R.I.P. HULK HOGAN AND THANK YOU

 

On July 24th, 2025, Hulk Hogan (a.k.a. Terry Gene Bollea), the biggest wrestling superstar in modern wrestling history died. I became a fan of Hogan in 1991 during the time of Wrestlemania 7. Hogan would face Sgt. Slaughter for the World Heavyweight Championship. Hogan's career began in the 1970's in the south in places like Alabama and Tennessee when wrestling was broken up in to different territories. From 1979 to 1981, Hulk worked for Vincent J. McMahon. in the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF). In 1981, Hulk left the WWWF to appear in Rocky 3 as Thunderlips. Hogan entered the American Wrestling Association (AWA) in 1981 and became a hero to the fans there. He left in 1983 to work for Vincent K. McMahon in the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). 

When Hulk Hogan entered the WWE in 1983, he was marketed as a superhero. He defeated the Iron Sheik, an Iranian sympathizer in 1984 to become the World Champion. This was a time when fans still remembered the Iranian hostage crisis and Hulk Hogan was an American hero. At 6'7 and 300 pounds, Hulk Hogan had a superhero appeal to fans. WWE marketed him to the hilt having him face all the major villains of that era like Rowdy Roddy Piper and monsters like King Kong Bundy. Hogan would have his biggest win, literally and figuratively against Andre The Giant at Wrestlemania 3. With that win Hogan cemented his legacy as a superstar. In 1994, Hogan left WWE for World Championship Wrestling. His presence in WCW made the company into a national powerhouse. Hulk Hogan is the only wrestler that was apart of two companies that he helped become mainstream entities.

Hulk Hogan was the biggest superstar in the modern era. His success in the 1980's provided the foundation for the success WWE enjoys today. He had a complicated personal life but we all do. I hope his legacy is his love for people and his love for the wrestling business. Thank you Hulkster for the memories.

THE POP CULTURE PROFESSOR

THANK YOU BILL GOLDBERG

 

Bill Goldberg a.k.a. Goldberg will wrestle tonight on Saturday Night's Main Event against Gunther, the WWE World Heavyweight Champion. Whether Goldberg wins or loses and if as rumors suggest, this is his last match I just want to use this platform to say Thank you to one of the most intense, and polarizing personalities to step into a pro wrestling ring. 

On September 22, 1997 Bill Goldberg debuted on WCW Monday Nitro and was a relative unknown to the wrestling fans in the arena as well as the TV audience. Standing at 6 foot 4 inches and weighing 285 pounds, the former football player, certainly had an impressive look and presence. That night he would go on to defeat his opponent, using two moves that would become his trademark, the spear and the jackhammer.

After that night, Bill Goldberg went on a winning streak that catapulted him to the top of the wrestling industry. Fans were captivated by his intensity and the fact that it seemed that he could destroy anyone.  Goldberg was also a man of few words, like Clint Eastwood in the spaghetti westerns. After winning a match he would look into the camera and ask one question: "Who's Next?" 

With over 100 wins he faced Hulk Hogan for the World Heavyweight Championship on July 6, 1998 less than a year after he officially debuted. Goldberg would defeat Hulk Hogan that night and win the World Championship. After that night Goldberg was thrust into the national spotlight appearing on talk shows and tv commercials. 

In 2001 WCW was sold to the WWE. Goldberg would not appear in WWE until 2003 due to his contract with WCW. In WWE, Goldberg would have feuds with stars like The Rock, Triple H, and Brock Lesnar in WWE from 2003 to 2004. Goldberg would leave the WWE in 2004 after winning a match against Brock Lesnar at Wrestlemania 20. 

Goldberg would return to the WWE in 2016 after being challenged to a match by Brock Lesnar at that year's Survivor Series event. He would defeat Brock Lesnar at Survivor Series and make sporadic appearances in WWE for the next 9 years facing stars like Brock Lesnar, Bobby Lashley, Dolph Ziggler, and Kevin Owens. In 2018 Goldberg was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. 

Thank you Bill Goldberg for your contributions to the wrestling industry. You were a superhero to many fans around the world including myself and I hope you enjoy this last run.

Class Dismissed, 

THE POP CULTURE PROFESSOR