REVEALED: How Hulk Hogan’s Ticket to Hollywood Saved WCW from Paying Millions to Marvel

Is there any connection between Hulk Hogan and Marvel comics’ Hulk? Well, there’s a story. In one of the bizarre deals in wrestling history, Hulk Hogan and WWE once entered into an agreement with Marvel comics over using the name ‘Hulk’. After the success of Rocky III, Hogan shot to national fame. WWE started billing him as ‘The Incredible Hulk Hogan’, which eventually irked Marvel, who owned the rights to the name ‘The Incredible Hulk’.

After Marvel voiced its displeasure, Terry Bollea, aka Hulk Hogan, and WWE had to sign an agreement. According to the deal, WWE could use the name “Hulk Hogan,” but they could no longer use “Incredible.”

Moreover, Marvel would receive a royalty for every wrestling match Hogan appeared in for 20 years, beginning on July 9th, 1984. This deal was carried out when Hogan went to WCW. However, Hogan’s dealings and WCW’s shrewdness allowed them to get off the hook by paying money to Marvel.

How did Hulk Hogan help WCW by avoiding financial troubles?

According to the Hogan-Marvel deal, the comic book company would receive $100 for every wrestling match that Hogan appeared in for 20 years. It was also agreed that Marvel would receive 0.9 of 1% of all the proceeds from the sale of Hogan-related merchandise.

The deal continued when Hogan jumped from WWE to WCW in 1994. Initially, it was believed that WCW will have to continue to pay Marvel as part of using Hogan. But thanks to Hogan, they were able to avoid that.

READ MORE: Marvel Comics Made Millions Off WWE Legend Hulk Hogan, Here’s How

In 2021, on the 83 weeks podcast, Conrad Thompson asked former WCW President Eric Bischoff if he had to pay Marvel over the usage of Hogan’s name.

Bischoff replied, “No, because Hulk Hogan owns the trademark ‘Hulk Hogan’, not Marvel. Hulk Hogan and his attorneys and Marvel reached an agreement prior to Hulk coming to WCW that gave Hulk Hogan the rights to use ‘Hulk’ as long as it was Hulk Hogan in a wrestling-related environment. So I didn’t have to pay Marvel anything. That was something Hulk and Marvel had come to an agreement with prior to Hulk coming to WCW.”

Also, when WCW started referring to Hogan as ‘Hollywood Hogan’, it saved them from paying those $100 match fees. Furthermore, it saved them any future merchandising fees that Marvel would have required from them. However, Hogan himself had to pay Marvel until 2004 as part of his deal. But he would eventually secure the rights to his name in 2005.

The Hogan-Marvel deal will remain one of the strangest partnerships in pop culture. It did allow Marvel to make bucket loads of money. But for Bollea, the use of the name meant much more as he received worldwide fame and recognition as ‘Hulk’ Hogan’ and ‘The Hulkster’.

Watch This Story: WWE legend Hulk Hogan’s greatest moments