan lost the title to the Undertaker.
A few weeks later, Hollywood Hulk Hogan and edge defeated billy and chuck at smackdown, July 4th 2002, to win the WWE tag team Championship.
They lost the titles to Storm & Christian at WWE VENGEANCE, July 21, 2002 .
Hulkamania is still the best and allways will be for what hulk hogan has done for wrestling.
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