With regards to associating a sport with an iconic athlete, Hulk Hogan and professional wrestling go collectively like Michael Jordan and basketball, Muhummad Ali and boxing, Tom Brady and soccer, or Arnold Schwarzenegger and bodybuilding. So, information that Netflix is ready to air a brand new docuseriestelling the story of how Terry Bollea went from humble beginnings to grow to be the superhero-like Hulk Hogan, has come as welcome information for wrestling followers. Not least as a result of the mission will characteristic the Hulkster’s remaining interview earlier than his premature demise in the summertime of 2025. So, as we put together to revisit Hulk Hogan’s unbelievable life and profession, M&F names his prime ten best matches, brother!
Fast facet observe on how we compiled this checklist: After all, prime 10 rankings are sometimes subjective, so we’ve taken a spread of things into consideration, accounting for critics scores, fan response, and the general affect that every match has had on the professional wrestling enterprise.
10. ‘Hollywood’ Hulk Hogan vs. Goldberg (WCW Monday NITRO)
A seismic shift within the professional wrestling panorama was felt on July 6, 1998when Hulk Hogan defended the WCW World Heavyweight title towards Invoice Goldberg in entrance of round 40,000 followers at The Georgia Dome in Atlanta.
Why is it so nice? “Hollywood” Hulk Hogan, who by this time had gained a repute for monopolizing the primary occasion scene, took an essential loss to construct up the youthful Invoice Goldberg on this bout, very like he had performed beforehand for The Final Warrior at WrestleMania 6. And, as a result of this match occurred within the period of the “Monday Night time Wars” towards WWE UncookedWCW execs determined to air this bout free of charge, quite than cost a payment on pay-per-view. This resulted in a whopping viewers of round 10 million viewers tuning in to see the altering of the guard. Whereas the match supplied a a lot wanted brief time period increase for WCW, and launched Goldberg as a bona fide celebrity, neither WCW or the hometown hero would be capable to problem the long run legacy of The Hulkster.
9. Hulk Hogan vs. The Huge Boss Man (‘Saturday Night time’s Major Occasion’)
On Saturday Night time’s Major Occasion, Might 27, 1989, Hulk Hogan as soon as once more proved that a few of his best wars have been towards opponents that have been a lot heavier than him.
Why is it so nice? Followers of the film No Holds Barred, launched that very same 12 months, will get a kick out of seeing Tiny “Zeus” Lister Jr. assault The Hulkster earlier than the match begins, leaving The Huge Boss Man with a hefty benefit. This bout additionally options Hogan suplexing the Huge Boss Man from the very prime of the cage, sending the gang right into a frenzy. The 2 behemoths then give a masterclass in storytelling by mendacity on the ground for a painstaking two minutes till Hogan “Hulks Up,” and will get the win, erasing recollections of the plodding Hogan vs. King Kong Buddy snoozefest from WrestleMania 2. Hogan vs The Huge Boss Man at SNME stays important viewing, mixing violence and storytelling in a means that solely the very best professional wrestling motion can.
8. Hulk Hogan vs. Ric Aptitude (WCW Bash on the Seaside 1994)
Hulk Hogan was skilled by Japanese legend, Hiro Matsuda, and was a technically proficient grappler, however he a lot most popular to lean into the story and psychology than submission holds. This restricted moveset led to critical hypothesis about how Hogan would honest in a match towards wrestler’s-wrestler, Ric Aptitude after signing with WCW.
Why is it so nice? Whereas the 2 had beforehand battled in principally non-televised matches, Hogan’s bounce to WCW meant that his first pay-per-view essential occasion for the corporate can be pivotal to the group’s future progress. Luckily, throughout this match, held at Bash on the Seaside on July 17, 1994, The Hulkster delivered in spades. Not solely did Hogan win his first WCW World Heavyweight Championship on this match, however he additionally impressed the critics along with his dedication to buying and selling strikes and reversals with “The Nature Boy.”
