06/02/2023
Terry Gene Bollea was born in August 11, 1953,to mother Ruth and father Peter. Terry weighted 10 pounds and.7 ounces at birth, starting his larger then life career. He was born in Augusta, Georgia. His success story began in 1967 in a Tampa, Florida gym when he started bodybuilding. After studying business administration and music at the University of South Florida, Terry worked as a part time body builder, part time bouncer, very part time musician and full time bank teller. Terry also liked playing guitar with his buddies, later on that. The story has it -and separating fact from reality is difficult in the world of pro-wrestling - that one night while working as a bouncer Hogan met up with wrestler Jack Brisco who immediately saw the potential of this golden haired 6ft 5 inch 300 pounder. He was trained by Hiro Matsuda:
Hiro Metsuda also trained Paul Orndorff and Tito Santana among other greats. In training session Matsuda broke Terry`s knee and Terry quit. Terry took time off and formed a band in Tampa, the Gentrics(not 100% name) and played with them for a while again. Later he met Terry Funk who urged Terry to come back, as he did. Terry was brought into Southeast Championship Wrestling in summer 1978 by Rip Tyler, On Terry`s debut after defeating an unknown local mid-carder, Terry started to be called 'The Wrestling Hulk', Terry helped heel manager Billy Spears and Ox Baker defeat local legend Masked Wrestling Pro ( Leon "Tarzan" Baxter), putting him on the hated list. Then in September Terry had his most memorable angle during that time, against Andre the Giant, which was their first. That led to an Arm Wrestling match, where Terry bloodied Andre with an loaded elbow and he and his manager Billy Spears destroy Andre with the table.
Terry continued working for South East Championship Wrestling, including touring Alabama and Knoxville(and coupe times in hometown Tampa) during the rest of 78. In early 79 Terry has his first ever face turn. It was during an angle involving Ox Baker, Ron Fuller, and NWA champ Harley Race. Race had placed a bounty on Fuller so as to not to have to defend NWA World title against him. Baker & Terry Boulder had been having problems, shoving each other during tag matches after Boulder cost Baker a match, later during Bakers' match Ron Fuller came to the ring only to receive the heartpunch(move Baker was build on as even killing somebody with it). While Ox is beating up Fuller, Boulder comes out to help Fuller and even carries him on his shoulder back to the dressing room. That night Fuller was booked to face Race for the NWA title, due to the heart punch was unable and Terry took his place, in what was Terry`s first World title match. Due to Baker`s interference Terry won via DQ, but didn`t win the title. Then around February or march Terry defeated Ox Baker for his first wrestling title, to become the South Eastern Heavyweight champion recognized in Alabama. [Michael Calloway, who helped me with the Alabama-Knoxville, and was there in Dothan, Alabama to see these matches, can`t explain why Terry Boulder/Ox Baker/Austin Idol were not recognized as South East Heavyweight champs in Knoxville. However in the unofficial list they`re 100% recognized and there`s no doubt they were champs!] Around June 1979 during an ongoing feud with Austin Idol, Idol beat Terry after cheating him out and got the South Eastern title. In July 1979 Terry received his 2nd World title match also against Harley Race, during the match Idol came down dressed up and flashed a camera in Terry`s face, allowing Race to nail his top rope Head Butt for the 1-2-3. The Idol-Boulder feud continued in Alabama for the next couple months, which saw Idol 'break' Terry`s leg. In mid 1979 Race and Idol brought Terry to NWA Georgia! He was given the Sterling Golden (bigger,better,stronger and improved gorgeous George gimmick) and he fought Handicap matches and used the Sterling Squeeze Bear Hug as his finisher. His major feud in NWA Georgia was against "Mr.USA" Tony Atlas. He was never pushed but his heel character was well protected. Terry offered $10,000 to every one who can break out of his Squeeze. Terry then returned to Southeastern Championship Wrestling, under his new Sterling Golden gimmick and this time was given big push for the recognized Southeastern Heavyweight title, beating Bob Roop for the title
McMahon at this time was looking for more Billy Graham and Jesse Ventura type of heels, and he noticed Bollea. McMahon Sr. met Bollea and they inked a deal. Bollea was already called The Hulk among promotions, McMahon wanted Bollea to die his hair red and named him Hogan.. Hulk Hogan to be for the Irish men, as Terry mentioned on Larry King Live. Terry said that his hair was already falling out and if he`s die it the game would`ve been over (lol) so McMahon let him go as he is. In December 79 Hulk Hogan debuted in the WWWF, defeating Ted DiBiase in a matter of seconds in his first MSG match. Fuller and the South Eastern promotion wheren`t happy about Terry`s schedule and in January asked him to drop the belt to Bob Armstrong, that was the end of Sterling Golden. Hulk was given the legendary Freddie Blassie as his manager, being a heel and getting a big push for the next couple months. After beating the best mid-carders, Hulk was moved to Andre the Giant and main event status. Then receiving a title shot against Bob Backlund in which he won via a count out. During that time, much like for Jesse Ventura and Billy Graham, fans, mainly females started cheering for Hulk. Terry was put on a New-Japan tour in a MSG Tag tournament teaming up with Stan Hansen managed by Blassie.. After returning to the WWF, Hulk lost to Tony Atlas and Bob Backlund. Terry continued working for New-Japan and being successful, Terry continued with New-Japan wrestling in the MSG tourney, while still under contract to McMahon. Terry was brought to feud with Jerry Lawler to Memphis as a major heel, the usual build up and the usual DQ as Jimmy Hart`s top heels usually did.
