No matter who your favorite superstar was growing up or is right now. No matter who you think is the most technical worker - then, now, or forever. It’s incredibly hard to doubt the contributions of Hulk Hogan to the wrestling business. Even today, over a decade after his last match and nearly 40 years after the birth of Hulkamania, casual fans still know how important he was to the business.
Related: Every Hulk Hogan Feud From The 1990s, Ranked Worst To Best
But that doesn’t mean The Hulkster wasn’t involved in some strange stuff over the years, it just means that Hogan was made of Teflon for so long that he was able to overcome some weird moments throughout his career.
10 The Motorcycle Helmet
Did you know that underneath that giant red bandanna is what Arn Anderson refers to as a “flesh colored yarmulke?” Yes, everyone knows that The Hulkster is super bald. But during the early days of Hulkamania, he and Vince McMahon wanted to not only try and cover up the bald spot but make some money doing it. For a brief period of time, Hogan wore a ridiculous-looking helmet. Predominantly featured on the house show circuit before everyone realized just how dumb Hulkster looked.
9 Going To The Dark Side
One of the more ridiculous battles of Hulkamania’s WCW run was against The Dungeon Of Doom. In one such absurd vignette, Hogan brandished a sword and adopted a Phantom Of The Opera-esque look to embrace the dark side and learn the ways of The Dungeon (and yes it was actually weirder than reading that sentence).
Related: Hulk Hogan's First 10 WCW PPV Matches, Ranked From Worst To Best
He even asked The Macho Man to bring him the head of Meng, which seemed ridiculous to request.
8 Fighting An Old Woman
One of the great reasons that Hulk Hogan turning heel worked so well is that he was the number one good guy for so long. People all over and ages of all kinds loved the big red and yellow bastard. Even grandmothers. On one episode of Nitro, one of those grandmas had enough of Hogan and his nWo shenanigans. She actually tried to swing at the leader of the nWo and got right in his face. The Godfather of wrestling actually reeled his fists back like he was going to attack an old lady. But remember, he really never was about decking a girl…
7 Takes Glee In Beating Sherri
…In fact, he reveled in beating the tar out of The Sensational Queen for years. And the deplorable Puke-a-maniac fans, they reveled in it too. Sure, she was mixing it up with the men, trying to help The Macho King. But certainly, mama and papa Hogan taught their son better. But if the Hulkamaniacs are egging you on, it’s easy to fall for the sway of the crowd. The poundings didn’t stop when both of them left for WCW, Sherri was doing what she did in WWE only for Ric Flair.
6 The Bloody Head Fairy
On the road to the strange and unusual Halloween Havoc showdown with The Ultimate Warrior, some strange and unusual things happened to Hogan on the way there. Plenty of fans remember Hollywood staring at The Warrior in the mirror.
Related: Every Wrestler Who Defeated Hulk Hogan In A Singles PPV Match
But less than a year earlier, Bret Hart and Sting delivered a crazier present to Hollywood on the eve of Starrcade 1997. Hogan opened up a box containing his own head! Comically, Hogan was freaked and then legitimately terrified as Sting appeared and zip-lined to the ring.
5 Hogan For President
Considering wrestlers have been mayors and governors and celebrities and reality television stars and have even gone on to become United States Presidents, perhaps this wasn’t just a publicity stunt. On the road to Bash At Beach 1999, Hulk Hogan arrived at Monday Nitro, stating that he intended to run in the 2000 election. According to Eric Bischoff, Hulk had gotten himself so jacked up in an interview with Jay Leno, and it continued all the way to the Larry King show. If the movement had gotten enough traction, it would have been interesting to see if he really was going to run.
4 Dixie Carter Begging
Out of every promotion Hulk Hogan had ever been a part of, TNA was the one that handled him the worst - whether or not that was because he had a hand in running things is debatable. But on his way out the door came the strangest thing that happened, besides giving Abyss his Hall Of Fame ring. He cut a promo about how dissatisfied he was with the promotion. Dixie Carter, who was a heel at this time dropped to her knees and begged and pleaded with Hogan to stay. He walked away dismayed instead.
3 Can’t Start A Motorcycle
Over 10 years since Hulkamania first ran afoul of The Undertaker, the two WWE legends were at it again. The WWE was a much different place in 2002, and The Deadman was the man in charge. Hogan tried to get under his skin on the road to their title match at Judgment Day and had the audacity to try and steal Big Evil’s motorcycle. Unfortunately on live TV, he was just made to look silly when he couldn’t get Taker’s bike to start. The two had stuck to the script and Hogan just looked dumbfounded still trying to get the bike to start.
2 Tried To Murder The Rock
Wrestling is a weird place sometimes where all sorts of crimes can be committed and/or attempted. But the legal ramifications are heaved out the window in favor of settling the matter in the ring. But it was seldom that attempted murder was the crime!
Related: 10 Things You Should Know About Thunder In Paradise, Hulk Hogan's Failed TV Show
When Hulk Hogan reappeared on Monday Night Raw, the stage was set for he and the Rock to meet At WrestleMania 18. But first, the nWo obliterated The Brahma Bull. If that wasn’t bad enough, Hogan got into a semi and smashed Rock in the ambulance that the nWo had put him in.
1 Joined WCW
Yes, at this point in history, it is very commonplace for wrestlers to jump ship back and forth. But when the announcement was made that Hulk Hogan had signed a deal to go to WCW, it was an ice skating in Hell moment. It would be akin to today if Shane McMahon showed up in AEW - just a completely strange and unfathomable moment.