7. Hulk Hogan vs. Vince McMahon (WrestleMania 19)
It’s laborious to think about what the product of professional wrestling would appear to be, for higher or worse, had Vince McMahon and Hulk Hogan not joined forces to hype “Hulkamania” within the mid-80s. Nonetheless, because the 90s approached, the 2 titans of business have been torn aside by steroid trials and massive cash presents from Ted Turner’s WCW. Hogan famously left WWE in 1994 and even helped McMahon’s rivals to overhaul WWE within the Monday Night time Wars. That victory can be brief lived, nevertheless, as a result of McMahon finally beat, after which purchased out WCW. However not one to let private gripes get in the best way of ticket gross sales, Hogan was welcomed residence in 2002.
Why is it so nice? These a long time of very actual private historical past between the McMahon household and Hulk Hogan set the proper scene for the Vince McMahon vs. Hulk Hogan Avenue combat match on March 30, 2003, at WrestleMania 19, and whereas The Hulkster was 49, and his boss was 57, the match went past what followers had anticipated. Certain, the epic story telling was there as anticipated, however so too was some brutal physicality. Hogan even lay susceptible on the commentary desk whereas his getting old antagonist climbed a ladder and blasted him with a leg drop. To prime it off, the true American was in a position to pin the evil Mr McMahon, resulting in one of the crucial weird and but totally watchable bouts in bone-bending historical past.
6. Hulk Hogan vs. Randy Savage (WrestleMania 5)
Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage wrestled all around the world, together with legendary matches in London and Paris, however their most iconic conflict went down on April 2, 1989, at WrestleMania 5, because the tag-team often known as The Mega-Powers exploded in a grudge match for the “Macho Man’s” World title.
Why is it so nice? Tensions had hit a fever pitch weeks earlier than, when Savage blamed Hogan for an incident throughout a tag-team match towards The Twin Towers at The Major Occasion II, the place Akeem had thrown the “Macho” Man onto his valet, Miss Elizabeth. As Hulk Hogan picked up a fallen Miss Elizabeth and took her to security, Savage was left to obtain a beatdown by the opposing workforce of Akeem and The Huge Boss Man. This was probably the most advanced and emotional storyline {that a} WrestleMania essential occasion had been afforded up till this time and resulted in a white-hot grudge match the place Savage blasted The Hulkster with two strong elbow drops earlier than lacking a 3rd, thus affording Hogan his second WWE title win by way of pinfall.
5. Hulk Hogan vs. Stan Hansen (All Japan Professional Wrestling)
Hulk Hogan might have battled some cartoonish opponents throughout his iconic profession, however a stiff bout towards Stan Hensen in Japan earned him a 7.78 rating on the fan/critic web site, cagematch.web. The match passed off on April 13, 1990, in the primary occasion of a joint present between WWE, All Japan Professional Wrestling, and New Japan Professional Wrestling known as the “Wrestling Summit,” and gave followers a glimpse of Hogan’s skill to go technical.
Why is it so nice? Through the conflict, Hogan would eat a number of stiff photographs from Hansen, who was identified for blasting his opponents into subsequent week along with his lariat. Moreover, the 2 large males brawled exterior of the ring, mixing the very best of American and Japanese professional wrestling motion, and offering Hogan with a hard-earned victory that serves as top-of-the-line performances of his stellar profession.
4. Hulk Hogan joins Corridor & Nash (WCW Bash on the Seaside 1996)
If ever there was an award in professional wrestling for a match that was greatest remembered for what went down within the aftermath, then the primary occasion of Bash on the Seaside, on July 7, 1996, would win the trophy, arms down.
