‘Steroids Were Legal’: Hulk Hogan Explains How Becoming Wrestling’s Most Loved Superstar Almost Derailed His Career

The six-time World Champion Hulk Hogan is a larger-than-life character. During the 80s and 90s, wrestling fans hail to the name Terry Bolea aka Hulk Hogan. His impressive physique made ‘The Hulkster’ a unique professional wrestler in his prime.

The WWE Hall of Famer shredded a physique with blonde hair that would intimidate his opponents. There was one instance where Hogan was referred to as the man with 24-inch biceps.

So imagine the strength and vein-pumping shape of ‘The Hulkster’ that could put anyone to shame. But Hulk Hogan’s iron physique resulted from alleged substance abuse in his prime career.

What made Hulk Hogan shoot up steroids during his early professional life?

In somewhere between the 80s and 90s, ‘The Hulkster’ reportedly was at the center of allegations of steroid use. The substance abuse of Hulk Hogan came with a price, but he never gave up. During a Question and Session interview at the New York Hotel in 1993, WWE Hall of Famer spoke about the drug allegations.

Hulk Hogan said, “That was a tremendous hit my career took. You have to understand the situation: Prior to 1966, steroids were legal. Growing up in the ‘60s, ‘70s, and ‘80s, there was a lot of peer pressure. Everybody was doing it.” [h/t – Los Angeles Times]

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According to Hogan, while growing up, a lot of social pressure around him influenced him to take steroids. Since the WWE Hall of Famer was at the top of his career in the 80s, the drug allegation affected his professional career completely. ‘The Hulkster’ mentioned that before 1966, performing steroids were legal; however, the allegations took his career on a wild ride.

WWE Hall of Famer turned the allegations upside down to make a fortune in pro wrestling!

Hulk Hogan gained immense fame after beating former WWE Champion The Iron Sheik in 1984 at Madison Square Garden. Unfortunately, Hogan’s popularity was short-lived because he was cornered for taking steroids. As per the six-time World Champion, many people from sports entertainment did substance abuse.

“Me being at the top of my profession, they picked Hulk out and said, ‘You represent the whole world; you’re a role model.’ But I got through it. A lot of people thought it was just Hulk doing it; now they realize the whole sports world in the ‘80s was doing it. So I survived it, and I’m going to be around for a while,” The Hulkster added.

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However, WWE Hall of Famer did not let the dirt on his name ruin him; he stood firm to fight back against substance abuse. Even after such a tough time, ‘The Hulkster’ battled out to become the greatest of all time.