Mike Adams, host of "Mike Adams 2.0" on ESPN Radio 101.7 "The TEAM," said on air that Hulk Hogan's passing highlights his unmatched legacy, noting that Hogan entertained millions for decades and reshaped the popularity of professional wrestling.
"Hulk Hogan was one of the greatest entertainers ever," said Adams, host of Mike Adams 2.0. "What Conor McGregor did for the UFC is what Hulk Hogan tenfold did for wrestling. He amassed something that wrestling hadn't seen. And that was a character. Hulkamania. And there was millions and millions of them."
Adams reflected on Hulk Hogan’s legacy after the wrestling icon’s passing at age 71, calling him "one of the greatest entertainers ever." He noted how Hogan transformed wrestling’s appeal, pointing to his iconic moments like slamming Andre the Giant and his "I am a Real American" persona. Despite acknowledging Hogan’s "few transgressions along the way," Adams said that "somehow, people…they liked him," crediting his larger-than-life charisma for drawing millions into "Hulkamania" and cementing his place in pop culture.
Hulk Hogan’s wrestling career spanned decades and fundamentally altered the landscape of sports entertainment, beginning in 1977 when Terry Gene Bollea debuted under his now-legendary ring name. According to ESPN, he quickly ascended to superstardom in the 1980s, headlining the first WrestleMania in 1985 alongside Mr. T in a match that is widely credited with propelling WWE into mainstream pop culture. His unforgettable body-slam of Andre the Giant at WrestleMania III in front of more than 80,000 fans in the Pontiac Silverdome remains one of the most replayed moments. ESPN reports that Hogan would go on to hold 12 world championships between WWE and World Championship Wrestling (WCW), cementing his status as one of the most decorated and recognizable athletes of his generation.
Hogan’s influence stretched far beyond wrestling rings and into broader American consciousness, where he became a fixture in entertainment, merchandising, and even Hollywood. CBS Sports reports that his "Hulkamania" persona helped legitimize wrestling as a family-friendly entertainment product, leading to crossovers with celebrities like Mr. T and appearances on NBC’s Saturday Night’s Main Event, which regularly drew millions of viewers.
Born in Augusta, Georgia, and raised in Tampa, Florida, Terry Bollea’s journey to becoming Hulk Hogan was a mix of athleticism, showmanship, and timing. As noted by ESPN, he originally pursued music before transitioning to professional wrestling. His heel turn in 1996 to form the New World Order (NWO) in WCW marked a pivotal career reinvention, sparking a storyline that reignited wrestling’s popularity and ushered in the highly successful "Monday Night Wars" between WCW and WWE.
Editor's note: This article includes excerpts from an interview conducted on "TEAM Talk" with Joe O'Neill, Adam Diehl, and Andres Chavez."TEAM Talk" airs Monday through Friday between 4 p.m.-7 p.m. on ESPN Radio 101.7 The TEAM.
