Hulk Hogan
Belongs to the Ages
1953-2025
12-Time World Heavyweight Wrestling Champion
As the saying goes, 'When it rains, it pours,' and this week has brought a deluge of loss. The world mourns the passing of famous Rolex wearers, Malcolm-Jamal Warner whose heartfelt performances touched generations; Ozzy Osbourne, the indomitable Prince of Darkness who reshaped music; and now Hulk Hogan, the legendary wrestler whose larger-than-life presence defined an era. These icons, each a titan in their craft, now belong to the ages, leaving behind legacies that will echo in eternity...
A Hero Forged in the Ring
Born on August 11, 1953, in Augusta, Georgia, and raised in Tampa, Florida, Terry Gene Bollea was destined for greatness. The son of a construction foreman and a dance teacher, young Terry was a standout athlete and musician, playing bass guitar in local rock bands like Ruckus before finding his true calling in professional wrestling. Despite early setbacks—including a broken leg on his first day of training—Hogan’s determination and charisma propelled him to stardom.
With a towering physical presence, Hogan stood 6 feet, 7 inches tall (200.66CM, or 2.01 Meters) and burst onto the scene in 1977, eventually signing with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE) in 1983.
His blond horseshoe mustache, red and yellow bandanas, and self-proclaimed "24-inch pythons" became synonymous with the wrestling boom of the 1980s. As the heroic all-American face of the WWF, Hogan headlined eight of the first nine WrestleMania events, including the inaugural WrestleMania in 1985 alongside Mr. T. His iconic victory over The Iron Sheik in 1984 at Madison Square Garden, where he delivered his signature leg drop to claim the WWF World Heavyweight Championship, sparked "Hulkamania"—a cultural craze that turned wrestling into a global spectacle.
Hogan’s catchphrases, like “Whatcha gonna do when Hulkamania runs wild on you?” and his exhortations to “train, say your prayers, and eat your vitamins,” resonated with fans of all ages. His charisma and showmanship transformed wrestling from a niche sport into mainstream entertainment, drawing record-breaking crowds and setting pay-per-view records. At WrestleMania III in 1987, Hogan’s legendary bodyslam of the 7-foot-4, nearly 700-pound André the Giant—dubbed “the slam heard ’round the world”—cemented his status as a wrestling deity.
Reinventing the Game
Hollywood Hogan and the NWO
Hogan’s influence extended beyond his heroic persona. In 1996, while with World Championship Wrestling (WCW), he shocked the world with one of the most memorable heel turns in wrestling history. Transforming into the villainous “Hollywood” Hulk Hogan, he led the New World Order (NWO), a rebellious faction that revolutionized wrestling storytelling. The NWO’s dominance helped WCW surpass WWE in television ratings for 83 weeks, a feat unmatched since. Hogan’s ability to reinvent himself as a bad guy showcased his versatility and kept him at the forefront of the industry.
Returning to WWE in 2002, Hogan faced Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson at WrestleMania X8 in a clash of titans that electrified fans. His 12 world championships—six with WWE and six with WCW—underscore his unparalleled success. Hogan’s contributions earned him two inductions into the WWE Hall of Fame: as an individual in 2005 and as part of the NWO in 2020.
A Cultural Icon Beyond the Ring
Hogan’s charisma extended far beyond wrestling. He became a pop culture juggernaut, appearing in films like Rocky III (1982), where he played the bombastic Thunderlips, and family-friendly movies such as Mr. Nanny and Suburban Commando. His television roles included the action series Thunder in Paradise and reality show Hogan Knows Best, which offered a glimpse into his personal life. Hogan also graced talk shows like The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and Saturday Night Live, and even fronted the Wrestling Boot Band, whose album Hulk Rules charted on Billboard’s Top Kid Audio.
Despite his achievements, Hogan’s life was not without controversy. In 2015, a leaked video containing racial slurs tarnished his legacy, leading to a temporary fallout with WWE. Hogan apologized, stating, “It was unacceptable for me to have used that offensive language; there is no excuse for it.” His 2016 lawsuit against Gawker Media over an unauthorized video, backed by billionaire Peter Thiel, resulted in a $140 million judgment (later settled for $31 million) and contributed to Gawker’s bankruptcy. Hogan’s return to WWE in 2018 and his continued appearances, including at WrestleMania and the Raw debut on Netflix in 2025, showed his enduring appeal, though his final appearance drew mixed reactions from fans.
A Legacy That Endures
Hogan’s impact on wrestling is immeasurable. He was the archetype of a “Superstar,” as WWE’s Triple H noted, inspiring generations of wrestlers and fans. Tributes poured in from peers like Ric Flair, who called Hogan a “close friend” and “incredible athlete,” and Vince McMahon, who hailed him as “the greatest WWE Superstar of ALL TIME.” Even President Donald Trump, whom Hogan supported at the 2024 Republican National Convention, mourned his passing, sharing a playful arm-wrestling photo with the caption, “Hulk Hogan will be greatly missed.”
Hogan’s physical toll was significant, with scores of surgeries from wrestling injuries leaving him, as he once quipped, with “no original body parts left.” Yet his spirit remained unbroken. In April 2025, he co-founded Real American Freestyle, an amateur wrestling league, and served as its commissioner, aiming to inspire the next generation. Following his death, the league vowed to continue, honoring his legacy.
A Titan Belongs to the Ages
Hulk Hogan’s death on July 24, 2025, from cardiac arrest at his Clearwater, Florida home, as confirmed by local authorities and WWE, marks the end of an era. He was a trailblazer who turned wrestling into a billion-dollar industry, a showman who captivated the world, and a flawed yet resilient figure who faced adversity with grit. As we bid farewell to “The Immortal One,” we remember the man who encouraged us to believe in ourselves, to roar with the crowd, and to let Hulkamania run wild forever.
Rolex Magazine honors Hulk Hogan’s timeless legacy, much like the precision and excellence embodied in every Rolex timepiece—a testament to enduring greatness.
When I was a small child, I LOVED watching "Professional" Wrestling, as they called it. In my naiveté, I thought it was all real, until one day, somebody burst my bubble and told me it was all staged. This was the equivalent of telling me that Santa Clause wasn't real. After that point, I lost interest in wrestling, but was aware of Hulk Hogan, ad he was so pervasive, and so full of personality.
If you think about it, Rolex watches are like wrestlers in the sense they are big and bold, and are a serious status symbol. Thus, it's not surprising that many wrestlers have worn and depended on Rolex to keep the time of their lives, like Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.
This reminds me, I need to put together a story on Ric Flair, who was also a pier of Hulk Hogan's and more than anything was extremely entertaining and spoke frequently about his Rolex President he still wears.
In the video interview below from 1982, I noticed Johnny Carson is rocking his yellow gold Rolex President.