The purple and yellow, “Say Your Prayer’s” shtick that helped Hogan to proceed his profession with a formidable WCW exhibiting in 1994, had grown drained by the point Bash on the Seaside ’96 rolled round. Luckily, The Hulkster noticed the box-office returns that may very well be made by turning his again on Hulkamania and changing into “Hollywood” Hulk Hogan as an alternative. The historic match itself was offered round the concept Scott Corridor and Kevin Nash would carry a thriller accomplice into their essential occasion bout towards Randy Savage, Sting, and Lex Luger. Revealing himself as that dastardly thriller accomplice, Hogan would ship simply two strikes, blasting Savage with two leg drops to crush the great guys, and his lengthy serving followers within the course of.
Why is it so nice? After all, this match served because the platform for the official starting of the N.W.O motion because of Hogan’s unbelievable character work, the place he proclaimed a “New World Order” in skilled wrestling, WCW turned the most well liked professional wrestling program between 1996 and 1998 and enterprise sensible, the affect of this match continues to be being felt as we speak.
3. Hulk Hogan vs. The Final Warrior (WrestleMania 6)
“The Final Problem” passed off on the Skydome in Toronto, Canada, on April 1, 1990, the place greater than 60,000 followers converged to witness two of professional wrestling’s hottest stars pitted towards one another, for the appropriate to be known as king of the WWE mountain. James “The Final Warrior” Hellwig was the younger lion and the Intercontinental Champion when he took on Hulk Hogan for his WWE Championship at WrestleMania 6.
Why is it so nice? Whereas the tempo of essential occasions was loads slower, when it comes to strikes per minute, again within the early 90s, the psychology behind the bout labored completely. Each males have been intently matched when it comes to dimension and aura, however Hogan’s job was to assist usher in a brand new celebrity for his then boss and WWE proprietor, Vince McMahon. Regardless of the Warrior’s restricted skillset, The Hulkster was in a position to get the very best out of the rising star, very like he would do years later with Invoice Goldberg, shedding the WWE title with dignity. In a nail-biting end, followers have been left wanting extra from their established hero, as The Hulkster made the gradual journey backstage following his defeat.
2. Hulk Hogan vs. The Rock (WrestleMania 18)
The goodwill that Hulk Hogan had constructed up throughout his WrestleMania 6 match with the Final Warrior can’t be underestimated right here, as “Hollywood” Hulk Hogan turned the surprising fan favourite on the Skydome towards Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, 12 years later at WrestleMania 18.
Why is it so nice? Precisely dubbed “Icon vs. Icon,” the bout pitted old-school towards the very best of WWE’s “Angle Period,” however regardless of Hogan’s standing as a heel, the followers rejected The Rock and cheered for the person who paved the best way as an alternative. The Rock appeared visibly shocked by the surprising response at first, however then cleverly leant into the boos as a way to assist carry Hogan one among his most memorable matches, regardless of an nearly 20-year age hole. Generally, the small particulars in a wrestling match matter probably the most, like the extraordinary stare down that the combatants had as the gang boiled over. One other masterclass in crowd manipulation and cinematic storytelling, this can be a match for the ages.
1. Hulk Hogan vs, Andre the Large (WrestleMania 3)
Whether or not it was the big (however debated) crowd of 93,173 followers on the Pontiac Silverdome in Detroit or the truth that Hulk Hogan vs. Andre the Large is likely one of the most visually interesting matches of all time, there’s no method to downplay the significance of their WrestleMania III confrontation on March 29, 1987.
Why is it so nice? Whereas the 7’4” big was previous his peak, he nonetheless greater than delivered, proudly owning his position because the intimidating, seemingly unstoppable pressure that may certainly derail Hulkamania. In the long run, nevertheless, The Hulkster didn’t simply pin his greater foe, he additionally executed probably the most well-known bodyslam in historical past and set the usual for a way WrestleMania essential occasions ought to be offered to the mat loving plenty.
If you’re hungry to study extra in regards to the life and instances of the Hulkster, Netflix’s docuseries “Hulk Hogan: Actual American” is ready to premier on April 22, 2026, and can inform the story of Terry Bollea’s distinctive ascent to professional wrestling immortality. You may view the trailer beneath.
