There was no bigger name in the 80s pro wrestling scene than Hulk Hogan. The red and white, All-American hero was a massive success for WWE. Hogan wasn’t just the biggest star but also the face of the company. His name became synonymous with pro wrestling. But did you ever wonder how did he get the name? 

In WWE, most wrestlers do not use their real names and adopt a stage gimmick. So, how did Terry Eugene Bollea get one of the most recognized names and gimmicks in the WWE? Well the man himself opened about it in a recent interview.

Hulk Hogan was for Irish Americans

In the recent episode #455 of the Theo Von Show, Von sat down with The Hulkster to talk about his time in the WWE. Among the other things in the discussion was the name ‘Hulk Hogan’ and the origin story behind it. According to Hogan, Vince Sr. is to credit for the name.

“He goes like Ivan Putski for the Polish Americans, Bruno San Martino for the Italian Americans, Chief Jay Strong both for the Native American Indian Americans, and I want you to be Hulk Hogan for the Irish Americans,” Hogan said while talking about the talk between him and Vince Sr. He went on to add how the older McMahon wanted Hogan to dye his hair red. 

While Hogan agreed on the name, he was unwilling to do the red hair-dying part. He told his manager Freddie Blassie that he was going to go bald-headed. While Blassie said he would get fired for a move like this, Hogan did not care.

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Nevertheless, Hogan did not get fired but became a global sensation.

The birth of Hulkamania and a global phenomenon

The match that launched Hulkamania was at the prestigious Madison Square Garden, with Hogan facing The Iron Sheik. The pop after Hogan’s final leg drop and the pinfall echoed. Gorilla Monsoon, the commentator at the time, announced that Hulkamania is here. 

After winning the belt from the Sheik, Hogan would go on to retain it against some of the top competitors in the WWE. His run in the WWE saw him as the face of the company, with his popularity growing with every match. Along with merchandise sales, Hogan would star in multiple movies, TV shows, talk show appearances, and much more. To this day, Hogan gets the credit for the WWE being a household name and why the WCW wanted Hogan after he left WWE in 1993.

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