When Hogan burst onto the pro wrestling scene, it was a collection of fly-by-night regional promotions. By the time he was done, it had become a multibillion-dollar global business.
Published: July 24, 2025 at 2:27 p.m. ET
Before Hulk Hogan, professional wrestling was a fringe sporting event. By the time his days in the ring were over, it had grown into a multibillion-dollar enterprise that spanned the globe.
The rise of what was originally known as the World Wrestling Federation, or WWF for short, coincided with the cable-television boom of the 1980s, which was adeptly managed by the company’s boss, Vince McMahon. But it was supercharged by the larger-than-life looks and personality of Hogan, its six-time champion and biggest star.
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