While still under contract to the WWF, Terry got a note from Sylvester Stallone, It asked him to star in RockyIII. Then after his tour in Japan, he was called by Stallone himself and asked to fly to Los Angeles for the movie right away, the problem was that McMahon had booked Terry for that day for Charlotte, N.C. McMahon said he`d fire Terry if he wouldn`t show up, Terry didn`t show up and next thing you know he was down in Minneapolis, signing with Verne Gagne. AWA needed a hero, and they got him. Hulk Hogan entered the AWA in 1981, as a huge heel, he faced Sonny Rogers on his debut, and AWA was never the same. By that time fans found out about Terry starring in Rocky III and Hulk was being cheered, then when the film came out in start of 82, Terry was getting huge pops from the crowd and AWA Gagne and Bockwinkel had to turn him face! They did, in a match against Harley Race, Terry kicked out from the top rope Head Butt and hulked up for the first time. The fans went crazy as Terry beat Race.
He was great!!! Pummeling down the "Ultimate Meatball" Rocky Ballboa, showing at the end that this was all just for fun and a great cause.
From here and on the Hulkster became the most popular thing!! Feuding with the Heenan Family (Bobby Heenan & Nick Bockwinkel & Bobby Dunckam & Ken Patera). Being the hero in AWA fans` hearts Hogan won a Battle Royal which gave him the right to face the champ Nick Bockwinkel. This was Hulk Hogan`s 3rd world title shot, Hogan had Bockwinkel pinned at one point, but Heanen smacked Hogan from the outside,then later Heenan threw to Bockwinkel some kind of foreign Object, which Hogan got and hit Bockwinkel with it. Reff counted for 3 and Hulk Hogan for the delight of the crowd became the NEW AWA World Heavyweight champion. Unfortunately the tape was "reviewed" and the belt was given back to Bockwinkel. McMahon asks Terry to come back to the WWF, he does and right away goes for the biggest tournament in Japan`s history up until then. 1983 Hulk Hogan went back to New-Japan. Hogan enters the first annual IWGP (International Grand Prix Wrestling) 10 men round-robin tournament. With two representatives from each of five different zones in the world.
Hulk Hogan along with the great late Big John Studd represented the United States. During the tournament Hulk Hogan draws Antonio Inoki,defeats Killer Khan,defeats Big John Studd,draws Andre the Giant,wins via Count Out over Rusher Kimura,defeats Canek, defeats Enrique Vera,defeats Otto Wanz and defeats Akira Maeda. Then both Hulk Hogan and Antonio Inoki have 37 points. They go to the final match. At 21`23 Hulk Hogan hits Inoki with a Lariat knocking Inoki down with his head hitting the floor hard and Hulk gets the Count Out and wins the title, getting a huge ovation, and receiving a trophy and the title.
Now the press celebrated,they have Hogan as an actor and the most popular wrestler,what`s next for Hogan. Here are 3 of biggest stars in the early 80s! January 7th 1984, Bob Backlund faces Samoan Samu week and a half after loosing the WWF title to The Iron Sheik. Backlund sees that there`re other 2 Samoans and Lou Albano ringside, and he brings a huge surprise to watch his back the IWGP Heavyweight champ HULK HOGAN***. The Fans go crazy as Hulk Hogan (also must mention that Mean Gene,Roddy Piper and David Shultz also debuted about that time after leaving the AWA,along with many other talents from AWA). Fans recognize Hulk Hogan and pop big time when he cleans house of the Samoans.Wrestling was never the same from there on. While the eye of the tiger theme is playing. Then the move that made wrestling what it is today: Time and date January 23, 1984! The transformation from simple wrestling to wrestling main stream and family entertainment. After the movie Rocky III the AWA title and now the IWGP title, Hulkamania stormed to the WWF! The media following IWGP Heavyweight champion Hulk Hogan facing the WWF World champ Iron Sheik. History was made! as Hulk Hogan became the new WWF World Heavyweight Champion.
Hulk Hogan made history when he defeated the Iron Sheik, the media was there, the whole world changed and every one was talking about one and only man,Hulk Hogan. Here begins the new era of wrestling. While being the WWF World Heavyweight champ, Hulk works New-Japan and keeps making huge impact here and in the rising sun. Then in 1985 Wrestlemania It was born based on Hulkamania. The first huge wrestling event that led to PPVs sky high buyrates in the next years, the show that Hogan did so much for promoting along with friend Roddy Piper on MTV, and joined by A Team`s Mr.T and MTV music rock star Cyndi Lauper changed the world, as wrestling was part of the entertainment field and was covered 24 7!
WrestleMania I was a huge success.Thanks to 2 great men. Who did it and made wrestling. The 2 men responsible for wrestling being what it is today: Even though McMahon and the Hulkster don`t like each other now adays, I still respect McMahon and think that he`s the #1 brain of all times in pro-wrestling.
That`s the story how Terry came to greatness and the rest is history known to every wrestling fan. In 91 and 94 Terry was involved in the steroid trial. Important notes are, Terry is involved in many charity organizations, such as the Make-A-Wish Foundation, in which most big two wrestlers are involved, others like Pediatric AIDS Center, Special Olympics and the Starlight Foundation. Terry is married to Linda and has two kids, son Nick(9) and daughter Brooke(11). I stand corrected about Terry being Super Destroyer, as he wasn`t under a mask, rather in his usual outfit, while wrestling for Hiro Matsuda in Tampa, before he quit and returned. This happened, before Terry officially went to a big terittory and I did not count it, as this was only a gimmick while he was training in Matsuda`s school, so again I stand corrected, as Terry indeed was nicknamed Super Destroyer at around 76-77 while working and training for Matsuda`s school.
